WiWavelength

with how smartphones are being able to back up everything are various cloud services, why is sprint move towards sim card? does that mean they are slowly converting to gsm? i know this is kind of a dumb question

No, Sprint is not converting to GSM. No carrier at this late stage in the game is converting to GSM, which is a technology nearing the end of its lifespan.

And I do not get the hullabaloo over SIM cards. Sure, they matter to the very few subs who travel overseas (and others who think that they might travel overseas but rarely, if ever do).

AJ

I was thinking it would be the first to store information like contacts on it like other carriers.

Prior to the smartphone revolution, storing personal info on the SIM was a big deal because that meant contacts, for example, were easily portable from handset to handset. But, now, the shoe is on the other foot.

The SIM is really needed only for wireless sub authentication. Personal info should be stored both on the smartphone and in the cloud. Then, should you switch devices, your personal info is synced via your Google account just as it is now.

AJ

Is the removable SIM going to be the same as on the iPhone 5 or will it be different?

What do you mean by "different"? A micro-SIM is a micro-SIM.

AJ

Are there conflicting issues if the WiFi and Bluetooth antennas are shared?

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth share the same unlicensed ISM 2400 MHz spectrum. If Wi-Fi and Bluetooth operated simultaneously from different antennas within the same small device, they could cause catastrophic interference with one another.

AJ

Why would they have wi-fi and Bluetooth on the same path?

This is hardly uncommon. It is a limitation of many cellphones. Look at all of the FCC OET articles that I have written. Note in how many devices the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas are shared.

AJ

How much does the ERP in the 850 and 800 band matter: RF ERP/EIRP maximum: 25.39 dBm (CDMA1X/EV-DO 850), 24.62 dBm (CDMA1X/EV-DO 800), compared to the 23.25 dBm (CDMA1X/EV-DO 1900) value?Does Sprint have service now in the 800 and 850 bands? Or is that yet to come as they replace the iDEN service and convert it?

Sprint has already deployed CDMA1X 800 on some sites in some markets. That will expand greatly after we reach the iDEN sunset in less than 90 days. CDMA1X/EV-DO 850, on the other hand, does not apply to Sprint native service and is for roaming purposes only.

I take it that the 22.83 dBm (LTE 1900) is reasonably good?

This kind of assessment is more art than science, but I would call a ~23 dBm EIRP for LTE 1900 good but not great.

And I understand from the discussions these are TX maximums and real world may be different. Thanks for the numbers.

Yes, this kind of question comes up a lot. An FCC authorized lab tests only transmission; reception is of no concern. It tests and reports max transmitted power, spurious emissions, etc., to ensure that the authorized device operates below certain thresholds.

Until we can use empirical observation of real world performance, the best that we can do to prejudge a device's RF proficiency is to look at its max ERP/EIRP, as that should provide some insight into the device's RF chain. But, again, it is an educated guess, not a definitive conclusion.

AJ

The Galaxy S4 variant for VZW was posted to the FCC OET today. It is one of the very first VZW handsets to support band 4 (AWS 2100+1700 MHz) LTE.

Here are the ERP/EIRP max figures: 24.50 dBm (CDMA1X/EV-DO 850), 23.55 dBm (CDMA1X/EV-DO 1900), 17.28 dBm (LTE 750), 21.38 dBm (LTE 2100+1700).

On that last count, though, the max EIRP is for 5 MHz FDD LTE. And VZW is not going to deploy 5 MHz FDD LTE in AWS when it has at least twice that bandwidth in essentially every major market. So, the more realistic max is slightly lower at 20.91 dBm (LTE 2100+1700).

AJ

does the S4 roaming match up to what softbank uses in japan

Nothing in the FCC OET documents concerns international roaming, so it is impossible to say with any certainty. However, as I stated in the article, the presence of GSM/W-CDMA capability for domestic bands also implies the presence of GSM/W-CDMA for international bands.

Now, Japan has never had GSM. But it does have W-CDMA. And SoftBank operates a band 1 W-CDMA 2100+1900 network. Thus, as long as the Galaxy S4 supports band 1 W-CDMA, then, yes, it will be compatible with SoftBank's 3G network.

AJ

AJ, could you give a quick reply to my 1st post above based on white paper specs (HTC ONE vs SGS4)? Thanks,5th

I am an educator by profession, so if you will, let me lead you in the right direction, rather than just give the info to you.

