Network vision & LTE rollout

[BenChase7]

...I would have preferred they just wait until there was some real coverage in the market before stating there is some type of launch for the service....

I completely disagree. I wish they would allow access to each and every Network Vision site as they become live. Some LTE coverage that becomes denser and denser each week is is better than no LTE, IMO.

I think this article by S4GRU sums it up well... most seem to agree.
EDITORIAL: C'mon people, you really do want access to the LTE network early, right? - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

 

[falconey]

There have been quite a few in Atlanta post great speed tests....bad phone maybe?

Maybe a bad phone, but everyone I've seen post speeds test have also said they lost the signal very soon after. I haven't been an area where people have said they've gotten a signal so I have no idea if I have a phone issue yet, but based on all the feedback I've seen from Atlanta and other markets(not just this site) it seems that the launch was pretty bad. Spotty coverage, but in the areas that there are coverage speeds are good.

I completely disagree. I wish they would allow access to each and every Network Vision site as they become live. Some LTE coverage that becomes denser and denser each week is is better than no LTE, IMO.

I think this article by S4GRU sums it up well... most seem to agree.
EDITORIAL: C'mon people, you really do want access to the LTE network early, right? - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

Actually my statement was that I'd prefer they not have stated there was a launch until there was real coverage. I didn't say anything about blocking towers. You don't need to have a press release that a service is being launched in order to unblock towers. Had Sprint said the launch was in September, I as a customer(and many others) would not have an expectation of service. Under those circumstances had they started unblocking towers in July even though the launch would be in Sept they would have gotten a bunch of kudos and high fives. To me that's common sense business. I'm not a biased customer. If anything I'm biased in Sprint's favor, but this was just bad man. There's no way to sugar coat it. Every bit of feedback I've read on the web about sprint's LTE has been pretty damning other than the Robert guy.

Edit: Just to add, probably the worst choice Sprint made was putting up coverage maps showing coverage where there isn't coverage.

 

[dan330]

sprint does not have much room for mistakes..
past experiments / plans have left some very foul tastes on a lot of their clients. Many have left. some are hoping that this time it will fix all the issues. Data speeds have been in the dumps for way to long and we have been given a lot of promises. we need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

the first FEW LTE cities that would come up first on 7/15.. that was very important.
they had to hit a home-run. but.. again they did not do well. it is very sad. if they cant get the speeds up soon.. i see hard times for sprint.

 

[Speed Daemon]

For clarification...they had to give up SOME 800 MHz spectrum Not all (not yet anyway)

Thanks for helping support reality.

Although I can't recall anyone thinking that all of the 800MHz spectrum was taken away, it is important to know that DHS and other mostly law enforcement [sic] agencies have a serious jones for prime radio bandwidth going on, with no end in sight. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out that less bandwidth means less aggregate throughput. (For those who don't know, aggregate throughput is the combination of the average throughput for each data session {what you see in your phone} and the number of concurrent data sessions {you can't see this}.)

 

[Mr. Ed]

Edit: Just to add, probably the worst choice Sprint made was putting up coverage maps showing coverage where there isn't coverage.

Anyone else notice the maps were edited today?


I am pretty sure Sprint is aware of the issues...and working hard to correct them


I.e. I may or may not be driving all over Dallas keeping a running log of areas shown on the map that don't actually have LTE


Anyone else run across the article yesterday about sprint/clearwire's advanced lte network and such. I cant seem to find it now

 

[Mr. Ed]

There it is

still trying to find the other article that spoke of TD-LTE

 

[EarlyMon]

There it is

still trying to find the other article that spoke of TD-LTE

I know what you're talking about, I read it - and cleared my browser records when our site software glitched today.

I'll keep looking as well.

 

[falconey]

Anyone else notice the maps were edited today?


I am pretty sure Sprint is aware of the issues...and working hard to correct them


I.e. I may or may not be driving all over Dallas keeping a running log of areas shown on the map that don't actually have LTE

Not sure about editing the maps. I've attached a coverage area that covers my work, home and travel between both. No 4G for me regardless of what the map says.

 

[IOWA]

Not sure about editing the maps. I've attached a coverage area that covers my work, home and travel between both. No 4G for me regardless of what the map says.

I think it's time to do a control test. It might just be your device

Find another Sprint LTE device and see if they pick up LTE and you don't.

 

[falconey]

I think it's time to do a control test. It might just be your device

Find another Sprint LTE device and see if they pick up LTE and you don't.

I don't have another device to try out so my only other recourse is reading through feedback over the world wide webs. The only atlanta thread I can find on the webs is on s4gru and again results are all over the place. I still haven't been to an area where people have confirmed receiving LTE so again not going to blame the device, yet. Either way, I'm over it now. I still have my opinions about this launch, but my expectations have diminished. I love this new Evo, but in hindsight I should have waited to get it before locking myself in for 2 years. I'm certainly holding off on upgrading the Mrs.

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/1531-4g-live-in-atlanta/page__st__240

 

[EarlyMon]

Is there a corporate store convenient to you? If so, check and see if their display models are getting 4G, compare to yours.

 

[falconey]

Is there a corporate store convenient to you? If so, check and see if their display models are getting 4G, compare to yours.

Yeah there is one less than a mile from the office. I'm going to stop in there today.

Edit - Just said screw it and went by the store. Not to sound like most ppl, but I've developed a good repor with a few of the techs there and my initial thoughts were confirmed. The coverage maps are about 90% incorrect. They aren't getting a 4G signal even in the store.The good news is that Sprint is aware of the issues and is working on them. Who knows when we'll have real coverage though.

 

[Mr. Ed]

They should have asked you for specific addresses that are no getting coverage. If not please call them and ask them to forward that info

 

[Speed Daemon]

There it is

Wow, that's pretty grim. No mention of those alleged other partners that someone claimed would make this rollout different. They're not only placing their entire trust in the moribund company Clearwire, but they're doing it strictly as a wholesale consumer. Swell.


"Sprint and Clearwire are working together to drop Clearwire's LTE base stations in locations where Sprint believes it will need them--rather than building out a network that would fully overlap Sprint's own LTE network"

So this is going to be like finding a Wi-Fi hotspot, going through the trouble of getting past the captive portal etc.? That's their solution? uke:


"Clearwire essentially replaces Sprint's need to offload its traffic to Wi-Fi."
"Sprint has previously said that Wi-Fi offloading will also be a part of its Network Vision network modernization plan."

Oh, I feel much.........uke: Oh bloody hell!

T-Mobile here I come. Thank God and our President for keeping AT&T's mitts off what is now the most capacious nationwide 4G provider. Smoke 'em while you can, folks.

 

[Speed Daemon]

The coverage maps are about 90% incorrect. They aren't getting a 4G signal even in the store.

That's what I've been saying all along. Thank you for verifying this very important fact that Sprint's actual coverage is nowhere near what they claim.

This is a HUGE game changer. If I was holding Sprint stock, I'd be rushing to put in a sell order. As it stands, after the SIII release I can't get nearly enough back on my SII phone back, and can only hope that my 2-year contract will be voided when Verizon buys their assets. Maybe the hackers will make it possible for me to gift my slightly used phone to one of my cousins in Texas in the coverage area of PTCI Cellular.

The good news is that Sprint is aware of the issues and is working on them.

"The good news is that Captain Smith is aware of the issues on RMS Titanic and is working on them."

Sorry but it looks like Sprint has ripped too many of its bulkheads. Sprint's "crew" is in the dark and can't help, and the constant bullying of Sprint fanbois only makes things worse. Sprint is a shipwreck of Titanic proportions.

 

[falconey]

That's what I've been saying all along. Thank you for verifying this very important fact that Sprint's actual coverage is nowhere near what they claim.

This is a HUGE game changer. If I was holding Sprint stock, I'd be rushing to put in a sell order. As it stands, after the SIII release I can't get nearly enough back on my SII phone back, and can only hope that my 2-year contract will be voided when Verizon buys their assets. Maybe the hackers will make it possible for me to gift my slightly used phone to one of my cousins in Texas in the coverage area of PTCI Cellular.


"The good news is that Captain Smith is aware of the issues on RMS Titanic and is working on them."

Sorry but it looks like Sprint has ripped too many of its bulkheads. Sprint's "crew" is in the dark and can't help, and the constant bullying of Sprint fanbois only makes things worse. Sprint is a shipwreck of Titanic proportions.

Lol, that got a chuckle out of me. I honestly don't know what to think. They certainly are talking a good game, but it's really hard to trust them after a) the terrible 3G network they created, b) the terrible 4G Wiimax network they created, and now c) the way they have begun to roll out their new network.

 

[EarlyMon]

I can dig that they need to build trust after past goof ups. And it wouldn't kill them to engage in rational corporate communications so we could have reasonable expectations.

I can't agree that at launch with a plan to replace 38,000+ towers and 20 to 30 data centers that it's quite time to call them the Titanic. LoL

Opinions vary, that's cool, but let's all at least try to avoid the word fanboy here, that's an ad hominem if ever there was one.

 

[Speed Daemon]

I can't agree that at launch with a plan to replace 38,000+ towers and 20 to 30 data centers that it's quite time to call them the Titanic. LoL

Think of it this way: The RMS Titanic was the biggest, fastest communications machine of its day. (RMS means "Royal Mail Ship".) The White Star Line expected RMS Titanic to bring them millions and millions of pounds sterling for many years to come.

The biggest difference between the RMS Titanic and Sprint's latest grand plan is that the Titanic was actually built. roud:

 

[EarlyMon]

Think of it this way: The RMS Titanic was the biggest, fastest communications machine of its day. (RMS means "Royal Mail Ship".) The White Star Line expected RMS Titanic to bring them millions and millions of pounds sterling for many years to come.

The biggest difference between the RMS Titanic and Sprint's latest grand plan is that the Titanic was actually built. roud:

Exactly. So when they finish building Network Vision let's see if it sinks then.

 

[dan330]

I can dig that they need to build trust after past goof ups. And it wouldn't kill them to engage in rational corporate communications so we could have reasonable expectations.

I can't agree that at launch with a plan to replace 38,000+ towers and 20 to 30 data centers that it's quite time to call them the Titanic. LoL

Opinions vary, that's cool, but let's all at least try to avoid the word fanboy here, that's an ad hominem if ever there was one.

Early.. i get what you are sayin...

but i aint referring to all 38k towers.. i am only disappointed in the few cities and the towers in those cities.. after the expected rollout date of those few cities and the few towers in those cities.

it was not a GOOD start!
not a good showin!
not giving us customers a good feelin!
MY faith in their plan.. is shakin.

 

[EarlyMon]

Early.. i get what you are sayin...

but i aint referring to all 38k towers.. i am only disappointed in the few cities and the towers in those cities.. after the expected rollout date of those few cities and the few towers in those cities.

it was not a GOOD start!
not a good showin!
not giving us customers a good feelin!
MY faith in their plan.. is shakin.

I share the sentiment and have no arguments with it.

Sprint, like too many companies, seem to worry so much about image that they lose sight of the fact that that alone stands in the way of the truth.

And there's no better tonic for an image for a company than one that tells its customers the truth.

In my opinion.

 

[BenChase7]

Early.. i get what you are sayin...

but i aint referring to all 38k towers.. i am only disappointed in the few cities and the towers in those cities.. after the expected rollout date of those few cities and the few towers in those cities.

it was not a GOOD start!
not a good showin!
not giving us customers a good feelin!
MY faith in their plan.. is shakin.

I hear that!

But, what phone you using now, Dan?

 

[dan330]

I hear that!

But, what phone you using now, Dan?

i am still on OG evo... still trying to decide which phone to upgrade too.
and wanting and waiting for the 3G better speeds.

it was said.. that once the NV towers were activated.. all connections in the area would be better. 3G, Wimax, LTE.

i think they are just speculating that once LTE is live.. more people would use LTE, therefore less will be on 3G and Wimax, so the speeds would be better because of less traffic.

 

[falconey]

So I made the 1 or so mile trek to a spot one of the technicians assured me there was LTE live and sure enough it was live there. Took a few speed tests as well. Let's just hope this time Sprint brings the quality even if it's a slow build out.

 

[Mr. Ed]

So I made the 1 or so mile trek to a spot one of the technicians assured me there was LTE live and sure enough it was live there. Took a few speed tests as well. Let's just hope this time Sprint brings the quality even if it's a slow build out.

Thanks for the update!

I just sent over a ton of addresses to them and spending my day off today/tomorrow collecting more