always_learner

http://www.google.com/nexus/6/ I saw this at the bottom. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6s3yv25zq3qbdyd/screenshot-www%20google%20com%202014-10-15%2012-24-17.png?dl=0 Also, that pen is just for show, right?

The most appealing thing is its compatibility with every major carrier in the United States. It's a major step forward in the right direction in this regard.

I think even the average customer can tell the difference between an M7 and an M8. He/she would would likely conclude the difference in speed comes from the fact that the M8 is a newer/better phone (not realizing that the important part is that a Sprint M7 lacks tri-band capabilities). Regardless, comparing a Sprint M7 to a T-Mobile M8 would not be an appropriate real world comparison.

Just started seeing the second B25 carrier a couple weeks ago in Joliet. Also, B26 seems gets stronger and stronger as the weeks go by. Admittedly, the best Sprint service is at home (where I really don't need it since I'm on WI-fi). However, it's nice. My local home Sprint tower(s) has/have been upgraded so that they broadcast both B25 carriers, B26, and B41. My Nexus 5 (with the 1.15 radio) likes to stay connected to a closer Clear B41 tower though. Carrier aggregation will be interesting.

The Joliet area went live with B26 this week I believe. First day, signal strength was about the same as B25. By the third day, signal strength was about 10-12 dBm better than B25.

Sorry for the bad wording. These radio numbers get me mixed up. Both bands being present, 2.13 always uses b41 and never sees b25 (maybe because the radio deflates the dBm s). On .15, it usually uses b41 but sometimes uses b25 (becomes of the inflated dBm s allow it to jump to b25). I agree that the general consensus about b25 -110 signal being unusable (regardless of what radio you are on). However, it can certainly be usable at those signal levels. Capacity is more the issue there, maybe. Hopefully as the network expands, b25 will improve as the other bands and carrier alleviate the pressure.

At my home, I have decent b41 signal (hovers around -100 dBm) and decent to poor b25 signal (about -110 dBm) (both unused I might add since I'm on wi-fi) and I noticed that the phone would stay mainly on b41 but sometimes hop onto b25. This was on the .15 radio. Now on this new radio, the phone never sees b25. This may have more to do with how the new radio deflates the b25 signal than .15's ability to latch onto b41. Well, with this T-mobile merger, wouldn't a new radio be in order anyways? Or is it even too early to speculate?

As the network approaches 'completion,' band 25 may become more usable in even fringe areas because people will now be moved over to band 41, be moved over to a second band 25 carrier (in some areas of the country), and be throttled when the network so decides. Given the increased capacity mentioned and given eCSFB would be resolved (again as the network approaches 'completion"), then it brings up why would anyone want to be on the 2.13 radio? Would it not be best to keep people on fringe band 25 so as to reserve band 26 capacity to those who absolutely need it? Or is there some drawbacks to the .15 radio even in a more complete network (e.g. stability or handoffs)?

It was reported a couple weeks ago that Spark Band 41 was active at the location with 40+mbps download speeds. I realize not everyone has a Spark capable device, but I was just throwing that out there.

You should probably doubt me. As jordanlong20 pointed out, the demo versions of the Moto E had 4.4.2 running meaning they will probably be running that when it comes out. However, Motorola was under the impression that the Moto E would be running its "current KitKat 4.4.3 operating system" at debut and that it would receive at least one more update after 4.4.3. Now, I guess, it will receive two updates at least: one for 4.4.3 and the other one that was promised in the fine print. That or the fine print was just a mistake. If you re-read jordanlong20's post above he said "4.2.2" when he meant "4.4.2." These update numbers are tricky, so Motorola could have just made a mistake. As far as why the Nexus 5 would receive 4.4.3 first, according to the Nexus 5 info page: Android updates, straight from the source. With Nexus 5, you’re always the first to get the latest Android updates from Google. It’s like being at the front of the line at every movie premiere. Although I like being first in line to what will be an awesome movie for Sprint Nexus 5 owners, I do not like the delay.

More speculation... http://www.product-reviews.net/wp-content/uploads/Android-443-release-baited.jpg Moto E may come with 4.4.3 (according to the fine print from its promo video), and it will probably be released May 20. If true, the Nexus 5 should have 4.4.3 by that date.

Mine started making a buzzing noise as well. I've read a few reports on LG chargers making the noise. It still charges, but I'm not using it to charge my Nexus 5 anymore.

Google has always been pretty strict as far as carrier add-ons for its Nexus line in order to keep the UI as close to 'vanilla' as possible. Many believe(d) that the icon would definitely not come to the Nexus 5. In my mind, this makes me a little doubtful of the rumor. The icon would be little concern to me as long as the bands were enabled. Here's hoping for next week!

"spark icon" Would this mean that the spark icon is coming to the Nexus 5, or does this simply cast some doubt on the 'leak'?

I understand. I should have specified that my questions were not general regarding band 26 rather specific to where Vince was at the time. Given that his location was clustered in a relatively small geographic region, given how little band 26 there is in Chicago, and given that there would be few people there are on that band, the question is fair.

Any estimates as far as how far each tower broadcasts the signal while still being usable? Also, can you give some numbers as far as speed tests? Thanks

I hope they release the final version soon. I just experienced the roaming issue, not cool. I'd update to this .4 version, but it's a hassle to re-set up the phone. Any word on the release date for the final version?

Any chance this phone is going to be a multi-carrier phone like the nexus 5 where you can just swap sims and move to another carrier with the same phone?

Yup, but there'd be a $15 fee added. Everyone who upgrades after Jan 10th has that fee, I think.

Correct. The line has a ccontract for two years. Additionally, the phone must be kept on that line for the first six months else a fee applies. In other words, you can't buy the nexus 5 for $35 and then proceed to sell it immediately. This, however is possible when buying directly from Sprint though you would pay $200 on the upgrade.

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Google-Nexus-Black-Sprint/dp/B00GCLZJ1G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top For upgrades, nexus 5 costs $35. Downside of buying from Amazon is that you must keep the phone on your line for 6 months, I think.

Hmmm, my thoughts as well. Things is there's 5 people on the plan with upgrades in 3/14, 4/14/, 4/15, 5/15, and 7/15. So if we were to move to framily at this point given the $15 fee, the first (upgrade in 3/14) and second person (upgrade 4/14) would benefit but everyone else (upgrades in 4/15, 5/15, and 7/15) would be stuck with at least $180 worth of fee charges (12*15). The two options you mentioned seem probable as far as what Sprint will do with FF1500. Regardless, a $35 Nexus 5 from Amazon on 3/1/14 is looking awful tempting

With subsidized phones going away and the $15 fee waive going away or gone(?), should we just use upgrades? I have an upgrade in March. Seeing as there is no longer the $15 fee waive(?), should I just use that since the $15 is going to be added anyways when moving to family? That leads me to ask, when would people be forced off plans like the everything 1500? At the same time as subsidized phones go away? Thanks.

Personally, radio did not improve. :-(

It would be interesting to compare the .15 to the official l spark version radio when it comes out. If both work similar with regards to band scans and both do well battery wise, the first might be better. It's the one that holds on to b25 very well, correct? Deployment still has a ways to go with 26/41 so for right now I want something that holds 25 well yet still connects to the other bands automatically.