WiWavelength

It happens. If for whatever reason your handset cannot tunnel through to the 4G core, it gets EV-DO. AJ

That is not an error. It is just the same Samsung "enginerring" for everyone. AJ

We do not want these comments to turn into a heated debate about "unlimited" data abuse. Those never end well. But to respond to your question, Sprint has little market power right now to show any concern for or disable Download Booster. As chappo2000 points out, the "grin and bear it" strategy may be Sprint's only tenable option right now. For illustration at S4GRU, we like to use the all you can eat buffet analogy. If one or two people are being rude by hogging far more than their fair share while the restaurant is doing nothing to stop it, that does not prevent the other patrons from confronting the "unlimited" food abusers. And that is basically what we are doing at S4GRU when we highlight current or potential problems with "unlimited" data, such as use of Download Booster. AJ

Not really. The macro network has no means to determine that some of the packets are being delivered over Wi-Fi, some over LTE. This is our cause for concern. Download Booster can or will increase macro network loading in exchange for slightly faster data speeds. AJ

If Part 90 SMR 800 MHz testing includes only conducted power, that tells us little about radiated power. So, it is not a valid basis for comparison. And we can report only the data provided to the FCC. Sorry... AJ

What is this "1x" of which you speak? My Nexus 5 lives at the LTE campground. AJ

You guys could serve hard time for battery on a trooper. AJ

Who knew that the Galaxy S5 was also a coupon book? http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2014/03/10/Samsung-Unveils-Comprehensive,-Lifestyle-Focused-Galaxy-Gifts-Package-for-Next-Generation-Galaxy-S5-1 AJ

Call me the fact checker today, but I question the 35 percent stat because it implies that 65 percent of US citizens do hold passports. I find that hard to believe. Is it inverted? I would more credibly believe that 65 percent of US citizens do not hold passports, 35 percent do. AJ

Uh, do you think Vodafone might have had something to do with that? AJ

Also, the distinct band 41 antenna pair is not out of the ordinary. We have seen that on most, if not all of the tri band handsets so far. The key point, though, is that the main antenna pair is not distinct between CDMA2000 and LTE. AJ

Separate CDMA2000 and LTE antennas are required for SVLTE, but they do not enable SVLTE. That requires separate RF paths, which this handset does not have. AJ

The Galaxy S5 passed through the FCC OET this weekend. Our article is now up on The Wall. http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-363-teaser-samsung-galaxy-s5-gets-a-boost-via-wi-fi-but-not-carrier-aggregation/ AJ

Milan, what is the source of that stat? It may very well be accurate, but I find it hard to believe. If true, one quarter of VZW subs have upgraded in the past year and chosen AWS capable handsets. Seems a bit of a stretch -- especially for the somewhat stolid VZW crowd. AJ

Really? You disappoint me a little bit. http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-362-teaser-how-does-htc-m8-rf-performance-stack-up/ Check the date on that. We are quick on the draw and do good work here at S4GRU. If you are not checking The Wall regularly, you are missing out. AJ

Nope. The metal housings are not the cause. Otherwise, Samsung, with its chintzy plastics, would destroy HTC and Apple in RF. That is not the case. The gain issue for sub 1 GHz bands is wavelength versus antenna size. Smartphones are not going to increase in size nor include extensible antennas. Basically, nobody other than you wants that any longer -- pun intended. The buying public has spoken. So, you are better off expecting a return of CRT TVs or designing your own phone than wishing for smartphones to get larger or add whip antennas. AJ

What do you want, Japan? That is the other extent of SoftBank holdings. Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom holds interest in operators in many countries. Plus, since the rest of the world uses Euro centric, namby pamby GSM and W-CDMA, Deutsche Telekom can ink reciprocal roaming agreements with other operators. Sprint, being a CDMA2000 operator, cannot do that. AJ

by Andrew J. Shepherd Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Monday, March 10, 2014 - 8:47 AM MDT After official unveiling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona a few weeks ago, the Samsung Galaxy S5 made public its authorizations in the FCC OET (Office of Engineering and Technology) database at the start of this weekend. All of the domestic variants are there, including the A3LSMG900P, which in its tri band LTE configuration and "P" designation is the obvious Sprint variant. As expected of a Sprint high end handset, the Galaxy S5 ticks off all of the checkboxes: tri band LTE, UE category 4, global roaming capability, 802.11ac, NFC, wireless charging, etc. It also appears to improve upon the RF output of last year's single band Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. From a common uplink EIRP standpoint, the Galaxy S5 can max out up to 3-4 dB greater on band 25 LTE 1900, hitting 26.85 dBm in the middle of the PCS band, falling off 1-2 dB at the extremes of the band. Additionally, band 41 LTE max output looks relatively healthy at 25.03 dBm. In a pleasing move, the FCC authorization docs for the Galaxy S5 do include an antenna diagram -- something that is unfortunately becoming less common, per my mention in the recent HTC M8 FCC article. But in this case, we are able to show a visual of the dual WLAN antennas required for Wi-Fi 2x2 MIMO support, allowing MCS index raw data rates up to 300 Mbps over 802.11n and 866.7 Mbps over 802.11ac. Previously, two spatial stream Wi-Fi has been limited to some laptops and a select few tablets. Thus, the Galaxy S5 is pushing the handset envelope in that regard. See the antenna diagram below: Of course, with no separate CDMA2000 and LTE antennas, as depicted in the diagram above, the Galaxy S5 does not support SVDO nor SVLTE. No surprises there, since Sprint tri band LTE handsets have all been single radio path with e/CSFB. But continuing on the Wi-Fi front, the Galaxy S5 does include a unique simultaneous transmission mode: Wi-Fi and LTE. Now, this is not simultaneous Wi-Fi and LTE in the typical sense that Wi-Fi is used to tether an LTE connection. This is a dual IP stack connection over both Wi-Fi and LTE that Samsung dubs Download Booster, allowing packets to be split up and delivered by both connections, thereby increasing data speeds. Editorially, S4GRU has some concerns about inclusion of the bonded connection Download Booster, since it may engender "unlimited" data users to remain connected to LTE, too, while on secure Wi-Fi at home, work, school, etc. In most cases, Wi-Fi alone is sufficiently fast for all smartphone activities. And that is why S4GRU has long advocated offloading to Wi-Fi -- when/where possible and secure -- so as to help maintain valuable LTE capacity for truly mobile users. That said, we are curious to see the real world implementation of Download Booster before passing judgment. Finally, many hoped that the Galaxy S5 might be the first Sprint handset to support LTE Advanced carrier aggregation because Sprint plans to use its acquired Clearwire spectrum to aggregate multiple band 41 20 MHz TDD carriers. That capability, though, will have to wait for the presumed Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6, or some other device. The carrier aggregation omission is worth mentioning only because the A3LSMG900A variant headed to AT&T does support inter band downlink carrier aggregation. This allows the Galaxy S5 to bond up to 10 MHz FDD of AT&T's low frequency band 17 LTE 700 with up to 10 MHz FDD of its mid frequency band 2 LTE 1900 or band 4 LTE 2100+1700. Indeed, AT&T carrier aggregation is already in use in Chicago, as Gigaom's Kevin Fitchard reported last week. Well, that is the FCC skinny on the upcoming Sprint variant Galaxy S5. Nothing revolutionary on the cellular side of things, but with MIMO and Download Booster, it does offer up some interesting Wi-Fi enhancements. Sources: FCC, Samsung

I thought those people stayed up all night wondering if there is a dog. AJ

This is my hot thread. I do what I want. AJ

You need to get off that bandwagon. Your choice of wireless provider in no way defines you. That you should be "proud" is ridiculous. AJ

Maybe. Unless the Nexus 5 is indicating EVRC-NW only for HD Voice, it could be operating in the narrowband mode. AJ

No, just no. AJ

Neither. My post got cut off. I meant that I was going to aggregate my bed, TV, and carpaccio. AJ

Yes, and I am going to aggregate my bed, TV, and car. AJ