vB Easy Archive - AT&T 3G Rollout - Latest markets launching

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

AT&T 3G Rollout - Latest markets launching
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Wirelessly posted (DRC72's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

3G is alive and well in Hartford and all along the I91 corridor. I also picked up 3G on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington.

DRC, how much of Hartford would you say is covered? Also are you having the same problems with UMTS to GSM handoffs that I am? 75% of the time my 8525 will drop the call going from UMTS to GSM. The phone will drop the call, show a "searching for signal" icon and then pick up GSM. I contacted CS and was called back the same day (yesterday) by the field tech support group and they told me that it is a problem they are working out. She did tell me to continue calling in about it for any area it happens in so that they can fix problems as they roll out the UMTS network.

Posted by: DRC72

Wirelessly posted (DRC72's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

3G is alive and well in Hartford and all along the I91 corridor. I also picked up 3G on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington.

I91 in Hartford is fully covered but I haven't ventured deep inside the city yet. Also I haven't noticed any handoff problems thus far with my LG CU500.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Ok, I think I will try using my LG to try and replicate the handoff problems in my area. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Posted by: mpacific

Any word on the Danbury area of CT?

Posted by: hayman

Quote:

Originally Posted by ld-runner

according to the person at my local Cingular store, it will be everywhere eventually.

If I read this correctly, the ultimate goal is for Cingular to have 3G/UMTS available from every tower that GSM/GPRS is currently available? and it is just a matter of when (not if) ?

Posted by: stephman

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I just picked up 3G in Cromwell, CT today. Looks like the Middletown area has launched.

That's awesome news. I wonder if it's live in Meriden, CT.

It maybe time for me to switch over to Cingular now

Posted by: dstar2002

I pick up 3G in Hartford, I havnt gone south of there but, going back home to the north it lasts until the Day Hill Rd Exit on I91, actually carries just about to Exit 40, the Bradley Connector. So I assume the northern push to Springfield will be completed soon.....cant wait to see that U on my 8525 at my house

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstar2002

I pick up 3G in Hartford, I havnt gone south of there but, going back home to the north it lasts until the Day Hill Rd Exit on I91, actually carries just about to Exit 40, the Bradley Connector. So I assume the northern push to Springfield will be completed soon.....cant wait to see that U on my 8525 at my house

I picked up 3G at Bradley International Airport and around the backroads of Windsor Locks and Granby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstar2002

There's 3G south of Hartford on I91. Thus far I am very impressed on how many areas Cingular has covered in the Hartford area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephman

That's awesome news. I wonder if it's live in Meriden, CT.

It maybe time for me to switch over to Cingular now

It won't be long now before it hits Meriden. I'm in Glastonbury now and there's 3G coverage here as well. Rock on Cingular!!!!!

Posted by: stephman

DRC72,
Thanks for that update.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephman

DRC72,
Thanks for that update.

I wouldn't be surprized if 3G showed up this week in your area. The signal is very consistent and I find it to work better than 2G voice in low signal areas.

Posted by: stephman

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I wouldn't be surprized if 3G showed up this week in your area. The signal is very consistent and I find it to work better than 2G voice in low signal areas.

Well that's good to hear as T-Mobile signal at my place is low and friends with 2G Cingular at my place is low as well.

Posted by: ilvla2

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I wouldn't be surprized if 3G showed up this week in your area. The signal is very consistent and I find it to work better than 2G voice in low signal areas.

Overall, yeah, but I have noticed then when inside buildings like Wal-Mart, my Cu500's will switch over to standard GSM/EDGE, this is in the Sacramento area anyway.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I wouldn't be surprized if 3G showed up this week in your area. The signal is very consistent and I find it to work better than 2G voice in low signal areas.

In general, 3G signal should be more consistant, as there should be less channel hopping (especially due to capacity issues) than on GSM. Typically, I've seen lots of handoffs during rush hour in some areas. This is made worse by having both GSM 850 and 1900 here (i.e. 2x the amount of control channels).

Posted by: wierdo

Traffic channels at one frequency do not necessitate control channels at that same frequency. A network can have control channels only at 850 or only at 1900 and have traffic channels spread across both.

Nevertheless, 3G should be better if for no other reason than the coding gain allowing for lower signal strengths for the same bit error rate.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

Traffic channels at one frequency do not necessitate control channels at that same frequency. A network can have control channels only at 850 or only at 1900 and have traffic channels spread across both.

Nevertheless, 3G should be better if for no other reason than the coding gain allowing for lower signal strengths for the same bit error rate.

While that may be true... here in Los Angeles, (CA/NV), and many other places I've been (Rogers in Canada). Personally, I wish there were less control channels (ie. separate 850/1900) in most areas that I've seen both.

