vB Easy Archive - Central IL 3g??

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Central IL 3g??
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Posted by: stanswx

Any word on if or when the Central IL area will get 3g? (Springfield, Decatur, Champaign) My Treo 750 is really tired of Edge.

Thanks!

Posted by: thecableguy

Nope, you can't have it. No 3G for central IL until Western IL/Eastern IA gets it. :P

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecableguy

Nope, you can't have it. No 3G for central IL until Western IL/Eastern IA gets it. :P

Well you guys need to get Edge first.

Maybe they can flip the switch for 3g all across central IL to eastern IA at the same time. (once the switch is actually hooked up to some nice 3g!)

Posted by: stanswx

According to this guy's friend who works at ATT, it sounds like at least Springfield IL will be getting 3g in the next month or so:

http://www.howardforums.com/showpos...902&postcount=1

Maybe Champaign and others in Central IL will be on that timetable too? I'll switch back to unlimited data if we get 3g.

Posted by: stanswx

I just got off the phone with our corporate store in Champaign (actually it's in Savoy) and they told me they are working on adding 3g to the towers in Champaign as we speak. He could not give me any ETA on it per request from ATT, but that's very promising. I'm going to have to get my unlimited data plan again when this happens. (my slingbox will be working overtime)

Posted by: RTrams

Parts of Springfield was turned on over the weekend. The west side by the ATT owned store there on Monroe I had full 3G , but as I went down further on Chatham Road it faded out when I came closer to the tower on Chatham Road by the Hobby Lobby it switched to Edge again. Now we wait and see.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTrams

Parts of Springfield was turned on over the weekend. The west side by the ATT owned store there on Monroe I had full 3G , but as I went down further on Chatham Road it faded out when I came closer to the tower on Chatham Road by the Hobby Lobby it switched to Edge again. Now we wait and see.

Thanks for the good news, that's very exciting!! Keep us posted on other parts of town as they come online and I'll keep an eye on the Champaign area.

Posted by: blessd24

Bloomington and Springfield are set to open by the end of this month. I haven't heard anything about Champaign.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessd24

Bloomington and Springfield are set to open by the end of this month. I haven't heard anything about Champaign.

Maybe they're just starting from Springfield and working their way out from there? I wish the local ATT store could give a tad more detail on when we can expect it here. I'll keep watching my phone's data icon to see if it changes to U anytime soon.

Posted by: RTrams

I wonder if ATT is going to do like Verizon did when they rolled out their EVDO and do the I72 corridor between Springfield and Decatur.
Just my guess, but I figured ATT would roll out in the same areas Verizon had their EVDO first, so Bloomington/ Peoria, Springfield / Decatur then go into other areas.

My first thought was they weren’t going to even touch Champaign since Verizon didn’t, but I did hear from ATT it was in the plans.

Posted by: blessd24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanswx

They don't tell us much. I know what I know from the engineers coming in who are working on the towers.

Posted by: pillar

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTrams

I wonder if ATT is going to do like Verizon did when they rolled out their EVDO and do the I72 corridor between Springfield and Decatur.
Just my guess, but I figured ATT would roll out in the same areas Verizon had their EVDO first, so Bloomington/ Peoria, Springfield / Decatur then go into other areas.

My first thought was they weren’t going to even touch Champaign since Verizon didn’t, but I did hear from ATT it was in the plans.

That seems bizarre since there is a large transient student population that is used to 3g (many coming from the greater chicago area) in Champaign and .....what, ADM, Stahley's and Millikin Univ. in Decatur?

It is likely following a fiber path. It would just be nice to get at least some provider to put 3g in Champaign since it's available in Decatur, Bloomington, Springfield, etc, etc....

Posted by: RTrams

Just wanted to bump this up has anyone heard anything or seen anything else latley?

Posted by: stanswx

Yeah, how is the Springfield 3g deployment going? Any new areas up yet? Still nothing here in Champaign.

