S4GRU

It turns out that the DOJ filed the same exact deal in the Tmo/Metro PCS merger. This is much ado about nothing. The DOJ has not made any comments yet that make it sound like they are concerned. They are just doing their due diligence. Robert

This appears to be a full build site. Take some pictures of their work when you get a chance. New panels and the base station equipment. We can then identify if work has started at this site. Thanks! Robert

Now I see that it is not an antitrust review by the DOJ, but a national security review. I did expect something like this could occur. Although this will likely slow things down, I cannot imagine any issues with a Japanese company. Unless they have some direct connection to the Chinese. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

It is. So it would be extremely ridiculous to put EBS spectrum into the screen. Its not their spectrum. They just are borrowing it, with no guarantee of future availability. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

This is surprising to me. There is no antitrust element to this deal. This is a win for consumers. Even consumers on other carriers would benefit from competition. *sigh* Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

The USVI market is small enough that they could do St. Croix and the one St. John site at the same time as St. Thomas. But I have not heard anything about St. Croix work yet. I think it's not far off. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

If all you know is what has been completed, then you provide a reasonable hypothesis. However, there are dozens of sites that are nearing completion soon. There will be a significant jump in completed sites in the next few months that will skew the current production rate. That being said, the market is behind schedule. Almost all markets are at least 3 months behind. Their original completion date will not hold. It will be more like the end of the year for completion. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

Ericsson has a nationwide contract with Sprint to maintain their network. They work in all 97 markets. Most Ericsson employees maintaining the Sprint network are former Sprint employees. Ericsson also provides site inspection for Sprint. In Samsung and Alcatel Lucent markets, Ericsson goes and inspects Network Vision sites for Sprint for acceptance. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

There was an Americom truck here at a Sprint GMO site here in New Mexico. Take some pictures of the base station equipment and we will see if we can help identify. I know work is underway at GMO sites in Colorado. They may be in Utah too. What is the location of the site? Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

No surprise that the market will not be 100% until the end of the year. 100% coverage is a much more important milestone than completion. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

A few things... 1. The Philly Metro market extends out to Reading and the Lehigh Valley. So there are tons of sites outside the Philly area. So that's 5% of a lot of sites. 2. Only 70% of the market sites are in the Philly Area. And it doesn't take 100% of them for 100% coverage. More like 50% of them. 3. Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of issues that are preventing many sites from completing and passing inspection. So there is a huge backlog of sites that will likely come through pretty quickly when these get resolved. Philly could still launch before the end of Spring, which is the 3rd week of June. Where we say Spring 2013, we don't mean the first day of Spring. We mean some time in Spring, date to be determined. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

I've heard they are starting work in St. Thomas. I've asked for more info to create an In Progress list. I don't make requests of sources often. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

Probably Spring as well for the very first sightings in the market. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

Ummm...take some pics when you get a chance, because this site just showed up as 3G and 4G complete in the latest update. I was kind of surprised to see it there. Robert

I'm glad someone mapped one of those new sites I reported last night. Now if someone can catch the other new ones over in Lacombe and Covington. Robert

You should be getting better results? Really? Says who? They are still actively working. You are an early adopter in an unlaunched market. Your carrier is blessing you with early access. No other carrier would even allow you the privilege of using the network this early. You need to keep this in perspective. Also, normal ping is under 90ms on Sprint LTE. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

You can get decent performance with a weak LTE signal when stationary. However, being mobile with a weak LTE signal, performance will likely be hit and miss. Especially while streaming. I have a hard time with weak Verizon LTE and T-Mobile HSPA+ while being mobile too. However, Chicago performance is still improving, even if they haven't been working recently in the areas that you go. So it will likely still get better. The Chicago market still has a large amount of updates every week. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

SMR Channel 476 has been confirmed broadcasting over most of NE Illinois and NW Indiana. As well as Maryland and North Texas. There have also been some reports in Massachusetts, DC and California by members using a custom PRL. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

Ericsson doesn't actually work on converting Network Vision sites themselves. They hire subcontractors to do the work. Ericsson supplies the equipment and monitors the work being performed. Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

It doesn't show which LTE site you're connected to. It shows which 1x site you're connected to. If you are connected to the same 1x and LTE site, it is a coincidence. NetMonitor will never disclose which LTE site you're connected to. That being said, the site SE of the Mall is active. Robert via Samsung Note II via Tapatalk

I've observed this with the Note 2 and my Nexus 4 as well. Robert via Samsung Note II via Tapatalk

NetMonitor does not show LTE site connection locations. Ever. Robert via Samsung Note II via Tapatalk

Now if someone would go over there with a Note 2 andtake a screen shot and show that to ks-man over in the Chicago forum to put that debate to an end too. Robert

I own and have tested extensively every Samsung Sprint LTE device. None of them show LTE signal strength in the bars, ever. You would have to use a custom ROM to get that to work that way. In a densely deployed area, 1x and LTE signal strength will often be very similar. And this may be why you believe this to be true. I can still remember my most recent experience where I was sitting next to a non Network Vision site where it said 4G and full bars, however, I was connected to a LTE site 4 miles away with a very weak signal of -116dBm and was getting speeds around 2Mbps. I checked the Cell ID of the LTE site, so I know where I was connected. In this location, my Note 2, Victory, GNex, EVO LTE, and Photon Q all showed full bars, and the 4G icon. However, only the Viper showed 1 bar and the 4G icon. That is because LG devices do show the LTE signal strength in the bars. I don't rely on bars, ever. They are just not very accurate or helpful for what I do. I use the Engineering screens. Because the Engineering screens often point to wonky developer created anomalies, like this. With this subject, I am neither mistaken nor confused. The Sprint Note 2 stock ROM does not show LTE signal strength in bars. It is showing the 1x voice signal strength. And when it is accurate, it is only coincidence. Robert

Men's Health Robert via Samsung Note II via Tapatalk