Posted by: DrBaker

Any updates for the Oklahoma City market ??

Posted by: wierdo

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

It is usually done that way, for whatever reason, but a few years ago there were reports that ATTWS had control channels only on 1900 in some markets but had traffic channels on 850 as well. It makes a certain amount of sense, since their GSM deployment was originally only at 1900.

I also seem to vaguely recall that in Cingular's original GSM deployment there were some markets that had the reverse at least temporarily, as people reported their Euro-spec phones wouldn't work despite others in those areas reporting that their phones would use 1900 while on calls.

Posted by: Badandy1

By the way, I've seen some 3G service in areas around Los Angeles, I'm using it now.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

Hmmm... I was in Studio City last night and could not even pick a signal on my Sierra 860 of any kind [phone did work].

Posted by: wierdo

Odd, unless you had the card set to 3g only.

Posted by: benfica88

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

Where in Newington did you pick it up?

Area between Fenn Road and Starbucks on main st. I actually get full strength at Starbucks and nowhere else.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by benfica88

Area between Fenn Road and Starbucks on main st. I actually get full strength at Starbucks and nowhere else.

Is that the Starbucks in downtown Newington? Currently I get GSM/EDGE inside my house, but as soon as I step onto my driveway 3G shows up. I take it 3G in CT is only 1900MHz at this point?

Posted by: Wrangler3383

When you step outside do you have 1 bar of 3G or is it full strength? I have the same thing happen to me at work. Im inside and I have 5 bars of GSM. I step outside, and the phone starts neglecting the tower right down the street and pulling 3G off of a tower in the next town over almost 5 miles away. Why do you say 1900 so far? Because of the lack of building penetration? If thats the case I'd have to agree.

Posted by: walkguru

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBaker

Any updates for the Oklahoma City market ??

im waiting for okc to turn on too.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badandy1

By the way, I've seen some 3G service in areas around Los Angeles, I'm using it now.

What areas of Los Angeles ? I currently only get 'Searching' if I set my ZX-20 to UMTS only in Santa Clarita. I should be out in Woodland Hills or Burbank later this week.

Posted by: i0wnj00

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

Have you been to San Diego and tested the 3G network down there?

Posted by: d11s

does this have something to do with people calling me but instead of getting me they get their own mailbox?

everyone I know on cingular has had this problem at least 5 times in the past 2 weeks

Posted by: Badandy1

FormerCanuck: I have it in Woodland Hills/Calabasas in limited availability.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

Odd, unless you had the card set to 3g only.

I don't think I do, of course, I can't find that setting in Connection Manager either (I know it can be set in the Sierra Wireless Watcher, but I thought Connection Manager automatically switched back and forth).

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badandy1

FormerCanuck: I have it in Woodland Hills/Calabasas in limited availability.

Let me know if it works near Frys / Warner Center / Kaiser in Woodland Hills

Posted by: PaulieORF

I don't know if this is news or anything, but someone at a local Cingular store said that the entire state of Connecticut will be 3G by the end of this month.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Well that would be just awesome. Hopefully its fact and not just speculation. I must say I'm very impressed at the speed of the rollout of 3G in CT. It all happened very quickly. I'm just waiting for all of 95 in CT to be covered, then I'll be a happy camper.

Posted by: Kevad007

Its good to hear some report occasional 3G service in Downtown LA, Century City and now in Woodland Hills, all within the Los Angeles County area. Has anyone noticed temporary 3G service anywhere in Orange County, California yet? I have had my phone 3 weeks and constantly check as I go around the areas of Orange, Anaheim, Tustin and Santa Ana mostly, and not once for even a short term have I seen they are even testing 3G here. The only place I found it was after I went accross into San Diego County near Basilone Road that leads to the San Onofre Nuke Power Plant before the Milatry Base. Has anyone noticed any 3G coverage anywhere within the OC itself?

Posted by: wierdo

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoobie-doo

Once it's set in watcher, it's that way until you unset it, unless CCM is sending the command to set it back to using both.

The latest versions of the Thinkpad utility Access Connections can handle WWAN cards, up to and including switching whether it looks for 2g or 3g and in which order on its own. It's sweet.

On OKC, I have no clue how they plan to make that work before AWS devices hit the market. They've only got 25MHz, and unless they can get a bunch of people in that market onto UMTS phones before they make the switch, there won't be enough spectrum to go around without serious congestion issues on the GSM side. Perhaps they're planning on ripping out TDMA and AMPS at the instant the FCC allows them to do so, but given the delays, it seems possible that AWS spectrum will become available before then.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

When you step outside do you have 1 bar of 3G or is it full strength? I have the same thing happen to me at work. Im inside and I have 5 bars of GSM. I step outside, and the phone starts neglecting the tower right down the street and pulling 3G off of a tower in the next town over almost 5 miles away. Why do you say 1900 so far? Because of the lack of building penetration? If thats the case I'd have to agree.