Posted by: cwake15

I looked at my phone today at one time to check the time and noticed a single bar for EV and a single bar for 1X. The EV signal disappeared within about 5 seconds. I'm so anxious for them to just get it going...

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwake15

I looked at my phone today at one time to check the time and noticed a single bar for EV and a single bar for 1X. The EV signal disappeared within about 5 seconds. I'm so anxious for them to just get it going...

What does that have to do with 3g? Is Verizon and ATT working together on 3g and EV at the same time?

Posted by: blessd24

Should be going by next week in Bloomington and Springfield.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessd24

Should be going by next week in Bloomington and Springfield.

Cool. Any word on Champaign yet?

Posted by: blessd24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanswx

Cool. Any word on Champaign yet?

I don't think Chambana is getting it yet. At least all the reports I have read don't indcate that.

Springfield because its the capitol and Bloomington because of state farm. (I know, I know....U of I is in Chambana.)

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessd24

Yeah, the guy at ATT must have been feeding me lies to get me to try to buy something.

I have no problem with Springfield and Bloomington getting it first but Champaign deserves some love at some point.

Posted by: blessd24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanswx

Yeah, the guy at ATT must have been feeding me lies to get me to try to buy something.

I have no problem with Springfield and Bloomington getting it first but Champaign deserves some love at some point.

I heard they are putting 3G in Bloomington and Springfield because we are in direct line from Chicago to St. Louis. Basically we are on 55 and a decent sized city...also the democratic convention will be in springfield in nov.

Posted by: blessd24

3G launched in Bloomington and Springfield today. I did a speed test and got 947 kb/s. (8525)

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessd24

3G launched in Bloomington and Springfield today. I did a speed test and got 947 kb/s. (8525)

Congrats man!!! Still nothing in Champaign, maybe they'll hit us up now that SPI/BMI is online. :P

Posted by: kvandivo

Tilt on the way. I think it would like 3g speeds in champaign. make it happen, at&t.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvandivo

Tilt on the way. I think it would like 3g speeds in champaign. make it happen, at&t.

Yes, please do.

Still sitting on EDGE as of 10/24. Anyone have any further inside info on this?

Posted by: snoopdarr

Early maps showing plans for 2008 don't give any indication anywhere in central IL will be getting 3G outside of the up and running springfield/bloomington footprint...

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoopdarr

Early maps showing plans for 2008 don't give any indication anywhere in central IL will be getting 3G outside of the up and running springfield/bloomington footprint...

What maps are you talking about?

Posted by: RTrams

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanswx

What maps are you talking about?

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverag...r/popUp_3g.html

Go there and click Springfield, IL takes you to a map http://www.wireless.att.com/coverag.../Central_IL.pdf

Springfield went live at like 10pm a month ago almost and been great since.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTrams

I have a feeling those aren't the maps he was talking about. If they are, I'd take them with a grain of salt as Bloomington/Springfield were never on the 'future' 3g areas.

http://www.xti9.com/att/att3gmed.gif

Posted by: stanswx

I just talked to a local ATT rep and he said that Champaign was still on target for 3g by the end of 2007. (he was at least aware that Bloomington and Springfield were up already) No idea if he has solid intel on this or not, but just figured I'd pass along the information. The wait continues!

Posted by: rvdnsx

3G won't be up in the Champaign area anytime soon. 2009 seems to be the target at this point, you heard it here first.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvdnsx

3G won't be up in the Champaign area anytime soon. 2009 seems to be the target at this point, you heard it here first.

Source? I find it pretty hard to believe someone in Canada would have a clue about ATT service in Illinois.

Posted by: rvdnsx

Who said I was in Canada? Must be the way I talk, eh?!

I know someone that works for AT&T internally and they let me know there are no plans to add any more 3G in Illinois through 2008, but believe whatever you would like.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvdnsx

Who said I was in Canada? Must be the way I talk, eh?!

I know someone that works for AT&T internally and they let me know there are no plans to add any more 3G in Illinois through 2008, but believe whatever you would like.

Yeah, I don't believe them man. Your profile says Rogers, isn't that in Canada?

Posted by: rvdnsx

My profile says AT&T, Rogers , and T-Mobile, 3 seperate companies. Thats fine, you can believe what you want but bottom line is that 3G will not be expanding in Central IL any time soon. I'll be checking back on this thread periodically to see if my source is more accurate then yours.

Posted by: Delta5

It is most certainly up and running in the Springfield and Bloomington areas. I live near Springfield, and travel frequently through Bloomington.

It is interesting that it appears they purposefully included 3G out quite a ways from the 'urban' (

) areas of Springfield and Bloomington. I'm talking about places like McLean, Athens, Petersburg, Pawnee, and Virden. These are pretty darn rural towns. Commuter-towns yes, but very rural. Cornfields rarely need 3G, and so it seems odd to me that AT&T did the upgrades to get 3G in these places but have not touched areas where there should be more of a demand, such as Champaign, Decatur, Macomb, Peoria, Galesburg, Carbondale, etc. I'm sure AT&T will get there eventually.

Running bandwidth tests, I can consistently get 600k+/second on the west side of Springfield, and saw 1mb+/second while driving through Bloomington on I-55. Wicked fast. Faster than my DSL at home.

Good job AT&T.

Posted by: stanswx

Yes, Champaign certainly isn't a cornfield. I mean we have a pretty big university here that would love to have 3g. (one that just beat #1 OSU in football on Saturday)

Local ATT reps still claim we should see 3g here by the end of the year, so I'll believe that over the 2009 rumor.

Posted by: snoopdarr

There aren't any AT&T reps in Champaign... nothing but agent stores in that town. If that's your information source... well nevermind.

Unless you see a build map with towers, I wouldn't count on it. Nowhere in central IL is big enough to get 3G for a long long time... not to mention the issues with taking a region with all 850 gsm and trying to get their phones to handoff to 1900 umts without dropping... took them a month in springfield to figure it out. I'd put the over/under at Q3 2009 for anywhere else in central IL to get 3G.

Posted by: RTrams

Ok everyone lately there has been a lot of debate on the Central Illinois 3G Deployment from AT&T.

Let me shed some light on this.

Who was the first provider to deploy Evdo or 3G in the Central IL Market? It was Verizon. They released EVDO RevA in the Bloomington/Peoria area in early 2006. Then Verizon again came out of nowhere and in October 2006 released EVDO RevA in the Springfield / Decatur market (see http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/496091 or http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/...footprinkj5.jpg

Now AT&T had to do something in this market to compete with Verizon so in October 2007 (a year later), release 3G in the Springfield/Bloomington market. Note AT&T did not cover a path from Springfield to Bloomington they did though make a rather large footprint north and south of each town. (See http://www.wireless.att.com/coverag.../Central_IL.pdf)

In October 2007 when AT&T deployed their 3G, Verizon did another step to shove AT&T behind by deploying a monsterour straight path from Springfield to Bloomington covered with EVDO RevA. (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/...ootprinkj5.jpg).

Now everyone is debating whether or not AT&T is going to deploy 3G in Champaign, IL this year or even in the near future. The odds of that are VERY SLIM. Think now Verizon has Decatur, Springfield, Bloomington, and Peoria covered (and surrounding towns), as well as paths from Springfield to Decatur, Springfield to Bloomington, and Bloomington to Peoria (up and down I55 and I72). AT&T has a lot of catching up to do with Verizon before it can really think of deploying elsewhere. If Verizon steps in and deploys in Champaign, we can all bet AT&T will as well.

Now this is just my opinion, but let’s be realistic why would AT&T deploy 3G in Champaign if there is no other completion there right now? There are other places they need to catch up on first. No a few people are sticking to the point that the college is in Champaign that’s why AT&T is going to deploy there first. To be honest that’s probably the least of their concerns. Also people are saying they are hearing from AT&T workers that 3G is coming in Champaign this year. I hate to break it to you, but sales people lie. I was told 3G would be in Springfield, IL back in May and June at the latest, but look it came in October.

Now Verizon does have EVDO right outside Champaign, just it hasn’t covered the city yet. I am assuming like all it’s going to here soon, but not within this year. If Verizon covers it in early 2008 I assume AT&T will have it covered by late 2008 early 2009, but AT&T isn’t going to touch Champaign this year. They would have done it at the same time as Springfield/Bloomington. Let’s just face it AT&T is playing catch up.

Verizon has a year ahead of AT&T on deployments in this market and that’s that. Just think it could be worst, Sprint hasn’t even touched this area.

Ill answer questions if anyone has any, but if you’re going to try to argue with my interpretation of what’s going on, don’t expect a response from me.

Posted by: stanswx

Thanks for the post rtrams, good stuff. My contract is up in 2009, so I guess it'll be interesting to see if 3g is here by then or not.

Posted by: thraven233

*Ahem*, I live in a "cornfield" town. We would most certainly like our 3g, too.

BTW, I live in Morrisonville (about 30 minutes (45 mi.) away from Springfield). Any news on any more rural towns getting 3g?

Posted by: blessd24

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTrams

Ok everyone lately there has been a lot of debate on the Central Illinois 3G Deployment from AT&T.

Let me shed some light on this.

Who was the first provider to deploy Evdo or 3G in the Central IL Market? It was Verizon. They released EVDO RevA in the Bloomington/Peoria area in early 2006. Then Verizon again came out of nowhere and in October 2006 released EVDO RevA in the Springfield / Decatur market (see http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/496091 or http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/...footprinkj5.jpg

Now AT&T had to do something in this market to compete with Verizon so in October 2007 (a year later), release 3G in the Springfield/Bloomington market. Note AT&T did not cover a path from Springfield to Bloomington they did though make a rather large footprint north and south of each town. (See http://www.wireless.att.com/coverag.../Central_IL.pdf)

In October 2007 when AT&T deployed their 3G, Verizon did another step to shove AT&T behind by deploying a monsterour straight path from Springfield to Bloomington covered with EVDO RevA. (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/...ootprinkj5.jpg).

Now everyone is debating whether or not AT&T is going to deploy 3G in Champaign, IL this year or even in the near future. The odds of that are VERY SLIM. Think now Verizon has Decatur, Springfield, Bloomington, and Peoria covered (and surrounding towns), as well as paths from Springfield to Decatur, Springfield to Bloomington, and Bloomington to Peoria (up and down I55 and I72). AT&T has a lot of catching up to do with Verizon before it can really think of deploying elsewhere. If Verizon steps in and deploys in Champaign, we can all bet AT&T will as well.

Now this is just my opinion, but let’s be realistic why would AT&T deploy 3G in Champaign if there is no other completion there right now? There are other places they need to catch up on first. No a few people are sticking to the point that the college is in Champaign that’s why AT&T is going to deploy there first. To be honest that’s probably the least of their concerns. Also people are saying they are hearing from AT&T workers that 3G is coming in Champaign this year. I hate to break it to you, but sales people lie. I was told 3G would be in Springfield, IL back in May and June at the latest, but look it came in October.

Now Verizon does have EVDO right outside Champaign, just it hasn’t covered the city yet. I am assuming like all it’s going to here soon, but not within this year. If Verizon covers it in early 2008 I assume AT&T will have it covered by late 2008 early 2009, but AT&T isn’t going to touch Champaign this year. They would have done it at the same time as Springfield/Bloomington. Let’s just face it AT&T is playing catch up.

Verizon has a year ahead of AT&T on deployments in this market and that’s that. Just think it could be worst, Sprint hasn’t even touched this area.

Ill answer questions if anyone has any, but if you’re going to try to argue with my interpretation of what’s going on, don’t expect a response from me.

