thefisch6

Tweet from @marceloclaure: https://twitter.com/marceloclaure/status/692918460934938624

 

We are flying in Houston. Faster than your cable broadband. Time to cut the cord and consume content in your phone twitter.com/nm_sprint/stat…

 

 

...well that's disconcerting

I'll rather type u or you. Either way u get the point. Lol at least I'm putting my punctuation marks where they belong. I at least should get a silver star lol. [emoji41]

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Core Prime on MetroPCS using Tapatalk

You may want to take a look at punctuation rules again, friend.

U can't comment on markets u yourself haven't visited.

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Core Prime on MetroPCS using Tapatalk

I understand that "this isn't English class," but, honestly, how hard is it to type the word "you"?

Fairbury. The tower in question is one that came along with Project Ocean.

 

Here's a quick google maps thing that I put together showing where the tower is, and the approximate directions the sectors are aiming. The red highlighted areas are areas that frequently fell to 3G. Does not appear to be an issue any longer...

 

Great detailed reply. Thanks[emoji1]

Bumping back up here. Looks like Sprint has finally done some optimization work on my local tower. There were a few places in town where my phone would bump back to 3G. I'm in one of those locations now and have a -99 dbm reading on B25 and scored a 20down/5up speed test.

 

Pretty impressive for an area that previously dropped back to 3G.

What city are you in? And what areas were those in which you would fall to 3G previously, but now find yourself on LTE?

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

I certainly could not endorse something like that. However, I don't recall ever turning down a gift before.

We should do what we did with last year's Moto X. Have people put in for it, have staff use it for tests and the like, and then choose one of the people who put up the initial monies to get it raffle-style.

Part of the issue I see with B26 optimization as it stands is that Sprint often has to use B26 for capacity when they'd get optimal coverage boosts out of optimization for coverage. That's a big reason why 8T8R and small cells for B41 is so important. The more traffic Sprint can get onto B41 off the other bands, the better off B25 and B26 are. That way Sprint can then extend B25 and B26 coverage when most of the capacity is handled by B41.

So essentially, both B25 and B26 are, in general, capable of covering a larger area, but are left dialed back distance-wise because of insufficient capacity to provide usable data service for all individuals in that theoretical larger area? And at some point in the future, this is likely to change once densification of B41 is sufficient to allow it?

 

I'm just trying to make sure I read what you said correctly. If this is true, it would certainly explain a lot about relative differences in propagation distance between the bands in reality vs. what is expected/possible.

I know, and I apologize for that. But in the span of almost 15,000 posts, sometimes I have to speak my mind.

 

AJ

Fair play. I can understand that, I suppose. Carry on.

No, I have more to say. Millenials are the first social media generation, and because of that excessive self interest broadcast to the world, they bring a lot of the crap they receive on themselves. Reap what you sow.

 

For anyone who is a Millenial and takes umbrage at that, go right ahead. I do not care.

 

And that, now, will be my last statement on the topic.

 

AJ

You know a lot about wireless networks, spectrum allocation, etc. but damn you can be a little sanctimonious and captious at times, AJ.

That's funny, Spotify has ads for Verizon with the "tired of slow.....network.....connection?" message, but I laugh because I'm sure they pay for ads specifically based on IP and I have never buffered on the Sprint Network.

 

T-Mobile has several ads on TV, especially on Spanish language programming. Too bad for them Sprint is not far behind with ad power. At&t only has ads with that sexy, fine little thing named Lily and the new uverse, direct TV,and wireless bundle. Verizon has those stupid ducks.

 

Sorry Verizon, your big2 counterpart has better ads. Lily > ducks, all day. Everyday.

I think they're geese, mate [emoji6]

I have almost zero interest in the Huawei Nexus handset. Huawei is too much of a Chinese wild card. And because of the 2015 Moto X, my interest in the LG Nexus handset is not that great -- unless I decide the Moto X truly is too big.

 

AJ

I'm actually pretty excited about this phone. All the reviews I've read of the Mate 7 praise the build quality and everything you'd really be concerned about on the hardware side. Most of the criticism has been around the software tweaks, which would be nullified by this being a Nexus device. If it comes out, supports Sprint, and has anything like the battery life/build quality of the Mate 7 along with a slightly better camera and solid RF performance, I will be pretty stoked about it.

 

Speaking of RF performance, any idea when we might expect to see this and the supposed LG Nexus successor come through the FCC?

Some pretty cool stuff on the new note, but honestly the poor RF performance coupled with a lackluster 3000mAh have turned me against it. Hopefully the new Nexus phones will impress.

Do not get bent out of shape over the clarification. But it is a common theme that people overestimate the extent of USCC licensed coverage. They put USCC close to the level of Alltel after it merged with WWC. That is not true, however.

 

I have posted this USCC map previously. I will post it again. The number of states and square miles where Sprint would gain coverage is greatly outnumbered by where Sprint would not gain anything. By the standards that we use to define the four national operators, a USCC acquisition would not make Sprint qualitatively any more "nationwide" than it already is.

 

 

AJ

I wasn't and still am not bent out of shape, AJ. I have seen the USCC coverage map many times and was fully aware of the extent of their coverage when I made the comment. I'm not saying your clarification was wrong by any means, but this has been a purely semantic discrepancy from the start. [emoji3]

To call it "nationwide" is quite a stretch. USCC is very much a regional operator. It would fill in a few regions for Sprint. But across most of the country, it would have no impact.

 

AJ

Excuse me. Perhaps "across the country" would be more appropriate in this instance. Even you can't argue with the fact that they would fill in large swaths of coverage across the country. Sure they don't have a footprint across 100% of the nation, but I didn't anticipate anyone taking that comment in the strictest literal sense.

I've been wanting to try a Nexus device. I don't have any experience with Huawei phones, but I'm willing give it a try if it has a Snapdragon 820 instead of their homegrown chipset (which might be great, but I'd rather stick with a known quantity in Qualcomm).

I'd like to see it as well, but I am doubtful that it will have the 820.

Really a double edge sword if they do force Sprint into buying USCC. On one hand Sprint has to no doubts spend billions to acquire USCC and merge its network. On the other hand, T-mobile screws themselves over by letting Sprint acquire a huge fuck ton of complementary coverage in areas where neither Sprint or Tmobile have much presence and locking in those millions of subscribers in rural areas. That's 8000 additional cell sites to Sprint instantly in addition to 700A, cellular 850 (some areas have BOTH A and B blocks), PCS, and AWS spectrum. Sprint wouldn't even need to bid on 600 in those areas at all.

Don't tease me like that. Dear Lord, this would be amazing pretty much nationwide.

 

 

FrontPageTech is finding a lot of the same things that I'm finding in retail stores - If you want a Sprint contract, get them while you still can.

So would this be getting rid of subsidized handset pricing even for existing customers, or is this only with regard to new customers?

And though I am no fan of allowing subs to remain on the outdated sweetheart deals from the dark Sprint days, if they are allowed to be grandfathered, just without future subsidized upgrades, then they also can benefit from the non contract, direct sale $200-400 handsets that are becoming more and more common. That is part of my counterpoint to dedub, who seems just to want the outdated sweetheart contract plans to continue.

 

AJ

I am on one such outdated plan and I can see the idea behind both opinions. But I think it's fairly obvious that no carrier, Sprint or otherwise, can continue to support the outdated plans AND offer subsidized handset pricing on those plans. I think a reasonable compromise is to give people the option of keeping their outdated plans but forcing them to buy handsets at full price, or to abandon their legacy unlimited plan in favor of a newer plan if they can't stomach paying full price for handsets. I have a feeling that would end up driving a decent number of people off of legacy unlimited plans, but give some the option to keep theirs if they desire.

The consensus seems to be that "unlimited" data may remain or be grandfathered on legacy plans. But subsidized upgrades will no longer be available. In such case, the choice may be yours. Is that still worth it to pay your plan price and receive no subsidized upgrades? Or should you move to a newer non contract, non subsidy plan?

 

AJ

I think that is exactly the way to go about it. I'm guessing that's what Sprint will implement sometime next year.

All of it. (B2/4/41)

Do you have any idea on the amount of each band?

NTLS was $4.75 when I wrote the above post with no buying action on my part. Shentel just announced it is buying nTelos for $9.25 a share.

 

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shenandoah-telecommunications-company-to-acquire-ntelos-holdings-corp-and-amend-affiliate-relationship-with-sprint-corporation-2015-08-10

Anyone know exactly what spectrum assets are being transferred to Sprint in this arrangement?

No, they are not bad. They are what I would call average. I just doubt that the 2015 Moto X will live up to the RF performance standards set by the 2014 Moto X and the Nexus 6.

 

Keep in mind that 2-3 dB differences may not seem like a lot, but if you look at the figures in mW instead, the differences become apparent. For example, 20 dBm is 100 mW, while 23 dBm is 200 mW.

 

AJ

Can someone either explain or link me to an article that explains the significance of the numbers above in context. I've been looking, but can't find much of an explanation and I know we have people who enjoy helping those less fortunate (me in this case). Any takers?

Nothing happens to the plan, You would be billed for the lease ranging from about $18 to $25 (depending on the device you choose), and you would receive a $15 credit on the account. Interestingly enough, Best Buy offers a $19 loyalty credit to Sprint members.

 

Yes. Given subsidized phones still exist, you would be allowed to go back.

 

Again, I'm just wondering if subsidies would disappear. If I had the loyalty credit on the plan, the plan would still remain an incredible value. Plus, we received a $100 gift card from best buy when we got a Galaxy S5, Note 4, and LG G4 with the loyalty credit.

I'm sitting on an upgrade as well, but don't want to use it quite yet. Since all indications are that subsidies are going the way of the Dodo, sooner rather than later, I figure I hold onto my upgrade until Sprint announces the imminent death of subsidized pricing, and use it then to buy the best phone available at the time. Until then, the new Moto X doesn't look like a bad investment at $399 unlocked.

There is no limit.

 

-Anthony

Intending no offense, I find that rather hard to believe...

Knowing that Sprint partnered with Boingo, I have a lot of doubts that Sprint will try to improve their network speeds at airports. Why go through the trouble when you already have a partner that provides your customers with Wifi (at the 35 airports that Boingo has service at)?

I agree with you to an extent, and I'll explain my meaning. In my opinion, it's almost less about the actual usability of data in airports than it is about the perception. Like it or not, people put a lot of stock in RootMetrics reports. I was just thinking this could be an area in which Sprint could make a significant turnaround with minimal comparative investment -- a real bang-for-your-buck perception win, if you will. Now I have since been enlightened as to the various challenges of providing good service in airports (thank you AJ, et al), but I still think Sprint could use a win, and stand by the idea that this might not be the most difficult of wins to achieve.

 

Just my thoughts.