S4GRU

Killing two birds with one stone.

I've started just using Google Hangouts Message as text to most of the people I text with so I can still text/message people using other devices besides my phone. Like my tablets and my laptop. I miss Google Voice integration, and this is the next best thing. Robert

There is no way I would be a Sprint customer in Sioux Falls. It is that bad. And since Swiftel is a government entity, they will likely never be given the kind of capital from the City of Brookings that would be needed to upgrade its network to current Sprint standards. However, Sprint will have to build out at least some PCS G-Block in this BEA to meet FCC build out requirements. So the question then becomes, will Swiftel be reasonable and work with Sprint on a plan to upgrade to Network Vision standards and host LTE on Sprint's PCS G-Block, or does Sprint have to do something completely on its own just to meet FCC build out requirements? I'm not sure what the cost is to Sprint to cancel their contract with Swiftel early, but it seems to me it may be worth it and just buildout Sprint on old iDEN sites in East River. Robert

I'm pretty sure Sprint cannot deploy B26 in Pahrump either. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Service Merchandise Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

My opinion: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/2325-questions-about-towers/?p=55974 Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Additionally, the cited article says this: He said they are being measured and behind the scenes with VoLTE. I think without really even reading between the lines this article still even corroborates that Sprint is moving forward with VoLTE, but they are just not prepared to talk about it yet. The source we talked with kept repeating the same lines over again...'we are not going to rush this' and 'interoperability is the most important aspect, so we have to get this right.' Robert

Sprint keeps stressing over and over again publicly that they are not rushing into VoLTE. But the plans that were shared with me are detailed and from a solid internal high level source. The plan is real. I think Sprint doesn't want to acknowledge them until the programming phase is complete and they are ready to announce VoLTE partners. Once they let the cat out of the bag, everybody will be harassing them about when and start getting out the measuring stick to see if they're behind schedule. It looks like their strategy will be to disavow VoLTE and talk up their current HD Voice offerings on CDMA until they are ready to start releasing details and timelines. Robert

Currently Commnet only has 1x in New Mexico. No 3G EVDO. Supposedly they are upgrading to LTE though. No idea on how long that will end up taking. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Romper Room Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I probably have received a 'like' from AJ in the past. However, I cannot recall the last time it happened. But I think I may be the only one in this group who can say that AJ has bought him a Carne Adovada burrito from El Parisol. And that tastes better than any like, any day. Robert

I resemble that remark. Robert

Definitely not backhaul. It has to be airlink. Robert

Rupert's Land

In another observation I have recently discovered about AT&T LTE, at least in my area, the LTE GCI Hex equals the AT&T Site Number + Two Digit Sector Number. I sure wish that was the case for Sprint! Makes LTE signal spotting painless and precise. I don't know if this is only true of my market or AT&T Alcatel Lucent markets, or all AT&T markets. But I like it. Take note of that, John Saw. Robert

Based on reports we are getting from members, it definitely does not prior to optimization. In areas that appear to be optimized to our members it is wildly variable. Some are finding it slightly less than EVDO 1900. Some about the same. Some slightly more. Given all the variables to deployments, I guess this is to be expected. But in general, I think it's safe to summarize that when B26 (LTE 800) is fully optimized, it should provide a coverage area pretty similar to EVDO 1900. But it probably will have a better signal indoors within that coverage area. Especially close to the site. I'll let others chime in if they have more to add about their B26 in their areas (after optimization). Robert

Well...that was unexpected. At the AT&T site nearest my office in Box Elder, South Dakota I spotted a work crew while out on my lunch break. It's an AT&T only site, so I drove down to it and checked things out. A new RRU and panel have been added to each sector. In just 48 hours. The truck at the site had a Velocitel logo on it and MN tags. I walked up to the guy who looked to be in charge and asked what he was working on. He said they were adding AT&T LTE. I asked him if he was affected by the AT&T slow down. He said he had heard about that, but they were still hiring for AT&T jobs all over the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. He mentioned they have two other crews working in Western South Dakota. I told him that I was glad to hear that as this is the site I use most often. And it has one WCDMA channel that is dog slow. He explained they have the contract for all the West River sites except rooftop and flagpole sites. He said they'd be done in less than a month with all of it. But he said Alcatel Lucent is way, way behind on integrating their work. Could be months before I start seeing LTE. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Rapid City was an early Band 4 market for Verizon. They installed a 15MHz carrier here last October. It was needed as VZW has a whopping 70 share here. Before the new Band went live, VZW LTE 750 was suffering. At times well below 1Mbps at busy sites. Since coming online, VZW LTE 750 runs about 7-8 Mbps steadily. VZW Band 4 started out between 40-60 Mbps around here. But now has settled around 20-30Mbps. I don't use VZW because I prefer the open device ecosystem on AT&T. I really like being able to pop in a AT&T, Tmo or Sprint SIM into my Nexus 5 as needed. And AT&T meets my needs for the most part. And it's much cheaper. I can have an AT&T, Sprint and Tmo service for the cost of Verizon. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

They are scared of their shareholders. They have enough cash and access to cash if they wanted to take the hit. And this is at a time when their original network is filling up, they have the least 10MHz+ contiguous spectrum and desperately need to deploy CA to compete on performance and Sprint is starting to outperform them in some key cities, like NYC. They need to just do it. Not that I'm losing sleep because AT&T is making bad decisions. But I'd prefer to keep them over VZW. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

A few months ago, we never thought we would see B26 speeds like that in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi or the Florida Panhandle. It's awesome to see Sprint work with SouthernLinc to establish a full 5MHz LTE carrier for B26 down there. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

It's native with RRPP members. It is not known if standard CCA members will be native or roaming at this point. So far, Commnet has only been announced as a CCA Sprint Partner. Supposedly there will be more CCA members that will be named as Sprint RRPP partners. Hopefully Commnet will be one of them. Commnet and Sprint already have voice roaming. So all you need is the LTE now. And eventually VoLTE after Commnet deploys that. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Meanwhile, I still have no AT&T LTE. They did two sites in Western South Dakota and bailed. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

It's Walsenburg. I did notice that Commnet is one of Sprint's named CCA partners. Commnet has a significant footprint in Northern NM, including Taos. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yes. We did purchase a one year additional capacity to the Lounge. Because we were limited in the number of people allowed in. Was it 25? However, as our usage grew, we had to upgrade IP Board plans. Our current monthly IP Board plan includes up to 250 chatters. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Back in the old days Sprint roamed on Alltel 3G in Taos. You can thank the Feds and the Duopoly for taking down Alltel. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk