Network Vision/LTE - Chicago Market

[S4GRU]

Robert, should 800MHz 1x help all voice performance or just with building penetration? My wife and her new iPhone 5 has still been dropping calls regularly. Most of the times this happens when she is driving around so the issue isn't building penetration. However I don't know that she is yet connecting to 800 SMR sites. I had her go to the iPhone Field Test and for 1x EV-DO on the Band Class line it said "1.8-2.0Ghz PCS". I'm assuming this means she is connected on the 1900 frequency.

 

We have another week to return her phone and roll back her new 2 year contract. We know that data speeds are getting better but do you definitely believe that as the rollout continues and completes that dropped calls on Sprint will be greatly diminished? I'd prefer to stay with Sprint but if we can't get reliable voice service I think we may have to consider switching her.

 

Thanks.

 

800MHz will help all voice performance (distance from the site, building penetration and quality of signal). The reason for the dropped calls is discussed in this article: http://s4gru.com/ind...the-windy-city/

 

The issue of dropped calls in Chicago will not go away totally until Network Vision is 100% complete in the market. But it should get better week after week as more and more sites switch over to Network Vision and the legacy network is dismantled. The dropped calls occur when transferring a call while mobile from a NV site to a legacy site on the same channel. When there is no legacy network remaining, the issue will go away. But may still happen for some time when driving across the border into Wisconsin.

 

800MHz is just starting to be deployed in the Chicago market. So it is not surpising that she is on 1x on 1900 at this time. CDMA 800 will get more and more prevalent over the next month or two.

 

The dropped calls issue is temporary. And it is already much better than two months ago.

 

Robert

[wtsguy]

I've been mapping the joliet area as well. its like an obsession now lol

 

If I ever get a 4G signal here in the west burbs I'll be out mapping all day. That would be an addiction for sure.

[Madfelon]

Got a taste while driving with my wife in Berwyn. We were at the intersection of Oak Park and Ogden when her iPhone said LTE. Ran a speed test got 5 down but she shut it off before upload was complete. Glad to see LTE coming online so close to Chicago.

[dhunt4949]

I don't remember, but I am used to dealing with the disgruntled. But Congratulations all the same. I see someone already has been uploading coverage on Sensorly from the Norridge/Portage Park/Norwood Park areas.

 

Robert

 

That was me driving around in awe.

[ffstosh]

I've been mapping the joliet area as well. its like an obsession now lol

 

I've been going different routes just to fill in the 3g info...

[nene1973]

Great speeds in Chicago Northwest Side of town..

 

21.94 Mbps Up

9.08 Mbps Down

 

Loyal and happy Sprint Customer for Now...

[jimmbbo]

4g lte in Chicago. Thinking Sprint still working things out.

 

 

 

 

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[jls203]

4g lte in Chicago. Thinking Sprint still working things out.

 

 

 

 

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You sure what part of Chicago or was of a speedtest server??

[S4GRU]

4g lte in Chicago. Thinking Sprint still working things out.

 

 

 

 

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LTE performance is very signal strength dependent. And with those kind of speeds you had a really weak signal. You cannot use the bars in your signal strength indicator to determine LTE signal strength: http://s4gru.com/ind...ignal-strength/

 

Robert

[jimmbbo]

 

You sure what part of Chicago or was of a speedtest server??

 

Tinley Park, tried using Netmonitor to pin point the tower but no luck. I'll be back in the area on Sunday and will try to get more info.

[S4GRU]

Tinley Park, tried using Netmonitor to pin point the tower but no luck. I'll be back in the area on Sunday and will try to get more info.

 

NetMonitor does not show LTE site locations. Only 1x. If you see a site shown on the NetMonitor map when you are connected to LTE, it is just the 1x site your phone is connected to.

 

Robert

[dannible]

I was able to get an LTE connection this morning on 290 between 355 and 294. I was able to hold the connection the entire stretch. Here are my speeds:

 

Driving and speed testing? Maybe we need a PSA

[S4GRU]

Driving and speed testing? Maybe we need a PSA

 

You don't want to ride with me while I am driving, then. I usually have two phones in my hands, running performance tests, checking my debug screens. Voice to texting with AJ.

