Jump to content

Network Vision/LTE - New York City Market


Ace41690

Recommended Posts

On 5/11/2022 at 12:04 PM, T-MoblieUser207 said:

Planned, location unknown: Sprint eNB 900047

Looks like this site's location was already confirmed by @thisischuck01 on Cellmapper.

Location: 40.68386106415719, -73.87804143759858

Quote

South of the mall is still a mostly LTE experience with pockets of NR, but north of the mall is mostly on n41 now.

It's probably gonna stay that way until Crown Castle gets around to upgrading all of the small cells they have littered throughout the borough. They've already started the n41 small cell upgrades in LA and Florida so hopefully they'll start here this summer.

It looks like between September 2020 and March 2021 Crown Castle pretty much stopped reserving poles for small cells but they started reserving en masse again in April 2021, probably for 5G small cells. I made a map of all the small cell reservations that Crown Castle has made since then because they're likely going to be some of the first T-Mobile 5G small cells deployed.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1kzPJw7a8bRuRlITZwaNGI29HcAB7Em9Q&usp=sharing

Some of them like this one in Canarsie that was reserved on February 18, 2022, are right in the middle of a T-Mobile dead zone. The red dot is where the reserved pole is located.

sEETTz2.png

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

Looks like this site's location was already confirmed by @thisischuck01 on Cellmapper.

Location: 40.68386106415719, -73.87804143759858

Moved and updated!

4 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

It's probably gonna stay that way until Crown Castle gets around to upgrading all of the small cells they have littered throughout the borough. They've already started the n41 small cell upgrades in LA so hopefully they'll start here this summer.

Ah, that's what it is, as I realized quite often n71 signal was low/nearly non-existent, but midband LTE was fine. Can't wait to see what next year brings for the borough.

Officially spotted 100 MHz in Brooklyn, but the EARFCN hasn't changed yet. I'll see what happens in the morning.
Screenshot_20220512-022644_Service_mode_

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can confirm Crown Heights is officially at 100MHz n41. Just like last time we got a bump in carrier size, the most noticeable impact is higher upload speeds. I just got 129Mbps inside my house but download speeds are still capping out around 650Mbps. The most noticeable change on the download side is that I'm getting those 600Mbps+ speeds even further from my home site.

Once again, the only thing holding T-Mobile back is backhaul.

  • Like 1
  • Sad 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

Looks like this site's location was already confirmed by @thisischuck01 on Cellmapper.

Location: 40.68386106415719, -73.87804143759858

Beat me to the punch! But yes, there's an open DOB conversion permit for this site.

31 minutes ago, Paynefanbro said:

Can confirm Crown Heights is officially at 100MHz n41. Just like last time we got a bump in carrier size, the most noticeable impact is higher upload speeds. I just got 129Mbps inside my house but download speeds are still capping out around 650Mbps. The most noticeable change on the download side is that I'm getting those 600Mbps+ speeds even further from my home site.

Once again, the only thing holding T-Mobile back is backhaul.

100MHz live in Bedstuy/Bushwick, as well.

Has anyone else been seeing a lot of packet loss during speedtests (5-30%)? Was finally able to troubleshoot this - when my device is locked to NR-SA, NR-NSA, or LTE-only I don't see any issues. But when I let the device/network chose, it'll vacillate between NR-SA and NR-NSA mid-test (causing packet loss). Not sure if that's a device issues (S21U), network issue, or site config issue. From some preliminary testing, locking my phone to NSA also seems to fix the issues I've seen with speedtests peaking at 500+Mb/s but then finishing at 250Mb/s.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, thisischuck01 said:

Has anyone else been seeing a lot of packet loss during speedtests (5-30%)? Was finally able to troubleshoot this - when my device is locked to NR-SA, NR-NSA, or LTE-only I don't see any issues. But when I let the device/network chose, it'll vacillate between NR-SA and NR-NSA mid-test (causing packet loss). Not sure if that's a device issues (S21U), network issue, or site config issue. From some preliminary testing, locking my phone to NSA also seems to fix the issues I've seen with speedtests peaking at 500+Mb/s but then finishing at 250Mb/s.

