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According to the coverage map, the two towers in Patterson now support LTE-Plus. The tower on Orange Ave. is near my home. The other tower is over near I-5. I noticed that my signal strength indicator went from 1 bar to 3 bars which is what told me that something had changed. However, the RSRP is still -92. Likewise, speedtest still indicates 8Mbps. So they have done something to the towers, but perhaps they still need to do work on the back-haul. Scott

I would agree if I had a quality signal coming from my local antenna or if my router combined the two signals in an intelligent way. MIMO typically can be broken into three diversity criteria: spatial diversity (avoiding beampattern nulls from destructive interference multibounce), polarization diversity (solved by orienting the antennas in 2 different polarizations), and beampattern diversity (to avoid nulls in the receiver antennas beampattern). My problem is that the better tower is father away. And in the afternoon, the sun is in the line of sight to the closer tower. My understanding is that most present MIMO receiver systems simply switch to the better signal from one of the antennas instead of doing something more sophisticated. In my case, I'm using this latter capability. Depending on where the sun is, my router uses antenna #1 or antenna #2. Unfortunately, my router doesn't tell me which antenna it is listening on. Thanks, Scott

I would appreciate some advice. I have two Sprint cell towers in my area. One tower is 3 kilometers away (in central Patterson) but hasn't been upgraded yet. The other is 7 kilometers away (in west Turlock). I have a router bolted onto my mast with two SMA antenna input ports. I have two broadband 23 dBi antennas (800 MHz to 2.6 GHz). Because the closer tower hasn't been upgraded yet, I pointed my second antenna at the 7 km tower. But my router is MIMO with these two ports. Should I point my two antennas to the same cell tower, even though that would be the 7 km tower (which supports MIMO) ? Thanks for your thoughts, Scott

I really wish that were true. I've been waiting since the Clearwire purchase for a more optimized tower. And certainly since the Clearwire shut-down in November; especially with the order to change-out the hardware. I assume work on a tower would need to be scheduled months in advance. Seems like there should be a list somewhere for tower upgrades but every time I've called Sprint Network Support, they don't have any info on scheduling. Anyway, my absurdly large tri-band anteanna is able to talk to the tower 8 miles away so I'm more happy now than I've been in a year. At some point they should upgrade the tower a couple miles from me, then I might start to actually see LTE-Plus speeds (Spark, Enhanced, MIMO, etc.). My other 23dBi Band41 grid parabolic antenna still points to the local tower. Thanks, Scott

Now everything is back to normal and I'm back to an RSRP of -89. I wish there was a way to capture the signal strength for several weeks and make a graph. Every time I call Sprint they always say that "there's no tower work going on with your tower, everything is fine". But I definitely lost 20dB of signal for about a week. Thanks, Scott

Well, things were looking good for about a month with an RSRP of -86 after I re-pointed one of my antennas to a Sprint tower 8 miles away that has LTE-Plus. But starting a couple of days ago, my signal level has dropped down to -105. My system is the same, the antennas are pointed the same way, and I've rebooted the Sprint 6100D several times. Speedtest.net still says that I'm getting 14Mbps. But the issue now is connectivity. Sometimes for spans of several hours I'm not getting any service at all. Scott

To follow up on my previous post: it is SpeedTerst.net that said 17.9Mbps. Last night I downloaded Star Wars (4.7GB) from iTunes and got a peak of 1.3MBps (roughly 13Mbps; with overhead). So the SpeedTest numbers seem believable for a peak number. However, the iTunes download varied from a low of 20kbps to a max of 13Mbps. As a result, the 4.7GB file took about 2 hours to download (4700MB/7200 seconds = 0.6MBps ~ 6Mbps). Certainly much faster than it was a couple of months ago. Still waiting for my local Sprint tower upgrade and I am eagerly awaiting a replacement for the Sprint Netgear 6100D and its constant need for a hard reboot. Sprint stopped selling it on their web page but the rep won't confirm any upcoming models. Thanks, Scott

Now that the Sprint coverage map has been upgraded to include Sprint LTE-Plus, my situation is now obvious. I contacted the Sprint Network support folks and they confirmed the situation. The tower near me (Orange Ave. in Patterson; 2 miles away) hasn't been upgraded yet; neither LTE-Plus nor the back-haul infrastructure. However, a tower 8 miles away is running LTE-Plus (the tower on Crows Landing Road south of Modesto). So I pointed my 24dBi antenna at that tower and I am now getting 17.9 Mbps download and 0.8 Mbps upload. I'm on Band 41. At this point, the only problems that I've been having is needing to power cycle my Sprint Netgear 6100D every couple of days. In reading through other threads, this appears to be a common problem with the 6100D. Sprint no longer sells the 6100D on their web store and they won't comment on when a replacement will be available. Netgear still sells the 6100D but doesn't list a newer model. But I'm eager to replace my 6100D with something more stable. I use about 100GB/month on Sprint's 120GB plan. Thanks to all, Scott PS I've reported to Sprint that the new yellow-on-yellow coverage maps are horrible and impossible to tell which yellow is which. The rep said that they've heard this complaint from users many many times already. Apparently the marketing folks want as much yellow as possible in order to fill in the map (as opposed to using different colors for different coverage services). The other guys seem to game the system the same way (e.g. Verizon with various shades of red). So doing a screen capture and using the eye dropper to get each color, then changing that color, seems a workable technique.

