Cheap way to track 800 Spectrum Rollout

[jdontz]

I'm a current Verizon customer but am interested in watching the 800 rollout in my area (Grand Rapids, MI).  What would be a good phone that I could sign up for Boost (or other prepaid Sprint) service and monitor the deployment with?  Looking for something I could find on Craiglist for cheap.  Something with LTE would be awesome  

 

I believe I saw there was an app I could download to an Android device to figure out if I was on 800 1X.  The current 1900 network is not quite good enough, but I have high hopes once NV is complete.

 

Thanks 

[Deval]

I don't know if the Boost smart phones will have access to 800mhz right out of the gate, not sure if they have the same PRL loaded as the Sprint phones. 

[jdontz]

I looks like the Galaxy Victory may fit the bill.  Can anyone comment on if Virgin or Boost have access to the 800mhz spectrum?  How easy would it be to load a custom PRL on this phone?

[lynyrd65]

If your only concern is 1x 800 and not lte 1900 you could get a vm Evo 3D (probably cheaper especially used)

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Mobilesolutions]

I say watch what goes on in the NV complete maps since your a sponsor, and switch over to a Tri-band device this fall. 

[Rukin1]

As of right now, 0 boost phones support 800. It's only most of Sprint branded phones. I'd imagine when 800 is done or near 100% completion, then maybe boost will release phones with 800 support.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blueline.signalchecklite

For your determination of 800/1900

[Rawvega]

As of right now, 0 boost phones support 800.

 

I don't believe that's correct. I'm sure that there are Boost phones that have the hardware to support 800MHz 1x CDMA. Now Sprint may release them with PRLs that don't allow them to access the 800MHz, but PRLs generally can be changed fairly easily.

[Rukin1]

I don't believe that's correct. I'm sure that there are Boost phones that have the hardware to support 800MHz 1x CDMA. Now Sprint may release them with PRLs that don't allow them to access the 800MHz, but PRLs generally can be changed fairly easily.

Look it up.

[khammondnm]

Just become a sponsor for the price of a phone...help the forums out and see every site that is accepted smr

 

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

 

[Rawvega]

Look it up.

 

Look what up?

[jdontz]

Just become a sponsor for the price of a phone...help the forums out and see every site that is accepted smr

 

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I'm more interested in seeing how for the signal actually propagates to determine how usable the network is.  Only a phone will do this.

[markjcc]

The Virgin Mobile LG F3 Is a newly launched device from sprint and its available on Virgin Mobile im pretty sure it has 800Mhz Support since its a newly released device on sprint also

[Rukin1]

The Virgin Mobile LG F3 Is a newly launched device from sprint and its available on Virgin Mobile im pretty sure it has 800Mhz Support since its a newly released device on sprint also

Just because it's released by sprint, it does though.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=4051

 

Unless that's wrong.

Edited July 31, 2013 by Rukin1

[markjcc]

Just because it's released by sprint, doesn't mean it supports 800. But i'll look now.

 

• CDMA:
  • 800, 1900 MHz
• LTE:
  • 1900 MHz

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/LG-Optimus-F3_id7862

Announced:06 Jun 2013Market status:Released

[Rukin1]

 

• CDMA:
  • 800, 1900 MHz
• LTE:
  • 1900 MHz

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/LG-Optimus-F3_id7862

Announced:06 Jun 2013Market status:Released

 

I edited it.

[cmitchell17]

I have an galaxy s2 with the 31104 prl and I thought that supported 1x on 800? From the spreadsheet on prls that was posted. Maybe that's why I haven't seen it yet?

[iansltx]

I have an galaxy s2 with the 31104 prl and I thought that supported 1x on 800? From the spreadsheet on prls that was posted. Maybe that's why I haven't seen it yet?

More likely: 1x800 isn't turned on in your area yet. It's relatively rare, still.

[DJBPace07]

I am using a Boost phone to determine signal strength in nTelos territory, which is a Sprint wholesale provider.  My phone is the Kyocera Coast, a cheap feature phone that is capable of CDMA: 800/1900 MHz. Data: 1xRTT.  My phone has never used 800 MHz., always 1900 MHz.  This means either the 800 MHz. functionality is disabled on the phone, nTelos/Sprint blocks the 800 MHz. on Boost, or the towers around my location don't use 800 MHz.  Again, this is CDMA on 800 MHz., BC10 I think, not LTE.

 

I wish I could do 800 MHz. at my location, it may be able to penetrate the walls at work and give me a signal instead of constantly searching for service.

 

EDIT:  I just looked at the PRL spreadsheet and the PRL version on my phone is 31010, which means BC10 is disabled.

Edited August 1, 2013 by DJBPace07

[cmitchell17]

I am using a Boost phone to determine signal strength in nTelos territory, which is a Sprint wholesale provider.  My phone is the Kyocera Coast, a cheap feature phone that is capable of CDMA: 800/1900 MHz. Data: 1xRTT.  My phone has never used 800 MHz., always 1900 MHz.  This means either the 800 MHz. functionality is disabled on the phone, nTelos/Sprint blocks the 800 MHz. on Boost, or the towers around my location don't use 800 MHz.  Again, this is CDMA on 800 MHz., BC10 I think, not LTE.

 

I wish I could do 800 MHz. at my location, it may be able to penetrate the walls at work and give me a signal instead of constantly searching for service.

 

EDIT:  I just looked at the PRL spreadsheet and the PRL version on my phone is 31010, which means BC10 is disabled.

From the spreadsheet it looks your PRL says no BC10 so definitely no 1x 800 for that PRL, but 31104 doesn't have any mention of no BC10 so I guess that means that PRL has it?

[lordsutch]

AFAIK nTelos hasn't deployed a single piece of NV equipment yet, and probably won't until Sprint forces them to in their next wholesale agreement renewal, so the lack of ESMR anything (or G block LTE) in nTelosland shouldn't be a surprise.

[DJBPace07]

Given the Softbank infusion of cash, what are the chances of Sprint overbuilding or buying nTelos or some other carrier, similar to how Verizon Wireless bought West Virginia Wireless?  nTelos has said they will begin rolling out LTE later this year, if they were smart, they would roll out NV, and 800 MHz., at that time.  The current agreement with nTelos ends in 2015 with overbuilding being allowed in 2014.