What the aqusition of Clearwire spectrum and backing of Softbank means to me...

[sure why not]

Because I've been hearing a lot of promises for a long time.

Network Vision and the chunk of 800meg spectrum they now have SHOULD mean that I might soon have more than 2 bars of 3G at my home???
Oh, I'm SO looking forward to better penetration from the use of this and their old iDEN spectrum.

It's not as if I live out in the sticks...
I live in extreme south west Connecticut, not 30 miles from Manhattan.
A 1/4 mile from US-1 and less than 1 mile from I-95.
But it seems I'm lost in a black hole.

Does anyone want to share what it's like to be surrounded by good coverage and fast data?

 

[gollum18]

Because I've been hearing a lot of promises for a long time.

Network Vision and the chunk of 800meg spectrum they now have SHOULD mean that I might soon have more than 2 bars of 3G at my home???
Oh, I'm SO looking forward to better penetration from the use of this and their old iDEN spectrum.

It's not as if I live out in the sticks...
I live in extreme south west Connecticut, not 30 miles from Manhattan.
A 1/4 mile from US-1 and less than 1 mile from I-95.
But it seems I'm lost in a black hole.

Does anyone want to share what it's like to be surrounded by good coverage and fast data?

Well it should really boost Sprint's network, as Clearwire holds alot of 4g spectrum. The Softbank deal should also really help the process along too. Hopefully Sprint will put those funds to speeding deployment of nv. This site should help you get oriented with the rollout of nv in your area, they are dedicated to it Community Blog List - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

Aside from Sprint's current iDen phones, there are no other phones (and no smartphones), there is a list on that site that has all of the phones that will support the 800mhz band when it filps on. It should be a pretty simple process to upgrade the nv towers that were already upgraded prior to this, all they have to do is a simple firmware update to their routers, they may even do it all at once.

However, from this point on, all of Sprint's smartphones that they will release will carry Tri-Band LTE. This means that they will be compatible with all of Sprints current and future LTE bands, 2500/1800/800 mhz spectrum, so you'll get 4g anywhere Sprint has it, if you have a Tri-Band. The Galaxy s4 is actually supposed to be re-released on Sprint's network as Tri-Band.

 

[Weazrbmxr]

I would if i could. I live less then 18 miles from downtown denver, and am in a blackhole as well. Why does sprints network suck so bad? It's so bad at my house that i could get out of my contract no questions asked. But i like unlimited data, but I'm starting to ask why? Because off of my wifi, my phone is almost useless. Anyone else around denver feel sprints 3g is a joke? Especially at any of the stadiums! Holy crap at coors field I'm lucky to get 2 hours out of my phone on a full charge!! Are we missing something here?

 

[sure why not]

Thanks for your informed reply gollum!

I was a longtime Nextel customer (i'm in the building trades) but had an iPhone on ATT for a personal phone until recently.
My Nextel coverage in this area was much better than the Sprint coverage I'm getting now.
Unfortunately for me I just got this S3 and don't intend to upgrade anytime soon.
But I'm really happy with it and my switch to Android OS as well.

It does seem that ALL of the pieces fell into place at once for Sprint.
I'm glad I stuck it out this long.

 

[gollum18]

Thanks for your informed reply gollum!

I was a longtime Nextel customer (i'm in the building trades) but had an iPhone on ATT for a personal phone until recently.
My Nextel coverage in this area was much better than the Sprint coverage I'm getting now.
Unfortunately for me I just got this S3 and don't intend to upgrade anytime soon.
But I'm really happy with it and my switch to Android OS as well.

It does seem that ALL of the pieces fell into place at once for Sprint.
I'm glad I stuck it out this long.

Dont worry the S3 is on the list for 800mhz compatibility.

I hope the pieces continue to fall in place for Sprint as well. They are a good company despite what slanderers from camp ATT and Verizon may say (nevermind they are the only American owned major carrier in the US). Personally I think all that price gouging on Verzion, is their British overseers seeking revenge on us. Hopefully, within the next few years, we may see Sprint rivaling Verizon for the top spot. Considering they the most successful carrier in Japan backing them.

 

[sure why not]

However, from this point on, all of Sprint's smartphones that they will release will carry Tri-Band LTE. This means that they will be compatible with all of Sprints current and future LTE bands, 2500/1800/800 mhz spectrum,.

I was referring to the 2500 band, but like I said I'll be happy to have webpages fill faster than a 56k connection....

 

[gollum18]

I was referring to the 2500 band, but like I said I'll be happy to have webpages fill faster than a 56k connection....

Oh I know, me too. I run my desktop off of it and it is slow... I just use it to lurk (and occasionally post) on here and the linux mint forums, oh and I occasionally play a few flash games.

 

[meyerweb#CB]

there is a list on that site that has all of the phones that will support the 800mhz band when it filps on.

Do you have a link to that list? I just took a quick look, and didn't see anything.

 

[ab304945]

the S3 will support 800 for voice, but not 800 lte

here is a good forum for anything sprint
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

 

[gollum18]

My mistake guys, the current phones are only compatible with 800mhz voice (advanced cdma 1x) once its deployed not lte, sorry to dissapoint. I made a stupid mistake, sprint only recently got approval for lte on 800mhz there are no phones that currently support it, although like I said earlier all future sprint 4g phones from this point on will be tri band capable.

What phones will support CDMA on 800 SMR when it is rolled out?

