Network Vision/LTE - San Diego Market

[Marv1]

I forgot to share this. A couple of weeks ago, I was stuck at work working a later shift. My favorite NFL team (Panthers) were playing  that Thursday evening. I knew I'd miss the entire first half. Being in Encinitas in the middle of Encinitas Blvd/Garden View on El Camino Real, LTE has been great, and big time improvement compared to last year around this time where it was spotty. I decided to stream the game using a favorite site of mine for streaming games called Livetv.sx/en/

 

Overall video was very crisp, clear, and no freezing! It was so great, my home Wifi didn't compare I have with Cox cable I use this site with at home that has constant freezing here and there, and sometimes pixel like video here and there. I held a very steady LTE signal at -89 to -97 dBm. I took some screenshots to show how great the video play was.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/anqep5gwiv98a50/AADy0TdBVTmuXWEZTTMT-sc1a?dl=0

[bucdenny]

Keep an eye out for Sprint 2.5.  Several dozen permits already approved so it is a matter of time b4 the ALU vendors starts knocking them off.

[djmatty]

Marv, the LTE is strong enough at my desk in Carlsbad that I watched the World Cup through the Watch ESPN app, and the video quality was crystal clear.

[bucdenny]

More Sprint B41 permits added to Sponsors map. 

[Marv1]

Speaking of Spark, I went to a local Sprint store in my area about a week ago to get something checked out. I was approached by a young girl, who was one of the sales people. She tried to talk me into getting rid of my S4 for a Spark S5, get rid of my Everything 450 for a new Easy Pay plan, along with a free tablet if I said yes. But nope. Then she tried talking me down, along with one of her managers saying I can keep my Everything 450, and work some magic. First of all, I don't need a tablet, second Spark isn't officially lit in San Diego yet, and last, I'm satisfied with my flagship S4 for time being.

 

But anyways, to make a long story short, she showed me the S5 (like I never seen it before), goes through the functions, etc.......... She then says, "You see that spinning star? That's a Spark signal." I'm like oh really. I then said, Spark isn't officially in San Diego as of yet. She then said she was in Encinitas earlier that week passing by the Encinitas Ranch golf course, and seen her star spinning on LTE network, and swore up and down she was on the Spark network. 

[tmiw]

Speaking of Spark, I went to a local Sprint store in my area about a week ago to get something checked out. I was approached by a young girl, who was one of the sales people. She tried to talk me into getting rid of my S4 for a Spark S5, get rid of my Everything 450 for a new Easy Pay plan, along with a free tablet if I said yes. But nope. Then she tried talking me down, along with one of her managers saying I can keep my Everything 450, and work some magic. First of all, I don't need a tablet, second Spark isn't officially lit in San Diego yet, and last, I'm satisfied with my flagship S4 for time being.

 

But anyways, to make a long story short, she showed me the S5 (like I never seen it before), goes through the functions, etc.......... She then says, "You see that spinning star? That's a Spark signal." I'm like oh really. I then said, Spark isn't officially in San Diego as of yet. She then said she was in Encinitas earlier that week passing by the Encinitas Ranch golf course, and seen her star spinning on LTE network, and swore up and down she was on the Spark network. 

 

Hmm, I do have the MiFi 500 and it's set up to prefer B46 first. There's not really anywhere convenient to park that doesn't have the risk of not picking it up though (due to the nature of B46 and all).

[S4GRU]

But anyways, to make a long story short, she showed me the S5 (like I never seen it before), goes through the functions, etc.......... She then says, "You see that spinning star? That's a Spark signal." I'm like oh really. I then said, Spark isn't officially in San Diego as of yet. She then said she was in Encinitas earlier that week passing by the Encinitas Ranch golf course, and seen her star spinning on LTE network, and swore up and down she was on the Spark network. 

 

Wow.  I was hoping we were on the upswing away from the misinformed store sales folks.  Sprint really has caused mass confusion on what Spark is.  I hope the full clarification of Spark and its significance becomes a priority for Marcelo.  She probably is not being untruthful, but likely misinformed or making bad assumptions.  Gosh I hope that's the case.

 

It's kind of like my son getting in to a "discussion" with a Verizon sales person who tried to explain to him that XLTE was a different and better technology than LTE, that no one has it and it is proprietary to Verizon.  No one else will be able to use it in the world, he proclaimed to my son.  My son explained that it is EXACTLY the same as T-Mobile's Wideband LTE.  It's just a 15 or 20MHz channel of the same technology.  No different really than the competition or the rest of the world.  He told my son he's seen the XLTE press releases, and they have it trademarked.  So no one else has it.

 

[Marv1]

Lol! Robert, even the manager was looking at me like how do I know that, while standing on the other side of the counter listening in . Lol! Boy I sure learned a lot from all you guys here since being a member. If I didn't know the things I know now, I'd fall for it. But nope!

[Rawvega]

Hmm, I do have the MiFi 500 and it's set up to prefer B46 first. There's not really anywhere convenient to park that doesn't have the risk of not picking it up though (due to the nature of B46 and all).

 

Band 41. There is no Band 46 as of yet.

[tmiw]

Band 41. There is no Band 46 as of yet.

 

D'oh. I knew it was in the 40s at least.

[Rawvega]

Lol

 

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

[bookertdub]

Obviously Band 41 isn't available inside the San Diego area, but how can I tell if I'm on Band 41 on my phone? I do have the Signal Check Pro app on my phone for what it's worth. I only ask because I venture into the Los Angeles area once a month.

[jsage]

but how can I tell if I'm on Band 41 on my phone?

 

 

Hi Booker,

 

In Signal Check Pro, check the LTE status. Look for the UL and DL channel frequencies: Band 25 will be 19xxMHz, Band 26 will be 8xxMHz and Band 41 will be 26xxMHz. I notice when traveling that sometimes Signal Check Pro also says "LTE 800" when I'm on Band 26 or "LTE 2500" when I'm on Band 41.

 

 

Have a great day,

John

[djmatty]

Obviously Band 41 isn't available inside the San Diego area, but how can I tell if I'm on Band 41 on my phone? I do have the Signal Check Pro app on my phone for what it's worth. I only ask because I venture into the Los Angeles area once a month.

I use the LTE Discovery app, it shows the band on the Signals tab.

[3dog]

What, if any, Sprint network enhancements would those in the know expect to see in the San Diego market a year from now - around December, 2015.

 

Backhauls finally in place everywhere?  LTE coverage far more built out than it is now - maybe even seriously blanketing the populated county?  New towers and coverage where needed?  Data speeds running at max everywhere?

 

It seems that the pace of Sprint's upgrades in San Diego have slowed tremendously over the past year, and that another year from now, we may not have any significant coverage and performance improvements over what we have now?

[lilotimz]

What, if any, Sprint network enhancements would those in the know expect to see in the San Diego market a year from now - around December, 2015.

 

Backhauls finally in place everywhere?  LTE coverage far more built out than it is now - maybe even seriously blanketing the populated county?  New towers and coverage where needed?  Data speeds running at max everywhere?

 

It seems that the pace of Sprint's upgrades in San Diego have slowed tremendously over the past year, and that another year from now, we may not have any significant coverage and performance improvements over what we have now?

 

San Diego is has reached the point where all the easiest sites have been converted. Information received a few months ago, that has turned out to be true,indicated that San Diego's last few sites will be done in handfuls due to issues outside of Sprints control with lease owners. 

 

It will be a extremely slow and agonizing slog to the finish line for that market. 8T8R B41 equipment will and is in the process of being deployed but with the extreme equipment shortages from Alcatel-Lucent the absolute highest priority sites in the US will get it first which means it'll mostly be hotspot coverage for a while. 

[tmiw]

I'd prefer B26 but that's not realistic 

 

Supposedly my house gets LTE but I currently have to walk a couple of blocks to pick it up. (I'm on Wi-Fi at home though so it's not that big of a deal.)

[3dog]

"It will be a extremely slow and agonizing slog to the finish line"

 

What's your best SWAG guess as to the term of the slog?

[S4GRU]

"It will be a extremely slow and agonizing slog to the finish line"

 

What's your best SWAG guess as to the term of the slog?

 

It depends on how you define finish.  In the most technical sense, there will never be a finish.  Just like AT&T, Tmo and Verizon are not finished.  There will always be more and more and more upgrading required.  But I would give you these educated guesstimates for San Diego:

• LTE 1900 (B25) widespread (deployed in most critical areas)...Complete
• LTE 2600 (B41) starting to go live in isolated areas...February 2015
• LTE 800 (B26) start to be deployed...December 2015
• LTE 2600 (B41) widespread (deployed in most critical areas)...December 2015
• LTE 1900 (B25) substantially complete...January 2016
• LTE 800 (B26) widespread...December 2016
• LTE 800 (B26) substantially complete...July 2017
• LTE 2600 (B41) substantially complete...October 2017

It could go faster.  But based on how things have gone in San Diego, and how forecasts look, I think this is realistic.  

[3dog]

Really excellent info S4GRU!  Don't get me wrong, I'll absolutely take it, but do your projections take into account our proximity to the Mexican border, and cross border interference issues?  I had thought that that made some band rollouts indeterminate?

[Dkoellerwx]

Really excellent info S4GRU! Don't get me wrong, I'll absolutely take it, but do your projections take into account our proximity to the Mexican border, and cross border interference issues? I had thought that that made some band rollouts indeterminate?

That affects Band 26 only. It should be worked out next year sometime. Hopefully.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5

[S4GRU]

Really excellent info S4GRU! Don't get me wrong, I'll absolutely take it, but do your projections take into account our proximity to the Mexican border, and cross border interference issues? I had thought that that made some band rollouts indeterminate?

These projections take into account the IBEZ issues. Otherwise B26 could start sooner than the end of next year.

[3dog]

Excellent!  Thx S4GRU.

[Jones]

Excellent!  Thx S4GRU.

Just call him Robert or Roberto as said in a Bobby Boucher voice.

[bucdenny]

• San Diego - 11 updates (10 3G, 1 LTE)

Starting to pickup steam again in San Diego.