WiWavelength

Fine. I changed it to "the latest OS version for BlackBerry," though that has disrupted my well crafted parallel structure. AJ

Is it a BlackBerry? Yes. Does it run an OS? Yes. Is it Android, iOS, Windows Phone, etc.? No. There is your answer. It is a "BlackBerry OS." Give me a break. Maybe I should just stop writing these articles... AJ

Bah. It is still a "BlackBerry OS." I do not give any legit recognition to these myriad number versions or ludicrous names -- such as "KitKat." AJ

And the article is up on The Wall... http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-355-teaser-whats-this-aboot-the-blackberry-z30-being-single-band-eh/ AJ

by Andrew J. Shepherd Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Monday, September 30, 2013 - 4:41 PM MDT Phew, what a September it has been for discovery/announcement of new devices likely headed to Sprint! S4GRU staff has been busy keeping a watchful eye on the FCC OET. And in an egalitarian way, we have covered nearly the gamut of mobile operating systems: Android, iOS, and now, the latest OS version for BlackBerry. Yes, ahead of a potential government shutdown tomorrow that will reportedly include FCC device authorization, a Sprint relevant BlackBerry Z30 variant was added to the FCC OET database today. This will be another teaser article, not a full RF analysis, but BlackBerry devices usually have healthy ERP/EIRP. Regardless, we have gleaned from the FCC OET documents some important details to share with you. In a nutshell, this BlackBerry Z30 hardware variant supports the following airlinks: GSM 850/1900 band 2/5 W-CDMA 1900/850 band class 0/1/10 CDMA1X/EV-DO 850/1900/800 band 4/13/25 LTE 2100+1700/750/1900 Anyone familiar with the current state of the domestic wireless industry can put two and two together to see that this hardware variant covers the CDMA2000 and LTE capabilities of both VZW and Sprint. Additionally, because of the inclusion of the GSM/W-CDMA modes, the Z30 is probably a world phone, including GSM 900/1800 and at least band 1 W-CDMA 2100+1900. But as we have noted previously, FCC OET filings may divulge band support outside the US but are not required to do so. The twist is that, within this single hardware Z30 variant, there do seem to exist two wireless operator versions: RFX101LW for VZW and RGB141LW for Sprint. In short, the Sprint version will include CDMA2000 band class 10 but ostensibly use firmware to lockout LTE band 4/13. So, any potential thoughts of CSIM swapping between Sprint and VZW accounts for LTE access with this handset are probably nipped in the bud. See the note from the FCC OET filing: To sum up, the BlackBerry Z30 coming to Sprint will be effectively limited to single band 25 LTE 1900. It will definitely not be among the upcoming tri band LTE Sprint devices. And its VZW supported LTE bands will likely be inaccessible. On the upshot, it does still support SVLTE. In only a few years, BlackBerry née RIM has gone from being the leader in smartphones to being a former champ nearly down for the count. So, do these developments -- single band LTE, VZW LTE CSIM compatibility lockout -- matter to you? If so, well, place the blame where it lies. Blame Canada. (just barely NSFW) Source: FCC

The BlackBerry Z30 passed through the FCC OET today. It is multi band LTE. But for Sprint, only band 25 LTE 1900 is relevant. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=127531&fcc_id=L6ARGB140LW AJ

You would have to ask the guards. But their answers could vary. Are you on the north side of the NID boundary or on the south side? AJ

That is almost certainly CDMA1X "cell breathing." If you had soft handoff to another site, you would be probably be fine. But you live on the edge of Sprint coverage, so you just made a poor choice of where to live. AJ

For years, many CDMA2000 devices have seemingly utilized -105 dBm RSSI as the lowest displayed value for CDMA1X. But that does not mean that -105 dBm RSSI is the lowest usable value. Lower values may be usable, just not displayed. Additionally, Ec/Io is more important signal metric. AJ

Ah, I see. So, checking e-mail, browsing the Web, and downloading an app update or two on CDMA1X is as good as on EV-DO or LTE? This idea that fast data is good only if you have a high quota is nonsense, and I really want to disabuse you people of the notion. AJ

You misconstrue the Universal Service Fee. The purpose is not what it can do for you personally -- the purpose is what it can do for others and society as a whole. AJ

You can likely mark my words. The two outbound roaming agreements will be with C Spire and USCC. Since both of Sprint's LTE FDD bands are supersets, those capable UEs also support C Spire's and USCC's LTE deployments. Sprint's original band 25 LTE 1900 equipment supports C Spire's band 2 LTE 1900 deployment. And Sprint's upcoming band 26 LTE 800 equipment supports USCC's upcoming band 5 LTE 850 deployment. Recall that -- due to handset procurement and 700 MHz interoperability issues -- USCC is shifting its focus away from band 12 LTE 700 to band 5 LTE 850. This will allow USCC to offer at least one LTE capable iPhone model. And in its Cellular 850 MHz markets, USCC should have enough spectrum to run LTE in a 5 MHz FDD configuration alongside five CDMA2000 carriers. AJ

Not "cheesy" -- I hate the non culinary use of that word, by the way. Rather, the video is obviously a take off on the famous iPhone 4 vs HTC EVO Xtranormal video from three years ago. It repeats the iPhoners common refrain of "I don't care" unless it is an iPhone. http://goanimate.com/video-maker-tips/saying-goodbye-to-xtranormal/ AJ

No, LTE 1900 is band 2. LTE 1800 is band 3. AJ

Your presence those two days must have lowered the median age by 0.01 percent. Did you see any white/blue hairs driving around town in golf carts? AJ

And legal scholar Jeremy Bentham would be disappointed that some people prefer ignorance to knowledge. All relevant testimony should be heard. AJ

Yes, you do, but alas, I have already made that joke before. AJ

See if this makes sense. Samsung is to the A7 as Foxconn is to the iPhone. AJ

Correct, there is no normal. RF planning always involves tradeoffs -- capacity, coverage, interference -- that vary from site to site. And this is why generalizations about usable cell radii are not helpful. AJ

To that, you should say, "Qualcomm, @#$% yeah!" We do not need more Eurasian dictation/domination of our domestic wireless industry. The US is still the most important market in the world and should call the shots. AJ

Wireless data is a shared resource. You have to recognize that and behave appropriately. Otherwise, you are the pig at the trough that hogs the food and snorts at the others. AJ

And shame on you -- 30 GB is just ridiculous. If I were Sprint, I would have canned you with an ETF so fast that your head would still be spinning to this day. In this thread, do not include any discussion of unauthorized tethering/mobile hotspot usage. That abuses "unlimited" data and such discussion violates S4GRU rules. AJ

I have several devices among which I can switch. But I do not like to list them, lest I come off as a "phone pimp." AJ

It is fringe but not unusable. The HTC One will get usable LTE with a -116 dBm RSRP, -10 dB RSRQ, 8 dB SINR signal. AJ

But did you bring Mountain Girl to the Waffle Hut? AJ