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SturgeonGeneral

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Everything posted by SturgeonGeneral

  1. SturgeonGeneral
    I think you've overreacted. ecsfb initialization "problems" are tower specific and nothing more than a minor annoyance since they are so easy to overcome with a radio reset I've toy leave the area. 3g still works inside the area of influence. It generally only effects the limited area inside the coverage range of any given tower once, for 6-72 hours at the time the LTE is first activated. Once the tower is up and running after that time frame, that tower's primary coverage area is done with problems unless there is a technical failure later. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  2. SturgeonGeneral
    If it's an initialization problem, it should go away at the affected towers within a few days and it should then act normally around that location. If it doesn't go away within a week, and if your market is officially "launched", then you should be able to start calling and filing help tickets that will cause the local maintainers to come out and see what's going on. Lincoln and Omaha should both launch before May, but until that happens, we're not officially getting a signal and can't do anything productive about problems and outages. I don't know if your market has a similar thread, but this is what our tracking thread looks like: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4711-nebraska-iowa-market-spreadsheets-and-maps/
  3. SturgeonGeneral
    eCSFB issues would be a good place to start. They *definitely* affect the Tri-Band S4. Omaha is in the middle of a flurry of new LTE tower activations so I'll start with what I am seeing. When a tower here is activated for LTE, there is some sort of eCSFB initialization process that occurs. That process takes anywhere from 6-72 hours. During that time, if my S4 Galaxy Tri-Band sees one of those towers, it will seem to "crash out" my LTE connection. I use "crash" for lack of a better term because from the user's point of view, it acts like the LTE comms software in the phone stops working and needs to be reset. I have to do one of the resets (namely A. disable / reenable radios via airplane mode or B. a phone reboot or C. a PRL update) in order to get it to search for an LTE connection again. If it still sees the same tower, it will crash again. Once I leave the coverage area of the initializing tower, the phone reverts to normal and will again pick up the other towers that have completed the initialization process. If you have a tower that failed this process near where you are having the problem, or if there are a lot of towers being set up in the area, you could easily see this problem for weeks until the towers are completely online. There may be a way to overcome this on "LTE only" mode but I haven't had the opportunity (or pressing need) to try it out yet since I just found the LTE only setting last week and have only encountered one new tower in my travels since then and didn't have time to stop and play with it. Having said that, how long has this tower been causing you problems? The longest time I have seen here is over a long weekend - 72 hours. I haven't proven it, but I suspect a couple towers around here have also been reset once or twice since their initial setup. I'm not familiar with the EVO LTE. Is it tri-band? Does it have some sort of SVLTE where it doesn't rely on the eCSFB system? Hope this helps.
  4. SturgeonGeneral
    Another development. Without me having had a chance to do anything yet, I get another email today saying my rebate has now been approved. Someone must have realized the mistake. Good news.
  5. SturgeonGeneral
    Don't get too antsy to install it. I've heard more complaints than praise from the plain S4 owners that have it so far.
  6. SturgeonGeneral
    Buyer beware. The more informed a buyer is, the happier they will be. That's why I love this site: This is a spec sheet for the tri-band GS4T SPH-L720T http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=5202&view=1&c=samsung_sph-l720t_galaxy_s4_td-lte_samsung_altius *T* being the tri-band component of the model number. Scroll down to secondary cellular phone and you'll see: LTE1900 (B25), LTE800 (B26), TD-LTE2500 (B41) You can also compare to the plain GS4 SPH-L720 to see the differences. PDADB.NET has the specs as reported from the manufacturer as gathered by us tech geeks that monitor these things as opposed to too many SALESPEOPLE that seem to only want a short term commission no matter what and don't plan on having the job by the time you figure out you've been screwed.
