Sucks to be in Chicago, hopefully a fix is in the mix, if not then I guess chicagoans will have to wait it out or make other pans.......Hopefully it will get resolved before they start upgrading the DC area

Sucks to be in Chicago, hopefully a fix is in the mix, if not then I guess chicagoans will have to wait it out or make other pans.......Hopefully it will get resolved before they start upgrading the DC area

DC area is already being upgraded to Network Vision, and is unaffected by this issue. It only is known to affect markets where Samsung and Motorola base station equipment are handing off to each other on the same channel. No need to worry in DC.

Robert

I wouldn't say it sucks to be in Chicago, just because of these handoff issues. They are one of the first markets to get Network Vision, which is awesome! Plus this issue shouldn't affect the same people for more than a couple weeks as Network Vision is deployed, like the article says.

It's a hiccup, but one I'd be willing to endure in my market to get Network Vision delivered so early.

I wouldn't say it sucks to be in Chicago, just because of these handoff issues. They are one of the first markets to get Network Vision, which is awesome! Plus this issue shouldn't affect the same people for more than a couple weeks as Network Vision is deployed, like the article says.It's a hiccup, but one I'd be willing to endure in my market to get Network Vision delivered so early.

Yeah, put into those terms, I concur. I would give up those issues for NV early deployment in my market too!

Robert

Agreed. A short term of growing pains in handoff issues is much better than waiting until 2013 to receive NV upgrades. My only concern is whether the Sprint reps are explaining to the customers the reasons why calls are dropping. Last thing Sprint wants customers to think is that the network is getting unreliable for even voice calls. I am sure Sprint is already aware about its bad rep for the 3G data speeds.

I don't know what other OEM makes the legacy equipment but lets hope that the issues are only limited to just Samsung and Motorola.

I would be interested to see if there are other affected NV partner/equipment. In the past few months (here in San Diego), I am having constant dropped calls when mobile (I assume it is during a tower handoff as i am motion) and I will go from 5 bars to none, drop the call only the have 5 bars of signal after travelling less than 100 feet.

In areas where there was great coverage, you may only get one bar or no signal signal at all (generally this poor coverage is lasting only a day or two at a time in certain areas but never in the same area twice)

Perhaps this means we are seeing a NV rollout sooner rather than later here?

I would be interested to see if there are other affected NV partner/equipment. In the past few months (here in San Diego), I am having constant dropped calls when mobile (I assume it is during a tower handoff as i am motion) and I will go from 5 bars to none, drop the call only the have 5 bars of signal after travelling less than 100 feet.In areas where there was great coverage, you may only get one bar or no signal signal at all (generally this poor coverage is lasting only a day or two at a time in certain areas but never in the same area twice)Perhaps this means we are seeing a NV rollout sooner rather than later here?

According to the NV Schedule update on 3/30/2012, the very first San Diego market sites will start construction at the end of May. However, that means they are likely working on backhaul and setting base equipment cabinets now. But these are unlikley affecting handoff performance in any way. It would be something else causing that.

Robert

I have family that live in Homer Glenn and they are getting hit hard by dropped calls. I told them to try and ride it out till NV is complete but they are dropping at least half.

DC area is already being upgraded to Network Vision, and is unaffected by this issue. It only is known to affect markets where Samsung and Motorola base station equipment are handing off to each other on the same channel. No need to worry in DC.Robert

Thats good to know........Can't wait

Thanks for the info bro

Since this is a hand off issue, would users who are stationary (i.e. at their home or workplace) be as impacted in the Chicagoland area? I only ask because I seldom make/take calls while in the car (unless someone else is driving) so I was just curious if stationary users would experience these issues as frequently as users moving from point A to point B.

One thing I've always championed about Sprint is that I NEVER get dropped calls - even now, when data speeds are often abysmal, I still get excellent voice service.

Oh, and I meant to also add a big thank you for this post-even though I'm not in Chicago it is updates like these that keep me (and I suspect many others) coming back-where else will you get information like this on the behind the scenes goings on at Sprint regarding their network? Keep up the good work!

Since this is a hand off issue, would users who are stationary (i.e. at their home or workplace) be as impacted in the Chicagoland area? I only ask because I seldom make/take calls while in the car (unless someone else is driving) so I was just curious if stationary users would experience these issues as frequently as users moving from point A to point B.One thing I've always championed about Sprint is that I NEVER get dropped calls - even now, when data speeds are often abysmal, I still get excellent voice service.

