Did anyone think it was going to be this bad?

**bearballz72** · 07-29-2012, 08:26 AM

When I heard about Sprint ditching Wimax and going with LTE I was pretty happy about it. Finally, Sprint was getting their act together (after several bad decisions) and upgrading their network in order to compete with Big Red and the Death Star (Verizon & AT&T) and give their customers reliable service and pretty fast data speeds.

Well, fast forward to June 2012. I picked up my shiney new LTE equipped Evo 4G LTE. Great phone, nice features but quickly noticed the terrible 3G speeds, and for the first time since I've been on Sprint, more dropped calls than I've ever had in the previous 2 years. I'm talking just not dropped calls but no calls at all. I've had 15-20 people call me and the phone never rang, all I would get is a notification and message that a person had called.

I just thought OK, it was going to be a bit slow for a while, while the NV upgrades were going on but it should be OK, just a minor inconvience. Well I was wrong. I know Sprint has gone live with LTE in about a dozen cities, which is great. But it's such a tiny fraction of Sprints user base. I also know that some people haven't been effected as badly as others, which from what I've read in various other blogs seems to be hit and miss. For me I get decent reception and speeds at work but terrible recepton and speeds at home or while driving aound the Chicagoland area.

For the rest of us patiently waiting for service to be restored at least to point where you can make and recieve calls, my question to all of you is this:

Hindsight is always 20/20 but knowing what you know now, did you think it was going to be this bad? Did you anticipate this or did you think as I did?

I'm really rooting for Sprint because they're the underdog and their plans and pricing, plus the unlimited data are a real incentive for customers to switch. But I have to tell you, I never saw this coming.

**jerrykur** · 07-29-2012, 09:40 AM

It all depends where you are.
My voice service is great
No issues with calls text, ect. I am in the San Francisco area

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**codeda** · 07-29-2012, 10:49 AM

I know I wasn't. My voice and Data have degraded a lot in the last couple months. I'm in orange county, ca. I don't even Think I thought about it because at the time my phone was falling apart and I was desperate to upgrade. Now that I have a working phone ( and am locked in to a shiny new two year contract ) my thoughts are "uh oh"

**F4tB4st4rd** · 07-29-2012, 11:20 AM

I live in the Dayton Ohio area, and have Sprint on my work phone as well as personal and it has gotten so bad that many times i have to drive several miles just to make a call! Additionally, i get messages saying my text message failed with unknown errors or I appear to be offline. When i can connect, I have been getting connection speeds from 100 - 300kbs. Hopefully this means they are working on NV, but this has been getting steadily worse for months now. I drive all over the area for work and have never seen a single soul or vehicle at any of the many cell sites I pass by. Granted I don't which sites are which carrier, but cobwebs are not encouraging!

**bearballz72** · 07-29-2012, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by codeda

I know I wasn't. My voice and Data have degraded a lot in the last couple months. I'm in orange county, ca. I don't even Think I thought about it because at the time my phone was falling apart and I was desperate to upgrade. Now that I have a working phone ( and am locked in to a shiny new two year contract ) my thoughts are "uh oh"

I was in the same boat as you Codeda. My faithful Evo 4G was in such bad shape (cracked screen, the power jack was barely working) that I was desparate for an upgrade (my contract was up in August). When I was notified back in early June I eligible for an upgrade I jumped on it.

Again in hindsight I should of spent the money on a used Wimax phone and rode it out until August then made a decision to stay or jump ship.

**elfuego** · 07-29-2012, 04:36 PM

No probs in Atlanta. This has always been a big Sprint city, so I rarely have any dropped calls. Drove today all over the metro area coming back from a trip. Had the google nav on, so screen was on all the time. Full bars about 85% of the time and Wimax 4g on for about 70% of the time. I thought it was pretty good. Granted, this is on interstates and I285. 4G got spottier in the suburbs, on about 50% of the time. Still, i feel in ATL, Sprint is very good

**CTREV21** · 07-29-2012, 05:02 PM

I dumped them in Wisconsin, running with the note now and loving it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

**skypilotks** · 07-29-2012, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by elfuego

No probs in Atlanta. This has always been a big Sprint city, so I rarely have any dropped calls. Drove today all over the metro area coming back from a trip. Had the google nav on, so screen was on all the time. Full bars about 85% of the time and Wimax 4g on for about 70% of the time. I thought it was pretty good. Granted, this is on interstates and I285. 4G got spottier in the suburbs, on about 50% of the time. Still, i feel in ATL, Sprint is very good

Your missing the point. It's the newer 4g LTE phones that are having the problem! My wifes Epic is having no problems! My Galaxy Nexus is not having dropped calls, but network is really spotty, since the 15th getting VERY spotty 4g lte, more around the Woodstock area, then when I get closer to the city, Actually got it in Acworth yesterday, that when I tested it, it said it was from Nashville! But since I got my phone in May the 3g has been VERY slow and no network alot! They are selling phones that really aren't working well with there old system, and there new system seems like it's still a long way out, even for it's target cities. So what they have right now is people are buying the most expensive phones from them, and getting subpar service with the promise of better service soon, but not as soon as they are making it sound!

