mozamcrew

You are late to that party, OS X 10.9 is Mavericks, a famous surfing area off the coast of California, and OS X 10.10 is named Yosemite. (Ps, and this is for anyone, if you don't know where Yosemite is, smack yourself). So the new OS X naming convention is famous places of California.

I know, I'm running Mavericks on my laptop. I'm talking when they inevitably merge the two OSes. Does iOS have code names like OS X?

Ironic, because apples start being harvested in September and into October.  Coincidence?  I think not!  

 

I'm waiting for my Pink Lady and Fuji's to debut with the latest specs here shortly.  Hopefully Safeway will have all the latest versions before everyone else.  I don't want to have to stand in line this year.  Can't wait to take a byte!

 

Robert

Maybe that will be the new naming convention for OSX/iOS, instead of big cats....

Ironic, because apples start being harvested in September and into October.  Coincidence?  I think not!  

 

I'm waiting for my Pink Lady and Fuji's to debut with the latest specs here shortly.  Hopefully Safeway will have all the latest versions before everyone else.  I don't want to have to stand in line this year.  Can't wait to take a byte!

 

Robert

Not a fan of the Honeycrisp?

Hot stuff with the antenna; I'd like to get some specs for your outdoor setup if it's not

too much of a problem; your RS-SINR value went from -5 to 16...remarkable improvement in

signal quality;  your RSRP value improvement really amazes going from -110 to -77; AJ might

weigh in here but I've never seen such a signal improvement with just an antenna; does the Clearwire

gear amplify the signal somehow?

 

First thing that helps is that the antenna is outside, so it's going to be getting a better signal than in the house. Secondly, external antenna arrays are going to usually be better than the ones they have to cram into small devices.

They probably sell all the AWS to T-Mobile or AT&T. 

Or swap it for PCS that in markets where they are PCS poor. They won't even need additional equipment to make use of it.

If you are just looking to identify Band 26, it's not a huge deal, but Jamison is correct, users shouldn't try to force B26 all the time. It will slow it down just as B25 has slowed down, and we don't want that. 

 

Exactly, In most places Sprint has enough spectrum to add additional band 25 and 41 LTE carriers, but there will only be one carrier in band 26. It needs to be reserved for those that simply can't get a decent band 25 or 41 signal.

I am torn on the data cap, but it is what it is. (I am pleased to see them cutting off at 300mb even if on the new tight 100mb limit)... But what I will/would not be pleased about is ANY sign of charges for roaming.  

 

That would NOT be a way to try to compete with the "big two"... Setting a roaming cap is already making Sprint like a prepaid option (straight talk, virgin, boost, etc)... Setting roaming overage costs would take us back to the '90s... I know I would shut my Sprint phone down the same day I had even a 0.25 roaming charge on it.

What needs to happen is you need to be given the option, once you hit 100Mbyte limit, is either to disable roaming data, or agree to pay (at cost with no markup) whatever Sprint is being charged by the other carrier for the roaming data.

You are literally the first person I heard say Comcast fiber was pleasant to deal with.

Well when you are comparing them to Windstream or (itTakesA)CenturyLink ....

Has anyone figured out how to change the band priorities on the m8? Can you even do it on this phone? I just started getting band 26 and it's way better than 25 but 25 always muscles its way on top

On mine I can disable or enable bands, which I find useful if I am trying to map which sites are broadcasting band 26 or 41 ( I just temporarily disable the other two). If that's what you are trying to accomplish, then that's what you will need to do.

 

As far as setting the "band priority", this setting only effects the order in which the device scans for those LTE bands. Once connected to the network, the network controls which band your device is on (assuming your device supports those bands and has them enabled and has a useable signal). 

I really hate this behavior because it really assumes that the internet begins and ends with the web. What happens when an app or other program that isn't looking for a webpage sends out a DNS request and gets this Spammy site's IP instead of being told the requested domain doesn't exist.

Okay then make tethering addons double your data for 1 GB and 3 GB and for unlimited cap it at 5 or 6 GB. That way it is a nice value add and still keeps the tiers from being better than one another.