 

Robert

[digiblur]

Why not just call your bromance?

 

Sent from my C64 w/Epyx FastLoad cartridge

[jls203]

 

 

Tinley Park, tried using Netmonitor to pin point the tower but no luck. I'll be back in the area on Sunday and will try to get more info.

 

Wow, kinda kool...I should be in tinley park on Saturday, visiting my sisters but looking foward to some LTE testing

[ks-man]

Wonder if there will be LTE around Medinah active this weekend.

[kato202]

Any fellow S4G'ers in the Carol Stream/Glendale Heights area? My sister, brother-in-law, nephew and mother live in that general area and they are having a heck of a time making/receiving calls. It's been happening since June and that area seems to be bordered to the south by legacy towers which is causing their issues. They are ticked off and want me to call Sprint to cancel their lines and be released ETF free. I keep trying to reassure them it will get better, but that central section of Chicagoland seems to be late in the game to get NV

 

Does anyone know how much longer before that area to gets some NV love?

 

I live in west side of Carol Stream (Fair Oaks and Lies) and work in Schaumburg. Never had WiMax 4g at home. Just got awesome LTE4g from home all up County Farm/Barrington Rd to Golf Rd. Up to 30M+ down 10M+ up. Believe North Ave ( Hwy 64 ) from 59 to 355 is also live. That should help your family. Yes calls were horrible for two+ months but are much improved now. Sprint sent and emailed me several letters during this time thanking me for my patiance during this transition. It was worth the wait.

Edited September 28, 2012 by kato202

[ffstosh]

Wonder if there will be LTE around Medinah active this weekend.

 

Just drove past there (about 5:30am), got no LTE, but saw that all the good Ryder Cup parking was almost gone.

[dhunt4949]

Thank you Sprint for your LTE network...it is blazing! As more users come aboard will speeds dip? Or is it determined on signal strength alone?

[NiteSnow]

Thank you Sprint for your LTE network...it is blazing! As more users come aboard will speeds dip? Or is it determined on signal strength alone?

 

Speeds will lessen slightly but they'll still be faster on average than the other carriers due to site density. Your LTE speeds should stay pretty stable for quite awhile. Sprint has enough spectrum to deploy a couple of LTE carriers if needed.

[Hiro11]

LTE active and 28 mbps down this morning in Glen Ellyn (Roosevelt and 355). I'll be happy to eat crow on my earlier words about the western suburbs if Sprint can serve this up across the burbs.

[jefbal99]

LTE active and 28 mbps down this morning in Glen Ellyn (Roosevelt and 355). I'll be happy to eat crow on my earlier words about the western suburbs if Sprint can serve this up across the burbs.

 

Every Sprint Tower will be getting LTE installed, however, the new NV network is in its infancy. Once it is loaded up with users, don't expect 20+mbps constantly

[ajk511]

Getting pretty good along the Milwaukee North Metra line, but I have to force into lte only mode just to get 4g. Getting6-7 mb down though. Had good speeds at the Libertyville station. No service at Lake Forest which is typical anyways, super slow at the Deerfield station, then it picked up at Lake Cook and was good all the way down to Morton Grove. No more 4g south of Morton Grove

 

stock unrooted gs3

 

 

[LTEKen]

I messed around with some settings (*#*#4636#*#*)

 

I toggled it to LTE, CDMA and I was able to connect to the tower right away. The speeds aren't anywhere close to what you guys are posting though. Damn @ 20 to 40+ down, that's crazy. I would cancel my internet if I was getting that. I'm getting just 2.5 down on average. I was getting closer to 20 back when I was on the testing towers. I'm in Matteson, has anybody been able to get speeds comparable to that? (in the 15 to 20mb range) If so which phone do you have?

 

I'm on the EVOLTE.

[Y2Dre]

I just picked up my first ever 4G signal in Mt. Prospect in the office park near Feehanville Drive and Wolf Road. I managed to grab the following screenshot right before the signal dropped. The speeds weren't as impressive as the ones I usually pull near my home in Matteson (20-35 Mbps), but it's definitely a start:

 

 

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