Just ran some speed tests and they're all between 0-1% on my iPhone. Highest I've gotten is 0.88%. Is this happening across multiple sites or just one?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T-Mobile recently requested a permit to remove the Sprint antennas from eNB 5863. This was one of Sprint's first 5G sites in Brooklyn. There's a T-Mobile site less than a block away so it makes sense but this is one of the few times I've spotted them decommissioning a non-keep/non-collocated site.

It's Job # B00694601 in DOB Now.

At least the site is immortalized in Street View: 

0dUwwlk.png

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just spotted 100 MHz NR41 this morning in Manhattan. While sitting at my desk I now have access to 200Mhz (40mhz of LTE, 60mhz of LAA, and 100mhz of 5G) B66+B2+B46+B46+B46+NR41. If I had a newer phone I think I would be able to aggregate 5G and have another 10mhz.  Pretty sure my S20 Ultra doesn't support 5G CA with N71 and N41. Speeds at my desk which is on the 10th floor with no windows are ~500Mbps/60Mbps 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/12/2022 at 10:34 AM, Paynefanbro said:

Once again, the only thing holding T-Mobile back is backhaul.

Everywhere that they had 80 MHz live got the bump it looks like, but they did miss a tower or 2 in Manhattan when I was there yesterday. Its varies from 200-650 with peaks of 700-750 from where I passed through yesterday, so that is definitely still their Achilles heel.

23 hours ago, thisischuck01 said:

Has anyone else been seeing a lot of packet loss during speedtests (5-30%)? Was finally able to troubleshoot this - when my device is locked to NR-SA, NR-NSA, or LTE-only I don't see any issues. But when I let the device/network chose, it'll vacillate between NR-SA and NR-NSA mid-test (causing packet loss). Not sure if that's a device issues (S21U), network issue, or site config issue. From some preliminary testing, locking my phone to NSA also seems to fix the issues I've seen with speedtests peaking at 500+Mb/s but then finishing at 250Mb/s.

Since losing the n41 SA option I haven't had any SA band active, but I'll enable n71 SA and see what happens. Like Paynefanbro said, it remains low/non-existent for me as well, but I have been on NSA only for months now.

 

T-Mobile eNB 875531 has been switched from estimated to confirmed, I passed by the site yesterday. I missed my opportunity to check T-Mobile eNB 880561, but I did add B12 for it, but not B41, so im leaving it alone for now.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/12/2022 at 12:46 PM, Paynefanbro said:

Just ran some speed tests and they're all between 0-1% on my iPhone. Highest I've gotten is 0.88%. Is this happening across multiple sites or just one?

5 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

Since losing the n41 SA option I haven't had any SA band active, but I'll enable n71 SA and see what happens. Like Paynefanbro said, it remains low/non-existent for me as well, but I have been on NSA only for months now.

Seems to be happening on multiple sites. It doesn't happen every time, though - sometimes I'll have no issues and other times this will happen (taken while waiting for the train at the Marcy Ave JMZ stop):

image.png

7 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

T-Mobile recently requested a permit to remove the Sprint antennas from eNB 5863.

T-Mobile has really been going hard with the permits/decomms! I noticed that eNB 837896/7/8 near me was decommed earlier this week, and I've been seeing tons of permits for decomm on other redundant sites. I'll be interested to see how much of a physical network Sprint will have left by the time of the LTE shutdown.

That said, I'm still kinda unsure of what T-Mobile's plan is for parts of Harlem (Hamilton Heights, for example). For example, T-Mobile opted to let Dish takeover the site at 1700 Amsterdam - even though the site they have across the street (eNB 43916) is an old B2/B66/B12 setup with no active upgrade permits? There's a ton of similar sites - eNB 55893 (B2/B66), eNB 43174 (B2/B66), eNB 55944 (B2/B66), eNB 55554 (B2/B66) - none of these have active upgrade permits and none of the nearby Sprint sites are broadcasting the keep PLMN.

Another thing I've stumbled upon while searching for permits is old NYCWiN decomms. Interestingly enough, it seems as though it was far from uncommon for NYCWiN and Sprint to collocate. Here's an example in Williamsburg (antenna on the far right is NYCWiN gear).

