S4GRU

This seems to be the case. I think it's the period from when the OEM completes the site and has it online and when Sprint confirms that the site meets contract requirements and accepts the site. I think the first thing Sprint does when it takes over the site is block the LTE. Robert

by Robert Herron Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 5:03 AM MDT The next market in our Network Vision/LTE deployment schedule update series is...Boston, Mass. This market has not been announced by Sprint, but appears to be on the way for a late August launch, and work is already well under way in this market. The Boston market essentially covers the entirety of the Bay State, from Pittsfield to the end of Cape Cod. Sprint's Network Vision OEM Alcatel/Lucent has been actively deploying in the Boston market since late February and has a lot of sites up and running. As of this week, there are approximately 150 Network Vision sites that have completed upgrades. These sites are pretty spread out around the market, from Springfield to Suburban Boston and way out to New Bedford and Cape Cod! Complete Network Vision Sites in the Boston market. Approximately 150 Network Vision sites are complete in the market. The map on the left showing sites with 3G on-air and the map on the right showing 4G LTE on-air. Market Launch and Remaining Schedule It was Sprint's original plan to launch markets when they reached 50% of sites converted to Network Vision. However, it has now been determined that Sprint will move up launches sooner than 50% completion in several markets. This is likely to maintain a Mid 2012 launch in markets that have already been announced. However, in an unannounced market like Boston, we don't know if they will resume pushing back market launches to 50%, or if they will now settle on a 30% - 40% completion to be the new normal for market launches. If Sprint waits for 50% completion to launch the Boston market, it would make the launch month to be October (should AlcaLu stay on schedule). That being said, if Sprint should launch around the third week of August (as we suspect), then the market would be less than 50% complete. This doesn't sound like enough, but it would provide pretty good coverage. Even Verizon doesn't launch on all sites in a market initially. Usually less than 50%, then filling in with more and more sites every few months. Anticipated Sites Complete at Market Launch. According to the Network Vision schedules that S4GRU has reviewed, if Sprint launched the market in late August, these are the anticipated sites that would likely have LTE complete at that time. This would provide fairly good LTE coverage over many parts of the market. Until recently, Sprint was not reporting any of these live Network Vision sites in Boston have 4G LTE complete, only 3G EVDO. But this weekend, 4G LTE sites started to go on-air in the Boston market. The 140 or so 3G only Network Vision sites will likely start coming live with 4G LTE very soon. The bottom line... We currently do not have a date that Sprint will formally "launch" the Boston market. We believe they are targeting a launch month of August based on reports internally within Sprint. However, after reviewing the schedule, it may actually pan out to be late August or the first of September. Sprint will likely announce a launch date for this market, and a few others like Austin, Washington DC, Chicago and Los Angeles around the time of the first launch. Sprint's Network Vision schedule for this market currently has 148 Network Vision sites complete. Alcatel/Lucent is plotting continual progress from here with production increasing up to a rate of almost 70 sites per month. S4GRU has examined the schedule in great detail in this market and sees that most of the sites will be complete by February 2013. However, there are several sites that will linger past the completion. In our estimation of the schedule, AlcaLu is right on time, and should have no problem meeting or exceeding the schedule. Photo of Boston skyline provided courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. NOTE: S4GRU Sponsor Members can track regular updates of Network Vision sites completed nationwide. Completed sites are shown in an interactive Google Maps interface. Information about sponsorship can be found here: S4GRU Sponsorship

Bloody Mary

Probably. Some report getting a 4G icon for a moment on blocked sites. Some never see a 4G icon at all. I think it varies between device type and the LTE OEM. Seems like EVO LTE owners in Samsung areas see the icon for a moment when being blocked. But EVO LTE owners in Ericsson areas do not. Welcome to the blocked club! Robert

Sprint is probably laughing at us. We are giving them all the information they need to block LTE sites that are left open, right down to their Site ID numbers. Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

sperm bank Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

I am not sure who the equipment OEM is for Clearwire. Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

Its an old map from a WSJ article from last March or April. Its very out of date. And Sprint never said June, they said Mid 2012. I heard a rumor today that the first launches are now slated for Mid July. Not the end of June. But I haven't confirmed this rumor yet. Robert via Galaxy Nexus using Forum Runner

Current S4GRU Staff For those of you who aren't sure who we are, S4GRU's all volunteer staff, as of April 30, 2015 include: S4GRU Adminstrator: Robert - S4GRU S4GRU Technical Editor: AJ - WiWavelength S4GRU Moderators: Dave (TS) - twospirits David - Dkoellerwx Tim - lilotimz Josh - macinjosh Cedric - COZisback Seth - Mr.Nuke Trip - Trip Rey - RAvirani Roy - themuffinman (backup Moderator) Rickie - Rickie546 (backup Moderator) S4GRU Writers: Josh - macinjosh AJ - WiWavelength Rickie - Rickie546 Ian - iansltx Robert - SDherron Facebook Moderators: Rickie - Rickie546 David - Dkoellerwx

nut job

Pepsi Generation

Generation shift Robert via Galaxy Nexus using Forum Runner

I don't think you will see a push from Clearwire to convert Protection Sites from WiMax to LTE. There are still hundreds of Clearwire 3G Expedience sites protecting EBS/BRS spectrum. Clearwire never bothered to convert so many of these from Expedience to WiMax. They don't want to spend any more money than possible to protect spectrum. It's all wasted operating dollars, in their opinion. I have a feeling those will continue operating long after 2015 in WiMax. Clearwire will be upgrading their own sites on their own, whenever they want to and can afford to. But separately, Sprint can also request Clearwire to add hotspot LTE wherever Sprint needs it. Including Sprint Network Vision sites in markets where Clearwire doesn't even currently serve. In the documents I have seen Sprint will request specific sites in advance, long before the site is over capacity. Sprint has a lot more network management/monitoring capability on Network Vision sites than they have ever had in the past. They are planning to be far more proactive. Robert

Yankee Doodle Robert via Galaxy Nexus using Forum Runner

recharged batteries

Interstate Highway Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

Fraternity Row Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

You can right click on the image in the coverage map, select copy image location. Then paste the harvested URL in the browser. You can then modify the query string for a larger image, change the resolution, change the GPS coords, etc. Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

My 32GB Pebble Blue also says backordered now. I started my order 5 minutes after the site went live. So I am one of the first wave of orders. Although, the status on my EVO LTE bounced around from backordered to preorder every day or two. I'm actually surprised this status stayed consistent for so long. I do hope it comes out this week. Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner