Marv1

Here's my minutes.

I just recently upgraded from the Non Spark S4 to the S5. I'm really enjoying the phone, and it's features. I have 2 questions. First is the 3G icon status. When I'm in a 3G area (home, work, etc) I see a small 3G icon in the spinning circle that spins, and at times, it will stop spinning, and a larger 3G icon appears. When I pick the phone up, or move it, the large 3G icon switches back to the smaller icon in the spinning circle. What causes this? Is it just the feature of the phone? I'd rather see the larger icon instead of that annoying spinning circle. As for LTE, I'm well aware, and read way ahead of time about the spinning star, but will some update in the near future stop it from spinning, and just show the 4G LTE icon instead?

My second question is regarding to connecting to LTE. I'm in San Diego. Band 25 is the main band here. This morning on my way to work, I passed through LTE locations my old S4 would pick up quickly. The S5 didn't do that, until I got to work when it switched networks, and was on it until I left for the day. On way home, left work, got onto the freeway where there's a mix of strong LTE signals, strong 3G signals, etc. Didn't pick up any LTE at all on way back home. So my question is, should I disable Bands 26 and 41 to get a better handoff for the time being?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8wqjkokxgpiq8hl/AABk1BRLZa5tnMnLH1KzoXNwa?dl=0

Thanks for that info. I noticed LTE on the SR44 and US1. As for DAB, I see how LTE rich it is down that way. I usually go out that way a Iot. Sanford is another spot I go to a lot also. I just might have to get a Spark phone this week to experience Spark, that isn't here in San Diego as of yet.

How is New Smyrna Beach overall? I'm going to be heading out that way during the X-Mas holidays for 2 weeks. Some of my family live in between the New Smyrna Speedway, and Lake Ashby (on Lake Ashby side). I know there's 2 LTE live towers that aren't all that far from one another in that area. Last time I was there 2 years ago, 3G was spotty out that way, and it's heavily wooded. According to one family member, she's been getting very good LTE signals on the 415, and pretty good overall service at home, I remember that kind of lacked since I was last there 2 years ago. Looks like I'm going to have to map more inland once I get there after looking at sensorly.

Lol! Robert, even the manager was looking at me like how do I know that, while standing on the other side of the counter listening in . Lol! Boy I sure learned a lot from all you guys here since being a member. If I didn't know the things I know now, I'd fall for it. But nope!

Speaking of Spark, I went to a local Sprint store in my area about a week ago to get something checked out. I was approached by a young girl, who was one of the sales people. She tried to talk me into getting rid of my S4 for a Spark S5, get rid of my Everything 450 for a new Easy Pay plan, along with a free tablet if I said yes. But nope. Then she tried talking me down, along with one of her managers saying I can keep my Everything 450, and work some magic. First of all, I don't need a tablet, second Spark isn't officially lit in San Diego yet, and last, I'm satisfied with my flagship S4 for time being.

But anyways, to make a long story short, she showed me the S5 (like I never seen it before), goes through the functions, etc.......... She then says, "You see that spinning star? That's a Spark signal." I'm like oh really. I then said, Spark isn't officially in San Diego as of yet. She then said she was in Encinitas earlier that week passing by the Encinitas Ranch golf course, and seen her star spinning on LTE network, and swore up and down she was on the Spark network. 

It would be even sweeter if Sprint dug deeper in the crates, and threw in the old Sprint Premier Program incentives on top of this for us on the ED Plan. I sure missed that!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but newest phone for $5 a month is leasing it correct? What if we don't want to lease it being on a 2 year contract on these old school plans?

I forgot to share this. A couple of weeks ago, I was stuck at work working a later shift. My favorite NFL team (Panthers) were playing  that Thursday evening. I knew I'd miss the entire first half. Being in Encinitas in the middle of Encinitas Blvd/Garden View on El Camino Real, LTE has been great, and big time improvement compared to last year around this time where it was spotty. I decided to stream the game using a favorite site of mine for streaming games called Livetv.sx/en/

Overall video was very crisp, clear, and no freezing! It was so great, my home Wifi didn't compare I have with Cox cable I use this site with at home that has constant freezing here and there, and sometimes pixel like video here and there. I held a very steady LTE signal at -89 to -97 dBm. I took some screenshots to show how great the video play was.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/anqep5gwiv98a50/AADy0TdBVTmuXWEZTTMT-sc1a?dl=0

Anything new in San Diego?

Nevermind. I did what Bucdenny mentioned above by refreshing. The app looks way better! 

Not working on my flagship (non spark) S4. Got a box that popped showing "Describe Error" and said "There was a problem parsing the package"

Does anyone know if Sprint will be offering any deals on Black Friday for phones, upgrades, etc? I called customer care and nobody had a clue, and same goes for speaking with someone at a corporate store.

I was at a dental appointment this morning in Cardiff off of Birmingham Dr/San Eljio Ave. The building has a bunch of medical and dental offices that has antennas pretty much around the roof tops, which is also a Sprint site. While sitting in my car before it was time for my appointment, I made a phone call and noticed way better voice compared to the time I was last there nearly 6 months ago. Same goes for data, which was very fast. I got out and took some pics. Nothing looks new from what I seen, but here's what I got.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v4k8bms0rajzldl/AABhq2jzXHns4XC7d3wr66bha?dl=0

I've experienced HD voice call Friday afternoon while I was on my lunch break with my non Tri-Band S4. I was in Encinitas, at the Sprouts Farmers Market on Encinitas Blvd. I made 2 phone calls using my car bluetooth while sitting in the parking lot. I didn't make anything of it. The 2nd call I made, it sounded a little louder, and the person I was talking to sounded very crisp, but the call was choppy here and there as if it was cutting out. That location has great LTE and voice signal. When I went back to work, I was going to make another call I made earlier in the morning. While scrolling through, I noticed for the first time seeing a HD symbol on the right to the time the call was made at that number . I was actually surprised, and excited to see that. I was scrolling through the rest of my call history, and didn't see any other HD symbols. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xybt0cimmxm1p1n/2014-10-03%2016.57.20.png?dl=0

I'm in Vista just about every weekend, and many locations in Vista need a tune up. Service hasn't been all that great the last couple of weeks.

I was browsing through the San Diego market, and noticed 3G/LTE Pico Cell in the acceptance report. Will some please explain what that is, and how it works? 

All of Vista by the 76 was horrible all day. Not only poor 3G when there's service, but no data here and there, and 1xRTT only, switching back and forth while I was in the area most of the day. 

And it seems like a handful of LTE sites all over North County from what I've noticed these past 2 weeks, can't hold on to LTE like they use to. Great 3G, and there's tons of network switching between 4G/3G more than usual from what I've experienced in Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, and Encinitas locations. Call quality was terrible at one point. 

Any of you that work, or live in the North County areas noticed this?

I have a question for you all, and was wondering if any of you experienced this before. I have a flagship S4 I upgraded to in Jan of this year. From then until now, my phone has been making phone calls to random people I don't know, and never called. For example, lets say the first 3 digits of my phone number is 666. What I've been noticing, I'd see missed calls from people I that also has these first same 3 digits. I'd call back saying "I missed your call" if the person answers and doesn't leave a voice mail. That person would say, "I never called you, but you called me." Again, I never called anyone. I had an S3 before, and it did the same thing every once in a while, but not as much as the S4.

Is this a moblie network thing? I called Sprint about this back in March, and a rep told me it may be an identity theft thing, and/or telemarketers having my number, and I should change my phone number if it continues. Any thoughts, and suggestions on what to do will be greatly aprreciated!

Heading out of the city on 15, data isn't all that great, but making calls is pretty decent, with average to good signals. I was amazed to see many stealth towers all over Vegas.

I had a 3 day weekend in Vegas with friends last week. Great overall Sprint 3G/LTE everywhere we went, including the strip. I agree with the interstate 15 comment. 

People are silly:

 

“No one can say that it’s safe. Obviously there’s not scientific proof that says it’s not safe, but there’s no scientific proof that it is. It’s an experiment, and I don’t think our families should be guinea pigs,” said Karen Latiano, who lives near the planned site.

I know of Sprint 2 sites in Oceanside in a crowded residential area, that has antennas hanging from power lines. 

Forgot to add above, but this afternoon in Oceanside on N. River Rd, there are 3 flagpole sites (side by side) that are visible behind the walls of Manheim car auction facility that's about a mile from where I live. One is Sprint, Verizon, and not sure who the 3rd is. While driving by, I noticed the tops were removed from all 3 sometime today. I was wondering if work is finally going to begin at that site soon.

I read this article a couple of days ago in the North Coast News, regarding Sprint adding 9 antennas in La Costa, using a SDG&E tower.

https://thecoastnews.com/2014/04/cell-service-antennas-planned-for-neighborhood/