6 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

T-Mobile eNB 875531 has been switched from estimated to confirmed, I passed by the site yesterday. I missed my opportunity to check T-Mobile eNB 880561, but I did add B12 for it, but not B41, so im leaving it alone for now.

Here's another conversion:

Sprint eNB 75733/4/5 (40.73427357479022,-73.99206117098873) --> T-Mobile eNB 216068/507263/216069

I'm wondering if the 216xxx numbering scheme is the new go-to. I've also spotted them using it for Sprint conversions upstate.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can confirm T-Mobile eNB 875826 is converted. Looks like there's a Sprint RRU up there.

Location (40.72920635526646, -73.92300128440183)

yRo45fK.jpg

— — — — —

I also attempted to confirm the site at (40.737745921347205, -73.88466508925949) on the keep site map but it still has its Sprint equipment up. I didn't see any T-Mobile antennas on it.

luAfxFi.jpg

Coincidentally T-Mobile did submit a permit two days ago to remove the Sprint antennas on the building. It hasn't been approved yet though. 

vplBYg2.png

 — — — — —

Got my highest upload speeds ever today. This is on eNB 56637 in Long Island City. Those 256QAM + 100MHz n41 speeds are gonna make some TMHI users happy. 

NoDWStB.png

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/13/2022 at 5:27 PM, thisischuck01 said:

Seems to be happening on multiple sites. It doesn't happen every time, though - sometimes I'll have no issues and other times this will happen

I don't know if its a network issue or device one, but when the device is idle/not doing anything data intensive, it will use and stay on SA, but once a speedtest starts, the device will switch to NSA for the faster speeds. The hand off isn't seamless, hence the packet loss.

----

On 5/13/2022 at 5:27 PM, thisischuck01 said:

Here's another conversion:
Sprint eNB 75733/4/5 (40.73427357479022,-73.99206117098873) --> T-Mobile eNB 216068/507263/216069

20 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

Permit submitted on May 5th for Sprint eNB 196271 to be converted into a T-Mobile site.
Location: 40.594170548244925, -73.98153574104246

1 hour ago, Paynefanbro said:

I also attempted to confirm the site at (40.737745921347205, -73.88466508925949) on the keep site map but it still has its Sprint equipment up. I didn't see any T-Mobile antennas on it.

I have added the two sites, and removed the Sprint info for the 3rd. Its most likely north of Queens Blvd instead of south of it. I also have 2 myself which I modified:

Sprint eNB 5790 pin removed; its the same location as eNB 8999
Sprint eNB 6877 pin removed; its the same location as eNB 9452

----

1 hour ago, Paynefanbro said:

Got my highest upload speeds ever today. This is on eNB 56637 in Long Island City. Those 256QAM + 100MHz n41 speeds are gonna make some TMHI users happy.

I went to Manhattan on Friday to see if the A71 could handle 256QAM up, and it definitely can. Funny enough, I got this while deprioritized. Also found a few more gig+ sites to add to the list as well, as I went with someone who has a better device to pass 800 with lol.
QLzxXm2.jpg
 

----

On 5/13/2022 at 5:27 PM, thisischuck01 said:

I'm wondering if the 216xxx numbering scheme is the new go-to. I've also spotted them using it for Sprint conversions upstate.

I think it might be. I was about to ask about it, as I have seen it pop up more within the city. There are 2 towers with B41 eNBs in the 216xxx range, 1 in Queens and 1 in Brooklyn.

----
Back to Dyker Heights. As I stopped by to map T-Mobile eNB 875844, I went through my usual band locking things to collect the data for Cellmapper, I realized n41 connected when I band locked B41. I made sure to run a few speedtests. I toggled airplane mode to see if it would drop and if service mode was bugged, but B41 continued to anchor n41. The device and the speedtest app were confused just as much as me, as the Upperlayer Indicator was wrong, hence the LTE icon for the tests and in the status bar.
f2FlZN0.jpg
 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 New estimated keep sites added.