Well this morning I had to drive a mile away from my house to pickup 3g. In fact I've remained on 3G all day and my phone did not switch to GSM at all, except when I got home from work. As far as I know 3G is only 1900MHz nationwide, but eventually Cingular will be rolling out on the 850MHz band. 1900MHz just does does not cut it at my house, but I have no problem with that since I can just fallback on a strong GSM850 signal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

Well that would be just awesome. Hopefully its fact and not just speculation. I must say I'm very impressed at the speed of the rollout of 3G in CT. It all happened very quickly. I'm just waiting for all of 95 in CT to be covered, then I'll be a happy camper.

Connecticut is fairly small so it wouldn't surprize me one bit if the state is blanketed with 3G by the end of the month.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulieORF

I don't know if this is news or anything, but someone at a local Cingular store said that the entire state of Connecticut will be 3G by the end of this month.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

Too bad, one thing I am pretty certain of, is that my company will never issue Thinkpads. And does this mean I need to download watcher to set my card (have only been running with CCM, not sure if the card defaults to 3G only, although that seems like a stupid way to set the card up given Cingular's ahem, leisurely pace of rolling out 3G.

Posted by: ilvla2

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Connecticut is fairly small so it wouldn't surprize me one bit if the state is blanketed with 3G by the end of the month.

Small, it's microscopic!

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilvla2

Small, it's microscopic!

Hey don't be dissing on my state.

Posted by: Badandy1

Formercanuck: I was in Canoga Center today, no coverage yet...

Posted by: ilvla2

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Hey don't be dissing on my state.

Lol It's so small, that you could fit it inside of my county

Seriously though, it's a beautiful state, a TON of history there. Did you see I have the CU500 now? No 3G here yet, though I'll have it over in Sacramento, it's strong and well there

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilvla2

Lol It's so small, that you could fit it inside of my county

Seriously though, it's a beautiful state, a TON of history there. Did you see I have the CU500 now? No 3G here yet, though I'll have it over in Sacramento, it's strong and well there

3G is ROCKING in little CT.

Posted by: dmiller_40

this might be a dumb question, and it maybe in the wrong place. it so i appoligize before hand.

I own a treo 650 (not a 3g phone) but edge capible. I am only getting download speeds from 30-50 kbps. I got my hands on a 3g sim card and was wondering if it would work in my treo and if it would give me any better reception and/or better download speeds?

and its ok to call me stupid if the sim card has no affect on reception or data speeds.

thanks
dm

Posted by: redwolfexr

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Actually Cingular is using UMTS850 in markets that are entirely 850 for GSM already. TN/KY are entirely 850, for certain. (this is being posted with a Sierra 860 from Memphis...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Connecticut is fairly small so it wouldn't surprize me one bit if the state is blanketed with 3G by the end of the month.

Probably about right for the timing in CT. I knew it was being installed a few months ago. Boston was being extended through Providence and down towards Newport as well.

--
Oh, and you really don't want to use CCM. All three cards have far better utilities than Cingular's. (I have used all three at different times)

Posted by: redwolfexr

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmiller_40

this might be a dumb question, and it maybe in the wrong place. it so i appoligize before hand.

I own a treo 650 (not a 3g phone) but edge capible. I am only getting download speeds from 30-50 kbps. I got my hands on a 3g sim card and was wondering if it would work in my treo and if it would give me any better reception and/or better download speeds?

and its ok to call me stupid if the sim card has no affect on reception or data speeds.

thanks
dm

30-50 is about right for a non-Edge download. You should see as high as 110 or so in a good Edge signal area. 80 would be typical though.

The only real difference in a 3g SIM and a "non" 3g sim is its onboard memory. They don't work any differently inside the phone, just some older phones may not be able to use more than 32k.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwolfexr

Actually Cingular is using UMTS850 in markets that are entirely 850 for GSM already. TN/KY are entirely 850, for certain. (this is being posted with a Sierra 860 from Memphis...)

Do you know if CT is using UMTS850 already or will it be deployed eventually?

Posted by: ilvla2

I wonder what they're using in Sacramento.

Posted by: KyT-MobileGuy

UMTS/HSDPA is up and running in Louisville, KY...I am posting this at a medical board meeting with full signal on my 8525...Getting around 1 meg/sec speeds...

Posted by: Bacco

DRC72, dude...I'm glad you stuck-up for us Connecticuts

It's funny though, when I'm on the train heading to work or going home, it really stinks when the phone switches to plain EDGE. The speed is so noticeable now, I've gotten so used to it.