**elfuego** · 07-29-2012, 07:54 PM

Oh, get it. That stinks. So I should hold off in upgrading? Almost bought a Galaxy nexus the other day, but got cold feet due to GN signal issues and the whole LTE debacle. What's your opinion on the GN? Is it a good phone? (as in phone call/voice quality ) currently using evo shift and like it.

**PolynesianMedic** · 07-29-2012, 11:13 PM

I was just talking with a Sprint rep last week and their 4g upgrade should be done by the middle to end of next year. I thought that was ambitious but here's hoping it's true as I'm going to be moving to Sprint from Big Red later this year. I can't justify the cost of Big Red when I upgrade my phone.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Android Central Forums

**FitChicago** · 07-30-2012, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by bearballz72

I just thought OK, it was going to be a bit slow for a while, while the NV upgrades were going on but it should be OK, just a minor inconvience. Well I was wrong. I know Sprint has gone live with LTE in about a dozen cities, which is great. But it's such a tiny fraction of Sprints user base. I also know that some people haven't been effected as badly as others, which from what I've read in various other blogs seems to be hit and miss. For me I get decent reception and speeds at work but terrible recepton and speeds at home or while driving aound the Chicagoland area.

Also a Chicagoan, live and work in the city and you're absolutely right the service has sharply declined in recent month(s) to the point that it seems a light breeze, cloud cover or other minor factors are knocking me off the 4g wimax connection where in the past I had no issues. I've also noticed a sharp decline in 3g connections as well in places that I previously had no issues. You're right, I had no idea it would be this bad.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 2

**Kamin** · 08-02-2012, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by bearballz72

Hindsight is always 20/20 but knowing what you know now, did you think it was going to be this bad? Did you anticipate this or did you think as I did?

No I didn't. And you know their 3g network is massively bad when you can't even stream internet radio without it constantly buffering. >_<

I'm thinking it's hasta la vista sprint when the next Nexus phone hits.

**TraderGary** · 08-02-2012, 03:02 PM

I have solid phone service and fast 4G LTE literally anywhere in town. Quite frankly I didn't expect it to be this good! I'm in Loganville, some 20 miles outside of Atlanta. Here's an LTE speed test while at dinner last night.

Did anyone think it was going to be this bad?-uploadfromtaptalk1343937707785.jpg

HTC EVO 4G LTE

**Kamin** · 08-02-2012, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by TraderGary

I have solid phone service and fast 4G LTE literally anywhere in town. Quite frankly I didn't expect it to be this good! I'm in Loganville, some 20 miles outside of Atlanta. Here's an LTE speed test while at dinner last night.

Click image for larger version.

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HTC EVO 4G LTE

Turn off your LTE and use 3g for a while. Then come back and still say that it's all Moonpies as far as the eye can see. And if you do, I say that you live in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane.

**codeda** · 08-02-2012, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by bearballz72

I was in the same boat as you Codeda. My faithful Evo 4G was in such bad shape (cracked screen, the power jack was barely working) that I was desparate for an upgrade (my contract was up in August). When I was notified back in early June I eligible for an upgrade I jumped on it.

Again in hindsight I should of spent the money on a used Wimax phone and rode it out until August then made a decision to stay or jump ship.

You took the exact words out of my mouth. My evo was beyond gone. Restarted itself constantly, I lived off of extra batteries and a battery charger because my charging port died in Feb. Got the galaxy s3 and have complained to my boyfriend for the last 3 weeks I should have bought whatever off of Craiglist and waited it out. But I also didn't know. I'm pretty sure I blamed any signal problems on my last leg phone. We don't get 4G here until this time next year. My plan is to sell this phone and pay for etf and new phone elsewhere if it doesn't at least get usable in the next few months. Shall see....

**jerrykur** · 08-02-2012, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Kamin

Turn off your LTE and use 3g for a while. Then come back and still say that it's all Moonpies as far as the eye can see. And if you do, I say that you live in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane.

