Official Magic Box discussion thread

[belusnecropolis]

31 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

Active smartphones in cars are followed by MIMO which can bring the Band 41 to your Magic Box, which then locks onto that signal. Unlike a smartphone, the Magic Box does not let go.  Just do not unnecessarily reboot the Magic Box.  

Do we have any data reported of beamforming actually active, and not the box itself optimizing to the directional gain of the tower?

[dkyeager]

3 minutes ago, belusnecropolis said:

Do we have any data reported of beamforming actually active, and not the box itself optimizing to the directional gain of the tower?

With small cells you can often see signal redirected to the small cell immediate area before it has power and then before it goes live.

Seams like what I describe above would meet your definition: https://cdn.rohde-schwarz.com/pws/dl_downloads/dl_application/application_notes/1ma186/1MA186_2e_LTE_TMs_and_beamforming.pdf

[belusnecropolis]

3 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

With small cells you can often see signal redirected to the small cell immediate area before it has power and then before it goes live.

Seams like what I describe above would meet your definition: https://cdn.rohde-schwarz.com/pws/dl_downloads/dl_application/application_notes/1ma186/1MA186_2e_LTE_TMs_and_beamforming.pdf

I appreciate the white paper, but I'm just asking if we know mechanical antenna elements are actually moving where the traffic is as we have been told.

[belusnecropolis]

We have 1 of 7 2.5 sites with any actual RET capability attached and one actual modern build.

Has anyone seen or have an example of this technology in action, real world? Many here travel to stadiums and areas where modern equipment has shown up. A few have access to the network stats, just curious if this is actually in use beyond yeah tap this joystick this way and go home or if we have seen a hardware/software solution have an effect on the network. 

In action here we are limited. We have 1 8t8r site, the rest are mini macro sites with one half of sectors operable. They are 2x2 and did not attach the second operable ports on any 2.5 antenna additions, RET motors are absent. 

[though]

Speeds and overall reliability seemed to take a step backwards with the latest firmware push for me. If anything, ping times *might* have improved when the unit actually works.

[danlodish345]

Speeds and overall reliability seemed to take a step backwards with the latest firmware push for me. If anything, ping times *might* have improved when the unit actually works.

What about overall consistency with the speeds do they work

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[though]

16 minutes ago, danlodish345 said:

What about overall consistency with the speeds do they work

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk
 

Just ran some speed tests for you to dissect. A few screenshots of ping/jitter too, as well as timeouts.

 

[danlodish345]

Just ran some speed tests for you to dissect. A few screenshots of ping/jitter too, as well as timeouts.
 

That's not terrible but it's low speed but usable

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[greenbastard]

2 hours ago, danlodish345 said:

That's not terrible but it's low speed but usable

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk
 

Yeah, those speeds are good enough for just about anything, including HD Video.

I guess I'm one of those people who stopped caring about top speeds and just wants reliability and usability.

[danlodish345]

Yeah, those speeds are good enough for just about anything, including HD Video.
I guess I'm one of those people who stopped caring about top speeds and just wants reliability and usability.

Oh yeah I'm the same way I want coverage that actually works not thin skeleton network coverage but beefed-up usable reliable quality coverage. Obviously that cost money so it's going to take a lot of time for that to happen obviously.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[though]

4 hours ago, danlodish345 said:

That's not terrible but it's low speed but usable

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk
 

175 ms pings
1200+ ms jitter
.01 Mbps upload
timeout errors

that's not "terrible"? good luck with your VOLTE phone calls.

non-network people also don't realize that when you're upload is taxed out, there goes the download speeds and pings...

[danlodish345]

175 ms pings
1200+ ms jitter
.01 Mbps upload
timeout errors
that's not "terrible"? good luck with your VOLTE phone calls.
non-network people also don't realize that when you're upload is taxed out, there goes the download speeds and pings...

Actually 1200 Plus millisecond Jitter and pings that is horrible the latency is off the charts.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[rocketr]

My MagicBox is now having the same issue. It is not useable at all when it was decent before 

[shaferz]

Our speeds are not that low, but where we were a consistant 60mbps download, we are now stuck around 15.  Odd.

[nexuss4g]

Excited when you see your neighbor with a MB on their window ?

[wmoreland]

Does anyone know if a MB will work in a Shentel area on B41 or B25. Thanks. 

[lilotimz]

They will not.

Does anyone know if a MB will work in a Shentel area on B41 or B25. Thanks. 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[wmoreland]

8 minutes ago, lilotimz said:

They will not.

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 

 

I didn’t think so. My neighbor who moved here from a non Shentel area has one and claims it still connects and works. I’ve never been to his house to confirm though. 

[though]

1 hour ago, wmoreland said:

I didn’t think so. My neighbor who moved here from a non Shentel area has one and claims it still connects and works. I’ve never been to his house to confirm though. 

If he connects it up in a working area then moves it, it *might* work.

[wmoreland]

14 minutes ago, though said:

If he connects it up in a working area then moves it, it *might* work.

Yeah, that’s what he did. 

[though]

2 minutes ago, wmoreland said:

Yeah, that’s what he did. 

may not work forever (or for long, for that matter). not sure...

[dkyeager]

On 10/7/2018 at 1:16 AM, rocketr said:

My MagicBox is now having the same issue. It is not useable at all when it was decent before 

 

On 10/5/2018 at 4:45 PM, though said:

Speeds and overall reliability seemed to take a step backwards with the latest firmware push for me. If anything, ping times *might* have improved when the unit actually works.

We have noticed on a Magic Box in my market that speeds took a dramatic hit for a week or so while Sprint appeared to be working on changing the host site QAM, specifically 64QAM disappeared.  They later it was restored.  We hope that 256QAM support was added to that site, but we had no one who went up to test that.

[ingenium]

If he connects it up in a working area then moves it, it *might* work.

That would be surprising. The magic box has a dedicated PLMN (310-830), and does not connect to the 310-120 PLMN that our phones use. That's how Sprint can dictate what sites can be MB donors, based on the presence or absence of that PLMN. And it's also how they prioritize MBs over phones. It's marked as reserved for operator use. I think relay small cells likely use the same PLMN.

 

So basically, unless Shentel sites are broadcasting this PLMN, or it's connecting to a Sprint site, it almost certainly won't work.

 

 

 

 

 

[Handyman]

On 9/29/2018 at 4:24 PM, dkyeager said:

Active smartphones in cars are followed by MIMO which can bring the Band 41 to your Magic Box, which then locks onto that signal. Unlike a smartphone, the Magic Box does not let go.  Just do not unnecessarily reboot the Magic Box.  

Soooo, could I, by driving home with my S9+, bring B41 to my MB?

Edited October 10, 2018 by Handyman

[Flompholph]

41 minutes ago, Handyman said:

Soooo, could I, by driving home with my S9+, bring B41 to my MB?

If you can get the MB to scan while your phone is connected then yes.