LTE Plus / Enhanced LTE (was "Sprint Spark" - Official Name for the Tri-Band Network)

[EndlessDissent]

So glad they got that in! Now if I could only change the bars to show the right data while on 3G... Still, as 4G becomes more common I guess it really won't matter.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Cyanogenmod shows accurate 3G signal. If it were showing you 1x, it would say "1x" next to the bars. CM shows all signals correctly.

[Synovialbasher]

 

 

 

Cyanogenmod shows accurate 3G signal. If it were showing you 1x, it would say "1x" next to the bars. CM shows all signals correctly.

 

Mine shows the correct type of signal (3G, 4g, 1x). However the bars for everything but 4g aren't accurate. See screenshot. Network signal monitor is accurate because I know I'm in a 5 bar signal area, but my CM bars say I've got nothing.

[Beejis]

I heard that custom AOSP roms have trouble with 4g handoffs or something to that effect. Can anyone here relate any problems that they have noticed with AOSP roms like CM 10.1 or the like and LTE? I love AOKP but since LTE is popping up in my area like herpes I don't want to miss out on it because it won't keep a connection very well.

[EndlessDissent]

I heard that custom AOSP roms have trouble with 4g handoffs or something to that effect. Can anyone here relate any problems that they have noticed with AOSP roms like CM 10.1 or the like and LTE? I love AOKP but since LTE is popping up in my area like herpes I don't want to miss out on it because it won't keep a connection very well.

 

The handoff works fine now. It got fixed just before the 10.1 nightlies, so it works fine on any 4.2 AOSP ROM.

[EndlessDissent]

 

 

Mine shows the correct type of signal (3G, 4g, 1x). However the bars for everything but 4g aren't accurate. See screenshot. Network signal monitor is accurate because I know I'm in a 5 bar signal area, but my CM bars say I've got nothing.

 

I'm not sure why it's wrong for you, but mine shows an accurate signal. I get one bar of LTE in my driveway. When I'm on 3G, it fluctuates between one and two bars, and if it switches to 1x, I get 3 or even a full 4 bars. I know my LTE signal is accurate because my status under About Phone shows my LTE signal at -110dBm~-120dBm. I know that my 3G signal is accurate because on my EVO 4G, before Network Vision, I used to fluctuate between no bars/1x and one bar, occasionally up to 2. My current signal matches the ever-so-slight increase one would expect from Network Vision.

 

When I'm in an area with a strong 3G signal, the bars fill up like they're supposed to. I've never had a problem with the signal reported on my phone.

[MLtech]

OK. I think I have typed this 50 times now in several forums. So I have decided to consolidate this in one thread and direct people here...

 

Did you know that with Sprint LTE Android devices, the signal strength indicator at the top does not show your LTE signal strength? Even if 4G is displayed next to it?

 

This signal displayed here is always your 1x (voice signal), and it is not your 3G EVDO signal strength, nor your LTE signal strength. Regardless of whether it says 3G or 4G next to it. This is the cause of a lot of confusion. Also, third party apps like NetMonitor and CDMA Field Test do not show accurate LTE signal strengths. They also only show the 1x signal strength, even though they may reference being connected to LTE.

 

The purpose of this thread is to help educate the masses, because many people think they have a strong LTE signal, when in fact they do not. And then they are unhappy, thinking that Sprint LTE is really slow, even with a strong signal. LTE performance is very signal strength dependent. So, when you have a weak signal, you can expect much slower than peak results.

 

There is only one accurate way to get your LTE signal strength, and that is from your LTE Engineering screen in your Debug menu. And we will discuss the different ways to get that below.

 

 

...In the Galaxy S-III, Victory LTE & Note II:

• Go in to your phone app, and dial ##DEBUG#
  
• Enter 777468 for your lock code
  
• Select LTE Engineering
  
• Go down to RSRP. The number next to RSRP shown in dBm is your LTE signal strength.
  

..The LTE Signal Strength Scale:

 

Now you have determined your actual LTE signal strength in dBms your device is receiving, you can use the following scale below to determine its strength:

• Better than -96dBm is a great signal
  
• Between -97dBm and -107dBm is good
  
• Between -108dBm and -114dBm is fair
  
• Worse than -115dBm is poor
  

Feel free to link people to this thread for explanation. Hopefully, this will clear up some confusion out there!

 

NOTE: It appears that the iPhone 5 does show LTE signal strength in the status bar, when the LTE icon is displayed. So this does not apply to the iPhone.

 

 

Thank you for the post. I'm still having trouble getting the LTE Engineering Screen so show. I suspect I'm missing something obvious, or maybe I don't have some setting correct on my phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy S-3 on Sprint and when I dial I can't directly enter letters, so I'm assuming you mean to use the number equivalents which comes out as ##33284# and then 777468. But when I enter that I get a message saying "feature code you entered is not valid, ... message 1 switch 352". Is there some other way to enter letters? Do I need to set up my phone is some way?

 

I noticed an LTE symbol pop up on the top of my phone yesterday at the Cariboo by I35 exit 84 in Lakeville, MN, but I cant figure much more about that.

 

Also I went to a tower just East of Mankato, MN yesterday and had no LTE signal, but it appears the crew just finished installing 3 new NV panels, RHHs and Hybrid fiber lines along with two new Samsung ground cabinets. The Sprint sign said MS03NP416.

[S4GRU]

 

 

Thank you for the post. I'm still having trouble getting the LTE Engineering Screen so show. I suspect I'm missing something obvious, or maybe I don't have some setting correct on my phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy S-3 on Sprint and when I dial I can't directly enter letters, so I'm assuming you mean to use the number equivalents which comes out as ##33284# and then 777468. But when I enter that I get a message saying "feature code you entered is not valid, ... message 1 switch 352". Is there some other way to enter letters? Do I need to set up my phone is some way?

 

I noticed an LTE symbol pop up on the top of my phone yesterday at the Cariboo by I35 exit 84 in Lakeville, MN, but I cant figure much more about that.

 

Also I went to a tower just East of Mankato, MN yesterday and had no LTE signal, but it appears the crew just finished installing 3 new NV panels, RHHs and Hybrid fiber lines along with two new Samsung ground cabinets. The Sprint sign said MS03NP416.

 

I'm not sure what is up with your unit. I tried ##33284# and then entered 777468 on the lock code request on my GS3 and it worked fine. It also worked fine just now on my Note 2 and Victory. Does your phone have a custom ROM?

 

Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

[MLtech]

I'm not sure what is up with your unit. I tried ##33284# and then entered 777468 on the lock code request on my GS3 and it worked fine. It also worked fine just now on my Note 2 and Victory. Does your phone have a custom ROM?

 

Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

 

How would I know if it has a custom ROM? It is build number JZ054K.L710VPBMB1

[S4GRU]

 

How would I know if it has a custom ROM? It is build number JZ054K.L710VPBMB1

 

If you don't know, then you don't have one. A Custom ROM is a new customized version of Android that you would have to install on your phone. I do remember reading somewhere in our forums about a year ago with someone else who could never access his Debug menu. We assumed it was something wrong with his unit. We never could figure it out.

You can get the LTE signal reading from several apps, including Sensorly and apps created by our members like SignalCheck Pro.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

[MLtech]

I have Sensorly installed and have it running on trips to report. I'm not sure how I access the info in collects from my phone -- just how to see the maps they create. How do I get details that would be helpful to S4gru?

I also have just installed Signal Check Light. Will that give me useful info? I'm not in an LTE area right now.

 

Thanks for the help. Just got this S-3 phone, so nothing special on the ROM.

[gr8nuguy]

Maybe we can update this for the ONE

[elkaku]

I have Sensorly installed and have it running on trips to report. I'm not sure how I access the info in collects from my phone -- just how to see the maps they create. How do I get details that would be helpful to S4gru?

I also have just installed Signal Check Light. Will that give me useful info? I'm not in an LTE area right now.

 

Thanks for the help. Just got this S-3 phone, so nothing special on the ROM.

