S4GRU

Mid December: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/212-network-visionlte-deployment-running-list/?p=3044 Robert

It is possible that Protection Sites might get upgraded to Band 41. Most Protection Sites used gear by Huawei. Sprint agreed to remove all Clearwire Huawei gear as a condition of sale. So it is plausible when Sprint replaces the Huawei gear, that they use Band 41 LTE equipment. However, if they don't upgrade the backhaul too at those WiMax Protection Sites, it won't matter much. It won't run faster than existing Sprint sites in the area. It may even run slower. Most protection sites use AAV backhaul available at the site. Typically good for 10-50Mbps, split between three sectors. There are some that were even connected to T1 lines and run at really slow speeds. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Nope. It will still come on one or two at a time until they are all done. We all know that Sprint maps grossly overstate LTE coverage. Always have. But after the formal launch that is expected on Monday, the network will get better and denser every week until all the sites are complete. And the experience will get better and better when Band 26 and Band 41 start to go live. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yeah, if it was a NV OEM problem (which I first suspected), they could have PRL's written that excluded the regions with affeced equipment. However, I think it was a Samsung problem. I always had BC10 problems with my Note 2, whereas you didn't. And I had problems on Ericsson in Texas and New Mexico, Samsung in Colorado and ALU in Phoenix. My device had problems on all three OEMs. I think your theory is the most likely. A significant enough of GN2's are having BC10 problems, that it is better just to exclude them from the PRL's than to fess up to the problem and get new devices to those affected. Robert

Yeah, any news would be great. However, I think I have come to the conclusion now that we are almost 4 months with the GN3 and they still have not solved the GN2 800 problem. I think that it's a hardware problem and they are trying to sweep it under the rug. I think the GN2 is now going into the dustbin of history. Robert

I have hit nearly 60Mbps over at Stapleton. The site is on the roof of the Renaissance hotel. Smokin'! Robert

This is the most important point of all. Robert

This is not completely accurate. The theoretical speed will not increase above 37.5Mbps per carrier by deploying a second 5MHz LTE carrier, but actual speeds will increase significantly. Deploying two 5MHz carriers will cause the speeds to go way up from what was being experienced by one carrier. It immediately doubles capacity. And also with the addition of another LTE 800 5MHz carrier, the site will triple its capacity. At least for Band 26 device owners. Robert

You complained it was ridiculous. And I explained why to the best of my ability. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

That rep is not accurate. I just signed in to the system and there still are no 4G sites accepted in the ABQ metro area. There was a site near Jefferson and I-25 that was 4G accepted last summer. But the backhaul had to be rejected because it didn't meet spec. CenturyLink sold Sprint on a temporary copper backhaul solution, but it was only hitting 22Mbps in the field at the router. By the time it was split between six EVDO carrier/sectors and three LTE sectors, the LTE would only run at 4-5Mbps completely unburdened. And since it would be the only LTE site in the area, it would be overburdened. Most likely running under 1Mbps. So rightly so, Sprint rejected CenturyLink's temporary solution and is waiting on permanent backhaul. This is also why there was a slow site in Cruces where they tried the same thing. After a few weeks, the Sprint system showed 4G was no longer accepted at that one ABQ site and we removed it from our maps. From the recent spate of increased 3G speeds around ABQ Metro, it seems plausible that backhaul has arrived at many of the sites. If so, there could be some LTE acceptances soon. Or it's possible that CenturyLink is so far behind that they have added a lot more copper backhaul to 3G sites to help tie you over until fiber and LTE arrive. Sprint never should have used CenturyLink to bring backhaul to sites where they don't already have fiber nearby. Verizon used a lot of microwave in New Mexico. They knew there were some places they could easily get backhaul. They just beam it out from the easy places to their sites using MW links. Two years ago, people were mocking the use of microwave and LTE. Everyone was screaming for fiber. But in a backwards place like New Mexico with an inept ILEC like CenturyLink, microwave backhaul is the right call. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Samsung changed in the early Fall from individual acceptances to working on whole clusters and multiple clusters all at once, and then getting them inspected and approved all at once. Robert

I only know of one Android user who was definitely in the presence of a confirmed live Band 26 site. And he had a G2 that has not received the update yet. I wouldn't draw any definitive conclusions for that, yet. Robert

You better hurry up and try to get a "cheap" phone from Verizon or AT&T. Subsidies are going away. AT&T has already started to open the door too. Robert

I'm looking forward to spending my Spring and Summer in the Black Hills. Robert

It's possible. But not likely. Robert

I chose to mark all new sites as 3G. Robert

Typically new sites are not yet live when they get reported to us. It usually is a few weeks before people can report connecting to it. It's also not shown on Sprint coverage maps yet. But it is showing at network.sprint.com. Additionally, most of the new sites are using legacy equipment. I assume they are using decommissioned equipment on a lot of these new sites. They have gone back and NV'ed a lot of new sites from the past year, though. But it very well could be a GMO too. Report back when you get a chance. Robert

I received the text here in South Dakota. I don't even have a Sprint line anymore, but I keep getting texts sent to my old number via Google Voice. My Sprint account address has been in South Dakota since September. So they are basically saying that the network will be ready here in 30 days in a place they do not even offer service. I think the texts are just something from Sprint marketing to have people keep hope that network improvements are still occurring. And that the physical NV upgrades will be pretty much complete for the most part in the next 30 days nationwide. I wouldn't interpret these texts to mean anything about LTE being completed in specific cities or neighborhoods in the next 30 days. It's meant to help stop the loss of subscribers. If people like me are getting the texts, that means they are pretty meaningless. And the only reason why some of you haven't gotten them is they are still sending them out. People are reporting still getting them today. Robert

I received the text here in South Dakota. I don't even have a Sprint line anymore, but I keep getting texts sent to my old number via Google Voice. My Sprint account address has been in South Dakota since September. So they are basically saying that the network will be ready here in 30 days in a place they do not even offer service. I think the texts are just something from Sprint marketing to have people keep hope that network improvements are still occurring. And that the physical NV upgrades will be pretty much complete for the most part in the next 30 days nationwide. I wouldn't interpret these texts to mean anything about LTE being completed in specific cities or neighborhoods in the next 30 days. It's meant to help stop the loss of subscribers. If people like me are getting the texts, that means they are pretty meaningless. And the only reason why some of you haven't gotten them is they are still sending them out. People are reporting still getting them today. Robert

Would that make Tmo a yappy Chihuahua? Robert

They are in a mad dash to bring up NV 3G in King County because of the CSFB problem. They have recently launched 3G clusters in the South Sound. They are scrambling to finish up all of King County soon. I would have to imagine the first King clusters are coming soon. After they fire up the NV 3G upgrades and CSFB is accessible from them, then all the existing Band 41 sites can be used by Triband smart phones. Then they will go back and fire up Band 25 LTE on the NV 3G sites that have had their backhaul upgraded. Last they will add LTE to the remaining sites one by one as upgraded backhaul is ready at each complete NV site. It will feel like nothing is going on until the upgraded 3G clusters start firing up. Then the acceptances will start occurring more frequently. We have been watching this same pattern occur in other Samsung markets over and over all winter. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Verizon was getting really bad here too. But once they deployed AWS LTE, it improved. But it sure is nice when you can outperform the Verizon groupies. In some places, VZW LTE 750 is dog slow. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Not that you need more inside your house anyway. Indoors I use WiFi. I need LTE from my front door and everywhere I go. At home, I just need voice. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro