Help Should we worry about the 800mhz/1900mhz debacle?

IOWA · Apr 24, 2012

EarlyMon said:
I think that before it hits saturation, Sprint will have updated to LTE Advanced.

Going to take a lot of subscribers to hit saturation.

Yeah HUGE point to remember, nobodies LTE network is close to being at what I'd consider full load/ saturated.

viber · Apr 24, 2012

Even if Sprint lights up the first tower with 800Mhz in 2014, the national rollout will take over a year, if not longer, for coast to coast coverage. This is all provided Sprint maintains the financing to keep progress flowing smoothly.

apinkel · Apr 24, 2012

It will be interesting to see how fast it will be real-world, but honestly, for my needs 3mbps is the threshold where, if I consistently get that speed and with decent ping times, I'll be satisfied for everything I use my phone for.

Don't get me wrong. More speed is always better but at 3mbps+ it will no longer be a priority for me.

EarlyMon · Apr 24, 2012

^ Completely agree.

brownhornet · Apr 24, 2012

BenChase7 said:
How many people do you think are on VZW's LTE network? Just a couple months ago VZW reported less then 5% of their subs are on LTE. So, their LTE network is empty, too.

Edit: Additionally, I wouldnt put too much stock into those numbers that are being reported. Who even knows if that guy that was posting is legit? Read:
Sprint intentionally blocking new LTE devices from accessing live LTE sites - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

Moral of the story, dont believe every post you read in an open forum.

Furthermore, s4gru reported last night in a live chat that in Sprint's LTE testing reports, Sprint is consistently getting speeds of well over 20Mbps at their LTE test sites. And, these are only the preliminary tests... the network is in its infancy. I only expect these numbers to go up as further engineering/adjustments are made before the sites officially go "live."

Fact, there's probably 25 times more people using Verizons LTE than Sprint's right now. Another fact, on average I get 22 megs down with my GNex on VZW's LTE with this many people on it. And initially, it wasn't irregular at all to pull down 50 megs. Like I said, if 10-14 megs initially is what they're coming with then it's not gonna be faster than Verizons LTE. And I don't think them turning on more sites is going to translate to them turning up the speed either.

brownhornet · Apr 24, 2012

And just for the record, people are already complaining about losing LTE signal when going indoors, my neighbor included. And this isn't in the backwoods, dead in the heart of Atlanta. I figured there wouldn't be much improvement from clear to 1900 mhz.

BenChase7 · Apr 24, 2012

apinkel said:
It will be interesting to see how fast it will be real-world, but honestly, for my needs 3mbps is the threshold where, if I consistently get that speed and with decent ping times, I'll be satisfied for everything I use my phone for.

Don't get me wrong. More speed is always better but at 3mbps+ it will no longer be a priority for me.

I completely agree with you on this, I recently upgraded my DSL home internet from 3Mbps to 7Mbps. Now, When I use my phone on WiFi, I cant even tell a difference. Anything over 3Mbps, on a phone, is just for bragging rights, imo.

apinkel · Apr 24, 2012

brownhornet said:
And just for the record, people are already complaining about losing LTE signal when going indoors, my neighbor included. And this isn't in the backwoods, dead in the heart of Atlanta. I figured there wouldn't be much improvement from clear to 1900 mhz.

People on verizon are complaining about losing LTE signal?

EarlyMon · Apr 24, 2012

brownhornet said:
Fact, there's probably 25 times more people using Verizons LTE than Sprint's right now. Another fact, on average I get 22 megs down with my GNex on VZW's LTE with this many people on it. And initially, it wasn't irregular at all to pull down 50 megs. Like I said, if 10-14 megs initially is what they're coming with then it's not gonna be faster than Verizons LTE. And I don't think them turning on more sites is going to translate to them turning up the speed either.

Sprint has put a service block on LTE signals until the turn on.

Some one got a test signal recently before the switch off and that's where you are getting your numbers??

Odd, because successful test numbers for Sprint are over 30 Mbps, minimum.

And then there's the whole part of the upgrade involving the backhaul changes, a major bottleneck before.

