The_Chemist

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! B26 ON MY HOME TOWER!!!! (about 1.5 miles outside of Winchester. Same strength as B25 in my room)

Sent from my HTC ONE M8

Wow, I would have expected that signal strength on 800 MHz would have been better than 1900 MHz.

I have found LTE signal availability within SignalCheck on unregistered devices to vary by device.. YMMV.

 

My unregistered EVO LTE (previously active on Sprint) will not connect to LTE or show any LTE information.

 

My unregistered Galaxy Victory always shows all LTE information.

 

When inserting an unregistered T-Mobile SIM in my N5, it connects to LTE and shows all LTE data for about 10 seconds before dropping down to HSPA+, then will not connect to LTE again without a full reboot.

 

When inserting an unregistered AT&T SIM in my N5, it never connects to LTE or shows any LTE data. In fact, I don't think it shows any connections at all.

 

-Mike

My unregistered Verizon Droid Bionic shows ALL information including LTE.  My unregistered Sprint LG G2 shows 3G stuff only.  I guess it all depends on the electronic architecture of the device itself.  None-the-less even on unregistered devices Signal Check is an invaluable diagnostic tool. 

My upgrade is up and i am not to keen on the new Tri Band devices because they can not do data and voice/text at the same time. i assume since the GN3 is 1900MHz LTE only it can do SVLTE? if so i will probably get it post haste.

You are correct!  The GN3 is a singe band phone.  It does handle SV/LTE.  The TRI BAND devices won't do SV/LTE until VO/LTE is lit up.  You won't regret getting the GN3.  It's a great phone.  I also have an LG G2 which isn't the greatest at RF performance or sound performance for that matter.  I use my GN3 all over the Harrisburg area without issues of any kind.  As long as your in a good band 25 area, the GN3 will perform well for you.  I even have acceptable in-building performance on 1900 MHz.  Shentel maintains and operates the towers in the Harrisburg area.  The tower density is great.  Good Luck!

Doesn't seem to be any in the Carlisle or Harrisburg area that I saw on the highway today. Hungout at the fairgrounds for a few hours and it was strictly B25 indoors and out. So yeah, they're definitely moving North but not here quite yet.

 

Thanks for reporting back. We'll just have to be patient here in the Harrisburg area until Shentel throws the switch!

Is anyone here from the Carlisle, PA area? I'll be there all weekend for a car show and will report back any B26 sightings, unless it's already been discovered and I just missed it. Excited to see how good the completed Shentel market is.

 

I'd be interested in your findings. As of last Friday night we still didn't have band 26 in the Harrisburg area. I would imaging that Shentel is working their way north.

Good news is band 26 is active in Stephens City and Front Royal. Bad news is I still haven't ran into it here in Winchester.

 

Sent from my HTC ONE M8

Oh I feel so forsaken by Shentel up north here! 

You're not comparing the same scale. I was talking RSSI, you're talking RSRP.A -95dBm RSSI 1x signal is roughly equivalent to a -120 to -125dBm RSRP LTE signal. So no, it's not likely one will see a usable LTE signal in that location if the signal strength stays the same.

I am very eager to experience 800 LTE myself. In the last few months, signal strength and speed have been down in the Harrisburg area. I don't know whether this is due to system overload on band 25 or not. Possibly Shentel is just balancing loads on their towers, but it's not impressive at all.

 

Most places now, I get around -100 dBm.RSRP or less on band 25. Hopefully Shentel will step up their game to give us better signal levels than Verizon and AT&T in the same areas on the forthcoming band 26.

There's way too many variables in place to give a definitive yes or no. How far is the nearest tower?

She's pretty much triangulated by towers up behind the old Bishop McDevitt High School,  17th street and 28th street. The farthest being probably about 0.75 miles. 

 

I'm really hoping that 800 MHz will be the answer for her since the Verizon towers were much further away. 

 

I'm kind of skeptical though since 1x800 only comes in at -98 dBm.   Add to that a fragile LTE signal....

Have you guys down in York noticed better In-building signals on 800 LTE?

 

I'd be interested in knowing what kind of differences you are getting on 800 LTE vs 1900 LTE.

 

My GF works in a basement office in Harrisburg. When she had Verizon, she got a weak LTE signal. Now that she switched to Sprint, the only signal she gets is 1 800. No EV - DO or eHRPD on 1900. I'm hoping that when Shentel switches on 800 LTE in Hbg, she'll at least get a weak LTE signal. 

Not sure if I was connected to the same tower as you as it's a pretty good distance away from where you picked up B26 but I was also connected to B26 consistently yesterday around Davidsburg Road in Weigelstown, PA. Indoors and all. Gotta love B26!

You're making me jealous!  Still nothing in the Harrisburg area. 

No evidence of band 26 here in Harrisburg yet. We tried my G'F's Samsung S4T tri band phone and only fell back to 3G eHRPD when the 1900 MHz LTE signal was lost.

 

Looked in the DEBUG screen and only found band 25 connections.

