Question about CDMA 4G and Boost/ Sprints Coverage

[Gam3r 4 Life]

I already sent an email to Sprint asking this, and he answered my question as if he didnt even read what I had actually asked. So I figure my fellow Androids would be able to chime in.

After going from Sprint to Boost, Boost to T-Mobile, T-Mobile to Verizon, then back to Boost I finally have the phone I want, the price per month, and great service. But as you know the GS2 is a 4G CDMA phone. Does anyone know if Boost/ Sprint is still actively growing the 4G CDMA coverage area still? Or have them focused all that into LTE and left us people that are still using 3G out to dry?

I asked this same question to Sprint and he thought I was asking about LTE's growing network. Basically Im just hoping that someday 4G CDMA will hit my area which is Napa, California. Ironically Metro has 4G LTE here, and just got the GS3 in stock.

But as strange as it may sound after having the S3 for a brief time when I had Verizon I prefer the S2. I really hate that large physical home button. And since I rooted my S2 I installed a launcher that is a port of the S3's Touchwiz, so it feels like an S3 with the full capacitive buttons of the S2.

I plan on staying with Boost for awhile and look forward to unlimited everything for $40/ month. I get terrible coverage with pretty much any carrier in my house, but when I was out I tested my 3G with my Boost S2 and was amazed that I pulled 1.6mb/s.

Anyway any thought or input on this? Thanks Androids!!

 

[ZingBot]

When you say 4G CDMA, I think you are referring to 4G wimax. To my limited knowledge, Sprint is not expanding 4G wimax coverage and they plan to stop using that technology altogether by 2015. As you know, Sprint is transitioning to 4G LTE. Forum member septembersrain has mentioned that Boost may start to get LTE in late 2013.

I don't know how the developments with Softbank and Clearwire will effect all of this. I assume it will help facilitate Sprint's switch to LTE.

 

[kolosus]

4g is dead. Long live 4g.

Wimax and LTE respectively.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

Well I just got my reply from Sprint. Heres what they said.


I understand that you have purchased the Samsung Galaxy S2 handset and
want to know about the 4G coverage in your area.

I would like to mention that currently Sprint does not upgrading the CDMA 4G coverage. We will continue to support our current 4G network for those who have a Sprint 4G capable device. For the latest updates, go to sprint.com/4G.

Sprint 4G LTE network is the newest and fastest network that provides the ultimate data experience for our customers. Eventually it will replace our current Sprint 4G network that relies on WiMAX technology.

We value your business and appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions. Please reply to this email or visit sprint.com if we can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Sprint

Knowing this has made me start thinking about returning my S2, and getting the S3 from Metro PCS. If Wimax is done, then Ill never have 4g here. So I might just drop the $500 to get the S3 from Metro and have LTE.

 

[ZingBot]

Knowing this has made me start thinking about returning my S2, and getting the S3 from Metro PCS. If Wimax is done, then Ill never have 4g here. So I might just drop the $500 to get the S3 from Metro and have LTE.

If you insist on having LTE now, then yes you will have to ditch Boost. As I mentioned previously, septembersrain (a Boost/VM store manager) has posted that Boost may have some LTE coverage starting next year...but in that case you will still need a new phone anyway to take advantage of it.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

I think Im going to swing by my local Metro PCS and see if the LTE isnt even worth it. I was quite surprised to get 1.6 mb/s on my S2 yesterday. Just wish it worked that well at my house. Im in a dead spot.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

Just went to one of my local Metro stores and they had the S3, and had a couple other LTE phone on display. I downloaded speed test and it pulled about 6mbs. At the same time I ran my S2 on 3g and got about 300 kbs. I know speeds not everything, but to me its almost worth it. Out the door cost with first month would be $600 though!

 

[ZingBot]

Would the S3 and Metro keep you satisfied for a good while? If so, maybe the long-term cost would actually not be too bad.

 

[kevincott]

Keep in mind that MetroPCS (LTE/CDMA) was bought out by T-Mobile (HSPA/UMTS).

Will T-Mobile continue support for 4+ total networks in the future?

 

[MT Rotor]

Keep in mind that MetroPCS (LTE/CDMA) was bought out by T-Mobile (HSPA/UMTS).

Will T-Mobile continue support for 4+ total networks in the future?

T-Mobile sucks all together,..metro pc should just buy tmobiles stock and rebrand its self as Metro TPCS

 

[kolosus]

T-Mobile sucks all together,..metro pc should just buy tmobiles stock and rebrand its self as Metro TPCS

I'm not 100% but I think that's exactly what happened. Metro bought TMobile, not the other way around.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

Would the S3 and Metro keep you satisfied for a good while? If so, maybe the long-term cost would actually not be too bad.

Actually yes it would. And according to a few articles I read Metro Customers have nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to change except that service will improve with the T-Mobile merger. So Im almost 100% sure Ill be getting the Metro S3, then returning my S2 to Amazon.

 

[septembersrain]

There are rumors and we're in talks about getting LTE this year right around mid-November or early December.

There are some changes being made due to the Softbank purchase. It's likely they are going to push for more competition.

Sprint is ailing, All of us know if we don't catch up soon, We'll be done for.

I'm keeping my eyes and ears on this....

 

[septembersrain]

Just went to one of my local Metro stores and they had the S3, and had a couple other LTE phone on display. I downloaded speed test and it pulled about 6mbs. At the same time I ran my S2 on 3g and got about 300 kbs. I know speeds not everything, but to me its almost worth it. Out the door cost with first month would be $600 though!

6mbps?!?! That's awful slow for LTE....

4G WiMAX, Not full signal.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

6mbps?!?! That's awful slow for LTE....

4G WiMAX, Not full signal.

Slow for you, but for me thats blazing. Im use to 300kbs or less with Sprint and Boost. So 6 to me is BLAZING!!

 

[tube517]

Slow for you, but for me thats blazing. Im use to 300kbs or less with Sprint and Boost. So 6 to me is BLAZING!!

Funny because 300kbps is "blazing" for my wife's phone. She gets 50kbps on 3g on Boost.

 

[Gam3r 4 Life]

If I was ever going to get even Wimax 4G here where I live Id be staying with Boost. But since Sprint is no longer focused on getting Wimax to its waiting customers Ill be getting the Metro S3 in about a week. Ill post new screens of the 4G LTE. Heres what Im dealing with now. As you can see I get barely 1 bar where I live. But when I get out and about I get about 3 or 4. Best 3G speed I ever got was with Boost and it was 1.6mb/s. But thats rare.



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[Plaigh]

I was once with Metro that was until I found I couldn't travel very far from a metropolitan area. Metro phones are nice but if you can't use them when you need to why bother? I wish Tracfone would get some better up-to-date phones because for me they have the best coverage areas IMO.

(That's my 2 cents)