S4GRU

What is wrong with Kevin? That's another awful hit piece article. To start out an article bashing Sprint saying they talk and never build is not only untrue, but it paints him as a journalist with a preconceived idea and only looking for points that back up his opinionated preposition. What about Network Vision? Did Sprint only talk about it and not implement it? It is being implemented. And it's not just in large cities. It's over the whole network. It may not be done today, but NV1.0 is about 3/4 done and they are still plugging away full steam. What about WiMax? Did Sprint only talk about it and never implement it? They did implement it. It was installed in 71 cities and 700 protection sites before Clearwire ran out of money. Could it have been handled better? Absolutely. But it isn't that it was not built at all as Kevin would suggest. 3G EVDO? Sprint took that over almost all of its native footprint. Only a few rural areas of inherited affiliates didn't get upgraded. And Sprint deployed 3G faster and over more of a larger part of its footprint than over any other large provider. It still has more rural 3G than Tmo, by a 5:1 ratio. AT&T still has large swaths of EDGE only service. And last...Spark. Band 41 LTE is being deployed. It's more than just a plan. It's far along on Clearwire sites. It's undeniable that Sprint is doing this. Also Sprint is just about to start on NV sites too. How can someone dare say never? So Kevin just comes off as a little foolish to talk this way. And now it is becoming a trend. For whatever reason he feels like he needs to paint Sprint poorly. Sprint has enough legitimate criticisms to deal with, that there is no need to make crap up. Sprint probably deserves a critical eye from their subscribers. But Sprint deserves a fair shake from anyone who is supposed to be a journalist. Just present the facts and let the readers draw their own conclusions. But this article was full of opinion. It should have been titled an editorial. If Kevin was even just being honest in his opinions based on past results, his opinion should be more like, 'Sprint will probably end up building out a highly advanced and super fast Spark network with NSN. Their demonstrations were impressive. However, based on Sprint's past performance, I can't help but wonder how they will screw it up.' That would be far more reasonable to say than they will NEVER build it, because all they do is talk and not actually EVER build anything. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

There are no legacy sites left in Northern Nevada. All are NV upgraded. Only waiting for backhaul on the 3G sites to turn on LTE. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

I used to. But the Nexus 5 does what I need it to without modification. It may change in the future, but I may not need to root my N5, ever. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

With a -140 RSRP, I believe it. That signal is weak I'm surprised it connected. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

I have the same case. Love it. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

We don't doubt what you're saying. We doubt the source. The problem is here is that store reps and managers have never tipped off a coming device before other sources. Not once since I have been running S4GRU. That's been since Mid 2011. In fact, store employees usually find out after the info has been well covered by tech sites. It's not a dig on store employees, it's just that once it makes it to that level, the rest of the world already knows. What store employees do find out often before others is plan changes. They are great sources of info about what Sprint is about to enact with terms, plans, pricing, etc. To go back to the GS4 with Spark, we heard about it 4-5 months in advance of it going on sale. And the tech media found out about it 2 months before it went on sale with the FCC OET documents were posted. It started showing up in third party retail computer systems 1-1/2 months before sale. And corporate stores found out about it around one month before sale. Hopefully this gives you an idea why we are skeptical of the people who told you. And the bottom line is most commissioned sales people lie. They just do. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

We just don't know their schedule timelines yet. It could be just a lack of ALU schedules being disseminated yet. Or it could be a sign that there is a technical problem or supply problem. But we hear ALU is well underway with LTE 800 in Shentel areas. So I don't think there is reason for concern. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Yeah, in Denver, only about 1/3 pf the Band 41 sites had upgraded backhaul. I think it's why they have not announced that market. Well, I say that, but CSFB is probably the biggest reason why they have not announced Spark in Denver. Robert

For curiosity sake, how long before the GS4T was in the playbook before it went on sale? A month? Robert

Sprint is most likely using the fact that SIM cards cannot be swapped between devices now as a means to protect it from hotspot unlimited abuse. Sprint is preventing hot swapping SIMs and requiring that the MEID be registered on their network to a specific device and that device be linked to a specific plan. There is probably another way Sprint could stop smartphone plan SIM's from being inserted and used in a hotspot, but the system Sprint is using now does prevent this problem from occurring. I wouldn't expect this to change any time soon. Unless, perhaps, if unlimited is done away with. With allowing iPhones to do it, limits the issue to just iPhones. And Apple doesn't do hotspots. Robert

All LG devices I have used refer to CDMA 800 as "Secondary 800". I believe they consider Cellular band primary. Robert

The network will throw a Triband device off the LTE network if it cannot connect back to your device via CSFB. It sends you back to the 3G network so you will still be able to receive calls. If the 3G signal is too weak, then you will be disconnected from everything. The only way to force a Triband phone onto LTE when it cannot connect to CSFB is by putting the device in LTE Only mode. Robert

Unfortunately, yes. This is the kind of confusion I knew would happen. I don't see any advantage of Sprint using the Spark icon for all LTE, while they are promoting Spark runs up to 60Mbps. Robert