There are still areas along the train route in Lower FF county that aren't covered yet. Greenwich still doesn't have it. There's also a stretch between Stamford and Norwalk...Norwalk and Fairfield.

Don't know about further up the line though.

Posted by: dmiller_40

Ok my phone is edge capabible, so does my area not have edge? I live in a suburb of oklahoma city.

dm

Posted by: enigma99a

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkguru

im waiting for okc to turn on too.

1st Q 2007.

Posted by: enigma99a

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilvla2

I wonder what they're using in Sacramento.

1900. Ericsson.

Posted by: InnerGeek

So I remember several pages back, there was speculation of a soft launch in LA on the 15th. I know there has been reports of intermittent coverage. Can anyone speak to this soft launch? Just waiting to see that glorious "U" pop up on my screen.

A

Posted by: bidwalj

my blackjack in northridge has been jumping to Gprs from edge for the last couple days. maybe its signs of things to come.......or just the network......

Posted by: formercanuck

Haven't noticed anything out in Burbank today (Bob Hope Airport/ Fry's)

Posted by: InnerGeek

Yeah, I got nothing in Universal City.

Posted by: Justin5117

Quote:

Originally Posted by bidwalj

my blackjack in northridge has been jumping to Gprs from edge for the last couple days. maybe its signs of things to come.......or just the network......

i get that here in my town to.

Posted by: DrBaker

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma99a

1st Q 2007.

I hope you're right about the OKC market.

A cingular rep from a local store said it would be Nov 2007.

He didn't seem to be very knowledgeable about his products and services, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was wrong.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacco

DRC72, dude...I'm glad you stuck-up for us Connecticuts

LOL!!! No prob.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacco

I'm sure southern Fairfield county will get it soon.

Posted by: walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma99a

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkguru

im waiting for okc to turn on too.

1st Q 2007.

Thanks, i have my lg cu 500 ready to go.

Posted by: formercanuck

Coverage maps are good up to Nov 30, 2006 now.

Posted by: enigma99a

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBaker

I hope you're right about the OKC market.

A cingular rep from a local store said it would be Nov 2007.

He didn't seem to be very knowledgeable about his products and services, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was wrong.

Actually, I need to be clear. Work is starting in early 2007 on the upgrades, but it won't be done until later in the year. Sorry, I don't have an exact date right now.

Posted by: walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma99a

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBaker

I hope you're right about the OKC market.

A cingular rep from a local store said it would be Nov 2007.

He didn't seem to be very knowledgeable about his products and services, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was wrong.

Actually, I need to be clear. Work is starting in early 2007 on the upgrades, but it won't be done until later in the year. Sorry, I don't have an exact date right now.

At least they will be starting. That gives us hope.

Posted by: Kevad007

So today is the day several poster indicated they had information or rumor of a supposed "Soft" rollout of 3G here in Southern California. Well, anyone getting 3G in Los Angeles or Orange County yet? Any for those in the know, what was meant by a "soft" roll out? I know others have said things got pushed back to July 07 and there is talk of how the FCC made Cingular give up bandwidth due to the AT&T deal and now when they need it there is not enough to make the 3G work. But still many thought that there was some inside scoop that there still would be some 3G turned on today in Southern California. What is going on? DOes anyone on this board know the real deal? I mean its like talking about this and when it will come out is top secret. I have time to take my Blackjack back, and if Cingular cannot be more forthcoming with info. then I am inclined to do so and wait out till they can be. I mean I am still not happy with them removing the functioning of the Wi-Fi on the Blackjack, and here we are still with no clear picture of what is going on with 3G. Yet they damn sure want my $40.00 a month data connect fee to get my rebate, and some day 3G will arrive? That is lame!

Posted by: InnerGeek

I have not heard anything new but the speculation you have mentioned. I can however confirm that there is no UMTS signal in Universal City as of right now.

A

Posted by: Kevad007

OK, now we are talking. I am getting 3G here at my office in Orange, near the border of Anaheim, CA for the first time ever. I am next to the 57 freeway and Orangewood Exit, all of which is near Anahiem Stadium where the Angels play. Yahoo!

Posted by: mystartgroup

I am frustrated because I cannot get a strait answer from any store. Cingular, I like your service and convenience, but train your employees. After I was assured that there was UMTS on Wilshire in Santa Monica, I called CS for assistance to why mine wasn't working (before I came here), they transferred me to support, she had no idea what UMTS was and said its because Los Angeles has bad GSM coverage. she said there are very few towers in LA...

Yesterday I called 7 stores asking when UMTS will be active in LA.

Results:
1.) December late. 2.) January. 3.) July. 4.) November. 5.) August 6.) what the hell is 3G? 7.) its live through out la, otherwise we wouldn't be selling the phones.

