S4GRU

You do realize the irony in your complaint because it is because of competition that Sprint is going away from the subsidized model? Right? Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

N5 need as CSFB in order to use LTE. The GN3 does not. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

No. It is a Data Center. They have a TOY unit there. I explained what a TOY is used for. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It is definitely a mistake. But Madfelon has history. Robert

He doesn't even know what band he was on. He just saw a Spark icon, which doesn't mean anything, as we know. He is just here to bitch. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Also, Sprint refers to it in their internal communications as NV1.0 Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

This sounds like a software problem or routing congestion at the DDC. That's my guess. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Just so everyone is aware, a TOY cell is a macro site set up inside a Sprint MSC or DDC that is used to test, evaluate and train. It is not intended to be usable even outside the building. Sometimes they can be usable a few feet outside the building, but I've never heard of an instance of someone using a TOY more than a block away. Often TOYs are locked down and the public cannot authenticate with the network on them. We mark TOY cells on our maps so people realize it is not a public macro site. We allow them on our maps more as informational to see where Sprint's DDC and MSC's are located. Not so much for locating signals. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It has to be coming from a site. It is not coming from the TOY CELL accepted complete inside the 4G core in Pearl City. Hopefully that is a good sign of a Hawaii LTE site acceptance soon. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

They can't. It's inside a Sprint Data Center. And the building is behind a locked gate and security fence. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

stored materials Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

The new Tacoma marker on the map is a LTE TOY at the Tacoma 4G Core. It is a Sprint DDC (Network Data Center). It is not a site. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Site acceptance reports from Wednesday (1/1) through Wednesday (1/8): Alabama - 3 updates (LTE) Arkansas - 3 updates (3G) Atlanta/Athens - 4 updates (3G) Central Pennsylvania - 6 updates (3G) Chicago - 7 updates (LTE) Cincinnati - 25 updates (LTE) Cleveland - 5 updates (LTE) Columbus - 6 updates (LTE) Delaware - 1 updates (3G) DFW - 3 updates (2 LTE) East Texas - 1 update (LTE) GA/SC Coast - 1 update (LTE) Georgia - 2 updates (3G) Gulf Coast - 2 updates (LTE) Houston - 4 updates (1 LTE) Indianapolis - 1 update (LTE) Jacksonville - 2 updates (1 LTE) Kansas - 2 updates (1 LTE) LA Metro - 3 updates (2 LTE) Las Vegas - 1 update (LTE) Louisiana - 1 update (LTE) Lower Central Valley - 1 update (LTE) Memphis - 6 updates (5 LTE) Miami/West Palm - 2 updates (LTE) Milwaukee - 10 updates (LTE) Minnesota - 6 updates (LTE) Missouri - 6 updates (4 LTE) Nashville - 3 updates (LTE) New York City - 1 update (LTE) Norfolk – 3 updates (1 new 3G/800/LTE site) Northern Jersey - 4 updates (3 LTE) North Wisconsin - 3 updates (LTE) Oklahoma - 2 updates (1 LTE) Orange County - 1 updates (3G) Oregon/SW Washington - 2 updates (LTE) Orlando - 5 updates (4 LTE) Phoenix - 5 updates (1 LTE) Providence - 1 updates (3G) Raleigh Durham - 3 updates (2 LTE) Riverside/San Bernardino - 7 updates (3 LTE) San Antonio - 1 updates (3G) San Diego - 1 update (LTE) SF Bay - 2 updates (LTE) South Carolina - 2 updates (LTE) Southern Connecticut - 1 updates (3G) Southern Jersey - 5 updates (4 LTE) South Texas - 3 updates (LTE) Southwest Florida - 3 updates (3G) Tampa - 3 updates (LTE) The Panhandle - 1 update (LTE) Toledo - 2 updates (LTE) Tucson/Yuma - 3 updates (LTE) Upstate NY East - 1 update (LTE) Utah - 1 update (LTE) Washington DC - 3 updates (LTE) West Kentucky - 6 updates (5 LTE) West Washington - 7 updates (LTE) Winston/Salem - 2 updates (LTE) Maps are updated. Robert Links: Comments regarding this thread, NV Sites Complete Map

I'm going to close this thread for awhile. It is too high of maintenance for me. I have spent so much time in the Tmo threads this week that I haven't had time to do anything else. I cannot even do an update because I get dragged into another stroke Legere conversation.. And I cannot allow these posts to go unchallenged. Robert

Yep, there is a possibility. No doubt. I've even given them possibilities. I'm critical of their inaction. It's always been possible. As for the timeline for the limited 700 they have, yes it has been announced. But they only announced specifically cities that do not have Channel 51 interference issues. Did you notice that? They have said they have resolved Channel 51, but will not discuss how. The only thing that is definite at this point is Tmo is planning to deploy one 5MHz LTE 700 A-Block carrier starting by the end of 2014 in places without interference concerns. They have not announced deploying in any Channel 51 interference areas yet. They just said they have found a solution for it. Robert

