T-Mobile LTE & Network Discussion

[EvanA]

Sprint is now ahead of T-Mobile in Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; and Mobile, AL according to RootMetrics reports. Sprint seems to be proving that a network is much more than how fast is is.

Louisville is a tie

 

Also, that perfect call reliability score in Little Rock.

[jamisonshaw125]

Sprint is now ahead of T-Mobile in Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; and Mobile, AL according to RootMetrics reports. Sprint seems to be proving that a network is much more than how fast is is.

Pretty soon, Sprint is going to be able to broadcast that they have the nations most reliable network. 

[Paynefanbro]

Pretty soon, Sprint is going to be able to broadcast that they have the nations most reliable network. 

 

Wouldn't it be awesome for them to claim that title again after all these years of not having it.

[derrph]

From what I've seen with most of the cities sprints calling and texting (the fundamentals) are above T-Mobile. Just that alone is really good. The only thing T-Mo has on Sprint is data speeds.

[sbolen]

From what I've seen with most of the cities sprints calling and texting (the fundamentals) are above T-Mobile. Just that alone is really good. The only thing T-Mo has on Sprint is data speeds.

 

10/10 times, I'd rather have more reliable data than fast data. The problem is that consumers are trained to think that faster > better.

 

(Once the Network Vision upgrades are complete, Sprint will challenge any carrier on speed/reliability/call quality/texting)

[derrph]

10/10 times, I'd rather have more reliable data than fast data. The problem is that consumers are trained to think that faster > better.

 

(Once the Network Vision upgrades are complete, Sprint will challenge any carrier on speed/reliability/call quality/texting)

I fully agree with you. Faster data is always good but really is just a few seconds in difference under the right conditions. But the average customer just wants to get on a social networking site, YouTube and stream music. If they are able to do that then they don't complain.

[MkVsTheWorld]

It's really good for a smaller player to be able to say it is faster, more reliable, has fewer dropped calls, etc. It wasn't that long ago when Sprint was one of the first carriers to adopt unlimited calling and everyone else followed suit, including Verizon (or Bell Atlantic Mobile). I'd like to see Sprint being a disruptive player again.

Edited October 31, 2014 by MkVsTheWorld

[orangeblue]

From what I've seen with most of the cities sprints calling and texting (the fundamentals) are above T-Mobile. Just that alone is really good. The only thing T-Mo has on Sprint is data speeds.

 

Speed is nice but it needs to be reliable and not jump all over the place and TMo still offers these super fast 2G speeds in many areas of California.

[milan03]

10/10 times, I'd rather have more reliable data than fast data. The problem is that consumers are trained to think that faster > better.

 

(Once the Network Vision upgrades are complete, Sprint will challenge any carrier on speed/reliability/call quality/texting)

In this day and age it needs to be both.

[coorsleftfield]

I've really wanted to like tmobile. I've tried switching a few times but ended up canceling. First time was for zero bars in my lab at work, second was for no data coverage at our cabin. Here in Phoenix Sprint LTE coverage is starting to match Tmo. Tmobile still has better speeds but it's not enough of a difference in real world use to make up for the other lack of coverage . I do really like how they basically changed the entire wireless industry with their uncarrier movement.

[BlueAngel]

I've really wanted to like tmobile. I've tried switching a few times but ended up canceling. First time was for zero bars in my lab at work, second was for no data coverage at our cabin. Here in Phoenix Sprint LTE coverage is starting to match Tmo. Tmobile still has better speeds but it's not enough of a difference in real world use to make up for the other lack of coverage . I do really like how they basically changed the entire wireless industry with their uncarrier movement.

Speed isn't everything, and once B41 is available Sprint is king.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5

[TheForce627]

T-Mobile has definitely started it's 700mhz deployment in the DC area. Found a new long panel on a T-Mobile only site. Couldn't get pics as I was driving but I'm sure this is what I saw

[danlodish345]

sprint in my area has band 41 deployments going on in my area but on one site and lte still doesnt reach my block and sprint should turn on smr already lol and also t mobiles 700 mhz license covers practically my entire state 

 

T-Mobile has definitely started it's 700mhz deployment in the DC area. Found a new long panel on a T-Mobile only site. Couldn't get pics as I was driving but I'm sure this is what I saw

[richy]

I've really wanted to like tmobile. I've tried switching a few times but ended up canceling. First time was for zero bars in my lab at work, second was for no data coverage at our cabin. Here in Phoenix Sprint LTE coverage is starting to match Tmo. Tmobile still has better speeds but it's not enough of a difference in real world use to make up for the other lack of coverage . I do really like how they basically changed the entire wireless industry with their uncarrier movement.