You (or anyone else) can easily do the comparison yourself. Just check each ERP/EIRP figure posted in the Galaxy S4 article above against the corresponding figure posted in my HTC One article:

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-342-all-for-htc-one-htc-one-for-all/

That said, keep in mind a few complicating factors.

The FCC OET data reflects maximum transmitted power only, not received power. Higher/lower transmitted power may suggest better/worse overall RF performance, but what the numbers suggest does not always bear out in real world use.

Also, the HTC One uses two separate antenna arrays (antenna 0 and antenna 1), while the Galaxy S4 ostensibly does not. On paper, that endows an iPhone like advantage to the HTC One. However, again, we really will have to wait to see how the dual arrays perform in the field before we make any solid conclusions.

AJ

Any news on a removable sim?

Did you read the end of the article, which we published only 24 hours ago?

AJ

what about it compared to the gnex?

As a joke, I would say that the Galaxy Nexus is not "optimized" for anything. It is too much of a Frankenstein phone cobbled together from lesser chipsets.

But, in all seriousness, it does have its lowest measured EIRP at Sprint's 1912.5 MHz LTE center frequency.

AJ

For comparison sake, was the GS3 or GN2 optimized for the PCS G Block LTE?

Great question.

The Galaxy S3 was "optimized" in that its highest EIRP was at Sprint's PCS G block LTE 1900 center frequency. The Note 2 was not; in fact, its LTE EIRP was worst in the PCS G block.

So, take that for what you will...

AJ

So, the EVO 4G LTE has a max RF ERP for LTE 1900 of 19.85 dBm, and the One has a max ERP of 23.63 dBm (LTE1900.) Is a 3.78 dBm ERP boost significant?

It is relatively significant. A 3.78 dB increase represents a 139 percent increase. In other words, if a handset has a max power output of 100 mW and that output is increased by 3.78 dB, then max power output goes up to 239 mW.

I think the dual antenna system in the HTC One, though, will provide a more significant improvement in RF performance than will any increase in max power output.

I see it fits into AJ's "high" range, but I don't know how much small changes in ERP affect performance. can you enlighten me, or point me to an article somewhere?Thanks.

Just to be clear, the 23 dBm figure that I referenced was for PCS 1900 MHz. Lower frequency bands often have lower max power output because their path loss is also lower. For example, the AT&T HTC One has a max power output of just 15.52 dBm for LTE 700.

AJ

So that means that Verizon is already using the Cellular band for CDMA1x and we roam over to their frequencies? I thought that they used 800 since any Verizon phones listed at Phonearena show the devices supporting 800 and 1900Mhz.

Many refer to the Cellular 850 MHz band somewhat archaically as "800 MHz," but that is really a misnomer because it is too easily confused with the SMR 800 MHz band, as is the case here.

Also, VZW is but one of many CDMA1X 850 carriers -- though, VZW has bought up a lot of them. But Sprint does not roam exclusively on VZW. Sprint has many other CDMA1X 850 roaming partners in various parts of the country.

AJ

I noticed that Antenna 1 is far weaker in every category that Antenna 0 other than LTE. How does the phone decide which antenna to use when? And these are transmitting measurements correct? Can you extrapolate anything about reception capabilities of a device from this information?

As I state in the article, antenna 0 is the primary for CDMA2000, while antenna 1 is the primary for LTE. So, if both antennas are active for SVLTE, then I do not believe that there can be any switching between the two. However, if only one antenna is active, as is likely to be the case most of the time, then the front end monitors both antennas and switches between the two as signal conditions fluctuate.

Correct, all of the ERP/EIRP figures are for maximum transmission. FCC authorization does not require any testing of reception. So, the transmitted power measurements have to serve as a yardstick for overall RF performance. However, the correlation between high power output and general reception does not always hold up. It is just the best that we can do with the data available.

AJ

But Sprint devices also support 850 Cellular band for roaming purposes.

Roam...if you want to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCUnzcUMJHc

AJ

Good, I am glad that you found the info you were seeking. Antenna gain is not always included because it does not have to be disclosed. The FCC is primarily concerned that the device meets certain RF emission standards. If those standards can be met with a high gain or low gain antenna, then the FCC could not care less. But from my experience, when antenna gain is listed, it is usually in the -5 dBi to 2 dBi range.