This is one of the largest markets Cingular has, why leave us in the dark on why we are the last major city to get this service. LA has the forth largest economy in the world, yet Alabama has service before us (not making fun of AL, just pointing out population).

Step the F___ up Cingular...

PS, I drove with my phone up to my eye so I could see the change (i really did, I feel like a dork).

I did not receive a U on my 8525 at all. No U service in North Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly hills, Calabasas, Woodland hills, or Westlake...

Sorry for being sloppy, typing while sitting in Traffic.

Posted by: bodypilot

My U just appeared in West LA (Marina Del Ray)

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeessssssssssssssss

Posted by: riDuh7

I'm gettin "U" signal in Garden Grove, CA RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Up until 3 PM last night, I was getting "G" signal, which is GPRS of course, and when I got up about an hour ago, I was hammered last night BTW, and tried to check my email on the device it was showing "U" signal, U as in UMTS!! I did some speed test on my 8525, and with 3 bars (out of 4), I'm getting whopping 730kbps!!!! WITH 4 BARS, I'm getting 1100kbps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG.... You gotta love the 3G.... @_@

Posted by: InnerGeek

We are live in Universal City! Woooohooooo! Now I just need them to release HSDPA for the 750.

Posted by: RansomdjDude

First post, and even better its to say 3g is live in Long Beach. Funniest thing is, I was just @ a Cingular store on 2nd street and asked if they knew anything about it going live today and I got the dear in headlights stare. Got back to the office, looked at my blackjack and was shocked to see 3G! Finally!

Posted by: cingular#1

Los Angeles Should have gone live today.

Posted by: trjons

I'm getting U downtown now!!!!

Posted by: InnerGeek

Just installed the HSDPA hack on my 750 and got a nice 804kbit/sec off of dslreports with a 1mb download.

Wooohooo!

Posted by: sdhunter

I've got 3g on my lg cu500 finally here in Irvine Ca.

Posted by: trjons

What is the HSDPA hack and do I need it on my 8525?

Posted by: rpmura

I got it too! Downtown L.A. Will it last?? Guess so, huh?

Posted by: InnerGeek

Shouldn't be an issue for you. The Treo 750 only came with UMTS enabled. There is a hack that was developed in order to enable HSDPA. An official ROM update is due first part of next year, but this will tide us Treo owners over.

By the way, I just streamed ABC News Live at 698kbit/sec.

A

Posted by: Maverick05

NEWPORT BEACH JUST WENT LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried to make a call, it failed, then the G switched to U on my 8525!!!!!!!!!! and now it's here to stay!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: InnerGeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpmura

I got it too! Downtown L.A. Will it last?? Guess so, huh?

I think this might be for real since it has lit up all over Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Posted by: varok

U here in Anaheim!! Yes!!!

Posted by: InnerGeek

Posted by: mystartgroup

Nothing in Hollywood yet... can't wait.

Posted by: Maverick05

its gone

Posted by: trjons

I still have it but I'm topping out at 530kbps.

Posted by: InnerGeek

Head over to TreoCentral, in the 750 forum there is a sticky that has the directions and the files you need. Make sure you put the setHSDPA.exe. file in your start up folder and you will be good to go.

A

Posted by: Offrdrider21

3G in Irvine... Von Karman and Main

Posted by: enigma99a

Congratulations L.A.!

Posted by: exchguy

Now that it appears that L.A. has gone live, the following 'top 20' markets have still been ignored by Cingular for the rollout:
St. Louis
Denver
Minneapolis

Does anyone have any details on what has been holding things up in these markets?

I've been researching issues in the Denver area for several months and all I've been able to determine is that a) UMTS gear is deployed b) Cingular affiliate Edge Wireless owns a 10mhz block of 1900mhz spectrum that apparently is going to be used for UMTS but Cingular is still messing around with the FCC for some reason to be able to turn it on.

All of this while Sprint and Verizon are turning up sites with Rev A.

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

3G on my Blackjack in Century City (Los Angeles)! - it is between Beverly Hills and Westwood - wonder if it is UMTS or HSDPA?!

Posted by: awj223

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystartgroup

This is one of the largest markets Cingular has, why leave us in the dark on why we are the last major city to get this service. LA has the forth largest economy in the world, yet Alabama has service before us (not making fun of AL, just pointing out population).

This is all speculation on my part, but I don't think it's too hard to figure out. LA/Orange county is probably THE market that is giving Cingular's network crews the biggest headaches upgrading. For multiple reasons:

1. The Cingular/ATTWS integration: In most areas, the "integration" consisted of taking two separate networks and their users, and merging them into one. This might have involved adding a tower or two, but for the most part probably involved deciding which towers to remove because there were towers too close together (remember, separate networks in the past). So what basically happened was you had two sets of customers being thrown onto one network, but the amount of spectrum they could use increased (consisting of both the Cingular and former ATTWS licenses) and the number of towers also increased. Not a bad situation, as this creates a stronger network. In areas where EITHER network used to have good coverage, the new network automatically has good coverage.

But remember that there was no integration in California. Cingular sold the old Pac Bell network to T-Mobile, and threw all its customers onto the old ATTWS Blue network, which now had to support hundreds of thousands more users. So basically, SAME number of towers, SAME amount of spectrum (as old Blue), and now customers formerly on two major providers are thrown onto this one network. No wonder the system is so overloaded it makes liberal use of AMR-HR, which is the cause of many more complaints...but this (two groups of customers now on one network) is the situation in the entire state, and other areas (Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) got 3G first. Is there something else to it? Indeed...

2. The crappy LA Cellular network: From what I hear, the company that originally built the network in the LA area (LA Cellular) never did a good job. There were always problems with coverage holes, dropped calls, etc. ATTWS inherited a bad network, never really fixed it, and it did an okay job until hundreds of thousands more users were thrown onto it. This is in contrast to the Bay Area and other areas of Northern and Central CA, where Cellular One built a very strong network that did a lot better taking the extra load.

LA is the only market dealing with both (1) and (2). Since Cingular is scrambling to fix a neglected, overloaded network, I'm not surprised 3G is taking so long.

Why didn't they keep the other network, you ask? Because they wanted to keep the more desirable 850 licenses, and all the 850 equipment is on the Blue network. Also, T-Mobile probably wants nothing to do with licenses at that frequency because all of their native coverage is at 1900.

Posted by: mystartgroup

well said awj...

Posted by: bidwalj

nothing in norhtridge...........

Posted by: Maverick05

so is 3g in southern cali running at 850?

Posted by: awj223

As far as I know it isn't. I've only seen WCDMA 1900 in the Bay Area and SD. I thought I saw a post from someone on OKC or Omaha that said WCDMA 850 was active there, however.

Posted by: rpmura

I had 3G downtown L.A. Lost it as I headed towards Hollywood at about Sunset and Echo Park Av. Haven't gotten it back. Now at Vermont and Fountain, just have "E". At least it's nice to know it's on it's way. Kinda wish I had it here though. Would've liked to have it at home in Los Feliz/Silverlake over the weekend. We've waited this long. What's a few more days/hours, whatever?

Posted by: rpmura

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick05

so is 3g in southern cali running at 850?

It was at 1900 downtown L.A.

Posted by: primal5

Ok, So Im excited. I live in Glendale, CA... right next to Los Angeles, and just a few minutes ago I looked at my phone and I now have 3G Service... Download speed tested on dslreports.coms mobile site at 856kbps!!!!

Anyone else in LA seen the big U on thier phone yet???

Posted by: mystartgroup

So Far: Nothing in Hollywood, Echo Park, Los Feliz, WeHo

Basically anywhere that I am at.

So if you get tired of your UMTS in downtown, just ask me to drive through there, my luck will shut it down... The second I leave Hollywood it will go online. Then I will pass through Glendale and mess that up too. Damn... rough day.

Posted by: primal5

The only time I lost UMTS service was when I was parking my car in the garage, went to G and went back to U when I came upstairs.

I will be headed to Burbank shortly, will post if I have continued coverage..

Posted by: trjons

I had it until I got to Santa Monica. maybe the marine layer took me back to edge.... :-(

Posted by: InnerGeek

Still solid in Uni City. Will be heading over the hill to Hollywood in a few hours, unfortunate reports say it isn't up there yet.

A

Posted by: PiTT

just put my AT&T sim in a BlackJack im in West Hills/Canoga Park off of Topanga, i got just Edge. do i need a cingy sim for this to work? i might head out to van nuys heard it works fine there...

Posted by: sdhunter

3g back on again in Irvine CA

Posted by: Maverick05

So... we're definitely suffering from a "soft launch" in Newport Beach. I get 3g on and off, cause i live between two cell towers, one with 3g, one without... but when i'm on the one that does, i'm getting over a megabit!

Posted by: formercanuck

I had 3g in the valley as far north as Sylmar on the 405/I5 and 118/Topanga. Lost sign on the 101 west of Reseda though. Nothing in Valencia though.

Posted by: InnerGeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiTT

just put my AT&T sim in a BlackJack im in West Hills/Canoga Park off of Topanga, i got just Edge. do i need a cingy sim for this to work? i might head out to van nuys heard it works fine there...

You'll need one of the new Cingular 3G sims, should be able to swap it out at a store.

A

Posted by: mystartgroup

Do you think there will be any more UMTS site activations today? Or do you think it is too late? Also, do you think maybe over the weekend or do they only do this stuff during weekdays. Sorry just anxious to see Hollywood.