Please provide a reference to these 10 Mbps users in light of the fact that the service doesn

viber · Apr 25, 2012

brownhornet said:
And just for the record, people are already complaining about losing LTE signal when going indoors, my neighbor included. And this isn't in the backwoods, dead in the heart of Atlanta. I figured there wouldn't be much improvement from clear to 1900 mhz.

What people exactly? Who, what market, what tower?

LTE is not lit for commercial consumption so I'd really like to know where this "feedback" comes from.

WifiMaxed · Apr 25, 2012

I am fortunate to live in Wimax saturated area (Portland, Or.) and been blessed with 10ish meg speeds since OG EVO dropped 2yrs ago. Unfortunately Pacific NW is scheduled for phase 2 LTE roll out. (Sometime in 2012) I agree with everyone let's see some commercial LTE tower speedtests. Until then, I am forced to live vicariously through the Gnex guys and take results as speculation. Anyway you slice it LTEVO is worth the wait. (IMHO) Pumped up on seeing those LTE Speeds and hats off to the lucky SOB's to enjoy it first!.

EarlyMon · Apr 25, 2012

Someone commenting on a blog I saw insists that LTE is live in Atlanta.

Waco is reporting on line.

I don't get it. They ought to not have test stations on for commercial use if all they're going to do is allow rumor and test conditions to be reported as factual response.

Just what we need to kill the upgrade and Sprint along with it. A bunch of basement bloggers who can't spell Network Vision spreading the word that they are LTE experts now.

Good morning, Good and Evo!

BenChase7 · Apr 27, 2012

Here are what are believed to be the first speedtest results with Sprit's LTE.

Athens, GA LTE - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

What really makes them impressive, is the fact that he's getting these kind of speeds with a signal strength of -107dBm! (thats a very weak signal.) If this is what we have to look forward to, this will be epic.

EarlyMon · Apr 27, 2012

Bad latency, though.

BenChase7 · Apr 27, 2012

EarlyMon said:
Bad latency, though.

Yea, it is high. But, I think that is directly related to the low signal. Im lucky if I can get any data at all at the signal he's got. lol

LatinP · May 9, 2012

Yeah too bad... initially I thought the LTE Evo was gonna be great as far as compatibility. Since some phones can change frequencies when switching cell tower sites multiple radios would make the phone a beast. I'm sad to say the phone won't even support the (down the line) future 800mhz LTE frequency!

Sprint will at some point use that spectrum when they have enough money to accomidate current towers. This phone isn't capable of 800mhz at all, it uses the 1900mhz spectrum which is essentially the old iden network (walkie talkie services) which the carrier is re-using for fast LTE rollout purposes. Now currently wimax is working on the 2500-2600mhz spectrum which isn't listed at all in the phone filing, bummer but wimax be gone already that was big mistake.

It' fine since it'll be at least 2 years before we get to use the better 800mhz spectrum, but to not ever be compatible at all? I dunno. The 1900mhz spectrum is ok as long as you don't need alot of building penetration and all but I guess wimax is worse at 2500-2600 so if wimax held up well I guess 1900 would be a small improvement. Just a shame they're tooting the LTE horn and in the background hiding the fact that their long term plans include the 800mhz spectrum and their first LTE phone won't even support it... EVER!

HTC EVO 4G LTE passes through the FCC [Updated]

LatinP · May 9, 2012

EarlyMon said:
Sprint has put a service block on LTE signals until the turn on.

Some one got a test signal recently before the switch off and that's where you are getting your numbers??

Odd, because successful test numbers for Sprint are over 30 Mbps, minimum.

That's because they haven't set the throttle caps on yet, I remember getting 55-75Mbps on the Verizon LTE tower in my area when it was first being tested.

Just a few days ago before I told them to go to hell I was hitting 10-15/5 peak hours and 20/5 during the late night off peak. I can tell these numbers are throttled because my speed tests hit that number hard almost instantly then stay just slightly under what they're set to. Mind you I live about 500 feet from a cell tower located on my apartment building's rooftop.

And yes the non-exsistant 800mhz radio on the LTE Evo is a little disappointing sadly, what if people don't want to upgrade a year or a year and a half in, I'm just saying if your going to toot the LTE horn make sure it's fully compliant and future-proof.