Less likely, but not fool proof. However, due to network load balancing, you can get shifted to another site without moving an inch. Happens all the time. And if you are being pushed off to a legacy site from a NV site, on the same channel in Chicago, you are likely to be dropped. But the chances go way up when you are mobile.

Robert

When is network vision expected to be complete in Chicago, traveling there in June/July and hope to have reliable connection to contact friends and family

When is network vision expected to be complete in Chicago, traveling there in June/July and hope to have reliable connection to contact friends and family

100% Complete? Next Winter. It will be largely complete in the Fall.

Robert

DC area is already being upgraded to Network Vision, and is unaffected by this issue. It only is known to affect markets where Samsung and Motorola base station equipment are handing off to each other on the same channel. No need to worry in DC. ~Robert

+1

Is this issue expected to put them behind schedule? A delay in Chicago obviously means a delay in succeeding markets too.

Less likely, but not fool proof. However, due to network load balancing, you can get shifted to another site without moving an inch. Happens all the time. And if you are being pushed off to a legacy site from a NV site, on the same channel in Chicago, you are likely to be dropped. But the chances go way up when you are mobile.Robert

Robert, this is CDMA, not GSM! On CDMA, the handset controls the handoff entirely. The only thing the tower can do on CDMA is command the handset to reduce the transmit power when the handset is too close to the tower to rectify the near-far problem. DO Advanced will allow the network to finally force your handset to switch EV sectors/towers. For now, your handset will always pick the sector with the best Ec/Io. It can also hook up to 2 or more sectors simultaneously. When it switches, the network FOLLOWS it, never commands it to switch.

+1Is this issue expected to put them behind schedule? A delay in Chicago obviously means a delay in succeeding markets too.

Chicago is currently running a few weeks behind schedule. However, is it being driven by this issue? Not that I am aware of.

Robert

Robert, this is CDMA, not GSM! On CDMA, the handset controls the handoff entirely. The only thing the tower can do on CDMA is command the handset to reduce the transmit power when the handset is too close to the tower to rectify the near-far problem. DO Advanced will allow the network to finally force your handset to switch EV sectors/towers. For now, your handset will always pick the sector with the best Ec/Io. It can also hook up to 2 or more sectors simultaneously. When it switches, the network FOLLOWS it, never commands it to switch.

OK. However, Network Vision sites do indeed use DO Advanced.

Robert

My mom lives in the Warrenville area of Chicago and I have had no complaints from her yet about dropped calls, cause if she did she would let me know as i am her tech nerd 10 hours away!

This event happened here in NY, and almost caused me to leave. I had dropped calls, and red circles with periods of no service. Sprint needs to come clean with their subscribers about this problem. In Parkchester of the Bronx N.Y. I now have received down load/upload speeds of 1MB at times; which I guess is contributed network vision live.

Very good, Robert! I learned a lot from this article. I was told that there were handoff issues between legacy and NV towers but did not know the details.

Funny how this site helps be do my job!

Are some of the other "performance issues" delayed text messages? For the past month or so, I have been receiving txt messages that are at least 12 hrs old, if not more. I only receive the 'delayed' messges when I leave my home (or the tower that I'm connected to by my home). Also, is a call considered dropped if it is never picked up? I'll be in my home and the phone will ring but it ends / drops as soon as I pick up the phone to answer it.

I had convinced my wife to hold on to Sprint for unlimited data since our contracts end soon but if these issues continue much longer, we'll be leaving for another carrier.

My mom lives in the Warrenville area of Chicago and I have had no complaints from her yet about dropped calls, cause if she did she would let me know as i am her tech nerd 10 hours away!

My office is in Warrenville, and when I'm making calls I will at time drop the same call 2-5 times. Quite frustrating.

Also, a new problem has popped up out here in Chicagoland. All my Sprint phones are showing that I'm in Eastern Time Zone. Found that out the hard way one day when my phone alarm woke me up an hour early, and I thought I slept in. Sheesh!

Robert - Thanks for sharing! Very informative article

I don't know that DO Advanced will do anything to the 1x carrier associations. It may, but as far as I know (based upon Qualcomm's limited publications) it only allows the network to switch your EV carrier-- there's no indication that it will affect your 1x carrier for phone calls.

I cant wait for this to be a problem in Cleveland that way i'll know we are getting network vision.