Contract almost up, need advice!

**TomRubin** · 02-28-2013, 08:00 PM

Hello everyone!

My Sprint contract is up in April. I'm currently living in an area with NO 4G LTE coverage and very poor voice coverage (Saint Clair, MO). From what I have seen, this area might never get 4G LTE coverage. Can I take my Sprint Galaxy Nexus to any prepaid carriers? I realize that switching to a prepaid carrier won't get me 4G LTE coverage, but I can't see paying full price with Sprint for subpar coverage. I have a Sprint Airave for my home and that makes Sprint service somewhat tolerable for voice.

From what I have seen online, Virgin Mobile might be my best option. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

**PWC Realtor** · 02-28-2013, 08:05 PM

Unfortunately the Sprint Galaxy Nexus is a CDMA phone that is locked to Sprint. Best bet is to sell it they're going for about $200.

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**yankeesusa** · 02-28-2013, 08:19 PM

I say sell and go with a prepay that works in your area.

Sent from the Beast that is Galaxy Note 2

**TomRubin** · 02-28-2013, 08:20 PM

I was hoping that since Virgin Mobile uses Sprint, I'd get lucky. Thanks for the reply!

Originally Posted by mwilkins

Unfortunately the Sprint Galaxy Nexus is a CDMA phone that is locked to Sprint. Best bet is to sell it they're going for about $200.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

**Mikey47** · 02-28-2013, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by TomRubin

From what I have seen, this area might never get 4G LTE coverage.

You have seen wrong then. Every Sprint tower will be upgraded to LTE. No guarantee of when, but it will eventually.

However if you have very poor voice coverage you should ask other people locally what they use and what their experience is. Me? Where I am, we don't have LTE yet either, but coverage is great, and wherever I travel I always have great voice coverage, but that is of little help to you in MO.

**PWC Realtor** · 02-28-2013, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by TomRubin

I was hoping that since Virgin Mobile uses Sprint, I'd get lucky. Thanks for the reply!

Virgin does use Sprint's network but they won't activate a Sprint phone. You can always wait until Sprint allows LTE devices to be activated on Ting through their BYOSD program.

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**SERO wireless** · 03-01-2013, 06:24 PM

You can to . They're very stingy with data on their plans BUT they have some very affordable pay-as-you-go plans (2,000 minutes/$80; expires in ONE YEAR)!\

It looks like St. Clair is Verizon country - at least if you're near Hwy. 44. You can check coverage near your home . Maps are made from actual signals received on handsets - not carrier propaganda. If you want affordability and some data consider ($45/mo. unlimited) to get Verizon's network for Sprint pricing. Just choose one of their Verizon CDMA phones (LG Optimus Zip or Samsung Galaxy Proclaim).

**GiantJay** · 03-02-2013, 12:16 AM

This is where you will find info on what's going on with the network in your area.

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**SERO wireless** · 03-02-2013, 11:14 AM

While I'm a fan of S4gru.com they tend to be a collection point for official Sprint press releases more so than a source of timely information that you won't find elsewhere. If you're off the beaten path - in a rural area such as St. Clair or not near a major metropolitan area - you will find little or nothing there. They last updated their Portland, OR page on July 12th! Since that time NV upgrades have come to Aloha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tualatin & Boring! They mention Coeur d'Alene as being part of the Washington rollout but there's not a word about Boise or the rest of Idaho anywhere on the site.

**EndlessDissent** · 03-02-2013, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by SERO wireless

While I'm a fan of S4gru.com they tend to be a collection point for official Sprint press releases more so than a source of timely information that you won't find elsewhere. If you're off the beaten path - in a rural area such as St. Clair or not near a major metropolitan area - you will find little or nothing there. They last updated their Portland, OR page on July 12th! Since that time NV upgrades have come to Aloha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tualatin & Boring! They mention Coeur d'Alene as being part of the Washington rollout but there's not a word about Boise or the rest of Idaho anywhere on the site.

You seem to be unfamiliar with s4gru.com. There is no "Portland, OR page", or pages dedicated to any other market for that matter. You may be referring to the Wall post for that area, which is more of a single blog-style update, not a Web page that gets updated over time. The current info is in the forums. There, you will find info on the Oregon and Washington markets as recent as February 28, when the admin posted update about a newly accepted site in Olympia. I can't find anything about Idaho, but I don't know which market it's in.

The information is not outdated. It gets updated almost every single day. You just need to look in the right place.

**SERO wireless** · 03-02-2013, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by EndlessDissent

The information is not outdated. It gets updated almost every single day. You just need to look in the right place.

If you could please link the, "right place" for St. Clair, MO I'm sure the OP would appreciate it!

Oh SNAP!

The point - If you're off the beaten path - in a rural area such as St. Clair or not near a major metropolitan area - you will find little or nothing there.

**GiantJay** · 03-02-2013, 11:12 PM

The Sprint NV deployment is rolling out by markets not cities. Once your market starts getting upgrades everywhere will see them. And the word from Sprint is anywhere that has 3g will get LTE, along with the complete 3g overhaul. They are pretty much building a new network.

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**Almeuit** · 03-03-2013, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by GiantJay

The Sprint NV deployment is rolling out by markets not cities. Once your market starts getting upgrades everywhere will see them. And the word from Sprint is anywhere that has 3g will get LTE, along with the complete 3g overhaul. They are pretty much building a new network.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

This. If you simply can't wait then jump to T mobile or something.. Can't blame you if it's that bad. I am holding out only because my 3g is decent around town and LTE is popping up all around already so.. I'll have it everywhere soon. Otherwise I might be in the same spot as the OP.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

**tirith** · 03-03-2013, 07:09 PM

I'm loving the lte network and everyday I see it in spots I didn't the day prior... And I travel a lot, mainly on the east coast.

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