 

I've stuck with them although with the same issues (building penetration and rural coverage) but I use an old verizon tablet on pay as you go as a hotspot for the gaps. Sprint sadly isn't much better on either count here but they do have plans to change it whereas tmobile haven't announced the purchase of the 700 lower A here yet. Probably still talking to cavalier? about it. Rural coverage is tough, either company would need at least 2 more towers which wouldn't be cheap. At least with Sprint I could roam on Vzw. Can't wait to dump that tablet, sending money their way makes me feel dirty As soon as Sprint get 800 etc rolled out island wide it should make them the obvious choice. For people who never leave town they probably already are. 

[Destroyallcubes]

So I am using my iPad mini 2 (with a tmobile sim)and saw cellular one and chinook service up top. Iirc cellular one is chinook. And thought they were CDMA given the ties they have with verizon LTE here, am I wrong?

[maxsilver]

So I am using my iPad mini 2 (with a tmobile sim)and saw cellular one and chinook service up top. Iirc cellular one is chinook. And thought they were CDMA given the ties they have with verizon LTE here, am I wrong?

 

My memory is vague, and my knowledge of this is very minimal, but I think Cellular One operates a dual CDMA + GSM network somewhere in/near Arizona.

[Tajustin95]

During DT's quarterly earnings call they said they are still open to a merge but U.S. Regulators are holding them back and letting Verizon and At&t sit comfortably

[WiWavelength]

So I am using my iPad mini 2 (with a tmobile sim)and saw cellular one and chinook service up top. Iirc cellular one is chinook. And thought they were CDMA given the ties they have with verizon LTE here, am I wrong?

My memory is vague, and my knowledge of this is very minimal, but I think Cellular One operates a dual CDMA + GSM network somewhere in/near Arizona.

 

Guys, Cellular One is no specific operator.  It is just a marketing name.  Over the years, many different operators -- AirTouch, SBC, WWC, Dobson, et al. -- have owned or licensed the Cellular One brand in at least some of their markets.  For the current example, Cellular One of Northeast Arizona is actually Smith Bagley, and it has no direct link to Chinook.

 

AJ

[Destroyallcubes]

Guys, Cellular One is no specific operator.  It is just a marketing name.  Over the years, many different operators -- AirTouch, SBC, WWC, Dobson, et al. -- have owned or licensed the Cellular One brand in at least some of their markets.  For the current example, Cellular One of Northeast Arizona is actually Smith Bagley, and it has no direct link to Chinook.

 

AJ

Sorry after further looking into it it is chinook liscenses, only regional operqtor here. Weird as its two different names shown.

[Nickel]

Guys, Cellular One is no specific operator.  It is just a marketing name.  Over the years, many different operators -- AirTouch, SBC, WWC, Dobson, et al. -- have owned or licensed the Cellular One brand in at least some of their markets.  For the current example, Cellular One of Northeast Arizona is actually Smith Bagley, and it has no direct link to Chinook.

 

AJ

Yup, I recall my Uncle having "Cellular One" service in Nebraska, but that was probably WWC.

[Deval]

So with the news that T-Mo has wideband LTE on air in NYC, here's a question. How are they doing their upgrade? A new panel, new card in the basestation, same backhaul?

[lilotimz]

So with the news that T-Mo has wideband LTE on air in NYC, here's a question. How are they doing their upgrade? A new panel, new card in the basestation, same backhaul?

Base Station modification, call up provider for increased backhaul, and refarm the spectrum from their 3g network.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Deval]

Base Station modification, call up provider for increased backhaul, and refarm the spectrum from their 3h network.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Ah ok, makes sense.

 

Makes me wonder if they will have to do a Network Vision style retrofit soon enough, or just keep it piece meal?

[lilotimz]

Ah ok, makes sense.

 

Makes me wonder if they will have to do a Network Vision style retrofit soon enough, or just keep it piece meal?

The tmobile modernization project is a network vision style rebuild.

 

All new Ericsson base stations and antennas and new Nokia macro setups.

 

It's an extremely solid network where upgraded fully and can do everything sprints equipment could do and then some.

 

It's Att and Verizon that have to do a full style refit which they are doing now starting with their oldest sites.

 

Note their rural GMO style conversions are exempted as LTE GMOs overall are not satisfactory for any provider.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[milan03]

Base Station modification, call up provider for increased backhaul, and refarm the spectrum from their 3h network.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Actually, at this point in NYC they don't have to touch their Base Stations. It's the matter of remotely rearranging/refarming the spectrum, and remotely re-provisioning the backhaul, really fronting the bill to their backhaul providers.