 

U should have gotten the htcONE.... A much better phone :)

 

posted using J.A.R.V.I.S.

 

 

[MLtech]

How would I know if it has a custom ROM? It is build number JZ054K.L710VPBMB1

 

I got the Kernal update to build number JZO54K.L710VPBMD4 and now it works to enter the ##33284# and asks for lockcode and 777468 works to get into the LTE Engineering dialog. Not sure what the problem was before, but it is working now. Thanks.

[greg4lte]

this appears to be a good working site.  I got 25-30mbps down.....Obviously, this is an unloaded tower.

 

[koiulpoi]

I know this is probably way old news, but it looks like the first post hasn't been updated in a while...

 

Both the HTC ONE and the Kyocera Torque use the same instructions as the EVO LTE, et. al.

 

The Samsung Galaxy S4 uses the same instructions as the Galaxy S3, et. al.

[WiWavelength]

I know this is probably way old news, but it looks like the first post hasn't been updated in a while...

 

Both the HTC ONE and the Kyocera Torque use the same instructions as the EVO LTE, et. al.

 

The Samsung Galaxy S4 uses the same instructions as the Galaxy S3, et. al.

 

The really cool wireless network nerds (oxymoron) know the dialer codes but have home screen shortcuts to both Field Trial and Testing APKs.

 

 

AJ

[koiulpoi]

The really cool wireless network nerds (oxymoron) know the dialer codes but have home screen shortcuts to both Field Trial and Testing APKs.

 

 

 

AJ

Not on our store demo devices, I don't think. Manager might have something to say about that. Of course, I could just pass it off as a customer doing it - we've gotten everything from ad-filled games to porn.

 

I'm still casually searching for a way to get those field test APKs on an AOSP ROM... Until then, Signalcheck Pro is working well for me.

 

And hey, you upgraded to the One? I thought you were still rocking the HTC EVO 4G LTE!

[WiWavelength]

And hey, you upgraded to the One? I thought you were still rocking the HTC EVO 4G LTE!

 

I do not openly disclose my devices.  You are left to your own devices to determine which devices are my devices -- or vices.

 

 

AJ

[deep]

On my phone in the LTE Enginerring screen, it has:

STATE: Connected(2)

RSRP: -114, RSRQ: -10

 

Does that mean I'm currently connected to 4g lte even when it has the 3G icon on the status bar?

 

Also, in the 1x Enginerring screen, my RSSI is -98.  What can I expect when lte is install on the tower close to me?  Also, RX Pwr bounces between -99 and -104.

[arod356]

I was wondering why I was roaming (Verizon 1xrtt) and my HTC One was still showing 4g for a good 5 minutes. Does this scenario

 apply here, since the bars don't represent LTE signal strength??

[newboyx]

I was wondering why I was roaming (Verizon 1xrtt) and my HTC One was still showing 4g for a good 5 minutes. Does this scenario

apply here, since the bars don't represent LTE signal strength??

Correct, you were roaming on VZW 1x while also connected to Sprint LTE.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[ajmcedar]

Sorry for a dumb question. I have a SGS4, rooted, FreeGS4v2.0.0 and when I follow the instructions to get to the Enginnering screen I get no prompt for password entry, it goes straight to the LTE, etc selections. I go into the engineering screens and they are blank. Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

 

TIA

[Nickel]

Sorry for a dumb question. I have a SGS4, rooted, FreeGS4v2.0.0 and when I follow the instructions to get to the Enginnering screen I get no prompt for password entry, it goes straight to the LTE, etc selections. I go into the engineering screens and they are blank. Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

 

TIA

Probably the custom ROM, while some of them retain it all the engineering screen stuff, others don't. If this is something important to you I would look into a different ROM.

[jordanlong20]

On phone, so I can't really search well, but what is the iOS equivalent of sensorly? I can't see any connection information from the system settings and im looking for the best third party app.

 

Tia

 

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[digiblur]

On phone, so I can't really search well, but what is the iOS equivalent of sensorly? I can't see any connection information from the system settings and im looking for the best third party app.

 

Tia

 

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 4

There is none. Apple doesn't allow it.