I was thinking the plans would be somthing like this. $30 for unlimited talk and text - then you pick either $30 for unlimited without tethering, or $30 for 5GB (but you ARE allowed to tether, since you aren't unlimited). Then you have add on data buckets that you can add in 2Gb=$10 increments. If you are on unlimited, these are for tethering, but you could also use them to add to your 5GB limited bucket as well.

 

 

Personally I think the best step would be
$30 1 GB (or 2 GB?) unlimited talk text no tethering
$45 3 GB (or 4 GB?) unlimited talk text no tethering
$60 Unlimited Data unlimited talk text unlimited tethering

For the $35 and $45 plans they should make it a $10/mo tether option

Sprint can't drop their per line costs that low. It would be a money losing proposition for them. The only thing they can afford to do is give you a larger data allotment than their competitors. They aren't going to come out with a plan that costs less than an ATT or VZW plan. What they will do is match that price but give you twice the data for that cost.

What would be nice on the individual plans is for them to give you the OPTION of either:

1. Unlimited talk/text/data, but you have to pay extra for tethering. (which is the current deal)

2. Unlimited talk/text and 5GB of data that you can use for however you'd like (wifi hotspot/tethering).

and they would both be $60.

Especially since you are using Sprint's money with no fees.

It's like an interest free loan. But I can see where the extra warranty some credit cards offer on electronics purchases may make just buying it upfront with your credit card (and then paying off the card immediately) worthwhile.

I know that the EVO4G LTE is a single band LTE phone but I have family members with other phones too that are Spark enabled. Still the experience on a single band handset is worse as the experience on the old wimax network because I never seen so slow results in Orange County.

 

Wait, is the single band EVO better or worse than the new Triband Spark enabled devices? Are you complaring them to even older wimax devices? 

I worked through the uscc buy out last year alot that came over to sprint were subprime customers.

 I think USCC's customer base in Chicago is much different than it is in much of the rest of its territory. 

Robert, you should not confuse a simple question with a desire to switch service providers. Yes would I like to see strong Sprint LTE coverage like T-Mo seems to offer? - Yes.

 

Sprint has gained a reputation as building a network that is just not working. I am in Los Angeles, a market that is Spark ready yet I still find myself in 3G so many times unless they make it part of the Spark experience.

TMo has started late but their move has been very aggressive and I wish Sprint would get the job done quickly. I know that their 5x5 B25 network will not be able to offer much speed but at times it is below 3G specs. That needs to change.

You probably know this, but if you are in fact using the Evo 4G LTE, you won't be getting any of the band 41 Spark goodness.

. I'm sure people with 4 or 5 lines will really love it when their bill goes up $60 or $75 bucks at the end of 2015. Blegh. Oh and current customers will pay ~$960 more for 4 lines between now and the end of 2015. I mean damn that is nearly 3 Nexus 5 phones!

I know everyone is all upset about new customers getting promotions that current customers don't get. I'm fine with them getting device discounts or waving the access fees for a year, as long as they aren't getting a better deal LONG-TERM. When you move to a new carrier and buy all new devices, you have to make a big upfront investment (especially now that we are getting away from phone subsidies). I'm fine with Sprint giving them a break for the first year or so, as long as they don't maintain that status in perpetuity.

I understand and sympathize with the rest of your point.  I just do not have the time and energy to address it tonight.  Besides, broadcast TV is a public good.

 I look forward to your well informed response oh wireless oracle...

 

Now, for the Lower 700 MHz A block, its usage is largely predicated on the 600 MHz auction -- since it will clear UHF channel 51, regardless.  But as long as John Legere continues to be a slimy asshole, many of us will be happy the more difficult the auction becomes, the longer it gets postponed.

AJ

While I don't mind watching Legere squirm, lots of other CCA members also have block A spectrum that is impaired. So my shadenfreude is somewhat lessened by this realization.

Just as I have been saying all along, if or when the 600 MHz auction ever happens...

 

AJ

 

Hence why TMUS is in such a hurry to buy up 700A. At least Sprint has that ESMR spectrum.

