S4GRU

Do we have a VoLTE thread or should I put this in the HD Voice thread?

You're welcome to start a VoLTE thread in the forums.

Robert

Nice write up. Thank you for all the info! Any specifics where at in Kansas or still unknown at this time?

I have no idea where specifically the FIT's are located within each market, unfortunately. I am half wondering if the Virginia one is in Shentel territory. It's the only part of VA with a solid LTE build available.

Robert

Perhaps you should add, for the people who don't know, that the three FITs are in the three different NV vendors areas so that they can insure interoperability between them during the FIT stage. Otherwise, outstanding article, you're fire NBA Jam style.

You just did.

Robert

I knew it was going be native because there is no way Sprint would make it such a big deal compared to Verizon's roaming deals

It seemed logical.  Yet Sprint always referred to it as 'roaming' and had not confirmed it.  Until we were able to confirm for certain and put it to rest, there was always going to be a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about how this new coverage would be treated.  And CCA LTE coverage is still yet to be confirmed.  That may still end up being true roaming.  Although roaming allowances may be more liberal for that coverage.

Are we going to use a separate thread for RRPP or will we use the existing CCA one? 

We will continue to use this one:  http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/5684-sprint-to-join-rural-operators-roaming-hub-cca-and-rrpp-thread/

Thanks, I was trying that one too but nothing happens. Must be from S4GRU users swamping their site

I also now have added a larger CCA member coverage map at the bottom, that is much higher resolution.  You can click on it and it will enlarge to its fullest extent.

Oh so basically they will run LTE with Verizon back end, and also Sprint spectrum LTE as well? But Sprint only having access to the Sprint side of the deal, and same for Verizon?

We don't know all the details, but Verizon Rural LTE partners can make deals using the CCA for LTE completely separate from the Verizon network.

The unfortunate side effect of this...

 

If you have a rural CCA carrier (ahem... Illinois Valley Cellular) which does not currently have a LTE network.  Sprint also does not offer LTE in a chunk of this area (GMO sites, spaced too far apart, etc.)

 

I predict that IVC will never go the route of bumping their own LTE network up - rather 'waiting' on Sprint to do full-build towers around here - which seems like will never happen.

 

I can see that this alliance is a GOOD thing, but I'm worried that it may stymie improvements from either side.  Is my concern valid?

I don't think you need to worry.  As a part of this deal IVC will be adding Sprint spectrum for LTE to its current network.  Sprint is even offering financing assistance to help pay for these partners.  IVC will be building out its own LTE network and will be available to Sprint customers.  We just don't know the timelines yet.

So I'm curious what Rural carrier could be covering the area southwest of Tyler Tx(east Texas)? The only other carrier is a Verizon affiliate.

There are Verizon rural partners participating in the CCA.  They will be opening up new coverage on their sites.  These would be separate from the Verizon LTE network.

Thanks, I was trying that one too but nothing happens. Must be from S4GRU users swamping their site

Try the link now.  I removed the HTTPS and that did the trick,

Very excited to see all that green in Northern New England! Is there a higher resolution map of CCA coverage anywhere? The map on their website is even smaller than the one linked in this post, and does not indicate if it is LTE-specific.

There is this one. http://competitivecarriers.org/cca-cell-map

What frequencies are bands 4 and 12? I may already know when I read the frequencies, but what are the prior-to-LTE uses of these bands?

 

The CCA and RRPP are the biggest thing Sprint has going for it aside from NV2.0. Carrier aggregation and the like are peanuts compared to this.

 

Is that map our expected LTE coverage when implemented? Eventually? We don't have much impact on Big Red in the Dakotas, but we have similar dominating coverage in other areas where they are weak.

Band 4 is AWS, and Band 12 is 700MHz A/B/C block.  The resource I use for LTE bands and EARFCN/frequencies is this website:  http://niviuk.free.fr/lte_band.php

Yes, with full CCA implementation, the green in the bottom map shows a fully built out and anticipated coverage.  Sprint is expected to expand native coverages themselves in some strategic places where there is no CCA coverage.  Or work with existing RRPP or Sprint Affiliates to expand coverages in those areas.

This will be very beneficial, possibly even necessary, in some booming areas like the Dakotas.

No update in Duluth, MN. Sales Reps said last fall then December then January then March. Nothing happened yet, terrible coverage forget about 4g there's no 3g. My son waited, nothing happened so then he went to Verizon, he got an S5, a tablet and case and car charger for $150. I will have to leave Sprint too.

Duluth is a straggling area, no doubt.  You've gotta do what you gotta do for your needs.  We understand.

Not sure if that's snow on the ground, or y'all have white asphalt.... In Charlotte no Target would be open with wintry precip all over the place (assuming white asphalt not).