Thanks. Yes, "Enhanced LTE" does indeed appear to be the same as Spark coverage. So they appear to have dropped the word "Spark". In searching around through the Sprint web pages, it appears that "Spark" has been removed/replaced with "Enhanced" (or "Plus"). And "Enhanced LTE" is specifically listed as tri-band: "includes Sprint's tri-band network. Available only on select devices" The link for "LTE Plus" references the same thing. The LTE Plus link appears to show the same 103 Spark cities (I'm guessing at that; haven't done a line-by-line comparison). So their web folks get a C- for being confusing. There is "Introducing LTE Plus" but the pulldown contains "Enhanced LTE". The "LTE Plus" November 2015 announcement is mentioned here: http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint-announces-faster-lte-plus-network-launching-today-77-markets which I assume they rolled out once they took down Clearwire. Thanks, Scott

I noticed this morning that Sprint's coverage map has removed the "Spark" entry (12/31/2015). I was there the last time I checked several weeks ago. So the maximum now listed is 4G LTE. Perhaps the marketing folks got overruled... Scott

Thanks. Unfortunately I use wireless as my home's ISP since I don't have any alternative (DSL is only 3 Mbps where I am, cable doesn't come to my house, and I'm avoiding satellite due to the delay). I'm one of those underserved internet folks that Washington keeps talking about. T-mobile has a horribly low monthly data plan, Verizon's home plan is $440/month for the amount of data I use (and then only 8-12 Mbps), AT&T coverage here is spotty here, and Cricket limits the data rate to 5Mbps. I don't mind paying for data (I'm on Sprint's 120 GB per month plan). So based on your comments it looks like I just have wait for Sprint to upgrade their backhaul at my tower. Thanks, Scott

Thanks, but they say only 5 Mbps: Pay $50 a month and use as much data as you need at up to 5Mbps. No contracts, no fine print. Cancel anytime you'd like. To their credit, it is offered where my home is; "good" on their coverage map. Thanks anyway for the tip, but I need speed... 5Mbps is so 20th Century. Scott

This goes into a little more detail about the injunction that lilotimz mentioned: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sprint-shutdown-suspended-nonprofits-win-preliminary-injunction-protect-internet-for-300000-americans-300173565.html I had been a happy Clear customer for several year (at 5 Mbps), but made the switch in April to Sprint when Sprint/Clear dropped email service. Then my family found that our Oppo bluray player does Netflix and the rest is history. I'm on the Sprint 120GB/month plan, but only getting 8 Mbps. I'm desperately waiting for Sprint to upgrade my Clear tower. Thanks, Scott

Well, the coverage map here in Patterson dramatically changed again (Oct 10). Now it is showing a very extensive Spark area. However, my signal level is exactly the same as it has been for the past several months. So I went to my bookmarked Sprint network map link (http://network.sprint.com) to see about any tower upgrades, but the Network map isn't there any more. It just goes to a generic page. Then I checked the Maintenance page (https://www.sprint.net/maint_view.php), but there's nothing specific to Patterson there either. So it looks like the coverage map has been changing quite a bit (reduced coverage area, then a few months later greatly expanded), but my signal level has been exactly the same. I have the 120GB/month plan. So a faster bit rate would indeed make a difference. At this point, I'm still stuck at 6 Mbps (Band 41, RSRP -109) and the Spark icon is on, but I certainly am not getting Spark'ing speeds. Perhaps things will change after November 5. Scott

Update to our previous discussions a couple of months ago: I'm in Patterson, California, had been a Clearwire customer, and switched to Sprint in April 2015 when Clearwire shut off email services. I've been calling the Sprint network support folks monthly to check on the status on their tower conversion. So far, no maintenance on my local Clearwire tower is planned. When I checked the coverage map this morning, the coverage area has shrunk even more than it was before. There is a Clearwire tower in the area and Sprint indicated that the Clear service would be shut down in early November when Clear goes dark nationwide. That is the tower that I am presently talking to (the closest tower to me; 4km away). According to the Clearwire messages going out to Clear users: Sprint will cease operating the CLEAR 4G (WiMAX) Network and Clearwire Expedience Network on November 6, 2015 at 12:01AM EST According to the maintenance schedule, there doesn't appear to be anything planned yet to upgrade the Patterson Clearwire tower to Sprint service: https://www.sprint.net/maint_view.php The thing is, I've watched the coverage map here in Patterson get worse and worse over time, and yet the Sprint Network Support folks say that everything is fine and nothing has changed since October 2014. In spite of the coverage map, I do indeed get service on Band 41 since I have a 24dBi antenna bolted to my chimney (30' up) pointed at that tower. Without that, I basically would get no coverage at all. 2015-09-20 11:53:57:554 PST LTE Signal Info: RSSI -80 SINR 5.2,RSRP -109,RSRQ -9 2015-09-20 11:53:57:553 PST Active Tech: LTE Band 41 Speedtest says that I get a paltry 6Mbps. I have a Sprint branded Netgear 6100D tri-band unit (Band 25, Band 26, Band 41) and the antenna does indeed support these bands (a 6-foot long Yagi antenna). I'm surprised that there doesn't appear to be any info about the Clearwire-to-Sprint tower conversions widely available. Seems that Sprint would be touting this as some grand expansion in service and capability... Barkada, in post 2048 of the following thread, commented that the conversion may be experiencing a slowdown: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/4950-sprint-spark-official-name-for-the-tri-band-network-was-sprint-to-demo-its-25ghz-network-technology/page-103 Scott

Thanks lilotimz (Tim), I'll repost when speeds increase. I'm touching-base with Sprint network support every 30 days as to that tower's status (Orange Ave. in Patterson). I'm glad to hear that they aren't repeating the situation like the Nextel shutdown. As to line-of-sight, the tower on Orange Ave. is the only one that I can see from my rooftop (via binoculars) at 4km. I know the direction to the other two towers on the west side, but I can't find them (inaccurate angular pointing at 8km from my rooftop). So the tower on Orange Ave. is probably my best bet. Thanks, Scott

I like the optimism, but I'm not so sure; at least not for my neighborhood Clear cell tower. Patterson has the disproportionate advantage for its size that it is right on I-5 (with 25,000 vehicles per day here). So Sprint has a couple of upgraded towers over on that side of town to fill-in interstate coverage. But the tower that I use is on Orange Ave. on the east side of town. This is presently a Clear tower, and it isn't certain if Sprint sees the market justification to upgrade this tower. As was pointed out in a previous post, Sprint is being forced to pull existing cell hardware. But would they put in the new hardware and upgrade the backhaul in that tower or just abandon it? This is a low density neighborhood, and the smallest lot size is 5 acres with estate homes, or 20 acres with farm houses. Most of the higher density housing (1/6th of an acre) track houses are on the west side of town near I-5. But those folks all have Comcast available. If Sprint is focusing on competing with Comcast/Verizon/T-Mobile, then they'll concentrate on the west side of town. If they want an easy monopoly, then they should focus over here on the east side of town. So my concern is if Sprint doesn't do the backhaul investment on my neighborhood tower on Orange Ave., could my high gain antenna see all the way to the Sprint tower by I-5 (about 8km from my home). I am presently getting -109 dBm RSRP with a RS-SINR of 3.4. If I allow 6dB (a guess) for my tree that is blocking line-of-sight to the nearby tower, but not the distant tower, I get up to -103 dBm. If I then scale for the distance difference (8km vs. 4km) I get back down to -109 dBm. So in theory I might be able to reach that cell tower; I say "might" due to the larger clutter/interference that the greater distance entails. Thanks, Scott

Thank you lilotimz (Tim) and WiWavelength (AJ). I will sit tight until Sprint rolls out their expanded coverage since it appears that there is nothing more that I can do on my end. I had been a Clearwire customer for many years until Sprint bought Clear. At that time, I had also looked into both T-mobile and Verizon. T-mobile's data plan tops out a 7Gig (it took numerous phone calls to T-Support to confirm this); Verizon quoted $400/month for my data quantity and they max out at 12Mbps. So I went with Sprint. Other than the slow speed up to this point, I've been happy with Sprint and am looking forward to the increased throughput in the future. I have a trouble-ticket on-file, and Sprint network support said to call back every 30 days to check the network status. As-of July they said there weren't any upgrade plans in-place yet for my cell tower. Thanks, Scott

Hello to all, I just wanted to provide to everyone my specs for the Sprint signal that I am getting, and a question on what speed I should be able to get. Sprint Netgear 6100D Patterson, California, 95363 cell tower on Orange Ave. Sprint says that this is cell tower# SF52XC024 My 6100D says that this is serving cell 5786601 The 6100D is a tri-band device with dual external antenna ports. I have a GiAnt 28dB wide band antenna (6 foot long Yagi antenna, 700 MHz to 2900 MHz, at a height of 30 feet). The coverage map says that I am in the "4G LTE fair" region. With my high gain antenna, I should do better than what the coverage maps shows. I use this for fixed wireless for my home's internet since cable isn't available in my neighborbood (I'm a mile outside of town) and DSL would only produce 3Mbps here. I am able to communicate on Band 25, Band 26, and Band 41. I've set the preferences so that Band 41 is preferred (priority 1). My signal level is: LTE Signal Info: RSSI -79 SINR 5.2,RSRP -109,RSRQ -11 Active Tech: LTE Band 41 The Sprint tower is 4km from my home and there is a clear line of sight except for 1 tree on my property. I only get 7 Mbps. Sprint says that, "Spark network 2500 needs to be completed in the 'Upper Valley' market". They didn't have a timeframe for this, but I assume that this will happen in November when the Clearwire system is shut down. I have the Sprint 60G/month plan. Other than cutting down my tree, does anyone have any comments or advice on my slow speed? Thanks, Scott