WiWavelength

Only thing recently that caused the need for a forced PRL update was Sprint shuffling PCS spectrum with the other carriers.

Even that is generally not an all or nothing situation.  Spectrum swaps rarely are flash cuts.  As long as one CDMA1X carrier remains the same, a device on an older PRL still can acquire the network.  Not to mention, with single RF path e/CSFB devices that camp on LTE, CDMA2000 network acquisition is little more than an afterthought these days.

AJ

If I were roaming and the only option was to pay 25¢ per MB for overages, I'd seriously consider switching providers. There's no way Sprint is paying anywhere close to 25¢/MB to Verizon. Sprint is hurting itself by charging that much. They could push some subscribers to leave for other networks if they find themselves paying $25 for an extra 100 MB.

Not so fast.  T-Mobile self reportedly has had data roaming costs not far from $0.25/MB.  Your assumption about Sprint's roaming costs is unsubstantiated.

AJ

Depends, in some countries it's $15/MB, such as Swaziland. Meanwhile the country is surrounded on all sides by South Africa, with Open World roaming rates of $30/GB. Get too close to the border and it hops over and you get billed at $15/MB. It just happened to a line on my account. Thankfully it was only 2MB. Trying to get the charge removed.

Get the charges removed on what grounds?  Your line sounds like it incurred legitimate data roaming charges.  You know, getting courtesy credits may be one contributing reason why roaming is so limited and/or expensive.  Somebody has to pay for the courtesy credits.

AJ

I'm pretty sure PRL's have nothing to do with reception.

For the vast majority of users in the vast majority of places the vast majority of the time, PRL updates have zero effect on service -- native or roaming.  Concern over having the latest PRL is overblown.

AJ

But with evdo and 1x my signal is over 105 ddm

What do you call 105 dentists in a room?  105 DDM.

But if you actually mean 105 dBm, then that is over 10,000,000 W.  You are dead and cooked to a crisp.

AJ

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2016/10/30/robb-t-time-warner-merger-already-dead-and-s-shame/92900988/ merger is dead

Is critical thinking dead?

That is an editorial from one notoriously Republican newspaper.  It is not a news article.

AJ

Wow this is huge if true. Source?

It is "huge"???  That seems overly dramatic, since nobody needs 3x CA.  Any carrier aggregation is a behind the scenes network enhancement, not a user facing feature.  Sprint's support of 2x CA and LTE data roaming on BYOD handsets last cycle was questionable, and it may be again with 3x CA this cycle.  But presence or absence of 3x CA is not something that most users will notice or even can detect.

AJ

Looks like Sprint's data speeds went down in this half of testing.

http://rootmetrics.com/en-US/rootscore/map/metro/jacksonville-fl/2016/2H

 

It does look like Sprint's call dropped/blocked improved though.  Wonder if that has anything to do with the change in the amount of customers on the network in the area.

I highly doubt that you have market share figures for Jacksonville.  But you appear to assume that Sprint has lost a significant number of subs in the market.  Is that because you, your brother Terrell, and your other brother Terrell see it that way?

AJ

How come when Tmobile says 231 million people are covered in wideband I have a hard time finding a tower that doesn't have a 15×15 or 20×20 but when Sprint claims 250 markets or 70% of customers I can still go 100 miles and not see any 2.5 equipment? Makes me think they are flat out liars. Tmobile are liars about there coverage too. 312 million? Yeah right.

This is a pattern of logic with you -- the "I don't see it, so it must not be true" argument.  That is highly flawed reasoning, and you should stop using it.

AJ

Band 10 isn't even deployed here where I live yet

Band 10 CDMA

Sprint uses band 10

Nope, no such thing as band 10 CDMA2000.

AJ

time for a user thread?  and where to put it, under htc or google, eh. 

Staff created a user thread weeks in advance.  Presently, it is hidden but will get reopened and posts relocated to it tonight.

AJ

SRLTE and low band, for the win.  By holding on to band class 10 and band 26 both, the Pixel XL survives the library challenge better to my recollection than has any other recent handset.  In fact, I am posting this on band 26 from the library.

AJ

Appreciate the quick feedback.  I'd love to see the comparisons of all devices, whenever you get a chance.

I am in a well deployed band 41 market, so that has limited my experience. But I am going to the library tonight.  Because of its construction, the library typically is a CDMA1X 800 zone.  That should be a good test in a challenging RF environment.

AJ

How does it seem to appear in comparison to your 5X for signal strength?

My very limited, highly anecdotal impression thus far is that band 41 signal strength and retention are not quite as good as on the Nexus 5X.  I can do direct comparisons with the Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, and 2014 Moto X tonight or tomorrow.

AJ

My handset was delivered this afternoon.  After unboxing and topping off the battery, Sprint online activation sailed through without a hitch, opting to reuse the universal 3-1 in one CSIM UICC from my Nexus 5X.  The online activation tool automatically recognized the IMEI/MEID as that of a Google Pixel XL.  In my online account manager, the active device and its avatar even immediately updated to the Google Pixel XL, correct color and storage options.

Other observations...

The AMOLED screen has a green cast in off angle viewing.  It probably is PenTile.

The engineering screens and other hidden system apps are accessible via the usual dialer codes as well as SignalCheck Pro shortcuts.  The CDMA1X engineering screen is borked, no readout even while in call.  The LTE engineering screen is standard issue for HTC.

AJ

What is the proper wording for it ?

Horizontal/vertical integration and strategic or even anti competitive conglomeration do not necessarily equal monopoly.

AJ

Hmm what does it mean...

A board game in which players engage in simulated property and financial dealings.

AJ

Wouldn't that be considered a monopoly

You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means.

AJ

Spectrum is a public resource and it should be used in the most economically efficient manner. I believe that is cellular communications. My beef is why the hell are we paying the broadcasters to vacate.

bigsnake49, you had a phone message while you were out this afternoon.  Let me see, oh, here it is...

Ayn Rand called.  She said, "You and your ideas be cray cray extreme."

AJ

Spectrum is a public resource and it should be used in the most economically efficient manner.

Yosemite National Park is a public resource.  But most of it is just sitting there, unimproved.  We need to sell it to Disney.  Raising admission prices, building roller coasters, and creating jobs will increase GDP.

The White House is a public resource.  We need to take advantage of built in cross marketing and open a White House Black Market fashion boutique just off of the Rose Garden.

Public resources should be used in the most economically efficient manner.  We must increase GDP!

AJ

I don't agree. Sprint has publicly advertised that the phone works on the network and is supported.

Sprint has "publicly advertised" Pixel support?  Where?

Also, the earliest delivery dates were fully a week from now, October 26-28.  The Google Store jumped the gun by a week.  Sprint had every reason to expect that these niche handsets would not start being activated until next week.  You cannot complain until then.

But maybe I should be like many iPhone 7 buyers and complain now about delays because my Pixel XL will not be delivered until next week -- even though I put in my order in the first few minutes, probably before any of you.

AJ

Spectrum is a public resource and it should be used in the most economically efficient manner. I believe that is cellular communications. My beef is why the hell are we paying the broadcasters to vacate.

You really have gone off the deep end on this one.  Your beliefs do not a logical argument make.

AJ

Picked up a Galaxy Tab E, some of the system shortcuts don't work.

 

Data/EPST and Debug/Engineering give a Toast notification "Screens may note be available on this device"

 

Looking at the System Apps, IOTHiddenMenu exists, however, I can't get it to launch with a Shortcut app.  There is a metric ton of things under IOTHiddenMenu including Debug, CAEnabled, etc.

 

Had to go into the Calculator and enter a string to launch DRParser Mode, from there I was able to use codes to access Debug and Data

That is the Samsung generic service mode.  As far as I know, SignalCheck Pro system shortcuts point only to the Sprint specific engineering screens present on some handsets.

By the way, I think that mikejeep may be done with SignalCheck Pro.  It has not been updated in six months.  And he no longer maintains a presence in this thread.

AJ

Battery looks promising for the regular sized pixel.

Not regular sized picture removed.

AJ

Looks like they updated their spec sheet to reflect Cat 12 LTE.

 

Supports up to CAT 12 (600Mbps DL / 75Mbps UL) depending on carrier support

 

https://madeby.google.com/phone/specs/

 

 

Basically meaning 4x4 MIMO and 256-QAM are supported to achieve the advertised 600Mbps speeds.

One or the other, maybe both, but not necessarily both 4x4 MIMO and 256-QAM.

3x CA: 20 MHz FDD @ 2x2 MIMO @ 256-QAM = 600 Mbps

3x CA: (2x CA 20 MHz FDD @ 2x2 MIMO @ 64-QAM) + (20 MHz FDD @ 4x4 MIMO @ 64-QAM) = 600 Mbps

AJ