Jump to content

Network Vision/LTE - Shentel Market (Shenandoah Valley/Hagerstown/Harrisburg)


Boosted20V

Recommended Posts

I echo Robert's comments, and would further state that if 3 Mbps is 'poor speed' for anyone then I'd like to know what the heck they're trying to accomplish with their phone such that they'd actually need higher speed connectivity consistently.  You can debate speedtests of 'who is faster' every day till Sunday, but for the vast majority of the population the question ultimately is 'is the service fast enough for what I typically do on an average day for a reasonable cost?'.    And having spent a good deal of time in Shentel areas since I came to S4GRU, I can tell you firsthand that assuming you either live in or travel primarily in Shentel-covered areas, you'd be insane to give up Sprint.  

 

If you have a legitimate need for faster than 3 Mbps speeds, you're an exception, but if you just want faster to show off to others, make sure you go buy a Lamborghini or Ferrari to commute back and forth to work too, its flashier and will get you there faster at a premium cost compared to a Honda certainly.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you have a legitimate need for faster than 3 Mbps speeds, you're an exception, but if you just want faster to show off to others, make sure you go buy a Lamborghini or Ferrari to commute back and forth to work too, its flashier and will get you there faster at a premium cost compared to a Honda certainly.

 

Moar e-penis!  My team...er, wireless provider...must win.  I want to shove it in the other fans' faces.  We're #1!

 

AJ

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Moar e-penis!  My team...er, wireless provider...must win.  I want to shove it in the other fans' faces.  We're #1!

 

AJ

Oh the over compensators... Always trying to make up for a lack of size with a big ass truck/more 4g's than anyone else.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All around Winchester and Frederick County. I see no problem with Shentel.

 

I got a new helper the other week that's on AT&T and his LTE is barely usable while I rarely have issues.

 

2013-12-26%2016.21.56.png?dl=1

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've actually been impressed with the speeds in Woodstock lately. My closest tower is about 3 blocks away and that tower has been slow compared to the others. I would consistently get between 5 and 8 mbps download and about 3 mbps upload. In the past few weeks I've been getting 15-22 down and about 8 up. Not sure what they did but I'm happy with those results. I'm very pleased with Shentel's wireless division. The wired side of the business is another story though.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

People that are that shortsighted should go to another carrier. You sure are using a very limited scope to explain AT&T has 15Mbps WCDMA speeds. I use AT&T, so I know what to expect. Since they use single carrier HSPA+, you would only hit speeds like that if you were the only person on that site and it had mega unburdened backhaul.

 

The fastest AT&T WCDMA I've ever encountered was 12Mbps. Heck, AT&T LTE at normal burdened sites runs around 15Mbps. So even if your whole family moved to AT&T, they are not going to see 15Mbps with AT&T WCDMA. They would likely see 2-6Mbps as normal. I even sometimes find 100kbps sites. And don't get me started how AT&T couldn't even deploy enough capacity for a busy mall in South Dakota on Christmas Eve.

 

So what is the normal speed of the Shentel network? You show one speed test. Where was it taken? How strong was the signal? Was it in an area with good tower density? What time of day? I am not hearing consistent issues that Shentel speeds are slow. Quite the opposite. I hear that in normal and high density areas that Shentel LTE runs the same speeds or better than Verizon.

 

I no longer have Sprint as I no longer live in a coverage area. I have both AT&T and Verizon. Let me tell you, the grass is not always greener. Not only do AT&T and VZW have some very slow places on their network (even on LTE), but they also limit how much you can use.

 

I wouldn't advise anyone with an unlimited plan that has great coverage receiving at worst average 3Mbps to leave for AT&T or VZW tiered plans that may be faster in some places, but will still find places that run at 3Mbps. Or worse.

 

In Shentel areas, Shentel provides the best coverage. Even better than VZW and AT&T, all things considered. They even have very dense networks in some small cities, like Harrisonburg, York, Winchester, etc.

 

Shentel also is deploying LTE 800 right now. Which will increase capacity and speeds for those with Band 26 devices. For the long term, Shentel does not yet have a Band 41 agreement with Sprint. But they likely will.

 

However, if someone has got to have something greater than 3Mbps (with no guarantee), then they should probably jump ship right this very second. I'm sure AT&T is ready to accept their money.

 

 

Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

 

EDIT: oh, and I also forgot to mention ping. The Shentel ping is 58ms. I bet the AT&T WCDMA ping is between 150-300ms. The Shentel LTE will feel faster than the 15Mbps WCDMA in 90% of uses. Only in large downloading type situations would the WCDMA feel faster. This is more about seeing one number is bigger than actual performance.

 

I guess I came across a very uninformed. I was basically looking for ammunition to go back to them and explain what is going on. I have never had any speed issues (latency never being an issue in that area) once I get LTE. Penetration of LTE being a practical issue. I am happy with my service, unfortunately those in girlfriend's family are not so much. Thank you for throwing a bunch of useful facts to help my argument.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I noticed our phones all switched from 4G to 3G last night right at 1AM. Hopefully that's a sign Shentel may be working on some upgrades, hopefully LTE800. Anybody have any information if Shentel started any work on LTE800?

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I noticed our phones all switched from 4G to 3G last night right at 1AM. Hopefully that's a sign Shentel may be working on some upgrades, hopefully LTE800. Anybody have any information if Shentel started any work on LTE800?

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Is it currently still 3G?  I have remained on 4G LTE here in Harrisburg (Shentel). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I had a conversation in the past few days with a Shentel/Sprint technician. This is a tech who works on the towers, not one in a store. He said LTE800 should go live very soon as all the hardware is in place and it's a simple upgrade to make it go live. LTE2500 equipment is "in" and should start going up soon but he didn't have an exact timeline. I asked him if Shentel and Sprint redid the contract since the last I knew Shentel's current agreement didn't include 2500 but he didn't have any info on that. The fact the equipment has come in, it sounds like a clue to me.

 

As far as some other towers that seem to be in limbo, he said there are so many reasons why that can happen. He told me about one tower in particular that the tower owner is putting up a new tower next to the old one and Shentel is waiting to replace the equipment until the new tower is built.   

 

Seems like Shentel is doing well and keeping up the quick pace that they had during NV 1.0.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a conversation in the past few days with a Shentel/Sprint technician. This is a tech who works on the towers, not one in a store. He said LTE800 should go live very soon as all the hardware is in place and it's a simple upgrade to make it go live. LTE2500 equipment is "in" and should start going up soon but he didn't have an exact timeline. I asked him if Shentel and Sprint redid the contract since the last I knew Shentel's current agreement didn't include 2500 but he didn't have any info on that. The fact the equipment has come in, it sounds like a clue to me.

 

As far as some other towers that seem to be in limbo, he said there are so many reasons why that can happen. He told me about one tower in particular that the tower owner is putting up a new tower next to the old one and Shentel is waiting to replace the equipment until the new tower is built.   

 

Seems like Shentel is doing well and keeping up the quick pace that they had during NV 1.0.

This is great news. When LTE 800 goes live, I'll have to resurrect my LG G2 and check out the in-building performance. This should beat the heck out of Verizon, since the Shentel towers around Harrisburg PA are so densely positioned.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is great news. When LTE 800 goes live, I'll have to resurrect my LG G2 and check out the in-building performance. This should beat the heck out of Verizon, since the Shentel towers around Harrisburg PA are so densely positioned.

In a place like Harrisburg, a fully deployed Band 26 network on Sprint should be killer. And now that Shentel has confirmed a Band 41 overlay, it should be glorious!

 

Forget Sprint taking over Tmo. Shentel should take over Sprint. (Yes, I know that Shentel is only so successful because they are small, but they are even well run for a small company. Swiftel is even smaller and is tragically run.)

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a place like Harrisburg, a fully deployed Band 26 network on Sprint should be killer. And now that Shentel has confirmed a Band 41 overlay, it should be glorious!

 

Forget Sprint taking over Tmo. Shentel should take over Sprint. (Yes, I know that Shentel is only so successful because they are small, but they are even well run for a small company. Swiftel is even smaller and is tragically run.)

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Swiftel. :blink:  I totally forgot about them... Have they shown signs of doing anything NV related?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a place like Harrisburg, a fully deployed Band 26 network on Sprint should be killer. And now that Shentel has confirmed a Band 41 overlay, it should be glorious!

 

Forget Sprint taking over Tmo. Shentel should take over Sprint. (Yes, I know that Shentel is only so successful because they are small, but they are even well run for a small company. Swiftel is even smaller and is tragically run.)

