by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, April 8, 2016 - 3:40 PM MDT
Over the past week, S4GRU members in multiple Sprint markets have discovered new EARFCNs and corresponding GCI endings that identify new Band 41 LTE carriers.
The EARFCN is the center frequency of an LTE carrier that, along with the carrier bandwidth, identifies the carrier placement and occupied spectrum.
As Sprint is doing intraband contiguous/adjacent carrier aggregation -- 2
by Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - 9:13 PM MDT
Authors Edit (8/25/16): According to a report, the LG G5 (and HTC 9) is indeed capable of 3xCA specifically for Sprint due to the intraband contiguous setup Sprint utilizes.
The spotlight may have been largely on the Samsung Galaxy for the past few weeks, but from behind the red moon, a new contender has revealed itself.
To keep it short, as per typical of a S4GRU teaser article, the model LS992 Sprint
by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, March 4, 2016 - 8:25 AM MST
A little over two weeks ago, S4GRU published an article detailing a multi-market PCS 1900 MHz swap between Sprint and AT&T that increased spectrum contiguity for both operators in several markets. In that article, we mentioned how that spectrum swap might be the first of many, as there are numerous other markets in which Sprint and other licensees could mutually benefit by realigning disparate spec
by Tim Yu and Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Thursday, February 18, 2016 - 6:25 AM MST
Call it a comeback. The band, the PCS band is getting back together. Pun intended. You will understand soon.
After a two year absence, the popular one, two, three part "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" article series is back for an encore. For full comprehension, refer back to those articles -- and others linked throughout this article. We will lead you in the di
by Josh McDaniel, Tim Yu, and Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 - 11:50 PM MST
Update: Further inspection of the FCC OET authorization filings has shown that while Samsung will produce only one "US" hardware variant each for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, it still will delineate operator specific "V," "A," "T," "P," and "R4" variants via firmware.
That firmware on the Sprint "P" variant, for example, will enable CCA/RRPP
by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Monday, January 25, 2016 - 8:30 AM MST
For the past year, Sprint has commented a lot about its coming "Next Generation Network" deployment that aims to improve greatly Sprint's network capacity and coverage. Much of that speculation has been over how Sprint intends to feed backhaul to the "tens of thousands" of small cells it plans to deploy -- given Sprint's past history on getting backhaul delivered to its own macro cell sites as part o
by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Sunday, December 27, 2015 - 8:30 PM MST (edited)
Happy New Year!
Some of you are aware that S4GRU maintains a gift account/scholarship account. When a member cannot afford to renew or upgrade, we draw from this account to help others in need. It seems like this year we have had more people down on their luck than in past years, and our scholarship account has been fully depleted. We use this to fund not only people dow
by Tim Yu and Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Sunday, December 6, 2015 - 2:55 AM MST
S4GRU staff is burning the well past midnight oil for our readers. Overnight, Sprint has unofficially updated its network coverage map tool to include LTE Roaming+ and LTE Roaming acquired via its participation in the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) Roaming Hub and its own Rural Roaming Preferred Partners (RRPP) program. The coverage tool LTE roaming update clearly is a
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Thursday, November 12, 2015 - 3:07 PM MST
Yes, you read that correctly. Thanks to the mid range Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 (MSM8952), the HTC One A9 is the first Sprint handset to include a modem that supports uplink 2x CA (carrier aggregation). That comes on die via the X8 LTE modem, which is a Category 7 LTE baseband, capable of aggregating up to 40 MHz FDD/TDD 2x CA on both the uplink and downlink. Now, before anyone gets too
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Monday, September 28, 2015 - 10:40 AM MDT
Update: Now that Google has released the full tech specs for the Nexus 6P, we can write a few addenda. While the FCC OET authorization filings disclosed support for several GSM, W-CDMA, and LTE international bands -- something that they are not required to do -- they curiously omitted W-CDMA band 8, which is the GSM 900 MHz band. Add that one to the W-CDMA list. Additionally, we can co
by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, September 25, 2015 - 5:44 PM MDT
Update 2: S4GRU's technical editor here again. It is Monday, October 19, and today is the day. Many of the Nexus 5X first preorders started shipping this morning for delivery later this week. You also may have caught the Nexus 5X television commercial that Google ran multiple times during the NFL broadcasts yesterday.
In light of the first handsets shipping today, S4GRU wants to publish
by Josh McDaniel
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, September 11, 2015 - 9:45 AM MDT
As most of nearly the entire world is aware, Apple announced the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and a number of other devices earlier this week. Most notably, iPhone 6S/6S Plus debuts 3D Touch, which is an enhanced version of Force Touch on Apple Watch. However, for most S4GRU readers here, there was one burning question that was not answered in the keynote.
As iPhone models have progressed
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Thursday, September 3, 2015 - 3:28 AM MDT
Ladies and gentlemen, C Spire has left the building. In Memphis. Or so it seems.
Based on an FCC spectrum lease filing that came down the pike earlier this week, Cellular South dba C Spire has applied to lease all of its spectrum in Memphis to Sprint. S4GRU has not been able to confirm yet, but this almost certainly appears to signal a C Spire exit from Memphis -- its large
by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Monday, August 10, 2015 - 10:30 PM MDT
What began as widespread speculation back in May came to fruition today. Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel) announced its intention to buy nTelos in a $208 million deal ($640 million total counting debt Shentel will assume). The purchase includes network, spectrum licenses, retail customers/stores and all assets.
Shentel is a regional affiliate for Sprint and provides wireless
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 - 1:28 PM MDT
Columbus. But not 1492. Just 8640. And 26640, too.
This discovery did not require an Italian navigator sailing under the Spanish flag, nor the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Instead, the explorers were an intrepid S4GRU Columbus membership group (sorry, restricted to S4GRU sponsors), some handsets, some screenshots, and some speed tests.
Those last two numb
by Tim Yu and Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 1:20 PM MDT
On the heels of the first of the late summer/early fall flagship handsets that S4GRU reported on two weeks ago, a second group of superheroes has appeared. And both of these new handsets are destined to be the size of a galaxy. So, take note, and stay on the edge of your seats.
Last week, Samsung started certifying what is presumably its next go round of devices for
by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 3:17 PM MDT
Consider this just a public service announcement. Sprint Spark Band 41 Carrier Aggregation (2x CA) now is officially live according to a Sprint internal announcement leaked on Reddit today by a verified Sprint employee in the Sprint subreddit. Late last month, S4GRU found evidence of 2x CA being live in Atlanta, but this now is a formal notice that Sprint has sent to its employees.
Thi
by Tim Yu
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 - 08:51 AM MDT
Mid summer has arrived in the northern hemisphere, and that means the harvest of fall flagship handsets is just getting underway. (The exception are Apples, which are planted and picked all in one afternoon in September.)
The past two weeks brought our first crop. A new authorization for a Motorola device in the FCC OET (Office of Engineering and Technology) database arrived yesterday. Ju
by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 - 1:30 PM MDT
Update: at 7:00 p.m. MDT Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure announced the following on Twitter, "We heard you loud and clear and we are removing the 600 kbps on streaming video. #Allin and we won't stop"
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We don't do many editorials here at S4GRU. We tend to editorialize in our forums. Where our opinions run rampant. We also don't do articles about plan offerings. We are a network focused site
by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 5:20 PM MDT
It's finally happening. 2x Carrier Aggregation was found in the wild today on the Sprint network! We have been receiving reports for the past several months that second B41 channels were appearing all over Sprint-land, but nothing about finding them being aggregated together. That changed this afternoon.
It was discovered today by an S4GRU Member in the Atlanta market that Carrier
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, May 8, 2015 - 12:15 PM MDT
Update: A week after the Sprint variant LG G4 original authorization documents were released at the FCC OET and S4GRU published this RF performance article, a Class II Permissive Change filing was added to the G4's docket. In writing the article last week, we did not detect anything amiss with the original filing, so this represents an optional change, which the filing discloses as hardware m
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by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 11:40 AM MDT
Back in December, S4GRU brought to you news that Sprint was opening up their network for Apple iPhone devices from other networks to be brought in and used on theirs. BYOD - Bring Your Own Device. Or, as Sprint is calling it, BYOAD...Bring Your Own Apple Device. However, just before it could go into effect, Sprint pulled the program and the plan was put on hold. Well, it's back!
by Andrew J. Shepherd
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Thursday, March 5, 2015 - 12:15 PM MST
I got my first real smartphone.
Bought it at the five and dime.
Browsed S4GRU 'til my fingers bled.
Was the summer of 6&9.
Spring has not quite yet sprung for a few more weeks. But with the annual Mobile World Congress just wrapping up today in Barcelona, new smartphones that likely will dominate the mobile landscape through most of the summer are starting t
by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 2:45 PM MST
Sprint is embarking on a significant expansion of its network. The first major addition of compatible sites to its network in a decade. Past expansion has been limited to buyouts of Nextel and Clearwire, both of which included networks of different technologies. Organic growth has not been on the table for Sprint in some time. Sprint is expected to announce these plans in the not too distant
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UPDATE, Thursday, March 12, 2015 11:40 AM MDT: BYOAD is back. Follow this link for new article: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-384-take-two-sprint-offers-byod-for-apple-devices/
UPDATE, Saturday, December 20, 2014 12:15 PM MST:
I have received a message that Sprint is postponing this until further notice. Hopefully it will be instituted soon.
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by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Friday, December 19, 2014 - 4:40 PM MST
Normally the licenses with the overlapping geographic service areas "split the football" by straight line of the intersection area of the two radius circle areas for just the shared frequencies. However private deals between the parties are also possible, and have been encouraged by the FCC in some situations when the service areas overlap by more than 50%. The special conditions section on the admin page of the NW Spectrum leases can be said to support this: "This spectrum lease does not incl
My only question is what happens when EBS licenses overlap? Do we know how it's determined who uses what and where? For example in NYC, NW Spectrum (NextWave) has two leases that apply to 2624-2640.5MHz covering all of NYC but T-Mobile also leases that same slice of EBS from someone else that covers most of NYC, but not all.
Check it out here:
NW Spectrum: https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/leaseMap.jsp?licKey=4113406&parentKey=null
NW Spectrum: https://wireless2.fc
Have you seen any good speeds on b13 last time I tested it it was super slow only b25 and b41 got some speed and I wasn't in a urban area so it shouldn't be as congested but each time I connected to b13 the speedtest wouldn't run
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In Montgomery, AL and the channels here and surrounding areas are really thin (40mhz). This'll change everything
