WiWavelength

This statement really bothered me a few days ago, and I wanted to address it but did not have opportunity until now. dedub, think about where you are making this post. If it is true that "no one else cares about [your] quality of service," then you have just invented a paradox because Robert never would have created S4GRU and the staff here never would have devoted countless hours to educating everyone about Network Vision. AJ

That may be superficially true, but it is not a particularly good parallel. Cable providers have more bandwidth than do all of the wireless carriers combined. Plus, DOCSIS links can easily support 256-QAM all the time, while wireless airlinks are stretching to support 64-QAM within the inner core of each cell. Not to mention, the local cable node likely serves fewer subs than does the local cell site. Simply put, wired and wireless are different paradigms; they are not readily comparable. AJ

Best way to get an iPhone on launch day today? Barge in to Phone Mart and demand, "iPhone 5. Where is the iPhone 5? I need an iPhone 5." Alternatively, you could ask your sister if Walgreens has them. NSFW AJ

The problem is the Note 2 makes that guy look like he has small hands. And you know what they say about hand size... AJ

Chipset, yes. iPhone 5, no. Chipset capability is but one element of the equation. AJ

To be clear, I was only joking. Big financial institutions hold retreats in places like Jackson Hole. S4GRU is not at that level yet, but it would be cool if we get there eventually. AJ

Have you signed up for the S4GRU Sponsors Retreat at Jackson Hole next spring? AJ

I was interested in the Galaxy Note 2, maybe even as a secondary line on T-Mobile. But even at $700 unsubsidized, let alone $800, I am out. That is outrageous for a handset that will be long in the tooth and almost certainly be replaced with an updated model within a year. Samsung is going to have to look long and hard at this "phablet" business model; otherwise, the business model is going to fail. The inexpensive 7" tablet market is going to kill it. To illustrate, for basically $400 total, I already have an EVO LTE and a Nexus 7, which -- dare, I say -- is a better combo than this jack of all trades, master of none "phablet." Really, the only advantage the "phablet" provides is a single package. And the cellular connectivity in the "phablet" is definitely not worth an extra $500 over the Nexus 7, especially when I can Wi-Fi tether the Nexus 7 to the EVO LTE if needed. Nope, no sale. AJ

This offshoot thread has been filled with a lot of bluster. As a counter to that, here are some constructive ideas: Sprint should retain unlimited data for all qualifying plans. Instead of penalizing those subs who use a lot of on network data, Sprint should incentivize subs to offload and/or use less on network data by crediting back at least the $10 Premium Data fee to subs who use less than 1 GB on network in any given month. At the other end of the spectrum, Sprint should actively oust with prejudice those abusive subs who use unlimited data to violate the Ts and Cs. AJ

Samsung, LG, and HTC making phones that big??? AJ

Speaking of which, have you seen the HTC Windows Phone 8X introduced today? http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=11168 It seems to be coming to the other big three, but not Sprint. Regardless, it looks like a contender. AJ

Take your straw man and go visit Oz. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man I debate people who make legitimate points, not commit fallacies. AJ

Not likely. PCS/AWS-2 H block will require yet another new 3GPP band, maybe band 29 or 30, as bands 27 and 28 seem to have been recently added to the queue. AJ

Do you fail to understand that Sprint is fighting for its own existence in a market in which VZW and AT&T are continuously using anti competitive measures to stack the deck against the smaller players? To stay relevant, Sprint practically has no choice but to offer unlimited data. If Sprint did not offer unlimited data, then many of you would churn to VZW and AT&T, which would then gain even greater market share, even more dominance over the competition, and even more clout with which to implement anti consumer policies. If you like Sprint as a competitive foil to those oligopolistic asshats VZW and AT&T, then stop screwing Sprint and the rest of us. AJ

As in most cases, Odell, your sentiments ring very true. But let me offer this counterpoint. Many are angry at iOS fans because they enable Apple, which is seemingly trying to do to mobile devices what VZW and AT&T are trying to do to wireless service -- use regulatory capture to wipe out the competition and leave consumers with little choice. And even iOS' most blind devotees should be able to see, ironic pun intended, that lack of competition would be bad for Apple innovation. AJ

I am telling you how I really feel because many of you in your shortsighted selfishness stand to ruin Network Vision for everyone. I intended to apologize in this thread for my gruff tone earlier today. But now you have succeeded in raising my ire again. Good freaking grief. AJ

Please do not "move the goalposts." Has anyone in this thread specifically advocated that you should Wi-Fi offload outside of your own home? I certainly have not. I have stated only that using EV-DO or LTE at home when you have your own Wi-Fi distributed broadband connection is irresponsible use of a shared resource. It is akin to not using your driveway but taking up valuable parking spaces on the street in front of your house simply because you pay property taxes that maintain the street. AJ

I would like to offload some of the Sprint subs in this thread. Let another carrier deal with them, and let them deal with another carrier. The grass is not always greener on the other side... AJ

This is a stellar post and should be required reading for anyone interested in this issue. I could not care less whether the post supports my point of view; when someone takes the time to examine the issue using sound economic principles, we all benefit from that education. http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/2062-debate-on-whether-you-should-offload-smartphone-data-on-wifi-even-though-you-pay-for-unlimited/page__view__findpost__p__46573 Thank you, dmchscc... AJ

Nope, you are full of BS. Do you understand anything about shared resources? I suggest that you research the tragedy of the commons. http://en.wikipedia...._of_the_commons Yes, it is your responsibility to offload if you understand at all how wireless networks are shared resources (see above), want to maintain unlimited data, and care to have competitive speeds. If all you want to do is take advantage of an untenable position (so called "unlimited data") that Sprint has had to put itself in to remain viable against oligopolistic asshats VZW & AT&T, then you suck, and your unnecessary data suckage is apt to drag Sprint down again. So, if you want to remain with Sprint and want Sprint to succeed, you ironically work against your own long term interests by not offloading to Wi-Fi. And that is a shame. AJ

No, no, not this. Every time you keep your smartphone on EV-DO or LTE at home while you have Wi-Fi, the Baby Jesus cries. While that may be a humorous exaggeration, it contains more than a kernel of truth. Folks, some of you just do not get it. You have to offload. Or you have no justification to complain about slow speeds. Sprint cannot offer unlimited data and competitive speeds unless most subs use relatively little data and/or offload to Wi-Fi. That is part of the deal. So, if you have Wi-Fi at home and are not offloading, you better have a really good reason why. Otherwise, I would like to punch you. And "LTE is faster than my home broadband connection is not a 'really good reason why.'" You do not need greater than 1-2 Mbps on your smartphone for any legitimate purpose, bar none. If you want Sprint to maintain unlimited data, then offloading is your responsibility. That may be tough, but sometimes you people need some tough love to set you straight... AJ

The best piece of "news" included in the article is this: AJ

VZW practically had to have separate signal strength meters for CDMA1X and EV-DO because, in most markets, VZW initially deployed CDMA1X in Cellular 850 MHz and EV-DO in PCS 1900 MHz. Sprint, on the other hand, has always had both CDMA1X and EV-DO in PCS 1900 MHz, so separate meters have not been necessary. AJ

No, there is no general rule because factors such as ERP and downtilt vary from site to site, even sector to sector. To use two extremes as examples, some sites are configured to cover only a few city blocks; others are designed to cover hundreds of square miles. Obviously, the great/good/fair/poor signal strength levels will be at vastly different distances in those two examples. AJ

Nope, it will not blend. iOS products iWhip -- just like their adherents are iWhipped. AJ