Sounds pretty good to me. Nice overview.

Posted by: Delta5

Greetings neighbor. I live in a cornfield town too, Jacksonville, to be precise. While those of us here on HoFo having a discussion about 3G would all dearly love to have it, the simple fact is that the vast majority of people simply do not understand nor care about what it is. I know people that are still mad that they had to give up their analog bag phones. Seriously.

Your profile lists that you have an iPhone, which can't take advantage of 3G speeds anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thraven233

*Ahem*, I live in a "cornfield" town. We would most certainly like our 3g, too.

BTW, I live in Morrisonville (about 30 minutes (45 mi.) away from Springfield). Any news on any more rural towns getting 3g?

Posted by: thraven233

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta5

Greetings neighbor. I live in a cornfield town too, Jacksonville, to be precise. While those of us here on HoFo having a discussion about 3G would all dearly love to have it, the simple fact is that the vast majority of people simply do not understand nor care about what it is. I know people that are still mad that they had to give up their analog bag phones. Seriously.

Your profile lists that you have an iPhone, which can't take advantage of 3G speeds anyway.

Sure not the whole town will, but I can name a select few who would love to have some 3g

BTW, if 3g ever did come to my town, I wouldn't have to worry. I change phones like I change underwear.

Posted by: snoopdarr

if they base rollout on demographics and data usage... jacksonville will get 3G somewhere in 2012

Posted by: pillar

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoopdarr

There aren't any AT&T reps in Champaign... nothing but agent stores in that town. If that's your information source... well nevermind.

Unless you see a build map with towers, I wouldn't count on it. Nowhere in central IL is big enough to get 3G for a long long time... not to mention the issues with taking a region with all 850 gsm and trying to get their phones to handoff to 1900 umts without dropping... took them a month in springfield to figure it out. I'd put the over/under at Q3 2009 for anywhere else in central IL to get 3G.

This is only true in the literal sense. Savoy, which is basically the 3rd sister of Champaign-Urbana, has an ATT owned store. CU and savoy are more or less the same town as far as physical location and demographics.
As far as some of the other comments in this thread, C-U (and surrounding areas) have had EVDO RevA for a few months.
Unless AT&T is going to break it's tradition of following it's main competitor's
path, we should have 3g here in a reasonable amount of time.

Personally I don't really care that much since I don't have a device that can take advantage of 3g, but logically I would say that C-U *should* be on the map for "soon".

nb

Posted by: SChris01

corp store in peoria said peoria was most likely going to get it in 09 i was told this on saturday by one of the managers in that store but we shall see what happens.

Posted by: RTrams

Champaign will probably see it by the first of 2009 from ATT.

Has anyone looked at the Verizon Coverage map recently? They basically have from Bloomington to St. Louis covered and from Springfield almost to Indianapolis. Att has a LOT of catching up to do. To be honest Verizon has 75% of central and northern Illinois covered with Rev A Evdo.

Sprints Affiliate iPCS said they will deploy EVDO in the late 08 early 09 in Springfield. Nothing exact from them on what areas around Springfield, but they state Springfield for sure.

It’s just all catching up now.

Verizon has the big foot out there, Att trailing in right behind them and Sprint not even in the picture yet.

Oh btw 3G in Springfield on my blackjack and tilt is a hell of lot better than edge.

Posted by: stanswx

Hopefully Champaign is one of the 80 cities listed in the recently upgrade plans by AT&T.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?p...articleid=25146

Posted by: kvandivo

/me listens to the crickets.

Posted by: stanswx

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvandivo

/me listens to the crickets.

Indeed. No chatter about upgrades here in Champaign. I guess those other guys are raising their favorite beverages chanting 'I told you so'...

Posted by: pillar

The lack of an upgrade irritates me. I can tell you, however, that the array on the new tower at WILL had an ATT truck in front of it for hours and I saw a power blip on the equipment I have in there. /me crosses fingers and hopes for a 3g upgrade.