 

Frankly, the FCC should just decide to clear everything ABOVE channel 38 and pay relocation costs to the broadcasters that have to move. Broadcasters who were given the spectrum for free shouldn't be able to turn around and "sell" it back to the FCC. The FCC should pay for relocation costs only.

 

We'd get a uniform nationwide block of spectrum instead of being stuck with almost nothing in some markets and way more than we need in others, and we wouldn't have any issues with trying to develop a band plan around channel 37. That should give us AT LEAST 30x30 of useable spectrum. Frankly VZW and ATT don't need it in markets where they hold both a celluar license and 700Mhz spectrum. Sprint really need about 10Mhz everywhere (5x5) and other 10Mhz in places where they don't have a full 7x7 or more or 800 that they can actually use (SOLINK areas and the IBEZ mostly).

These plans are not difficult. Why is everyone so confused by these? These are almost exactly the same as the big 2. These are insanely easy to comprehend. Data bucket + access fee = bill.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

My only complaint is you have 5-6 different access fees depending upon the type of device, how big your data bucket is, and if you are a new or existing customer. That makes it a real mess to explain when you are trying to sell service. 

And I understand Sprint can't give away the farm to existing subs, but I think a nod to the customers that have stuck with them through the NV upgrade issues should get something.  Maybe an early upgrade or $100 to a new device.  Just something to say thanks would be a good gesture.  

 

Exactly. They can't afford anything crazy on the existing subs. Maybe some kind of loyalty credit on their next new device for people that have been around for more than a year or two? You can't afford a big hit with teaser pricing that isn't sustainable, but just a nice nod to existing customers would be nice.

No $15 montly fees for new customers initially. Just $100/month. That's how I read it.

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

OK, that makes sense. But waving the fee is only for a limited time, right. (Since they are going to be stuck with getting a pile of new phones and what-not). This might be the straw that gets me to bring my family over. 

I pay $160 per month to share 10GB for four lines on AT&T. And I thought that was dirt cheap. This new plan blows my AT&T plan out of the water.

 

Save $60 per month and get double the data! And I could add even up to 6 more devices. Yes, existing customers the deal is less good. But even at the same price for double the data is not a bad deal. Too bad Sprint is not an option for me. The best I can hope for is AT&T lowers their prices further.

 

It will be interesting to compare the individual plans later this week. Fortunately, Sprint allows you to keep your existing plans. If they work better for you, then good! Keep them.

 

But this is still the best deal going for a POSTPAID plan (that includes roaming) with data buckets. And in that regard it is highly disruptive. It even beats prepaid family plans for new customers.

 

Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

The way I read it, it's $100+$15+$15+$15+$15=$160 for Sprint, but you would get 20GB of data instead of 10GB. (Actually $28, when you include the limited time 2Gb/per line bonus. But I'm looking at the long term value proposition.) So they match ATT on price, but give you more data. 

Also, can we please stop armchair CEO-ing new plans? Sprint most likely has a room of accountants looking at all sorts of actuarial tables to offer feasible plans that meet the number one goal of any corporation: to make money for the shareholders.

 

My education was in economics, so I see exactly what Sprint is TRYING to do here.

 

Sprint knows they aren't going to beat the duopoly on the coverage map any time real soon, though the CAA/RRPP deal will at least make them more competitive. They also know they will lose a race to the bottom on price, since wireless has high fixed costs, and the big two have far more customers/higher margins and will win any war based on driving the cost per user into the ground.

 

The advantage that NV gives them is that their marginal capacity costs are much lower. NV equipment is more efficient to operate and make adding additional carriers less costly and time consuming, plus the trove of 2.6 Ghz spectrum means they have the spectrum to throw at capacity trouble spots. 

 

Sprint's value proposition is obvious: For the people we DO cover, you will get more data for your money. Your bill won't be a lot lower for those of you that don't use a lot of data, but using more data won't cost you an arm and a leg. 

 

I think they have the idea right, I just think they've made the pricing structure overly complex and thus harder to explain and sell.