1. Sprint eNB 253741 -> T-Mobile eNB 875537/875538
(40.702222459831056, -73.83051329597173)

2. Sprint eNBs 843179/80/81 -> T-Mobile eNB 880563
(40.705603020960396, -73.79917111257114)
This one has a work permit filed under Job#  Q00514589, so I would assume its a confirmed keep.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

2 New estimated keep sites added.

1. Sprint eNB 253741 -> T-Mobile eNB 875537/875538
(40.702222459831056, -73.83051329597173)

2. Sprint eNBs 843179/80/81 -> T-Mobile eNB 880563
(40.705603020960396, -73.79917111257114)
This one has a work permit filed under Job#  Q00514589, so I would assume its a confirmed keep.

 

  1. I think this site is actually at (40.70170960850086,-73.83302208208359). Whatever is at (40.702222459831056, -73.83051329597173) hasn't been touched since first install (late 2009).
  2. Yeah, I think you can mark this as confirmed. Looks like it needed landmark approval, which is why it took so long. Lots of cool info in that document:

image.png

image

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, thisischuck01 said:

 

  1. I think this site is actually at (40.70170960850086,-73.83302208208359). Whatever is at (40.702222459831056, -73.83051329597173) hasn't been touched since first install (late 2009).
  2. Yeah, I think you can mark this as confirmed. Looks like it needed landmark approval, which is why it took so long. Lots of cool info in that document:

image.png

image

 

Interesting that they're keeping that Band 25 Sprint RRU and cabinet. I'm pretty sure they did something similar when they kept T-Mobile eNB 875872. When I visited it a while back it was still broadcasting the keep PLMN on Band 25 but my phone would throw me back onto T-Mobile in less than 10 seconds if I tried to connect to it.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, thisischuck01 said:
  1. I think this site is actually at (40.70170960850086,-73.83302208208359). Whatever is at (40.702222459831056, -73.83051329597173) hasn't been touched since first install (late 2009).
  2. Yeah, I think you can mark this as confirmed. Looks like it needed landmark approval, which is why it took so long. Lots of cool info in that document:
  1. I kinda figured I was a bit too far east, since only Cells 2/12/22 were found, and nothing from Cells 3/13/23. Moved it to the location you mentioned.
  2. Done!
14 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

Interesting that they're keeping that Band 25 Sprint RRU and cabinet. I'm pretty sure they did something similar when they kept T-Mobile eNB 875872. When I visited it a while back it was still broadcasting the keep PLMN on Band 25 but my phone would throw me back onto T-Mobile in less than 10 seconds if I tried to connect to it.

When Sprint eNBs 6695 was converted, B25 from Sprint was still being broadcasted as well. At the time the keep PLMN wasn't a thing in NYC yet, and I don't know if they have a Sprint RRU up there, but I would guess broadcasting 310-120 B25 on converted sites is a way to maintain coverage for legacy Sprint users.
 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

When Sprint eNBs 6695 was converted, B25 from Sprint was still being broadcasted as well. At the time the keep PLMN wasn't a thing in NYC yet, and I don't know if they have a Sprint RRU up there, but I would guess broadcasting 310-120 B25 on converted sites is a way to maintain coverage for legacy Sprint users.

On all the conversions here in Omaha, they have kept the B25 RRU and are still broadcasting B25 on Sprint PLMNs through the T-Mobile equipment even now. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, thisischuck01 said:

Another confirmed keep site:

Sprint eNB ? -> T-Mobile eNB 895067 (40.73485489368193,-74.0089370311213)

Added, and 2 more estimated sites:

  1. T-Mobile eNB 876480. Looks like its located at (40.62210996397784, -73.97627312607108), as the tower looks like a Sprint setup.
  2. T-Mobile eNB 875632. Both this site and Sprint eNB 9022 seem to be located at (40.61640722407462, -73.96985178560767).
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

T-Mobile eNB 876480. Looks like its located at (40.62210996397784, -73.97627312607108), as the tower looks like a Sprint setup.

Confirmed

PihMmU5.jpgB1ttPUZ.jpg

 

6 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

T-Mobile eNB 875632. Both this site and Sprint eNB 9022 seem to be located at (40.61640722407462, -73.96985178560767).

Confirmed

K2hvpMK.jpg

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:
12 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

T-Mobile eNB 876480. Looks like its located at (40.62210996397784, -73.97627312607108), as the tower looks like a Sprint setup.

Confirmed

Thanks! This looks like the same Commscope panel I saw in Huguenot for eNB 41639. Its also not the tall Commscope version seen on Nokia builds in Nokia markets, so I wonder why the difference. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, T-MoblieUser207 said:

Its also not the tall Commscope version seen on Nokia builds in Nokia markets, so I wonder why the difference. 

Lower gain figures in exchange for increased vertical beamwidth. 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, RAvirani said:

Lower gain figures in exchange for increased vertical beamwidth. 

I believe there was some conjecture regarding this antenna (FFVV-65A-R2-V1) being used on sites with a height and/or weight limitation. 

T-Mobile's preferred NYC config:

  • Dual APXVAR18_43-C-NA20 (94.8lbs total, 68 inches tall)
  • APX16 (40.7lbs, 55.9 inches tall)
  • AIR 6449 (103.6lbs, 33 inches tall)
  • Total: 239.1lbs, 68 inches max height

This config:

  • FFVV-65A-R2-V1 (72.752lbs, 48.189 inches tall)
  • AIR 6449 (103.6lbs, 33 inches tall)
  • Total: 176lbs, 48 inches max height

VBW between the APX16 and FFVV-65A-R2-V1 seems near identical in the AWS/PCS range. Granted, T-Mobile typically drops the APX16 for a "lightweight" config, in which case the APXVAR18_43-C-NA20 does perform more poorly in terms of VBW. That said, the environment (eNB 876480) doesn't seem to necessite a significantly higher VBW (two story building serving two cemeteries and multiple one/two story buildings - the tallest structure in the area is the elevated train line).

I might be totally missing something, however.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • large.unreadcontent.png.6ef00db54e758d06

  • gallery_1_23_9202.png

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • In the conference call they had two question on additional spectrum. One was the 800 spectrum. They are not certain what will happen, thus have not really put it into their plans either way (sale or no sale). The do have a reserve level. It is seen as great for new technologies which I presume is IOT or 5g slices.  They did not bite on use of their c-band or DOD.  mmWave rapidly approaching deadlines not mentioned at all. FWA brushes on this as it deals with underutilized spectrum on a sector by sector basis.  They are willing to take more money to allow FWA to be mobile (think RV or camping). Unsure if this represents a higher priority, for example, RVs in Walmart parking lots where mobile needs all the capacity. In terms of FWA capacity, their offload strategy is fiber through joint ventures where T-Mobile does the marketing, sales, and customer support while the fiber company does the network planning and installation.  50%-50% financial split not being consolidated into their books. I think discussion of other spectrum would have diluted the fiber joint venture discussion. They do have a fund which one use is to purchase new spectrum. Sale of the 800Mhz would go into this. It should be noted that they continue to buy 2.5Ghz spectrum from schools etc to replace leases. They will have a conference this fall  to update their overall strategies. Other notes from the call are 75% of the phones on the network are 5g. About 85% of their sites have n41, n25, and n71. 93% of traffic is on midband.  SA is also adding to their performance advantage, which they figure is still ahead of other carriers by two years. It took two weeks to put the auction 108 spectrum to use at their existing sites. Mention was also made that their site spacing was designed for midrange thus no gaps in n41 coverage, while competitors was designed for lowband thus toggles back and forth for n77.  
    • The manual network selection sounds like it isn't always scanning NR, hence Dish not showing up. Your easiest way to force Dish is going to be forcing the phone into NR-only mode (*#*#4636#*#* menu?), since rainbow sims don't support SA on T-Mobile.
    • "The company’s unique multi-layer approach to 5G, with dedicated standalone 5G deployed nationwide across 600MHz, 1.9GHz, and 2.5GHz delivers customers a consistently strong experience, with 85% of 5G traffic on sites with all three spectrum bands deployed." Meanwhile they are very close to a construction deadline in June for 850Mhz of mmWave in most of Ohio iirc. No reported sightings.
    • T-Mobile Delivers Industry-Leading Customer, Service Revenue and Profitability Growth in Q1 2024, and Raises 2024 Guidance https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-q1-2024-earnings — — — — — I find it funny that when they talk about their spectrum layers they're saying n71, n25, and n41. They're completely avoiding talking about mmWave.
    • Was true in my market. Likely means a higher percentage of 5g phones in your market.
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...