ericdabbs

You mean the site can't hold the extra weight of the 800 MHz RRUs right now the panels. All the normal panels have 800/1900 MHz support on the same panel.

So you bought a new LG G2 on contract and you got a refurb version in the mail? Wow that sucks. I would exchange and complain to them that it is a refurb.

Oh really?? Wow I hope the LG G2 Spark update enables 41-25-26 by default.

So with the GS4T, what is the LTE Band Priority? Is it 25>41>26 or is it 41>25>26? With the Spark update has anyone had trouble with the GS4T connecting to B41 LTE if they are only in a B41 LTE area?

I really want Tmobile to be stealing customers from Verizon and ATT but not from Sprint. The more Verizon and ATT customers Tmobile can steal the better.

Hopefully the 600 MHz spectrum band plan will be FDD in the end just because all the other carriers support FDD. My prediction is that all the carriers would want to use 600 MHz spectrum partially for VoLTE and I think FDD configuration is more suitable for that than TDD.

With the Tmobile Uncarrier 4.0 ETF promotion beginning on 1/15, do you guys think that Sprint will react to Tmobile and ATT and offer ETF promotions to attract customers? I have been reading forums and it seems like this ETF promotion is the straw the breaks the camel's back that allows folks who have been wanting to jump ship from Sprint to Tmobile without penalty. Hopefully this campaign is successful for Tmobile because if this can make an impact on Verizon and ATT customer numbers then maybe it will force Verizon and ATT to re-look at their prices and plans.

These T&C's existed starting with the new My Way plans. Don't worry this is not something that is new that was just introduced with the Framily plans.

Personally I stopped getting the TEP insurance after I upgraded from my HTC Touch Pro to the Motorola Photon 4G. I got the TEP insurance initially with the HTC Touch Pro because it was prone to have problems. In the 1.5 years that I had the HTC Touch Pro, I had to use it once because the phone just stopped receiving calls. I got a refurbished HTC Touch Pro as a result. With my Motorola Photon 4G, I stopped getting insurance even when it was still $7 and since I use a case and a screen protector, I feel more at ease that it can withstand the basic drops. With the LG G2 and now with TEP at $11, there is no way in hell I would be getting the TEP insurance especially if I lose it and need to pay a $150 deductible.

Lets just hope the final version is the ZVA firmware revision. This tells me that Sprint is still tweaking the values to make it better. I still think we won't see the G2 Spark update until the end of Jan. I want Sprint and LG to make sure they get their stuff right.

I don't think the major specs are any different in terms of modem and processor than it is with the single band LTE GS4. I just think new antennas were added for B26 and B41. I wouldn't hold your breath on it.

I think the 10th is too soon. That is just 2 days away. The 17th may be doable but I think its going to be later than we expect which would probably be the 24th or 31st. I suspect that LG and Sprint will want to do as much testing as they can since I am sure both companies are beta testing a Nexus 5 Spark update as well. The GS4T was said to be released "later on that month" and most were speculating that it would definitely be before Christmas because of the holiday season. Lo and behold the GS4T was finally released on Dec 31st which technically met the "later on that month" promise.

Why do you care if the phone is inexpensive? That is a good thing as consumers that you and I are. Don't assume just because its priced lower means its lower quality. LG made a premium smartphone in the LG G2. Keep in mind that LG is trying to draw market share from Samsung, Apple, HTC and Motorola so sometimes companies are willing to undercut the prices in order to gain market share. The LG G2 goes for $550 retail and keep in mind that those that were lucky to get the LG G2 for $50 on Black Friday or $0 on Cyber Monday scored big and selling it for $300 doesn't look too shabby IMO. LG has some catching up to do to be competitive to Samsung and Apple but the LG G2 is a great start in that path. The LG G Flex that is coming out on Sprint, Tmobile and AT&T later on this year looks to be a winner as well. In terms of LG software, I personally don't have any major issues with it. Its sorta of like Touchwiz but not as colorful and jazzy which is completely fine with me. I like some of the touches that LG has put on it especially "Knock-On". I barely use the back buttons to turn On/Off the phone because double tapping the screen is just so much easier. The battery is pretty insane on this phone at 3000 maH and the 5.2" IPS display is pretty awesome. I have been happy with it so far. The only thing that LG and Sprint need to fix is to fix the baseband to improve RF performance for CDMA and LTE which I am hoping that the Spark update will address.

It looks like Sprint is aiming to make a big splash in 2014 as its suppose to be wrapping up its Network Vision project sometime in 2014. Most of the article is just reiterating stuff that we already know here at S4GRU. However what I found interesting about the article is this blurb below: "Interestingly, Bye said that Sprint is already in the process of refarming some of its CDMA EV-DO services on its 1900 MHz spectrum for LTE. He said the carrier is refarming some unused 5x5 MHz EV-DO channels to LTE in an effort to improve and reinforce its LTE network." What I am curious is about is which markets do you guys think Mr. Bye was trying to hint at for being in the process or planning to deploy a second 5x5 LTE carrier? I think the consensus around here seems to be that Chicago will be one of these markets that will get a second 5x5 LTE carrier since they just got some fresh 20 MHz of new spectrum to play with from the US Cellular transaction and their network seems to be overloaded. http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprints-bye-2014-year/2014-01-08

When do you guys think the ZV9 Spark firmware update will be finally released? I am going to guess January 31st. I feel that Sprint and LG should take as much time as it can to optimize the RF performance and Spark optimizations.

Cool glad to hear that your issue will be resolved. This must be one of those...."thank goodness I have insurance" moments. I have to protect my phone as if it were my baby child.

The worse part of the Sprint maps is when you want to pan or zoom, it needs to buffer for like 5 seconds each time. Like seriously what the heck Sprint!!!! The other carriers you can zoom and pan without lag. I don't get why that is the case with Sprint maps. They just need to hire a team to revamp the maps to make them not look like the 1980's.

Sprint really needs to revamp their 4G network page. All the other carriers have more impressive splash screen pages to promote their 4G LTE networks and not to mention larger coverage maps so you don't have to zoom in and out as often. Sprint's coverage maps are just way too dang small and I hate having to scroll every 2 seconds to see different areas around my market. I liked the old 4G Wimax page because it made things more interesting.

You don't have insurance on it? You should be able to claim insurance on it. This is why when it comes to my cell phone, I don't try to carry multiple things with my cell phone in my hand. When I take out my cell phone, that is the only thing in my hand because I am afraid of dropping it especially since I don't have insurance on it. That said I just have a Spigen Slim Armor case on my G2.

I guess LG and Sprint want to release a Spark update on Android 4.2.2 first. I assume LG and Sprint are holding off on KitKat until Google stops releasing mini patches with the Nexus 5 and the Spark enhancements are stable first. I hope the KitKat update comes out around March or so with the very latest Android baseline which currently is 4.4.2.

It does definitely puts Sprint at a disadvantage over Verizon and Tmobile if it truly does require a carrier card for each LTE carrier. Unfortunately Sprint has most of its PCS spectrum in its markets that is non-contiguous to the G block spectrum. Also to add insult to injury the early Samsung LTE phones being able to only support 5 MHz wide LTE bandwidths does not help and puts Sprint in a bind to maintain 5x5 LTE carriers for a few more years. It seems no matter what, Sprint will need to add at least another LTE carrier card to its NV sites for its PCS spectrum since the G block will need a carrier card by itself and the other carrier card for its main block where it currently has 1x and 3G. What Sprint should be doing now is for markets that are in the Canadian and Mexican IBEZ is to add 2 LTE carrier cards when they install NV sites now because markets such as San Diego, Tucson, Detroit, Buffalo where they will not be getting LTE 800 or LTE 2600 in the very near future. This would help Sprint turn on an additional LTE carrier quicker. These markets will definitely need more LTE capacity in the mean time until LTE 2600 can be installed and finally LTE 800 when the interference issues are resolved.

It wont be the last to get LTE because sprint and clearwire have a goal to upgrade their clearwire towers over the entire Wimax network with LTE first before beginning to expand 2.5 ghz LTE to sprints own 39K towers. Sent from my LG G2 LS980 using Tapatalk

I think from what I have read you would need to add a new carrier card and do some configuration at the base station. I am guarantee you that it is not as simple as firing up the LTE carrier from Sprint HQ. Sent from my LG G2 LS980 using Tapatalk

I think it makes total sense to combine both Virgin and Boost mobile prepaid brands together. Sprint had 5 brands to manage before Nextel shut down and even today it has 4 brands to manage (Sprint, Clear, Virgin, Boost). Even today, I only see Virgin mobile commercials and don't ever think about Boost mobile. I think all major carriers should only have 1 prepaid brand to avoid confusion. Especially if Sprint makes a bid for Tmobile it will need to manage Tmobile/MetroPCS as well. Sprint does need to make the necessary consolidation moves now in preparation for future mergers.

Not sure what you are looking for in terms of development. Development has been picking a lot lately. Sent from my LG G2 LS980 using Tapatalk