efranco1

Thanks for this, I have one by my work that is labeled as 3G/4G but I can't get an LTE signal from it even when I'm right underneath it...

Do we know when they will turn them on? Is there an imminent formal launch? There are many areas in the City of Chicago where you get 4G one day and 3G on another. Not complaining given the amount of work that has been done, just would like to know.

Thanks,

I'm getting 3 down here in Chicago.near western and Wilson.seems like the speed is very slow.The site shows the tower near me as complete.I hope this is not it, because that would be horrid.

where I live is a major hub for the Northside and we are seeing bad speeds.the tower at Irving park and Clark; less than a mile from there is getting 20 and 15.Hoping it is a backhaul issue.

Any help is appreciated.

I hear you. I have been pulling 3 down by the antenna on Milwaukee and California and some parts in East Lakeview. I thought LTE was supposed to be faster.

I just heard that Sprint will start updating the S3 to JellyBean beginning tomorrow... Roll out should complete within a few weeks. : )

Either Sprint is blocking LTE connections, which happens, or there is an issue with your device. Have you made sure your GS3 is in CDMA/LTE mode? Have you tried cycling through airplane mode to force your device to scan for LTE? Have you been able to connect to LTE in other areas? If you can connect in other areas, but not the site, then Sprint isn't allowing connections.

 

There are several places where this has occurred. There were several sites in Kansas (around Newton and Wichita) that Sprint didn't allow connections to for weeks even after all the sites around them went live, showed up on coverage maps and the area was formally launched.

 

Robert

They are probably blocking it, since I have cycled the device and been able to connect to 4G in other parts of the Chicago metro area.

Yeah, if Samsung has finished the 4G at the site, but Sprint has not come back out yet to inspect it, it is possible that it would be operating and not yet shown on our maps.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

What about if a site has been shown as complete on the site maps for a few weeks, but it has yet to put out a 4G signal. How long after a site is shown as complete is it lit?

I'm interested to see the updated Sponsor Map next Monday. If the market was 'officially' launched, I'm wondering if their deployment will go as quickly as it has lately. Based on the looks of things, their #1 focus was to get halfway decent LTE coverage in Chicago proper. Now that they have it, what is their "good enough" limit where they start taking resources off and sending them elsewhere?

 

While some improvements have been great, this better not be winding down. I just hope they don't "deploy" and then leave right off the bat to go somewhere else and get another market ticked on their LTE list.

That is a good point. Here's to hoping it continues as it has.

Chicago market now shows 4G LTE for the entire market under coverage.sprint.com

Does that mean that an announcement is imminent?

Are we still thinking that the official Chicago market launch will take place this month?

I have a question regarding the time on the S3. I know that we have had problems with the phones reflecting Eastern Standard Time when picking up LTE signals. This this still be the case when I am connected on WIFI? For the past few weeks, I have at times seen that my phone shows Eastern Time when I am at home on my WIFI. I checked my router just in case, but it was set properly with Central Time. It didn't bother me that much, but this morning it came to head when my alarm went off an hour early... I got up took a shower and was almost done getting ready for work when I noticed I was up at 5 am. vs. 6 am. So, needless to say I turned off automatic time on my phone.

After all that, my question is would the LTE towers still have been impacting my time even though I was on my home WIFI?

Just wondering.

This NV upgrade process has consumed me. I find myself craning my neck at every tower to check the panels. It's a new hobby while driving

Ditto!!

I would definitely turn off automatic time until the fix is done. That can really mess you up.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

What is weird about my phone is that there have been a number of times that my clock has changed to Eastern Time and the connection is still 3G. Why would that be?

I spent some time this afternoon with Sensorly on the North side. The map looks to be updated. Odd thing, I was not able to get the signal at street level, mainly when I was on the Red Line. I was seeing signal strength between -90 and -100 with the highest speeds around 12. Mostly I was getting about 4-5 but that was even at full speed on the train. Stark contrast to the 0.00 I saw at the Fullerton stop.

Why would that be that the signal doesn't reach ground level? I also noticed that in my building in the west loop. I am on the 5th floor and get intermitent 4G signal, but then I get outside and nothing. Thoughts?

I'm chalking it up to growing pains if you will. I don't think every site will be available 100% of the time right now. I'm sure as they need to make other changes to the towers, there might be some slight interruptions to LTE or even 3G service.

 

I don't know this for a fact, it's purely speculation.

Thank you for responding.

So, technically the tower can transmit a LTE signal over a mile? Since it seems that the UIC tower seems to be over 1.5 miles from the Ohio exit on 90/94.

Also, is there anything else that needs to be done to be able to pick up the 4G LTE signal? I was actually walking by the 90/94 area which is highlighed on Sensorly as having 4G and it wouldn't pick it up, and my 3G was also very, very slow? I cycled through airplane mode, but nothing happened. Thoughts?

Oh wow, that's my neck of the woods. It's probably the UIC/University Village tower. It's too bad my Evo wouldn't pick that up unless I airplane cycle the phone. =(

So, technically the tower can transmit a LTE signal over a mile? Since it seems that the UIC tower seems to be over 1.5 miles from the Ohio exit on 90/94.

Wife's iPhone in Darien and Downers Grove. Also some fellow coworkers getting LTE in the heart of the westside of Chicago from about Western to Independance on Jackson Blvd.

I am glad to see that some city of Chicago areas are seeing some LTE. : )

I wonder how long it takes from the time a Tower is completed to the time it get lit? I have one close to my house that was recently added to the completed list and haven't seen a 4G signal yet.

I have a question regarding a tower that was on the list of sites that would receive the NV upgrade. Technically, this tower was about 1000' from my home. The building that it was on burned down about a week ago. What will Sprint do? Will they just eliminate the area? Would they secure another space on another building in the area?

Do we know when the other completed sites will be turned on? I see that only certain areas have been lit, when compared to the map of completed sites. Also, I do see that in fact some completed sites are within city limits. Do we know how many sites on average are completed by the Samsung team per week?

Im in chicago and it happens daily at my house. my towerhas recently received its backhaul and i know they are still working on it. full signal - roaming

So, you have seen work within the city limits? If so, great!

On the map of completed sites. I don't see any in Chicago that seem to be completed. Is that possibly true? So, no sites are ready in the city of Chicago? : (

 

My local cell seems to have toned things down a bit today. Servers in both Chicago and Arlington Heights.

When you say "Servers in both Chicago and Arlington Heights" Does that mean that you are getting signals in the City of Chicago?

Does this mean that the signal will start becoming discoverable on the 21st as noted on the leaked document? Or does deployment mean something else?

Anybody in the City of Chicago experiencing any 4G LTE love?