  7. SturgeonGeneral
    4.4 hasn't come to the S4T yet to my knowledge but I haven't been following the rollout at all. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  8. SturgeonGeneral
    Go to sensorly.com and plug in your zip code there, select the map for Sprint 4g and look at all the places you visit regularly. That map will show you places that are covered now and that people have mapped so far. As the other two frequencies are added, that will improve performance over and above the capabilities of the plain s4. Trade-off is that you lose svlte. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  9. SturgeonGeneral
    Community support will probably change with time as more phones get into the market. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  10. SturgeonGeneral
    For a while, I thought forcing "LTE only" was changing something else. When I returned it to "eHRPD mode", -which is where I thought I had started from, the phone didn't seem to search for LTE in the background as it was before. Fact is that it probably wasn't looking for LTE at all. The selection doesn't say it as explicitly as the others but that has to be eHRPD only. I must have remembered wrong or the screen misled me and didn't indicate my true current mode the first time I visited it. I should have done a screen cap. Ah well. It looks like the way to restore is to select LTE+CDMA+EVDO mode. That runs the 1x800, eHRPD, and searches for / connects to LTE as before.
  11. SturgeonGeneral
    I realize that the middle of the thread is a horrible place for this to be hidden, but it can be hot linked to on the web version and probably via tapatalk someplace. I'll update it as I find more information. I found that I cannot edit it after a certain amount of time so I have to post updates later in the thread. **caution** access and use of these screens is at your own risk study hard before throwing random setting switches. They are hidden for a reason. You should NOT have to hit "dial". Tapping the final "#" of the trigger should take you to the screen. If it doesn't, re-check what you entered for errors. ***************** http://tools.flashingtools.com/ (MSL reader that worked) ***************** ##DEBUG# (##33284#) password: SPRINT (777468) (LTE engineering screen - LTE connection data) ##DATA# (##3282#) "view" section - no password "edit" section requires your unique msl code (see above for discovery tool app) The radio filters can be found here. To set LTE only mode: -Scroll down the list <more> <HDR/1X Selection> (Note your personal default setting so you can return to it later! -should be "EHRPD 1x Mode" ?) <LTE Only Mode> - doesn't normally require a reboot Restoring to eHRPD mode usually requires a reboot of the phone. ##DIAG# -no password or msl code? Use for? ##INFO# (4636) <-- MISSING! need to find equivalent screen for S4T (on some other phone models this has the "LTE only mode" toggle - see DATA above) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blueline.signalcheck If you have any additions or updates, let me know and I'll update this post. -Thanks to all who helped me get this far.
  12. SturgeonGeneral
    Anyone else get their rebate declined? https://www.sprintrebates.com/
  13. SturgeonGeneral
    In Omaha, my S4T has never exhibited any such noticeable access lag (changing either direction) for data. If the LTE signal drops out, and there is a 3G signal available, it jumps to it without any inconvenience. Streaming *may* hiccup for a few seconds, but nothing unreasonable. A page being loaded will instantly start downloading again if a manual reload is triggered. If the phone is using data in 3G, it will not hunt for 4G until it is done with an active data connection on that 3G. If you are streaming or otherwise stressing the 3G connect so it doesn't go idle at any time, S4T will not start to hunt for 4G until the 3G data stream goes idle for a few moments. Once it does connect to 4G, the data can be used practically immediately.
  14. SturgeonGeneral
    I used to work for a company that used the direct connect, as soon as it releases for the S4T I'm going to try to get a hold of it and try it out with some friends that are also Sprint. It may come in handy for our annual pilgrimage to Oshkosh Wisconsin.
  15. SturgeonGeneral
    Impressive if they get it out that soon. Especially if it includes the Sprint spark version so close on the heels of the slow S4T rollout. PDADB doesn't know about it yet, and there hasn't been an article here about a Band 26 S5 clearing the FCC. http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdamaster Search on B26 "secondary cellular" and android OS to get all the Spark Android units in the PDADB database. I think you're going to be waiting 60-120 days yet and they'll milk the time marketing and teasing it.
  16. SturgeonGeneral
    My first thought was eCSFB but that isn't a tri-band phone to my knowledge.
  17. SturgeonGeneral
    Don't have spark (yet) It's 1 frequency band now, 2 soon, 3 eventually. DSM will be a launched spark market eventually. Before that, it will probably have some of the benefits. Anything over the base frequency is spark in my mind since a spark enabled phone is at an advantage anytime it has more frequency spectrum to use. Launched officially yet or not. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  18. SturgeonGeneral
    It will eventually help when they set up and turn on the other two bands. 1 or THREE. Spark is tri-band. The low band is supposed to have a little better structure penetration and help with indoor performance.
  19. SturgeonGeneral
    Android 4.2 suggests S4, the S4T shipped with 4.3 Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  20. SturgeonGeneral
    I don't know where the water tower is, but have you looked at the maps here in the sponsors area yet? (Don't discuss specifics in the non-sponsor areas) http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4711-nebraska-iowa-market-spreadsheets-and-maps/ There isn't much coverage up that way but the map shows the towers' locations and their status. Sensorly indicates about the same but there hasn't been much mapping done by users. I'll do some as I get out that way this summer to visit relatives. http://sensorly.com/map/4G/US/USA/Sprint/lte_310sprint#q=Ankeny%2C+IA%2C+USA Short term, there is no Sprint solution for home connections. AirRave is a disaster more often than not. Use a wireless phone on your landline. Have you had her try your phone to see if it has a more stable voice connection when out and about? It may be a matter of upgrading to a better phone with the lowband frequencies with better structure penetration. I don't know what the HTC units have. The S4T might be an option for you to upgrade to for the triband LTE and give her your old S4 if it works better for voice. Travelling coverage also depends on where she goes. Again, look at the maps and see if there are 800/4G towers active near the areas of concern. ...and don't get me started about people driving and talking on the phone at the same time. I hope she's a passenger when she's talking.
  21. SturgeonGeneral
    Ran to n30 th over lunch today and saw the 2 north Omaha towers. By the time I headed home after work I wasn't picking up 4g. Cold booted my phone at home and it picked up the local lte spark tower again. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  22. SturgeonGeneral
    I realize page 6 of the thread is a horrible place for this to be hidden, but it can be hot linked to on the web version and probably via tapatalk someplace. I'll update it as I find more information. **caution** access and use of these screens is at your own risk study hard before throwing random setting switches. They are hidden for a reason. You should NOT have to hit "dial". Tapping the final "#" of the trigger should take you to the screen. If it doesn't, re-check what you "dialled" for errors. ***************** http://tools.flashingtools.com/ (MSL reader that worked) ***************** ##DEBUG# (##33284#) password: SPRINT (777468) (LTE engineering screen - LTE connection data) ##DATA# (##3282#) no password to view -edit requires your unique msl code (see above for discovery tool app) Use for? ##DIAG# -no password or msl code? Use for? ##INFO# (4636) <-- MISSING! need to find equivalent screen for S4T (on other models has the "LTE only mode" toggle) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blueline.signalcheck If you have any additions or updates, let me know and I'll update this post. -Thanks to all who helped me get this far.
  23. SturgeonGeneral
    Just got some information to pass along. If you see intermittent LTE connect, they are possibly caused by towers in the process of being set up for LTE. You will see intermittent connections on them from the GS4T for a few days until the setup is complete. As it was explained to me: === eCSFB is your issue. so far anytime they turn on a new 4G tower it doesn't have this enabled until 12-48 hours after its accepted. so if you want to connect to the newly accepted towers you will need to put your phone into LTE only mode, if you don't want to do that then you will just have to wait until eCSFB gets enabled on the new towers to connect to them. === Since we need eCSFB for the Tri-band version of the phone, we have to wait until that has been activated in order for us to reliably connect to the LTE signal. Here's some extra reading on the subject: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-357-nexus-5-and-lg-g2-experience-temporary-sprint-lte-connectivity-issues-due-to-circuit-switched-fallback-technology/
  24. SturgeonGeneral
    I had a report third week of December from a Sprint store that it showed up in their database for a very brief time and was removed again by the time of that visit. I haven't been back since I bought online so I have no idea of current status in their database. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
  25. SturgeonGeneral
    Nope, I had to apply for the rebate. I ordered online from Sprint. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
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