bdlarck

Isn't true that C\U and other places Central IL are US Cellular or formerly were US Cellular. I remember reading that Sprint would get the spectrum but no tower equipment. So maybe it really is Sprint under the guise of Us Cellular.

And the tower on Harris isn't sprint. Best way to check is read the sign on it. It will have the letters ch on it we are considered southern Chicago market.

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If not Sprint then who? I was just wondering when I posted the pictures of the hardware; (The other user indicated that it was Sprint.) It all looks like the Samsung stuff Sprint uses. (Based on pictures from this website. ) Are other carriers deploying similar looking hardware in this area?

Quote name="Dkoellerwx" post="325884" timestamp="1402208275"]I see your pictures. That is a Sprint/Samsung hardware. Where is it exactly?

near 1403 N Harris AveChampaign, IL 61820; it's in the gravel lot by the bus garage.

Also they have already trenched in the fiber conduit but i don't know if they connected anything yet. If you use Google maps you can see the tower. You can use street view too.

Could anyone confirm or deny the new tower on Harris Ave. in Champaign is a Sprint tower? I watched a crew put it up a few weeks ago and all the equipment looks to be Sprint, Samsung hardware. Any thoughts?

Yeah but is that an Sprint tower? I watched a crew put up a tower on Harris Ave in Champaign; and looking at everything seems to be Sprint Samsung hardware but who knows? Sprint Customer Support doesn't claim it. I know its likely they wouldn't even if it was theirs.I will have to upload some photo's but it looks a lot like the ones I have seen on this forum.

It is highly variable.  We will continue to see sites go live every week.  I think Sprint will likely be substantially complete with all backhaul in 5-6 months.  With only a site here or there continuing without because of specific problems.  I hope Sprint just uses microwave to any remaining problematic sites.

 

Robert

Really you think it could be as far out as 5-6 months Wow. I was hoping for sooner but I've been with Sprint since 1995 whats a few more months. Thanks for the input have a great weekend.

Most of the Central Illinois market has all their equipment upgraded and ready for LTE. So any site that does not have LTE live, it is most often backhaul related. Rural areas are much more likely to get backhaul sooner. I know it seems strange, but rural sites are often along major highways with fiber running right along the site. And when they are not, access is often easier because trenching in farm areas as there is typically just dirt in between fiber and the site. Not roads, concrete, buildings, etc. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Okay thanks, that does make sense. Is there a projected time frame for the backhaul in the cities or is that totally up in the air? Based on vendor?

Robert, I know you dont speak for Sprint but I dont really understand; it seems that all the cities in central Illinois are not covered and all the roads outside of town are. Forgive my ignorance but can you explain this. I live in (C-U) Champaign-Urbana and am all over town and there are no LTE site active. Now if I go out of town evrything is great. Are they stuck on backhaul or regulatory problems in the cities?

Thanks in advance for helping me understand.

Champaign Urbana does not have any LTE site active as far as I can tell. I am all over the twin cities regularly and only get 3G. Usually at very low speeds like .04 down and .3 up. The only place I find LTE is outside of town, it truly is quite maddening at times. Hurry up and wait in CU while every podunk town around you enjoys lighting fast Internet. Sometimes Sprint makes me so angry.

I won't hold my breath based on their text, but they do have lte on every highway out of town. Just getting a little hopeful, thanks for the reminder to not get to far ahead.

Hello all, I'm not much of a poster but here goes. I received this message from Sprint on 1-18-14 message below.

SprintFreeMsg: Over the next month the new network will be largely completed in your area making it better than ever! http://sprint.us/network1 Reply S to stop.

So the long wait for Champaign-Urbana Lte may be over.