Apple iPhone 5
BlackBerry Curve 9350
HTC EVO 3D
HTC EVO 4G LTE
HTC EVO Design
Huawei Express
Kyocera Brio
Kyocera DuraCore
Kyocera DuraMax
Kyocera DuraPlus
Kyocera DuraXT
Kyocera Milano
LG Eclipse 4G
LG Marquee
LG Optimus Elite
LG Rumor Reflex
LG Viper
Motorola Admiral
Motorola Photon Q LTE
Samsung Array
Samsung Conquer
Samsung Epic 4G Touch
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy Victory
Samsung M370
Samsung Transform Ultra
Samsung Trender
ZTE Fury

*List updated September 2012* nearly all new phones released after September 2012 will support CDMA 1x RTT on 800MHz SMR

Link: Frequently Asked Questions - General Topics - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

 

[sure why not]

Gollum,
Damn you, for what is obviously going to be another huge timesink....

These are the NV market rollout threads.
Markets - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates


... Now, what to do about data when I don't have Wifi.

 

[spawndoodling]

I share the same frustration. Living in a city for half of the year and the suburbs of a major city for the other, I just can't understand how I always get 4G when driving on the highway or walking through the park but I never get it when I really want it - at home, at work, on the train.

Verizon is still to this date the only carrier that didn't disappoint service wide. Yes, it's more expensive. But I get what I pay for. Having smartphones on T-Mobile and Sprint over the past four years has been an undeniable headache. Wi-Fi is necessary, even in the comfort of my own home. Not a problem unless I'm trying to conserve battery, make a phone call, or send a basic text message - aka the three primary reasons good reception and data helps. I feel like I'll eventually end up back with Verizon although I really don't want to, just simply because the service at cheaper carriers just annoys me to no end.

Hopefully the Clearwire acquisition means good things. Hopefully with more advanced, true LTE technology en route, we will see faster speeds by the time I'm about to upgrade. But T-Mobile promised HSPA and LTE and fast speeds with new spectrum from the failed AT&T deal and all I ended up with was a letter from T-Mobile indicating three phones on my plan wouldn't be covered anymore and we'd need to upgrade or not have access to service anymore. Six months before our contract was up. And that required a new 2 year deal.

It's just another reason why the American model sucks all around. Stifling innovation, restricting buyers, and forcing us into corners...

Sent from my SPH-L710 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[meyerweb#CB]

Wi-Fi is necessary, even in the comfort of my own home. Not a problem unless I'm trying to conserve battery,

If you're trying to conserve battery you WANT to use WiFi. It is far more efficient than cellular data, especially 4G data.

 

[gollum18]

If you're trying to conserve battery you WANT to use WiFi. It is far more efficient than cellular data, especially 4G data.

Oh yeah. Until we see the new qualcomm chips with all the radios integrated into one chip actually being put into use. The two separate radio chips will really sick up battery with both on. Really most 3g data from all the carriers besides sprint (at the moment) is faster than ~80% of all cable/dsl providers speeds.

Sprint GS3 Running TN's Msg and Chubbs

 

[ab304945]

I share the same frustration. Living in a city for half of the year and the suburbs of a major city for the other, I just can't understand how I always get 4G when driving on the highway or walking through the park but I never get it when I really want it - at home, at work, on the train.

Verizon is still to this date the only carrier that didn't disappoint service wide. Yes, it's more expensive. But I get what I pay for. Having smartphones on T-Mobile and Sprint over the past four years has been an undeniable headache. Wi-Fi is necessary, even in the comfort of my own home. Not a problem unless I'm trying to conserve battery, make a phone call, or send a basic text message - aka the three primary reasons good reception and data helps. I feel like I'll eventually end up back with Verizon although I really don't want to, just simply because the service at cheaper carriers just annoys me to no end.

Hopefully the Clearwire acquisition means good things. Hopefully with more advanced, true LTE technology en route, we will see faster speeds by the time I'm about to upgrade. But T-Mobile promised HSPA and LTE and fast speeds with new spectrum from the failed AT&T deal and all I ended up with was a letter from T-Mobile indicating three phones on my plan wouldn't be covered anymore and we'd need to upgrade or not have access to service anymore. Six months before our contract was up. And that required a new 2 year deal.

It's just another reason why the American model sucks all around. Stifling innovation, restricting buyers, and forcing us into corners...

Sent from my SPH-L710 using AC Forums mobile app

I always use WiFi when I am at home. Constant 98 Mb/s. Can't get that on any carrier.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[meyerweb#CB]

I always use WiFi when I am at home. Constant 98 Mb/s. Can't get that on any carrier.

What kind of router / AP are you using? I don't get close to that.

 

[spawndoodling]

If you're trying to conserve battery you WANT to use WiFi. It is far more efficient than cellular data, especially 4G data.

Well I cannot send a text message or make a phone call on Sprint using Wi-Fi, so yes it may be more efficient, but it's relatively worthless if I'm trying to do basic functions with my phone that don't require data.

Also, I use MMS a lot and it doesn't seem to work without Mobile Data on. So I end up always having Wi-Fi and Cellular Data on, wi-fi to get good speeds and coverage on data and mobile data on to send MMS. Thus, it becomes a battery killer. Of course, if I was able to use one without the other, this would solve the problem.

(And while I have considered using apps like Whatsapp or Hangouts as my primary method of communication, nobody I know uses either and they're all stuck on iMessage, SMS, and basic phone calls)

The central problem here is reception. Sprint and T-Mobile are just routinely blown out of the water by Verizon unless you live in a major city/city center. But even then, it varies. I used to think these carriers would give priority to DC as well, until I found that getting 4G with either in what is supposedly a 4G equipped city is still as random and variable as good mobile data always has been.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[sure why not]

Well I cannot send a text message or make a phone call on Sprint using Wi-Fi, so yes it may be more efficient, but it's relatively worthless if I'm trying to do basic functions with my phone that don't require data.

Have you tried Google Voice?
It is integrated with your Sprint service.


Sidenote; I saw 4G at the end of my street this morning.
Unfortunately I don't think it will reach this far into the valley.