Posted by: mystartgroup

I just drove down a half mile to le brea and hollywood blvd, only have 2 bars, 680 kbps

Posted by: kobe833

Does the LA launch extend into Ventura or Santa Barbara counties?

Posted by: telarium

Quote:

Originally Posted by exchguy

Now that it appears that L.A. has gone live, the following 'top 20' markets have still been ignored by Cingular for the rollout:
St. Louis
Denver
Minneapolis

Does anyone have any details on what has been holding things up in these markets?

I've been researching issues in the Denver area for several months and all I've been able to determine is that a) UMTS gear is deployed b) Cingular affiliate Edge Wireless owns a 10mhz block of 1900mhz spectrum that apparently is going to be used for UMTS but Cingular is still messing around with the FCC for some reason to be able to turn it on.

All of this while Sprint and Verizon are turning up sites with Rev A.

St. Louis has been live since November 1.

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

I am gettin 3G on my BJ at Pico & Beverly.

Posted by: squeeze

Irvine, CA (405 Fwy) full bars on Blackjack...978k - wow...

Posted by: exchguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by telarium

St. Louis has been live since November 1.

Must have been a soft launch and not official launch because according to: http://business.cingular.com/busine...ov-maps-pop.jsp and Cingular press releases only KC has been launched in MO.

Posted by: brealmp3

the coverage for 3g fades out about a mile from my house.... how bad does that suck!

Posted by: comrad

Quote:

Originally Posted by InnerGeek

You'll need one of the new Cingular 3G sims, should be able to swap it out at a store.

A

that sounds easy.....but no way in hell im giving up 1100 anytime mins for $39

edit: this is pitt, sorry

Posted by: wtxn

Those maps are out of date by at least one month. I have a Cingular 10/06 map of the NE Ohio region (Akron/Cleveland) and it has a lot more area covered.

Posted by: telarium

Quote:

Originally Posted by exchguy

Must have been a soft launch and not official launch because according to: http://business.cingular.com/busine...ov-maps-pop.jsp and Cingular press releases only KC has been launched in MO.

Perhaps a soft launch - the movable coverage map now indicates St. Louis as 3G.

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

I tried dslreports.com to check the speed but could not find the right part of the site. Do you need to register and log in?

Posted by: Maverick05

What exactly does "soft launch" mean? That some towers have it, and the sytem goes live while they equip other towers, or that that this is it until they come around for the next batch of towers some time later.

Posted by: brealmp3

no cingular just doesn't advertise it, but it is out there an avaliable to use. cingular is just not promoting it. mainly because they want to make sure that all the bugs are worked out and there aren't a ton of people out there using it and having major issues.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveTreo300600

I tried dslreports.com to check the speed but could not find the right part of the site. Do you need to register and log in?

www.dslreports.com/mspeed

Posted by: bidwalj

any news for northridge? sucks that we are left out

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

www.dslreports.com/mspeed

Thanks. I just ran it by Beverly Center at 11:30 pm. I ran the 1 Mb file. Got 805 Kb/sec. 0.44s latency. 10.609s d/l time. Is that good numbers for the BJ?

Posted by: wierdo

I haven't managed to get over 700 on my laptop in Tulsa, so it sounds pretty good to me.

Posted by: PiTT

Quote:

Originally Posted by bidwalj

any news for northridge? sucks that we are left out

just drive down to ban nuys and see if there is 3g, one of the in store reps told me there was. im going down that way tomorrow and going to downtown too, gonna try it there. there is a huge gsm antennae located on campus (CSUN) should have 3g sooner or later.

Posted by: trjons

still nothing in santa monica. anyone in west los angeles?

Posted by: mystartgroup

Last night:
Very patchy until you hit Westwood, Westwood, Brentwood, West LA, have full coverage. Beverly Hills near Rodeo has it. Still zero in Hollywood towards Los Feliz.

Posted by: bidwalj

i live right next to csun.......so maybe we will see it soon. nothing today either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiTT

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by bidwalj

i live right next to csun.......so maybe we will see it soon. nothing today either.

Cingular doesn't have a site on CSUN, but close...
Plummer and Reseda http://members.dslextreme.com/users...eda-plummer.JPG
and up near Devonshire and Zelzah (behind LAPD / near the 'wash')
and another site near the Northridge Metrolink station.

Taken at Reseda/101. Strong signal (3g) at Woodley/San Fernando Mission and 405/Victory/Burbank areas.

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

There is 3G coverage on Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood. BUT there appears to be a problem on the voice side. I keep getting Busy when I dial. A called a corp store from my T-Mo PEBL and they said someone else had called in re the issue and they are working on it.