That's my fear. I fear either that this will fail and Tmo gets a lot of money and possibly spectrum that relegates Sprint to a Number 4 position for a generation, or they pull it off and it's poorly done. I really like the idea of a SoftBank controlled new branded entity with oodles of spectrum and a combined kickass network that can truly compete with the duopoly. They finish out an organic nationwide build out that matches or exceeds coverage of the duopoly. And that the new entity actually steals enough customers from the duopoly that the other two want to steal them back and kicks off massive competition. Prices come down and there are three solid networks to choose from. That second paragraph is possible. But it's not likely. That's exactly what AT&T said would happen too, and we didn't believe it. Sprint would more likely do it than AT&T, but you shouldn't hold your breath. They will not do one thing more than what is mandated by the Feds. So if it had a good chance of going down like my preference, I'd support it. But with what is known today, I'm against it. Sprint has too much to lose if it is not successful. And I'm not feeling good about what success will mean for all of us, either. Robert

That's looking forward. That's not even me thinking of past performance indicating future results. Robert

Unfortunately, the Spark icon works for all bands. Not just Band 41. This is an error in judgment on Sprint's part. Robert

All LTE sites are connected to the CSFB network. But it cannot push through on the 3G side if there is no CSFB connection there too. CSFB needs a full circuit back from your device, through LTE, through the network and back via 1x to your phone. The standard pre-Samsung 1x network cannot do this. It is CSFB that does this switch. CSFB leaves the voice network on standby for the device. The Samsung LTE eCSFB does not work with the legacy OEM's CSFB. Whereas the Ericsson LTE eCSFB does work with Nortel's legacy CSFB. When a Triband device connects to LTE, it sends a signal through CSFB on the network back to the device via 1x. If it sees your device again, it stays connected to LTE. If it does not, it kicks it down. It's the 1x connection back to the device that is CSFB capable that it's looking for. All LTE is CSFB capable. No CSFB on the 1x connection, no LTE. In fact, some of the problems why people aren't getting phone calls is because they start out on a site that is CSFB capable. But when the call comes in, the device is no longer connected to CSFB and it cannot get off LTE to initiate the call. The call goes to voicemail. Robert

A Triband device does not need to be connected to CSFB on the LTE site it is connected to, it just needs to be connected to CSFB on the CDMA site it is connected to. So if you are on CDMA 800 (which all should be CSFB connected), you would be able to connect to LTE. Even if that CDMA 800 site is 20 miles away. It's true of CDMA 1900 too. However there is still a lot of legacy CDMA 1900 out there, but we know that all CDMA 800 is CSFB capable. Robert

I think they should drop the T-Mobile brand. I hear opinions are like... Robert

Somewhere has to be last. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I hope not. I really don't. I'm excited as to what it could be, but scared of what it likely will be. Robert

I didn't see your other question, because I had started my response before you typed it. Band 41 LTE on WiMax sites does not impact WiMax broadcasts. WiMax should continue to work until Sprint decommissions the WiMax network at the end of 2015. I will add this caveat though...Sprint added to its TOS last year that they reserve the ability to turn off WiMax early in certain areas if it needs to, and existing Smartphone WiMax customers will be turned off with only 30 days notice. Customers with remaining contracts will be given a free LTE device though, if that happens. Home WiMax users are not subject to a contract now and will not be given a new LTE device if this occurs. Just disconnected. So far, to date, every Sprint Band 41 LTE site deployed has kept WiMax in operation. However, Sprint may feel that in some markets where they may have need for the WiMax spectrum, they may pull it early. Robert

I didn't take it as a complaint at all. I just wanted to give a little more background to complete the picture. I really enjoyed reading your post. Robert

They don't throttle all video streaming. They throttle when the network conditions get to the point where they need to. No one has reported being throttled yet. And it is unlimited data. You can consume as much as you want from your smartphone. Even video streaming. You know why Sprint is doing this, right? Sprint offers unlimited smartphone data. They don't offer unlimited tethering or hotspots. Sprint (and no provider for that matter) cannot sustain people streaming to their televisions via the Sprint network. So they had a choice...they could get rid of unlimited or they could make it so people who try to stream to their TV's will experience a slow down if they are impacting the network. Video streaming consumes more than 2/3 of all the bandwidth on the Sprint network, and it was continuing to grow. For the rest of us who don't violate the Sprint TOS and use unlimited on our smartphones only, we are glad that Sprint did this. It allows us to keep unlimited, and it allows to watch streaming videos on our smartphones to our hearts content. I don't know anyone with AT&T or Verizon who will even stream an hour long program to their phone because of how much data it will consume. Yet, we can. As much as we want. But within the rules. I like it. I like it a lot. Robert

Yes, it is their last hope. And it will take some time before they can even deploy on it and get devices in people's hands too. And they may even be limited where they end up getting it. It is not likely to be a mad sweep across the nation for them. And the worst part for AT&T is they have to get all of it in a specific market to be able to deploy a 20MHz carrier. That becomes unlikely. I expect AT&T will not walk away with spectrum out of AWS-3 that is going to make them a player against Tmo, Verizon or Sprint for speed. And when and if they do in a few places, it will be well after the other three are completely built out and advertising their faster than AT&T networks. AT&T will be well known as the slowest LTE network, and their AWS-3 spectrum winning will not be enough for them to promote a faster network than anyone else. "Well, we are no longer the slowest in Oklahoma City and Omaha!" is not much of a slogan. Robert