I've read that article. It's so vague. Now we have two Tmo quotes, "future" and "more footprint". Thanks. Robert

Thanks for the link. This is where Tmo should be hitting LTE on in non urban areas, at a minimum. The Boston-DC Corridor. It is unforgivable to not have solid at least 3G coverage up and down this area. The 52Mbps is an impressive speed test. It is in suburban Philly/Trenton, though. But I always enjoy those speeds on Tmo when I get them. I almost choked at Brazilian steakhouse in Denver once hitting over 60Mbps on Tmo. It was faster than even unburdened Sprint Spark in the same area. However, I'm still not convinced there is a full blown and actionable Tmo plan to modernize its non urban network. If they were doing it now, they would say so. It wouldn't just be "future". Robert

I was hoping someone would get it. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

How did it run? We had a good dozen or so rural WCDMA sites in New Mexico that ran at 200-400k. According to Neal, he says that when a a Tmo 2G site base station has to receive significant maintenance or replacement, it is upgraded to WCDMA, but left on the existing backhaul. This added a lot of WCDMA coverage, but not a significant net improvement in performance. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the places where I was not limited to EDGE 100k speeds and 1000ms ping. It was a better experience to get 400k and a 300ms ping. But it was only on one site in this county, and another two counties away. And it still wasn't as good as Sprint legacy 3G in these same areas. I'm still not convinced there is a full blown and actionable Tmo plan to modernize its non urban network. If they were doing it now, they would say so. It wouldn't just be "future". Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It was used for theoretical discussion of how to close the VoLTE coverage gap. It certainly is not possible in the U.S. But I bless the rains down in Africa. Robert

AT&T cannot just overcome this problem with capacity. Verizon AWS in NYC is on a 20MHz wide channel. AT&T at best can only do 10MHz channels, and often just 5. It will soon be said AT&T has the slowest LTE network. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Were these sites converted from EDGE or GPRS? It would not be news if those sites were WCDMA and now converted to LTE. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It is definitely better to use lower spectrum than higher spectrum frequencies in rural areas. But this is not just corn fields in Iowa. It is everywhere that does not have WCDMA or LTE. This is the edge of countless suburbs. This is dozens of cities with 50,000+ people. It's not just highways and farms. And Tmo still has a very limited 700 strategy. So far, they do not have a comprehensive 700 solution. They have a limited boutique solution with 700. Like I said in a post above, we are left with only speculation that 700 COULD be used in a Tmo non urban LTE deployment scenario. This is just a guess that Tmo will do it. They may just use 700 to provide better in building performance in existing coverage areas. The mother of all overlays. We don't know. My guess is as good as yours. We both are intelligent industry observers with good technical understandings. But you're guessing as much as me at this point. Because that's all we're left with. Guessing. But I'll end with this one last thought... One thing Legere is good at is talking. Talking about everything. Talking about plans. We knew about their urban LTE plan before it all started. Yet, he remains quiet about what he will do about all the 2G coverage he has out there. Why is that the only thing Legere won't talk about? Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

So now the non urban plan is IF they get more 700 spectrum. Lovely. The real problem here is Tmo has no plans or announcements whatsoever for the issues that exist outside their large markets. When pressed about it Legere changes the subject. Although he did say recently that they will do something about it in the future. Tmo gets credit for doing something about rural coverage because he says something extremely vague like "future" and we can maschinate a way for him to do it in the future. That's crazy. We would never give Sprint or anyone else the benefit of the doubt just by waving a hand and saying future. It's OK, we can trust him. I can come up with a plan for Tmo outside their urban centers. So can Milan. So can you. But what are Tmo's plans? Future...and beyond! And if you find Legere's mythical 137Mbps speeds, DON'T MOVE! Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Sprint definitely needs a kick in the Fannie. Hesse and Company have been in crisis management mode for so long. Hunkered down in the bunker trying just to keep the company afloat. They don't know where to go next. They may be shell shocked and not capable of making the next moves. And Sprint's marketing is weak! Hesse and Sprint executive leadership need to snap out of it fast. Otherwise it may be time to end that last era at Sprint and start fresh with a new one. Some new blood, starting at the top. Sounds like Son is giving Hesse a reset button. He gets to start the last six months over again and take charge now and sweep in the new era Son demands. If he doesn't drag the team forward into the competitive fray, I don't expect Hesse around much longer. Dan can either be the hero that was on top when Sprint finally turned the page. Or he can be the last relic of the old and dead Sprint. The choice is his. But I don't think Son has much attention span or patience. And in that regard, he does not fit the Japanese stereotype. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro