IBEZ 800MHz Retrofit

[MrZorbatron]

Now that the IBEZ issues have cleared up, what form will the retrofit take? Will they just add the 800MHz radio with its own antenna or will it entail removal and replacement of all of the existing 1900MHz-only antenna hardware and then adding the 800 radio?

 

We do have a number of higher capacity sites with twin PCS setups, so those seem to have a straightforward answer.

 

I live in Michigan, where most of the state is PC only. This even includes a couple of brand new sites that I have inspected. It seems extremely short sighted to install all of these goofy PCS antennas, only to replace them shortly.

 

I suppose it is possible that they will install the dual band antenna with its own two radios at every site, leaving the existing PCS antenna and its radio installed and functioning. This would be good from the standpoint of redundancy and signal range due to radio limitations. Unfortunately, it would also make too much sense for a major cellular carrier to consider it. There is also the issue of the situations in which the PCS hardware, due to its compactness, is simply lashed directly to the tower mast. This would need to be replaced by dual band setups, if they even fit at all.

 

Just a few thoughts.

[lilotimz]

Now that the IBEZ issues have cleared up, what form will the retrofit take? Will they just add the 800MHz radio with its own antenna or will it entail removal and replacement of all of the existing 1900MHz-only antenna hardware and then adding the 800 radio?

 

I live in Michigan, where most of the state is PC only. This even includes a couple of brand new sites that I have inspected. It seems extremely short sighted to install all of these goofy PCS antennas, only to replace them shortly.

 

I suppose it is possible that they will install the dual band antenna with its own two radios at every site, leaving the existing PCS antenna and its radio installed and functioning. This would be good from the standpoint of redundancy and signal range due to radio limitations. Unfortunately, it would also make too much sense for a major cellular carrier to consider it. There is also the issue of the situations in which the PCS hardware, due to its compactness, is simply lashed directly to the tower mast. This would need to be replaced by dual band setups, if they even fit at all.

 

Just a few thoughts.

 

Antenna swapout 1 for 1, addition of RRH-C2, addition of 800 mhz UADU in MMBS, and software parameters for SMR 800 antennas. 

[MrZorbatron]

Antenna swapout 1 for 1, addition of RRH-C2, addition of 800 mhz UADU in MMBS, and software parameters for SMR 800 antennas.

That's what I was afraid of. Stupid.

[taylorcox75]

Antenna swapout 1 for 1, addition of RRH-C2, addition of 800 mhz UADU in MMBS, and software parameters for SMR 800 antennas. 

Wait what?  Tucson aka 100 miles from Mexico here, does this mean B26/ 800 1x is on the way?  Link?

[caspar347]

Gah! Why didn't they put up dual band antennas initially?! Supply issues?

 

Oh well. I hope that they can do a quick rollout of 800 in IBEZ without taking away from 8T8R deployment. (I know they are handled by separate teams, but they pull workers from the same pool don't they?)

[lilotimz]

That's what I was afraid of. Stupid.

 

1900 mhz RFS antennas are a LOT cheaper than the 800+1900 varieties Sprint uses.. like 50% the cost (~$1000-2000 vs $2000-4000). It made sense for them to do use the much cheaper 1900 only antennas early on especially with the bean counters making the decisions and the then unknown progress of the Canadian SMR rebanding. 

 

Wait what?  Tucson aka 100 miles from Mexico here, does this mean B26/ 800 1x is on the way?  Link?

 

Mexican IBEZ has compatible antennas from the get go minus the SMR 800 equipment. 

[taylorcox75]

Mexican IBEZ has compatible antennas from the get go minus the SMR 800 equipment. 

So has the IBEZ been approved meaning they will start 800 rollout?

[lilotimz]

So has the IBEZ been approved meaning they will start 800 rollout?

 

IBEZ deployments begin whenever the other side has cleared out enough spectrum. It's region by region with actual deployment in many areas not expected until later this year. 

[cyclone]

Now that the IBEZ issues have cleared up, what form will the retrofit take? Will they just add the 800MHz radio with its own antenna or will it entail removal and replacement of all of the existing 1900MHz-only antenna hardware and then adding the 800 radio?

 

 

I believe the confusion taylorcox75 has is due to the very first sentence. It explicitly implies that everything has been resolved

[MrZorbatron]

I believe the confusion taylorcox75 has is due to the very first sentence. It explicitly implies that everything has been resolved

Right. I should have said that a solution gas been determined, though not necessarily applied yet.

 

I still think the 1900 hardware should be left, especially in rural areas like mine, with very large areas served by individual sites. These are cases where the radios run at their maximum power levels. The more carriers that a radio is required to broadcast, the less power is available to be put into any individual carrier.

 

Throwing all of the CDMA stuff on one radio and the one or eventually two LTE carriers onto another would be a great way to increase LTE 1900 coverage.

[travismheim]

Right. I should have said that a solution gas been determined, though not necessarily applied yet.

 

I still think the 1900 hardware should be left, especially in rural areas like mine, with very large areas served by individual sites. These are cases where the radios run at their maximum power levels. The more carriers that a radio is required to broadcast, the less power is available to be put into any individual carrier.

 

Throwing all of the CDMA stuff on one radio and the one or eventually two LTE carriers onto another would be a great way to increase LTE 1900 coverage.

Rural areas usually only have one PCS 1X carrier, and one evdo carrier on the CDMA side. I don't really see a need to keep multiple panels and radios up unless its a high capacity site.

 

Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk

[MrZorbatron]

Rural areas usually only have one PCS 1X carrier, and one evdo carrier on the CDMA side. I don't really see a need to keep multiple panels and radios up unless its a high capacity site.

 

Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk

Radio power.

 

Most of my area isn't extremely rural. Near me there are 2-4 EVDO and 2-3 1x carriers at most sites. I know this by talking to technicians at sites. Spacing is very sparse, however. I know that several local rural-ly spaced Sprint sites were served by T3s (43Mbps) before being upgraded.

 

LTE 1900 here has lots of holes in it, which is really annoying. This dual rig idea would clear that up a lot, I think.

 

What is really interesting is that we have had EVDO data speeds 600Kbps-1.2Mbps for years in most of my area, well before Network Vision,so I never really understood the awful data rates so many people complained about.

[dnwk]

Any links to the source saying "IBEZ issues have cleared"?

[MrZorbatron]

Any links to the source saying "IBEZ issues have cleared"?

Discussions here, including in restricted areas.

[joshnys8913]

800 would be nice to see in NY state (near the border ex: Buffalo, Rochester)

[S4GRU]

Any links to the source saying "IBEZ issues have cleared"?

IBEZ issues are clearing this year. On the Canadian side, they will begin as the other side is certified clear. One region at a time. On the Mexican side, they will begin each region as the American side is clear.

 

Regions will start one at a time as they are clear starting mid year. Sprint wants to be started in all regions before the end of 2015. Sprint will begin installing equipment before areas are clear so they can be fired up immediately after certification.

 

I am the source.

 

However, it was eluded to in the last Sprint Quarterly Conference call when Marcelo said they plan to have B26 under way in all regions before the end of the year.

[joshnys8913]

IBEZ issues are clearing this year. On the Canadian side, they will begin as the other side is certified clear. One region at a time. On the Mexican side, they will begin each region as the American side is clear.

 

Regions will start one at a time as they are clear starting mid year. Sprint wants to be started in all regions before the end of 2015. Sprint will begin installing equipment before areas are clear so they can be fired up immediately after certification.

 

I am the source.

 

However, it was eluded to in the last Sprint Quarterly Conference call when Marcelo said they plan to have B26 under way in all regions before the end of the year.

awesome!!

[AndyHooten]

So here's a question - I am due for an upgrade in August (currently on a non-Spark 5s).  Is it worth hanging on to upgrade to a 6/6s or other Spark compatible device in the Detroit area?  By August should I see improved download speeds (better than the mostly less and 1 Mbps I get now)?

 

Thanks.

[MacinJosh]

So here's a question - I am due for an upgrade in August (currently on a non-Spark 5s). Is it worth hanging on to upgrade to a 6/6s or other Spark compatible device in the Detroit area? By August should I see improved download speeds (better than the mostly less and 1 Mbps I get now)?

 

Thanks.

If your upgrade date is in August, I would wait until the 6s/6s+ to upgrade. Maybe by then we will have Band 12 LTE on iPhone, and then it's fully compatible with the CCA/RRPP.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

[AndyHooten]

If your upgrade date is in August, I would wait until the 6s/6s+ to upgrade. Maybe by then we will have Band 12 LTE on iPhone, and then it's fully compatible with the CCA/RRPP.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

 

What is band 12?  I was only aware of bands 25/26/41 for Sprint LTE?

[MacinJosh]

What is band 12? I was only aware of bands 25/26/41 for Sprint LTE?

LTE Band 12 is lower 700a/b/c. T-Mobile and a number of the smaller carriers, members of the CCA, use that band for LTE.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

[WiWavelength]

What is band 12?

 

It is the name of my progressive rock band.  We play Jewish klezmer music combined with Tuvan throat singing.

 

AJ

[danlodish345]

LTE Band 12 is lower 700a/b/c. T-Mobile and a number of the smaller carriers, members of the CCA, use that band for LTE.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

band 12 is everything of the A B C blocks including AT&T band 12

[MacinJosh]

band 12 is everything of the A B C blocks including AT&T band 12

AT&T uses Band 17 for lower 700 b&c. This is also known as a subset band, and Band 12 was authorized first.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

[nmartine3]

If your upgrade date is in August, I would wait until the 6s/6s+ to upgrade. Maybe by then we will have Band 12 LTE on iPhone, and then it's fully compatible with the CCA/RRPP.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 6+ using Tapatalk 3.1.1

Yeah, Band 12 is T-Mobile's issue, not Sprint, right?