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Right On!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Swiftel. :blink: I totally forgot about them... Have they shown signs of doing anything NV related?

No. People are bailing on Sprint and Swiftel in Eastern South Dakota. If Swiftel was at least maintaining its 3G service, it wouldn't be so bad. But its awful.

 

I almost get a vibe that Swiftel may sell off its wireless to a Sprint competitor or make a new alliance. They seem to not care about their network outside of their hometown of Brookings.

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shentel came to an agreement with Sprint to roll out B41? I can't see them rolling out much B41 yet as the population density in their areas just isn't that high to necessitate it. Can't wait for 800mhz LTE though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shentel came to an agreement with Sprint to roll out B41? I can't see them rolling out much B41 yet as the population density in their areas just isn't that high to necessitate it. Can't wait for 800mhz LTE though.

 

I now have had three Shentel sources tell me that Sprint and Shentel have come to an agreement on Band 41 and they will begin deployment before the end of the 2nd Quarter.  And possibly sooner if they can get equipment faster than currently scheduled.  It is believed to just be an urban overlay, and not going to be over the whole Shentel network.  At least for now.

 

In my mind, I see it Harrisburg, Hagerstown and Harrisonburg for sure.  And likely in Altoona, York, Martinsburg and Winchester.  The types of places that could go either way are Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Lebanon, Charles Town, Strasburg/Front Royal, etc.

 

Robert

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I now have had three Shentel sources tell me that Sprint and Shentel have come to an agreement on Band 41 and they will begin deployment before the end of the 2nd Quarter.  And possibly sooner if they can get equipment faster than currently scheduled.  It is believed to just be an urban overlay, and not going to be over the whole Shentel network.  At least for now.

 

In my mind, I see it Harrisburg, Hagerstown and Harrisonburg for sure.  And likely in Altoona, York, Martinsburg and Winchester.  The types of places that could go either way are Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Lebanon, Charles Town, Strasburg/Front Royal, etc.

 

Robert

 

Wow, good to know. I live right next to a WiMAX site. I'm surprised a company as small as Shentel can afford the cash outlays of these modernizations. I know it was a big topic in their earnings calls regarding their large amount of capital investments. Glad to see it though. However, I'm curious what will occur here since Sprint owns the old WiMAX sites post Clear merger and Shentel rents their own space on towers or owns their own towers.... will the old WiMAX sites be turned over to Shentel? Or will many be decommissioned and simply co-located on Shentel racks?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel very fortunate to live in a Sprint Shentel area.  Shentel is always right on top of everything. 

 

Band 41 will definitely be a bonus, but I am really eager for band 26. 

 

I forgot to mention that I received a text from Sprint a few days ago saying that "the new network will be complete in about a month in my area making it better than ever".  I am paraphrasing...  The included link pointed to a site that said HD voice and Spark will soon follow in my area. 

Edited by The_Chemist
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, good to know. I live right next to a WiMAX site. I'm surprised a company as small as Shentel can afford the cash outlays of these modernizations. I know it was a big topic in their earnings calls regarding their large amount of capital investments. Glad to see it though. However, I'm curious what will occur here since Sprint owns the old WiMAX sites post Clear merger and Shentel rents their own space on towers or owns their own towers.... will the old WiMAX sites be turned over to Shentel? Or will many be decommissioned and simply co-located on Shentel racks?

 

Shentel may only be installing Band 41 on their own sites, and the Clearwire sites may just stay WiMax and then just go away after decommissioning of the network.  Or maybe Shentel will assume leases on Clearwire sites?  Or maybe they will run on both Shentel NV sites and Clearwire sites (except where co-located) like in other Clearwire areas?

 

We don't have those kinds of details yet.

 

Robert

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm hope Winchester will get Band 41 in the first round. It really sucks when sending a text crashes your phone during Apple Blossom because it's so over loaded. At least the last two years they finally brought two COWs with fiber back haul but it didn't help much.

 

It was nice four years ago when not that many people had a smart phone. I noticed that the smart phone took higher priority over the feature phones when it came to placing a call. Now days you're lucky to get .5 down during AB with a medium signal from so many smart phones. Going from 20,000 to 250,000(high estimate) will do that though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm hope Winchester will get Band 41 in the first round. It really sucks when sending a text crashes your phone during Apple Blossom because it's so over loaded. At least the last two years they finally brought two COWs with fiber back haul but it didn't help much.

