S4GRU

Scott is a moderator and a writer here. I wouldn't recommend getting into a further discussion on the subject. I think we should move on. Please accept my explanation on the issue. However, it should improve post Network Vision. With RRU's up high on the the towers, it should have a significant impact on filling in the little 3G RF holes that exist now. This will give you a more seamless coverage area of 3G. Also, newer devices will handoff better too than devices from last year or even older. So the problem that you are experiencing will definitely get better for you after Network Vision is complete in your area. What will be even better is when you are using a LTE device in a LTE coverage area once 800 LTE is deployed. With LTE on 800, the coverage area will be very seamless. And streaming audio/video in a coverage area will be a very good experience. The Sprint network is going under a metamorphosis currently. It will not be even remotely like its former self. And for most of us, I know we cannot wait. And the reports we are getting from the live Network Vision sites are very promising. Robert

I think that the next iPhone will be larger and have a different profile than the current iPhone. If they can fit 4, I'm left to believe they could fit a 5th or 6th if necessary. Two of these bands are doubled up on each antenna. Can they be tripled up? Maybe so. Robert

bumpy flight

I am using poor terminology. GSM stays in contact, but it does not allow for soft handoff. My agency used to use AT&T and I would use an app called Antennas (http://www.androidce...puts-bars-shame) on it. It would show all the GSM towers that my device was seeing. The device also used this same information and would triangulate your location when you used the network to determine location. Since then, our agency has moved to Verizon. So now I have a CDMA personal and work phone. The CDMA devices I have used only show one location on Antennas app and when you use the network to determine location, they seem to be much less accurate. This is not because of the handoff technology (which obviously CDMA is far superior) but because of the number of sites the device is listening to and can get coordinates for. I didn't mean to imply that the GSM devices are actually "connected" to these additional towers. Robert

Sarge...you must have missed where we were talking about this new device from USCC that supports 4 LTE bands.

Many devices have a hard time going back to 3G EVDO if they get handed over to 1x, especially while in an active data session. And streaming would be the ultimate example of an active data session. It used to happen to me all the time on my EVO. It still happens on my E4GT too, but it seems to be a little better at pushing me back up to EVDO. So it is easy to make the assumption when this happens that for some reason you are not in a 3G EVDO coverage area and/or perhaps there is something wrong with the network. When in reality, you probably only lost 3G EVDO coverage for a few seconds or a minute, but your device will not reconnect you. The best way to correct this when you know you are in a 3G area, but stuck in 1x, is to cycle through Airplane mode. But this can be really cumbersome and annoying, especially when streaming. But rest assured, I have the same issue on my work Verizon phone too. In fact, it's worse because it drops to 1x more often in my area. As for Scott's comments, please understand around here the 4G fee is a taboo subject. It causes our dander to get ruffled because it usually gets mentioned right before flaming begins. So we may be a little hyper sensitive. Your question is legit, so I apologize for us shooting you first, and then responding to your question. Best Regards, Robert S4GRU Administrator

That is correct. In fact, all of Western Minnesota is also in the Dakotas market. You can check out this market map: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/gallery/image/253-sprint-market-map-dakotas/

Typically, you wouldn't want to do more than 3 or 4 in a terminal end application with links being greater than 5-6 miles in between each. Although links of 10mi can be supported. If you were doing a loop, you could do 7 or 8. There are even newer and better improvements in MW than can support even greater distances. However, they are pretty new to market. And I'm not sure if Sprint backhaul providers are already up to speed and deploying these. Sprint is using fiber backhaul where it can. Where it is easily accessible and affordable. And supposedly, the Southern Connecticut market has no microwave at all. Robert

Is it smart to delay LTE by a couple of years and spend billions more trying to do an all fiber backhaul? Also, a single line of fiber that's not redundant is not bullet proof. Fiber lines get cut all the time. And it's easier and faster to repair microwave. It's sixes IMO. And when you consider the cost and schedule to go with MW, it's a no brainer. Modern MW is so fast and so scalable. Also, you can build MW in a redundant loop to improve reliability, It doesn't have to have a terminal end. Robert

It's not a big deal at all. But you can "repeat" only so many times before you affect performance. It is done all the time. I am writing an article on it soon. Robert

I'm glad I purchased when I did! Robert

Yeah, I saw that. I was half considering a revision to the Sprint Markets maps based on that. Robert

Your brother has an AT&T device that works great indoors? I haven't had any device that is good with GPS inside most structures. Some will, some won't. Some maybe if you are near a window. If you just mean network based location, that makes sense. GSM devices stay in contact with many sites at once, allowing for much better triangulation. I also think that iPhone are better with GPS, in general, based on my experiences. The signals from GPS satellites are pretty darn weak and don't penetrate very well at all. It's amazing that they even work in a car. Robert

Network Vision is not being tested anywhere except for G Block. There is signficiant drive testing that occurs before they finally convert a site off legacy and onto NV. We have also had many members visit sites in Chicago, Boston, Central Jersey and DFW and none have complained of these issues. This doesn't make sense from how NV is being deployed. You would need to have a modified PRL to be experiencing the issues described. Also, someone should probably tell that guy over in the HoFo thread who was complaining about not seeing a map of completed sites that we have one posted here for sponsor members. Robert

It's daisy chaining. It's receiving backhaul via MW and passing it on to another site too. Robert

800 LTE is only going on existing Sprint 1900 CDMA sites. So it will not create any new coverages, just a 45% distance increase for the same sites. So, on a national level, it would just appear as the existing coverage would just swell a little. However, on a local map level, especially one showing signal intensity, the difference is huge. That's because the data points in our Sprint market maps come from Sprint databases. The data comes from October 1, 2011. Changes since then (which isn't much) are not reflected. Robert

I once did a quick estimation that Sprint would only have to keep approx. 1,000 Nextel sites to maximize its coverage area into areas where they have no CDMA coverage currently, but do have iDEN. So, no need to keep all 25k Nextel sites. Robert

think big

I just ordered one too. Great deal. Couldn't pass up. I regret missing the TouchPad deal. Robert - Posted from my E4GT with ICS using Forum Runner

That famous McDonald's case where the chick had no idea that coffee is hot was right here in New Mexico. Robert - Posted from my E4GT with ICS using Forum Runner

I would love that! Robert - Posted from my E4GT with ICS using Forum Runner

My kids want iPod Touches. But I refuse. Sounds like a great alternative. Robert - Posted from my E4GT with ICS using Forum Runner