WiWavelength

Based on your location, I have to assume that you are speaking from experience in the Carolinas. But do not generalize from that, as the Carolinas were basically a black hole for T-Mobile -- it had no native footprint. To help smooth approval of the Cingular-AT&TWS acquisition, AT&TWS (SunCom) in the Carolinas was divested to T-Mobile. That finally gave T-Mobile a native network in Carolinas; prior to that, T-Mobile had no choice but to roam on Cingular or AT&TWS. Elsewhere in the country, roaming on Cingular or AT&TWS was not common. And that still holds true today. When VZW and Sprint can come to terms on a national roaming agreement but AT&T and T-Mobile cannot, well, that is a failing of the latter pair. Plus, T-Mobile data roaming allotments are a pittance. Like it or not, T-Mobile is just not very roaming friendly. In so many cases, you have T-Mobile, or you have nothing. So, you really have to like T-Mobile to put up with that. AJ

Then, you need technology gradients. Signal gradients for W-CDMA and LTE are not one and the same. Face it, Neal, you are just giving T-Mobile a free pass here. You have a clear cut T-Mobile bias. It shows in your tweets. More disturbingly, it shows in your ExtremeTech articles. AJ

Yeah, I know. So, I need to drop a few thousand pins to find out. As Al Pacino says in "The Insider," "Give me ******* break." AJ

"VZW like coverage"? No, not even remotely possible. AJ

Just to be clear, I am almost certain that digiblur is joking. So, please do not bother Sprint with any site address issues. This is info that the end user is not even supposed to have. And Sprint has more pressing concerns to tackle. AJ

I have not yet tried with the Nexus 5. But, yes, with the long press, the notification can be removed on the Nexus 7. Thanks for the tip. AJ

The other problem with the T-Mobile coverage maps is that they do not readily distinguish LTE from the rest of the "4G" footprint. That obfuscation buys T-Mobile time to deploy LTE. Of course, T-Mobile supporters will say that it is justified because HSPA+ is also "4G." But I disagree, as that, too, was obfuscation. AJ

Well, I am glad that this thread has slid down the currently wintery slippery slope to the abuse of "unlimited" mobile data with completely needless 4K streaming video. AJ

The physical tab A -> slot B concept is never going to fly. That would have been seen as revolutionary a decade ago but not now. Plus, you still have to carry around two devices. Only the most cost conscious consumers might be attracted to this. And it ropes them into the same phone -> tablet OEM in a weird sexual relationship. AJ

Interesting idea. Kludgy implementation. Terrible name. AJ

If you turn it into a hard brick, just be sure to keep it in your underwear drawer. AJ

Agreed. Currently, many in wireless retail are just a notch above fast food worker or supermarket clerk. So, how much more are you willing to pay for wireless operators to hire better educated employees and/or provide significantly greater training? That is the $64,000 question. AJ

If you are scrambling, then you want the Samsung Galaxy Megatron. Every handset comes with Calvin Johnson. AJ

I am familiar with the characteristics of the new firmware. I have no chronic concerns with current performance, so the update notification can just sit there and wait and wait and wait... AJ

The original baseband firmware included in the initial batch of shipped units. I generally do not touch firmware updates. They are too often "solutions" that create problems. AJ

Oh, then you need the HTC One IMAX. AJ

A few weeks ago, somebody posted a pic of that printed documentation. I would have to find it and take another look, but I do not recall it stating "only" band 25 LTE 1900. And, technically, that does make a difference. When I teach logic, I make a point of emphasizing to students that omission does not indicate negation. So, Sprint can omit mentioning the other bands but still be telling the truth. AJ

Just a word of warning, my field testing today showed that increasing the band 26 and/or band 41 priority on a Nexus 5 -- without the upcoming Spark update -- can negatively affect LTE connectivity, forcing the Nexus 5 down to eHRPD. In areas of band 26 and/or band 41 deployment, I attribute this to some band confusion from the altered settings. So, if you choose to modify your LTE band settings manually, you may not like the results. AJ

At least one tri band handset displayed the same printed band info, so it should not be used as a primary reference. AJ

Your choice of current Sprint smartphone has no bearing on roaming capability. AJ

Calm down. Topical discussion will return. We have just hit a periodic lull. Now, do you need to be driven to see your psychoanalyst? AJ

You tell me. That is your job. AJ

My mistake. And, actually, I was driving yo momma to her daily dialysis and liposuction appointment. It was a charitable act. AJ

Good, you are much better...or in cardiac arrest. AJ

Josh, your sense of humor is "under the weather" again. Give your "funny bone" a quick whack on the desk. That should stimulate your humerus. And if you do it hard enough, my comedy will "leave you in stitches." AJ