 

It was nice four years ago when not that many people had a smart phone. I noticed that the smart phone took higher priority over the feature phones when it came to placing a call. Now days you're lucky to get .5 down during AB with a medium signal from so many smart phones. Going from 20,000 to 250,000(high estimate) will do that though.

To bad sending a text has nothing to do with LTE, more like 1xrtt and if your phone crashed while sending one. It is more of a problem with your phone

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To bad sending a text has nothing to do with LTE, more like 1xrtt and if your phone crashed while sending one. It is more of a problem with your phone

 

Agree. B41 will have no bearing on the ability to handle call/text volume, I don't believe(or did I read that texts can be passed through LTE via eCSFB?). This should all still pass through the 1x side.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To bad sending a text has nothing to do with LTE, more like 1xrtt and if your phone crashed while sending one. It is more of a problem with your phone

It was back when I had a dumb phone. It was back before LTE but it still did it to my poor friends last year.

 

In my head I explained the situation but apparently I didn't type what my brain thought.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • large.unreadcontent.png.6ef00db54e758d06

  • gallery_1_23_9202.png

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Excuse my rookie comments here, but after enabling *#73#, it seems that the rainbow sim V2? requires n70 (I turned it off along with n71 - was hoping to track n66) to be available else it switches to T-Mobile.  So this confirms my suspicion that you need to be close to a site to get on Dish.  Have no idea why they don't just use plmn. To test, I put it into a s21 ultra, rebooted twice, came up on T-Mobile (no n70 on s21).  Tried to manually register on 313340, but it did not connect (tried twice). I am on factory unlocked firmware but used a s22 hack to get *#73# working.  Tried what you were suggesting with a T-Mobile sim partially installed, but that was very unstable with Dish ( I think they had figured that one out).  [edit: and now I see Boost sent me a successful device swap notice which says I can now begin to use my new device.  Sigh.  Will try again later and wait for this message - too impatient.]
    • Hopefully this indicates T-Mobile hasn't completely abandoned mmwave and/or small cells? But then again this is the loop, so take that as you will. Hopefully now that most macro activity is done (besides rural colo/builds), they will start working on small cells.   
    • This has been approved.. https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/fcc-approves-t-mobiles-deal-to-purchase-mint-mobile/  
    • In the conference call they had two question on additional spectrum. One was the 800 spectrum. They are not certain what will happen, thus have not really put it into their plans either way (sale or no sale). They do have a reserve level. Nationwide 800Mhz is seen as great for new technologies which I presume is IOT or 5g slices.  T-Mobile did not bite on use of their c-band or DOD.  mmWave rapidly approaching deadlines not mentioned at all. FWA brushes on this as it deals with underutilized spectrum on a sector by sector basis.  They are willing to take more money to allow FWA to be mobile (think RV or camping). Unsure if this represents a higher priority, for example, FWA Mobile in RVs in Walmart parking lots working where mobile phones need all the capacity. In terms of FWA capacity, their offload strategy is fiber through joint ventures where T-Mobile does the marketing, sales, and customer support while the fiber company does the network planning and installation.  50%-50% financial split not being consolidated into their books. I think discussion of other spectrum would have diluted the fiber joint venture discussion. They do have a fund which one use is to purchase new spectrum. Sale of the 800Mhz would go into this. It should be noted that they continue to buy 2.5Ghz spectrum from schools etc to replace leases. They will have a conference this fall  to update their overall strategies. Other notes from the call are 75% of the phones on the network are 5g. About 85% of their sites have n41, n25, and n71, 90% 5g.  93% of traffic is on midband.  SA is also adding to their performance advantage, which they figure is still ahead of other carriers by two years. It took two weeks to put the auction 108 spectrum to use at their existing sites. Mention was also made that their site spacing was designed for midrange thus no gaps in n41 coverage, while competitors was designed for lowband thus toggles back and forth for n77 also with its shorter range.  
    • The manual network selection sounds like it isn't always scanning NR, hence Dish not showing up. Your easiest way to force Dish is going to be forcing the phone into NR-only mode (*#*#4636#*#* menu?), since rainbow sims don't support SA on T-Mobile.
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...