Unfortunately, WiFi calling won't work overseas. Of course not, greedy wireless companies want you to have to buy their ridiculous international calling package with outrageous per-minute pricing. Technically, it's POSSIBLE for this to work overseas, but Sprint made it so that you HAVE to have a CDMA signal for it to work. SMH...

Does this mean that now my Airave is pretty much useless?

Sent from my HTC One Max using Tapatalk

I thought the reason Sprint gave us WiFi calling was to have the ability to make a call where there was no cell service?

 

Does this mean that if we are out of cell system range, we can't use WiFi calling? That doesn't make sense.

 

If we have CDMA service why not just use that for a call?

It appears that the tower on West Market Street and S Richland Ave by the York Fairgrounds is broadcasting B26 LTE judging from my signal strength when I was about 100 feet away from the tower.

 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8_ESszeycXGbGNTSEJNMGdvY0U/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8_ESszeycXGR2UyOUVTN04tbHM/edit?usp=sharing

I wonder if 800 LTE is up and running here in Harrisburg as well? I'll have to re-activate my LG G2 to find out.

 

You're giving me hope!

I do. I still have it I just have two phones now. I got this one to see what all the fuss was about the radio being so much better than the G2 and I'm curious to see T-Mobile coverage around here too. How to I get the $30 100 min, 5gb plan on T-Mobile?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Good Luck!     I'm still waiting for the definitive device....

Just joined the nexus 5 club

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

What happened to your G2?  I thought you really liked it.

finally, after speaking to three different people, arguing with the last one about the G2 needing a sim (she said no), getting disconnected and then called back (that was nice), I have a sim on order. However, its on back order so it may be a little while until I get it.

 

thanks for the help guys, I'll be back when I activate the G2 and need to complain about something.

That really sucks that you had to go through all that hassle! What a PITA!

where can I find the phone number to Sprint International? Why International instead of just regular Sprint customer service?

1-888-226-7212

Worst case scenario, you can call Sprint international and have them send you a Simcard for the G2.

 

Sent from my LG-LS980

I've done this already.  No hassle whatsoever and they sent it to me in 2 days.  If the Sprint reseller will not give you a SIM card, then they don't deserve you future business either!

 

The folks at Sprint International are very accommodating. 

I don't know of anyone with an N5. I like the g2 and I would have got the nexus of it wasn't for knock on and the ir blaster. Is there any way to change the threshold of when it connects to 1x 800? I think if that was fixed id be OK with it for awhile. I bet the nexus would work at my desk because I get a faint LTE right outside my door. I just want to stream all access all day long! I've been waiting for 800 LTE for 2 years and dang, what a disappointment. Also I've had this thing plugged into a 1amp charger pretty much all day since 6 and it only went from 10% to 80% now. Charger problem?

I'm sure someone knows how to hack the threshold, if you can even get into those menus - I sure don't know.  Without the antenna/radio being able to receive a good signal, it probably wouldn't be usable anyway.  The charging is not normal.  My G2 charges up in a little over an hour, maybe 1.5 hours or so while it's still on.  Good Luck!

Now I'm roaming instead of connecting to 800 at work. Wonderful. Texts failing and coming in late. Any ideas?

I feel for you.  I found that my G2 is not good at all in fringe reception areas or at the cell edge.  Do you have a friend who has a N5 on Sprint?  Possibly you could try that at your work location to see if there is an improvement.  If so you could sell your G2 and purchase a N5.

 

The N5 is the best RF performer at this time. 

Oh man that sucks.. I ended up buying it. Just about to activate it. I probably wouldn't have bought it knowing this. I dealt with an evo LTE for way too long.

I Have a G2 as well.  I'm currently using my single band Samsung GN3.  I was never impressed at all with the RF performance of the G2.  In my basement for example, the GN3 will hold a very usable LTE signal while the G2 would fall back to a weak 3G signal.  Both on the same GCI - confirmed by Mike's Signal Check app.  The GN3 has such a better sound quality in the earpiece as well. 

 

Just my $0.02. 

Gotcha. I've only been to the ups freight, the NS rail yard, and the pilot truck stop up the river in Duncannon. Haven't been there recently, but judging by the maps, it seems service must be really good in the Harrisburg area.

Service is really good in the Harrisburg area with the Shentel towers.  When they finally do light up LTE 800, it's going to put Verizon to shame.  The Sprint towers aree densely positioned.  We'll have in-building penetration out the...

The ups freight on Carlisle pkwy and Brondle behind HH Gregg? I drive a truck and used to run Chicago to that ups twice a week.

The Harrisburg UPS hub is located in an industrial park on 19th & Gibson streets in Steelton/Swatara Township PA. 

I've been seeing the work truck st the Shentel tower behind UPS in Harrisburg. They're up to something. That tower is 1x800, 3G, 4G LTE accepted so I assume the next evolutionary step is underway.

I vaguely remember that as well. Just not the details.

Sent from my Nexus 5

Yeah, I really hope we're both correct. That would be awesome.