S4GRU

pretzel dog Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

And these MVNO's are paying data rates based on the older more expensive network. Meaning that Sprint should be making bank off these MVNO's. A lot of money to go back into the network to keep it purring nicely and well maintained. Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

Clearwire's WiMax network has many sites that have overburdened carriers and overburdened backhaul. Some WiMax sites only have 20Mbps and some protection sites have less than 10Mbps. Clearwire stopped carrier upgrades and backhaul upgrades last year on the WiMax network. There are some very targeted upgrades, but so few now it is hardly worth discussing. WiMax network is largely in decline until there are enough WiMax users leave for LTE that it comes back to life for a little while before it gets retired Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

I was kind of daydreaming along these lines. Creating a new wireless carrier using cheap leftover spectrum pieces from several bands. Like what USCC is doing in their new LTE devices. Frankencarrier. Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

I guess I'm showing my age. Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

Mechanical downtilt is not remotely controlled with NV panels. However, that would be pretty trick. Robert via Samsung Galaxy S-III 32GB using Forum Runner

I got your donation. What a good sport. That's awesome. I'll take it even with the two less zeroes! Robert via Samsung Galaxy S-III 32GB using Forum Runner

I didn't know who the donation was from so I sent an email back asking for your screen name. But now that I see your post here, I now know who it is from. I have upgraded your account. You can ignore the email I sent to your PayPal email address. Thanks for supporting S4GRU. Robert via Samsung Galaxy S-III 32GB using Forum Runner

show stopper Robert via Samsung Galaxy S-III 32GB using Forum Runner

I can tell you that the GNex and S3 batteries are not interchangeable. Slightly different size. I just tried that the other day. Robert

According to the Premier Sponsor schedule of the Tampa market, it looks like the first LTE sites will not be live until Mid October in the Tampa market. Robert

Yeah, tech journalists need to understand the difference between LTE and frequency and how they impact propagation/coverage. This is definitely an error. Robert

This is very true. Imagine multiplying that by 38,000 sites. It becomes easy to see why Sprint is going with AAV/microwave in many places over fiber in Network Vision. Robert

I cringe when I read my old posts. It's amazing how much more knowledge you gain every six months or so. Robert

Cheap is good. And free is better! Robert

Absolutely. I always keep them anonymous, unless asked. Which no one has. Robert

Tonight's Festivities

Good question. Clearwire will have to really beef up its backhaul for 20MHz TD-LTE. It is barely sufficient for 10MHz WiMax in many places. It is likely they will hook up existing WiMax to the new backhaul as well. It doesn't make sense to have two backhaul solutions at each site. It is likely that WiMax performance will measurably increase when improved backhaul arrives with LTE (so long as the carriers are not overburdened at the site). However, WiMax speeds should max out around 16Mbps, even with 1Gbps backhaul. Also note that Protection Sites will likely not receive LTE upgrades, nor increased backhaul until sometime after WiMax is decommissioned after 2015. Robert

I've received several reports of live LTE in the Old Bridge/Manalapan/Marlboro/Freehold FIT area. Robert

My signal went down. I tried it and watched the Debug screen. It seemed to force it to change to another site in its Neighbor Set. It only forced the EVDO to change, not the 1x. So I suppose if you are stuck on a farther away site, then doing this may move you to a closer stronger site. However, the benefit of this is probably nil. Because if you are on a farther away site, it probably has a better EcIo ratio, and thus why your device is keeping it. Robert

We have received dozens of reports of live LTE connections from S4GRU members for the past 10 days, as well as our NV Sites Complete Map shows lots of completed LTE sites around the Baltimore market. So it seems they are not blocking LTE connections around Baltimore prior to launch the way they did the first launched markets. However, Sprint has not formally launched LTE service in Baltimore, yet. Robert

It is my understanding that the RFP Requirements for Backhaul was 250Mbps, and must be scalable for more upon request. There are some less than 250Mbps, when the local area cannot provide those speeds. Sites have a backhaul capacity field in our master schedule database. They say 250, 95, 55 or 50. I assume these are backhaul speeds being offered from the backhaul vendor. About 50% of them are blank. And approximately 25% say 250. About 10% say 95 and 55. Less than 5% say 50. Robert