As for Wi-Fi output power, it is interesting that the HTC One seems to be using the same antenna structure as the EVO LTE. But the HTC One offers considerably higher ERP. See the HTC One figures below:

249.459mW for 2412 ~ 2462MHz

280.543mW for 5745 ~ 5805MHz

2.4GHz: PIFA antenna with -2.94dBi gain

5.0GHz: PIFA antenna with -2.35dBi gain

AJ

That still doesn't mean that they won't come out with several other flagship devices throughout the year, all they are saying is that they simply won't use the one name. I hope they come out with a direct competitor to the galaxy note series.

Oh, I agree. This confirmation does not preclude other high end HTC Android handsets. It does not even rule out another Sprint EVO handset, though I still think that highly unlikely. And, presumably, VZW will get some sort of replacement for its HTC Droid DNA before the year is up.

But some have thought the HTC One naming scheme a bit of a joke because of all the fragmentation last year. Obviously, HTC has taken that to heart, and this news today indicates that the HTC One we see now will be the "one" and only this year.

AJ

Reports are out today confirming that the HTC One will be HTC's only smartphone under the "One" moniker this year. So, unlike last year's varied lineup, that rationalizes the singular HTC One name.

AJ

Making a handset out of seamless aluminum is more difficult and restrictive than making one out of cheap pieces of plastic that are glued together.

AJ

When HTC announced the One I was all in. Then I remembered that Google I/O is in May. I think I'll wait until then to decide. I really like the One but I think it might be time for me to go for a Nexus/Moto X, if the specs are up to par.

Agreed, waiting a few months may not be a bad idea. Your options will only expand, not contract. That said, I would not exactly hold out hope for a Google Nexus handset. A CDMA2000/LTE version -- especially a Sprint LTE version -- may not be an option. Much to the delight of 3GPP fanboys, the Nexus trend going forward may omit any CDMA2000 capability.

AJ

I simply do not believe that Sprint has had enough time to test out the new frequencies. That would be my guess as to why LTE 800 and TD-LTE 2600 are not included.

Yep, as the saying goes, "timing is everything." And the way it goes right now, HTC and Samsung introduce their flagship handsets in the late winter, early spring around the time of Mobile World Congress, which is happening as we speak.

So, if LTE 800 and TD-LTE 2600 were not an option right now due to timing, would those who are disappointed rather have had Sprint pass on the HTC One, thus not likely carry an HTC flagship this year?

AJ

I can live without SVDO but why not include the new LTE freqs? I mean if users keep their phones for two years, which most do, they will be missing out big time? Anyone have any ideas?

"[M]issing out big time?" Are you asking a question or making an assertion?

I think "missing out big time" is an overreaction. Unless Network Vision deployment picks up dramatically, LTE 800 will likely still be a while in coming, and due to SMR 800 MHz spectrum issues, many markets will not get LTE 800 for years, if ever. So, Sprint needs to focus on finishing LTE 1900 rollout before doubling back for LTE 800.

As for TD-LTE 2600, that is still under Clearwire's control. We may not see TD-LTE 2600 in any devices until the Sprint-Clearwire-Dish wrangling gets sorted out. Even then, TD-LTE may be limited at first to data only devices (e.g. hotspots, cards/sticks) that tend to use greater amounts of data and can actually take advantage of the higher speeds that the bandwidth of TD-LTE 2600 can offer.

AJ

i need svdo because there is still way more 3g than 4g on the sprint network. There is only 6 LTE towers live in my city

No one "needs" SVDO, though you may want that feature. If so, you will likely need to hang on to your current handset or stick within the handful of handsets that were released with SVDO last year, as there has not been a new SVDO capable handset in the last six months.

AJ

I have to wonder if the aluminum back will interfere with GPS and radios like the Transformer Prime's apparent issue. Presumably HTC has tested it. Damn this is so not in my budget either. :/

The problem with Asus' original version of the Transformer Prime is that its back was fully aluminum with no RF window(s). That was changed in the TF700T version, which added a plastic strip across the aluminum back.

As for the HTC One, AnandTech reports that isolated segments of the aluminum back actually are the antennas.

The One uses the top and bottom aluminum strips for antennas, both of which are actively tuned to mitigate unintended attenuation from being held. There’s a plastic insulative strip in-between the two antennas and the main body.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6754/hands-on-with-the-htc-one-formerly-m7

AJ