dkyeager

Just thought you guys should know that Sprint did a stealth launch on Friday of a number of cities in your market.  You can start by looking at our links: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/1904-network-visionlte-columbus-market/page-205&do=findComment&comment=286479

It is taking a long time for them to roll out the spark update... Just saying... Let's go Google

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Sprint has 36 more days to go based on its announcement.

Sprint Launched Ohio markets as of Friday (it's buried in a list of launched LTE markets http://newsroom.spri...chedmarkets.htm )

• Findlay, Ohio

• Greenville, Ohio

After I made the post I thought those stats were probably not being kept up..  The WV stats ( that are part of Sprint NV -  NOT Shentel... and includes Marietta Ohio - which is right across the river from WV ) is probably around 90% LTE complete.  That area is where my folks live so I've watched it closely. I wasn't aware that nTelos was doing a network upgrade in conjunction with Sprint ( like Shentel was for LTE ).. Shentel's upgrade was done as part of NV .., and uses the same equipment Sprint used. ( http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-20-sprint-regional-affiliate-shentel-releases-some-more-network-vision-info-in-conference-call-with-investors/ )

 

I think there was/is rumbling that Sprint may buy Shentel at some point and the equipment wouldn't need to be changed, but the affiliate agreement between the two doesnt expire till 2024 - with provisions made for two 10 year contracts extensions..

 

Also the areas that are Shentel LTE in WV ( not alot ) are offically done as well. (  Shentel invested over $100 million in 2012 and 2013 building the largest and most advanced 4G LTE and enhanced 3G network in communities stretching along the I-81 corridor from Harrisonburg, VA, through Winchester, VA; Martinsburg, WV; Hagerstown, MD; and Chambersburg, to Harrisburg, PA and east to Hanover and York, and west along the turnpike to Breezewood, and north to Altoona, PA. )

 

I'm pretty sure that alot of West Virginia is neither Shentel or Sprint.  So Sprints LTE coverage in West Virginia is not ideal.  I don't know if Sprint has cross agreements with anyone else besides nTelos - for roaming.. I don't think we can count on nTelos bringing much to Sprint though.

 

It appears Sprint may not be renewing any roaming agreements with nTelos: Feb 2014: "NTELOS sinks after firm predicts Sprint deal won't be renewed NTELOS (NTLS), a regional wireless retailer, is tumbling after research firm FBR predicted that the company's partnership with Sprint (S) would not be renewed when the deal expires in 2015. FBR, which noted that NTELOS obtains the majority of its profits from its partnership with the carrier through the Sprint Strategic Network Alliance"  

 

My brother lives around there - in an ntelos area and  has an nTelos contract.  From what I understand, for him this would mean when he leaves the nTelos area he wouldn't be roaming on Sprint (or anyone - unless another agreement is made )

 

 

Maybe Coz or someone else knows more..

continues here: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4742-columbus-market-mapspreadsheet/page-109&do=findComment&comment=286392

Columbus Market:

Status:  Partial LTE Launch/NV Upgrades Continuing

47% NV accepted & 28% LTE accepted

 

 

West Virginia Market: 

Status:  LTE Launched/NV Substantially Complete

97% NV accepted & 50% LTE accepted.

 

Mark Twain: "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics". 

Your Columbus Market stats may be out of date,  I come up with 67.25% of our sites are new vision.  Now that does not mean that the sites that will be 4g are up to that level yet.  Almost half of the remaining sites are in process.  Our worst winter in 20 years is also slowing things down.

The other factor is West Virginia is not really a complete market because of Ntelos.

Um, I do...

I don't use them, but I see where they could be useful on the road -- sort of like a gas gauge.  Would love a RSSI or RSRP number twice the size.

Sponsors, I have posted a sprite map with leads to 7 new LTE sites.  Not all may be visible to all users or at all times,  But you can use this combined with our maps to find and get credit for new LTE sites.  http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4742-columbus-market-mapspreadsheet/page-103&do=findComment&comment=283174

Hello everyone,

 

Just got LTE signal in Reynoldsburg, band 25. I believe it's coming from the tower behind Tim Horton's, at the 5 way intersection. I'm on GS3, so I know it can't be any other band. [picture] Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Yay I woke up to LTE this morning on the south side of Columbus [picture]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Since you are both sponsors, you can get more information and help to get credit in the sponsors forum http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4742-columbus-market-mapspreadsheet/page-102

LTE just went live on my phone today at 6pm around Canal Winchester/ Slate Run area. Dropped a call and looked back at my screen showing LTE. I about flipped out. 12mb down 7up. I post a screen shot but it wont let me since I am at my limit.

Have noticed it has been a little quirky in the last week or so, hence dropbox.

Ohhhhh, so my girlfriend one should be able to connect as well, yes?

This thread is just the tip of the iceberg.  Since you are a sponsor, wander over to here  http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4742-columbus-market-mapspreadsheet/ to see the map, spreadsheet, and specific site details.  You will be amazed as to what we have!! 

When the nexus sprint spark update is finally released and band 41 is fully up in Columbus (up to 60Mbps+), you can expand your horizons further by going Premier!!!

Just curious, anybody picking up converted towers today in Hilliard or Gahanna?

All quiet on the western front from what I can see

I wasn't doubting your 40mbps claim, I was doubting it at -140dBm because physically, it's impossible.  LTE loses it's speeds as signal thresholds become weaker.  You would have had to be in the -80s to -90s for a speed of 55mbps down.

If I had an independent signal meter you likely could be right, but I could only go by what the G2 was reporting.  Band 41 has a bunch of quirks compared to band 25.  While this issue was only seen once in the 44 band 41 sites I confirmed, strong bandwidth plus strong signal at the edge was not unusual, which in those cases was better than at the middle area from the site.  Now as they tuned those sites, much of this disappeared. These quirks are a major reason why a band 41 site should be confirmed by finding all three sectors.

To get similar results to band 25, you would likely need to average the rsrp over a greater area with more time.  Band 41 signal simply fluctuates too much compared to band 25.  Then of course you have SNR, reflection, TD versus FD, etc, but that is another whole discussion.

I don't want to call you out on this, but that is impossible.

I was wrong, it was actually 55.04 Mbps down, 13.80Mbps up off of lakeview plaza blvd, near supergames adventure educational center in Columbus OH.  the RSRP measurement was taken before and after, however it could have changed for the test.  You owe me a beer.

Now there were other factors, like band 25.  But generally there is a much looser correlation for speedtests and rsrp with band 41 than band 25 LTE.  Far far better than wimax.

Well the db does seem weaker then most but it holds onto band 41 and pulls decent numbers when its -120+

uploadfromtaptalk1391976652341.jpg

 

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

I have pulled 40+Mbps at -140db, although that is rare

This is my initial G2 testing report for the Columbus market, which has public and emerging band 25 LTE and emerging with occasional public band 41 LTE, and no known band 26 LTE.

This test was done between 2 G2s that are not identical and not calibrated.  Only 2 samples were taken so it is not statistically valid, besides network loads and configurations also vary between each test.  The methodology is to throw out the lower bandwidth test result.  The phones were locked into a car mount for each test with the other phone several feet away.

A number of these items may have been covered.  If so, let me know and I will credit you.

1) When you start your phone from being turned "off", you get a second bootup screen  that mentions Sprint Spark, plus the well know Walmart like spark icon.

2) The engineering screen for LTE behaves differently, probably to reduce support calls.  You can no longer verify band priority with this screen.  Group sourcing indicates that band 41 is handled ahead of 25 when the band priority view is band 25 = 3, band 26 = 1, and band 41 = 2.  This was achieved by editing Band 25 Proirity = 0, Band 26 Proirity = 1, Band 41 Proirity = 1 (spelled as it appears). 

3) Had to manually enable bands 26 and 41 on the spark g2 which had never had them enabled before and was full stock. Tried PRL update to fix band issue but no success .  PRL version also remained the same.

4) All LTE-only type modes still appear to work.

5) For an unencumbered band 41 site, RSRP matches, download speed about the same https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zhwpq3z3f8tb3jy/_PIeTZCcOW

6) Band 41 edge location, RSRP the same, spark may have better download speed but more variability https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hkf39c46xqcs305/DLoc9qVVcc

7) Band 41 site with strong band 25: Only band 25 seen by current G2 firmware, Spark has no problems seeing band 41. True even after resets.  Was only 80 ft from band 41 tower.  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m8ems40fo39w84b/fvKZqfI5Rw

8) Country band 25 LTE site, same RSRP, current appears to be about 10% faster on downloads a few miles from site but more variability. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1utn172bgmrpy53/ZM4HGHdIsT

9) Casual observation of phones side by side: both connect to LTE at about same time.

NB: edited to add more pictures.  had to use outside source

I will test it then and report back, which may be tomorrow.  Thanks

I can. If you leave and go back it will tell you what band you are on but you can not see what it searches for first anymore.

James2004 seems to confirm that from lte view 25 = 3, 26 = 1, 41 =2 seems to be working in that order.  Do you concur?

Also do you have band 26 LTE?

Just now testing spark update.  When not in an lte area, the debug engineering screen only shows not available, which means you can not check the actual band priority flow on the debug engineering screen.  Can others concur?

It's all dependent on what the basestation is transmitting. Garbage in garbage out no matter the app.

Yeah I have been down those wrong roads before

I've got this app too. It's called Netmonitor. It's kinda old, and probably not made for the US, but it does seem to do pretty well.

Five stars from amcferrin90 is good enough for me!

The thing actually plots decent locations (such a rarity for these type of apps)

Blacks Road 800 site active this morning. Well many more but I was on it with stock PRL almost into Gahanna. The pic was snapped just as I lost it. 

 

What software were you using for this map?

Band 26 and 41 Alert suggestions 

Band 41 - Allow user to plug in the GCI market plus have some alert sound.  Document away that it would only work in their market.  Logically, the current Clearwire GCI market is different from Sprint GCI market in the same area, or at least enough to make this work.

Band 26 - Allow user to put in a starting and ending number for GCI sector for an alert sound.  This way they could get Band 26 and possibly future NV band 41 or LTE 600.  Especially true with NV multiple GCIs per site rather than legacy 03,04,05 GCI sectors.  Simpler method is to just go for band 26 alert with 0F to 11 hardcoded.

Can you provide an example of a GCI that does this? I have been testing CSV exports for my own app and have not come across this yet.

Using Microsoft Excel version 14.0.7106.5003 (32-bit) Part of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Product ID:02257-210-5811686-49586  (My goal was not to test every production version of Excel, although I do have them all)

One of the several problem GCIs was 08609E01

From my testings for this post as it was (including typo):

The first row is the default header, the second row is the unmodified record, the third is a record that should work because the GCI value is in quotes, and then other text options. The GCI should be appearing as 08609E01 without quotes.

Here it is in a test file. https://www.dropbox.com/s/zg91rbzthah2lsq/signal%20detector%20test%20quotes%20or%20not.csv Download the file and double click on it, which should cause Excel to convert it.

I was trying to see if there was a way to program around it.  My conclusion was that it should just be documented.

lordsutch, I love the logging capabilities of this app.   

1) Could you make it so the screen matches the log, ie replace "missing" with GCI data when possible.  Some of this may be because my G2 triband phone does connect even when registered = 0 (i.e.: 60mbps+ downloads, etc.) 

2) Any way to change the orientation of the map?  I am used to driving towards the top of the map.

3) Can the map use a .kml file? If so, how?

Thank you very much!!

If you see something like 8.22E+03 in your log files and you used Excel, you are seeing an Excel .CSV conversion problem.  I tried numerous workarounds with the data.  None worked.  Microsoft has chosen to ignore the post-facto standards and fully processes the .csv file fields even if the text was sent in quotes. It sees numbers with an "E" and thinks scientific notation.   Numerous people and firms have this problem with such things as product codes and serial numbers.  Microsoft doesn't care, label your file as .txt and use their wizard they say.  Office Libre' and Open Office are reported not to have this problem.