But I thought the op'S issue was voice and messaging. I assume that does not use data services.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

**TraderGary** · 08-02-2012, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Kamin

Turn off your LTE and use 3g for a while. Then come back and still say that it's all Moonpies as far as the eye can see. And if you do, I say that you live in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane.

OK. I turned off 4G and here is a speed test. It really isn't all that bad for 3G.

HTC EVO 4G LTE

**danimal069** · 08-02-2012, 08:33 PM

I cant speak for the other geographical locations but in the Chicagoland area it has very little to do with the phone.. They are doing the Sprint Vision upgrade and the new Samsung towers arent playing well with the older Moto towers. I've been through 4 phones since January none are doing any better than the next.. There isnt supposed to be any relief until sometime late September at the very earliest..
Link:

**jerrykur** · 08-03-2012, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by danimal069

I cant speak for the other geographical locations but in the Chicagoland area it has very little to do with the phone.. They are doing the Sprint Vision upgrade and the new Samsung towers arent playing well with the older Moto towers. I've been through 4 phones since January none are doing any better than the next.. There isnt supposed to be any relief until sometime late September at the very earliest..
Link:

So it sounds like it is a Chicago area issue.

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**jean15paul** · 08-03-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Kamin

Turn off your LTE and use 3g for a while. Then come back and still say that it's all Moonpies as far as the eye can see. And if you do, I say that you live in a gumdrop house on lollipop lane.

That doesn't really apply because the Network Vision upgrades include LTE rollouts and 3G improvements. So the 3G that he's using is not the same as the 3G that you're using.

**TraderGary** · 08-03-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by jean15paul

That doesn't really apply because the Network Vision upgrades include LTE rollouts and 3G improvements. So the 3G that he's using is not the same as the 3G that you're using.

You have it right. I was not happy before Network Vision. I'm more than happy after Network Vision. I have high speed internet wherever I go and 4G LTE is almost always faster than WiFi. It just doesn't get any better than this.

HTC EVO 4G LTE

**ballr4lyf** · 08-03-2012, 10:03 PM

Here's something to consider:

Currently, Sprint's stable of available LTE phones numbers what? Two or 3 devices currently available? Of their subscriber base, probably around 5% have these phones (just a guesstimate). Cutting straight to the chase here, if you take into account Sprint's history of network problems and really slow data speeds, do you think their new network will be able to sustain the awesome LTE speeds when their customer base finally becomes saturated with LTE phones?

**TraderGary** · 08-03-2012, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by ballr4lyf

Here's something to consider:

Currently, Sprint's stable of available LTE phones numbers what? Two or 3 devices currently available? Of their subscriber base, probably around 5% have these phones (just a guesstimate). Cutting straight to the chase here, if you take into account Sprint's history of network problems and really slow data speeds, do you think their new network will be able to sustain the awesome LTE speeds when their customer base finally becomes saturated with LTE phones?

Isn't Sprint using in their towers equipment designed by the same manufacturers as the other carriers? Doesn't Network Vision upgrade 3G as well as add 4G LTE? Isn't Sprint using phones made by the same manufacturers as the other carriers?

Since the other carriers have a headstart with LTE, by your reasoning, wouldn't they then become more saturated sooner than Sprint? Does LTE somehow work differently for Sprint than for everyone else?

Perhaps since all the carriers are using tower electronics from the same manufacturers this has all been designed to work better than the electronics and designs of the past.

HTC EVO 4G LTE

**bearballz72** · 08-04-2012, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by ballr4lyf

Here's something to consider:

Currently, Sprint's stable of available LTE phones numbers what? Two or 3 devices currently available? Of their subscriber base, probably around 5% have these phones (just a guesstimate). Cutting straight to the chase here, if you take into account Sprint's history of network problems and really slow data speeds, do you think their new network will be able to sustain the awesome LTE speeds when their customer base finally becomes saturated with LTE phones?

That's what I'm concerned about. Hopefully when NV is complete we'll all be able to enjoy some terrific speeds.

But once other people start jumping over to Sprint or current subscribers upgrade to LTE capable phones, can Sprint sustain the network speeds? Especially in highly populated, dense areas like NYC, Chicago, L.A. etc.

**TraderGary** · 08-04-2012, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by bearballz72

That's what I'm concerned about. Hopefully when NV is complete we'll all be able to enjoy some terrific speeds.

But once other people start jumping over to Sprint or current subscribers upgrade to LTE capable phones, can Sprint sustain the network speeds? Especially in highly populated, dense areas like NYC, Chicago, L.A. etc.

It would certainly make it interesting if Sprint were to gain more subscribers and actually become larger than the other carriers!

HTC EVO 4G LTE