always_learner

There's one model for all U.S. carriers? I haven't read that yet. Is there a link to that info?

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.

We are talking about customer perception and some people only have Sprint's signle band LTE service available. Would it been nicer to have everybody on Tri-band devices? Yes but we don't.

People see that TMo can deliver higher speeds with their LTE device while Sprints can't (single band). Most people forget that the average consumer is not very well educated and sees LTE as a speedy service. People hear the advertising from TMo and see what Sprint offers. Sure, TMo is not telling them that their coverage sucks outside the cities and many find out when it is too late.

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.

So it never sees B41 either? I think the general consensus is that -110dBm on B25 is not very useful for most of us (and infact might lead to some missed calls!) whereas -110dBm B41 is totally usable in most cases.

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.

I find .13 more stable than .15, especially since .15 does not latch onto B41 unless B25 is unavailable, which is the opposite of what sprint intends and hand offs between bands are more seamless. 

Its clear that .13 is meant for mature markets that do not have any eCSFB issues, which accounts for very few to no markets at the current moment. That's why its had such a negative reception thus far.

 

Overall, I believe its a much more sensible balance in performance for the long run.

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)?

When you're in US Cellular Field, the network is horrible, but my friend with Verizon had no problems. Funny thing was, I bet there were more people there that had verizon phones than those who had Sprint phones

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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.

Not doubting you, but what's your take on why the Nexus 5 should have it first? 

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:

 

 

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.

okay my phone completely died over night went to bed around 12 got up about 6 had about 60 percent at midnight .  So does anyone charger the oem one make a humming noise not plugged in to the phone.  I think my charger is shot.

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.

I don't know what you're asking.  The bands are to be enabled, apparently along with the icon.

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!

 

***VICTORY IS OURS***

 

Thank you for your contact via Dan@Sprint.com

 

According to the information reviewed, the fixes and enhancements are:

to enable Sprint Spark band 26 and band 41. & LTE UI enhancements (Spark

Icon).   This is the only information we have available at this time.

 

Thank you again for contacting Sprint.  We value your business and

appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dan@Sprint.com Team

Sprint

 

"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'?

Every site is different. Every time this is asked, the answer is the same. One block to 15 miles. Depends on geography, population density, and tower density.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5

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.

I drive the same areas every night at work, and it's all I check for. Testing appeared to have started Monday, and now several towers appear to be blasting band 26 now. I think it's going to start ramping up rather quickly. This is so awesome. I'm actually getting LTE speeds on LTE on my iPhone in Chicago. First time ever.

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?

I just got one from amazon, can I still switch to framily?

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

still says 2 yr contract required

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.

Wait what? As much as I want a M8 I would jump all over a $35 Nexus 5.

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.

Well.... here's the thing, once your contract is up (eligible for upgrade) that line would no longer incur the $15/m charge, you have fulfilled your contract and Sprint has gotten their money out of you for that one.  I have a feeling they'll give you the option of moving off the FF1500 at the subsidized upgrade points OR you stay on FF1500 and will not let you upgrade the device unless you bring your own device.  Then, once all your lines are out of contract, they could seemingly force you off of it with the only options for you being move to unsubsidized plan or leave Sprint. Sprint has their money at that point, they aren't going willing give that money away.  

 

*The unsubsidized phones don't have to go away, the "plans" will go away which renders the option to get subsidized device upgrade impossible.  With no plan, and I'm sure they'll draw the line on existing plan upgrades as well, the only thing left is the unsubsidized plans with Easy Pay, BYOD and Retail options for phones. 

 

 

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

I may have just gotten off a conference call about Framily; without breaking our NDA, I will tell you that this very thing has been very strongly hinted at, if not outright stated.

 

In our store, Framily is the lead offer. All the price strips (like MacinJosh posted) are for Easy Pay. If a customer wants to get a two-year agreement, we have to grab a manager (or call one if one's not available in the store), and then when finished, email our district manager explaining what objections to Framily and Easy Pay we couldn't overcome. And, even if you do want a two-year subsidized phone, all the pricing is listed on a separate flyer we have to pull out from behind the Point-of-Sale stations. So yeah, the push away from subsidizing is extremely heavy.

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. :-(

I was thinking some more test would need to be done, but this may be able to avoid having to do the prl update. I know I have a custom prl, for 1x800, so a prl update would kill 1x800. But I am just going based on what I have seen myself going between .17 and .15. I never saw .17 scan the other bands before I tried the prl trick. .15 though I noticed scans all bands without the trick.

 

Edit: I just flashed .17, and without the prl update, it only searched b25. I reflashed .15, booted up, and instantly it was scanning all of the other bands. Both were on LTE mode only.

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.