That is definitely Dakota Snow.  

Robert

Hope that battery is a trooper.

My Trooper has a battery.  Does that count?

Robert

Robert and AJ, thanks for chiming in.  Strange that the M8 appears to be a strong performer in two bands (25 and 41) and a little weak in the other (band 26).  I'll try to stop obsessing over numbers now.

Based on other Triband device numbers, the N5 is a B26 anomaly.  The M8 should be just fine in B26.  I have only heard a few B26 N5 reports so far, and nothing suggests that it is unusually strong as their FCC OET reports outline.  It could just be an insignificant outlier.

Robert

How do these numbers compare to the LG G2 or the Nexus 5, which appear to be good "real world" RF performers?  I looked at the spreadsheet and was wondering if similar numbers for the N5/G2 are published on S4GRU (I looked but didn't find them if they are).

• In Band 25, this new HTC M8 looks like it may be slightly more powerful than the N5.  24.42 vs. 23.7
• In Band 26, the N5 looks much better than the HTC M8.   18.59 vs. 23.2
• In Band 41, the HTC M8 looks like it may be slightly better than the N5.  21.65 vs. 21.2

Of course, real world results may vary.  But the M8 looks promising.  Especially in Band 25.  I'm expecting it to be competitive with the N5, except in B26.  But B26 is less important since it has a propagation advantage.

Robert

I have the Nexus 5 and have had weird issues lately. I'm in South Jordan, Utah (South Salt Lake Valley) and my phone is constantly switching to 3G and also going to the Global carrier setting. I've been getting LTE just fine and now I have to change some settings to get it to go back. Sometimes even update the Profile and PRL. Salt Lake has been announced by Sprint as getting LTE but might still be having some growing pains. Could any of my problems be attributed to CSFB or other LTE site issues, or would it only be my phone?

We have heard other complaints happening in other markets too occasionally.  It seems that eCSFB on Samsung still has some growing pains where it goes in and out.  

One way to confirm is to put your device in LTE Only mode when you are in an area where you know you should be getting LTE.  If you find LTE in LTE Only mode, then there is definitely a CSFB issue going on.  If you don't get LTE in LTE Only mode either, then there is another problem.  Perhaps even the site is completely down.

Robert

What do you mean 2yr subsidy pricing is going away? Is this confirmed, or a thoery based on the market trend (T-Mobile, etc.)

Sprint employees have said in our Forums that Sprint is doing away with subsidized pricing and contracts soon.  Rumored to be Mid March.  You will soon be paying for your devices at purchases, whether 100% or through financing.

Robert

It's a bummer it doesn't support AC WiFi.  Everything should anymore, IMHO.

Robert

Am I reading the acronym section at the bottom correctly in that Ericsson markets get plain CSFB while ALU and Samsung get eCSFB?  If that's the case, why do the Ericsson markets get the older tech?

You're close. This is not a bad thing for Ericsson. It's a good thing. Ericsson legacy sites are capable of CSFB now and are being upgraded to support CSFB even before converting to Network Vision. Ericsson Network Vision sites support eCSFB.

To contrast, legacy sites in Samsung areas cannot be upgraded to even basic CSFB and have to wait until the NV upgrade at each site is completed and then can use eCSFB.

I'm not sure if there is much benefit to eCSFB over CSFB in customer experience anyway, though.

Robert

Hi there, I'm sorry to say that I think this article goes over my head.  However, I just bought a Nexus 5 on the Sprint network from Best Buy.  It works great over WiFi, but I can hardly get a data connection without it.  Using LTE, I ran a speedtest and haven't broken then 0.5 Mbps barrier.  

 

Is this article saying that I should be patient and pretty soon I'll have normal LTE speeds, or is something wrong with my phone?  I live in Chicago and according to Sprint's map, I have the best LTE coverage they offer.

Yes, your LTE will come live when the sites where you go get upgraded to CSFB.  In the Chicago market, this is largely just a software upgrade and should be done in the next few weeks.

Robert

Is it safe to say the bars are showing LTE signal strength when connected to LTE on a tri band device?

Yes, it appears that the bars shown on the Nexus 5 are indeed showing the LTE signal strength.

Robert

I am interested in becoming a sponsor, but wondering exactly what the maps look like and what information they contain.  Is the information directly from Sprint (what towers have what, etc.) or are they wholly contingent on people reporting what equipment they see on towers and when they see people working on towers?

Our Sponsor maps show all the Sprint sites on then Network. They also show which sites have been upgraded with what. And the information comes directly from Sprint sources.

Robert

Thank you for the information.  Not really the answer I was hoping for.

I currently have the HTC One.  Am I correct in assuming that once LTE is live in my area, I should be able to do SVLTE with it?

Yes, the HTC One supports SVLTE.

Robert