EarlyMon · May 9, 2012

LatinP said:
Yeah too bad... initially I thought the LTE Evo was gonna be great as far as compatibility. Since some phones can change frequencies when switching cell tower sites multiple radios would make the phone a beast. I'm sad to say the phone won't even support the (down the line) future 800mhz LTE frequency!

Sprint will at some point use that spectrum when they have enough money to accomidate current towers. This phone isn't capable of 800mhz at all, it uses the 1900mhz spectrum which is essentially the old iden network (walkie talkie services) which the carrier is re-using for fast LTE rollout purposes. Now currently wimax is working on the 2500-2600mhz spectrum which isn't listed at all in the phone filing, bummer but wimax be gone already that was big mistake.

It' fine since it'll be at least 2 years before we get to use the better 800mhz spectrum, but to not ever be compatible at all? I dunno. The 1900mhz spectrum is ok as long as you don't need alot of building penetration and all but I guess wimax is worse at 2500-2600 so if wimax held up well I guess 1900 would be a small improvement. Just a shame they're tooting the LTE horn and in the background hiding the fact that their long term plans include the 800mhz spectrum and their first LTE phone won't even support it... EVER!

HTC EVO 4G LTE passes through the FCC [Updated]

Moved this post to this thread for you.

The iDEN frequency being repurposed is 800 MHz. It's going to be used to extend CDMA reach, increase subscriber capacity and provide 1x Advanced voice services. This phone will fully support that, at 800 MHz.

It's not news to us that Sprint is planning on 800 MHz LTE in addition to 1900 MHz and that the new batch of phones don't have 800 MHz LTE radio transceiver chips. The FCC hasn't approved that for Sprint yet, so, not much surprise that the phones don't have it.

I think we all share your disappointment on that, but it is what it is.

The best news source to keep up with what Sprint is really doing is -

Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

The new Sprint towers use programmable radios, very cool. The 800 MHz LTE issue isn't money today, it's the lack of FCC approval at the moment.

Hope this helps!

PS - we are already on 1900 MHz CDMA with Sprint and expect the same building penetration for LTE. WiMax will be maintained for a few more years. 2500-2600 MHz LTE is coming, too, but later.

LatinP · May 9, 2012

EarlyMon said:
The best news source to keep up with what Sprint is really doing is -

Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

Thanks for the link, being away from Sprint for so long I had no idea the site existed good to know informative sites like that still exist.

BenChase7 · May 9, 2012

Here is todays presentation Sprint gave on Network Vision/LTE. About a week ago, Sprint reported 600 sites have been upgraded to Network Vision and LTE... today they report over 700. Thats 100+ upgraded towers in just over 1 week. :thumbup: :driver:

Sprint outlines network vision

Edit: Also, I listened to the live conference call last week with Hesse and a couple other Sprint exec's, they said they plan to double Network Vision spending next quarter.

Edit 2: Here is the link I meant to post above. lol
http://www.intomobile.com/2012/05/09/sprint-even-4g-lte-cdma-isnt-going-anywhere/_p1050492_/

simcha · May 9, 2012

Do you know how many towers would be left if they have upgraded 600-700 towers?

BenChase7 · May 9, 2012

simcha said:
Do you know how many towers would be left if they have upgraded 600-700 towers?

Well, Sprint has just approx 38,000 towers across the US.

EarlyMon · May 9, 2012

simcha said:
Do you know how many towers would be left if they have upgraded 600-700 towers?

~~I believe about 32,000 or so.~~

Ninja'd by Ben, who is correct, I keep mixing up my numbers.

BenChase7 · May 9, 2012

EarlyMon said:
~~I believe about 32,000 or so.~~

Ninja'd by Ben, who is correct, I keep mixing up my numbers.

HAHA! "ninja'd"... I like that!

In the Sponsor area at S4GRU, there is an interactive map that shows where the towers are that have been upgraded, he adds them to the maps as he gets reports from his sources... It has 38,534 Sprint towers.

BenChase7 · May 10, 2012

You guys might wanna check this out!

Speeds keep improving for this guy over at S4GRU who has found a live LTE tower in his home town.. Speeds in excess of 34Mbps.

Athens, GA LTE - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates - Page 6

Help Should we worry about the 800mhz/1900mhz debacle?

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