Posted by: chayz

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveTreo300600

There is 3G coverage on Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood. BUT there appears to be a problem on the voice side. I keep getting Busy when I dial. A called a corp store from my T-Mo PEBL and they said someone else had called in re the issue and they are working on it.

Same prob here in Van Nuys, coverage is OK...voice calls were no prob yesterday, but this morning no incoming or outgoing on UMTS...I guess theres a reson why they do a soft launch after all so they can fix crap like this....

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

I am in Hollywood now. Its on E rather than 3G. Voice calls OK now. Wonder if they turned off 3G bc of the voice problem?

Posted by: Kevad007

Maybe its the rain. They forgot to close the equiptment cause its supposed to never rain here. Naaaaah. But there is a lot of moisture in the air, I do wonder if that impeads the distance a signal can cover.

Posted by: damojo

3G is working in downtown Culver City (east of Marina del Rey) since yesterday. 600kb/s average & over 1Mb/s max.

Posted by: awolkoff

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjash2010

I dont understand cingular either.

Minneapolis/St. Paul and its suburbs equal over 3million people which ranks like the 22nd largest city including suburbs in the world...

and yet we have no 3g and I have seen nothing about the rollout here....

An agent told me yesterday that we would see 3G here in MN in the first quarter of 2007.

Now whether that's true or not I have no idea. But I hope it is.

Posted by: PiTT

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

well that sucks, i just moved to West Hills like a year ago, lived in Granada Hills on san fernando and woodley for 14 years, now they got 3g and we dont? pfff. anyway i spent like 5 hours in downtown today, i was messing around with my phone and i had a E all day, then all the sudden saw 3G and got a bit excited, told my gf and showed her (she didn't give a rats ***) anyway got consistent 700+ kbps from dslreports.com with a few tries on my blackjack with an AT&T sim.

Posted by: d11s

which is the 3G indicator that is supposed to appear on my phone when I am in the presence of that tech?

Posted by: bodeh6

Quote:

Originally Posted by d11s

which is the 3G indicator that is supposed to appear on my phone when I am in the presence of that tech?

Most 3G phones will say "3G" in the status bar near the battery and signal strength meters but it varies by phone model. Consult the user manual to find out the exact spot of your specific model.

Posted by: Kevad007

The 3G has been up and working all afternoon in Orange, CA. Just like yesterday!

Posted by: studboy69

Quote:

Originally Posted by studboy69

Daaaaaamn Umts/hsdpa Came Online Just A Sec Ago In Puerto Rico!!!!!!!!!!!! 600kbps Downlink/ 131 Uplink Through Bt

doing dslreports.com/mspeed through opera mini on my Cingular LG CU500 got 1959kbit/sec 0.276s latency and 4.457s d/l time with the 1MB file having 3 Bars of signal, with my Sprint MOTOKRZR K1M and EVDO got 1356 Kbit/sec 0.283s Latency and a 6.32s d/l time using Opera Mini as well and 2 bars of signal

Posted by: snoVVman

Quote:

Originally Posted by studboy69

Opera, all forms of it (Mobile and Mini), is cached and proxied, and is not accurate whatsoever when it comes to speed tests. It does not, clearly, represent the actual up/down speeds. Not even close...

Posted by: wtxn

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoVVman

Opera, all forms of it, is cached and proxied, and is not accurate whatsoever when it comes to speed tests. It does not, clearly, represent the actual up/down speeds. Not even close...

Actually, only Opera Mini fits that classification

Posted by: DRC72

I tried using Opera Mini on my CU500 and I keep getting to fast and unstable on every speed test that I try.

Posted by: snoVVman

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtxn

Actually, only Opera Mini fits that classification

Clarification: Mobile and Mini.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by awolkoff

An agent told me yesterday that we would see 3G here in MN in the first quarter of 2007.

Now whether that's true or not I have no idea. But I hope it is.

I hope so. I live in Burnsville. I'm patiently awaiting 3G. It's gonna be awesome!

Posted by: Maverick05

So i'm starting to have some of these 3g problems other people were talkin about. In newport beach, i have between 1-2 bars of UMTS on my 8525... the calls won't go through and i don't know how to force it onto GSM... yeah this sucks

Posted by: Junkhead

Im on the outskirts of a very large 3g area(boston ma) in Nashua NH 03060, Im probably 10 miles away from the 3g rim, How long till they will expand this?

Posted by: wierdo

Does anyone have an idea which markets are UMTS800 and which are UMTS1900?

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick05

So i'm starting to have some of these 3g problems other people were talkin about. In newport beach, i have between 1-2 bars of UMTS on my 8525... the calls won't go through and i don't know how to force it onto GSM... yeah this sucks

Go here and install hack the band tab from the top of the page. For fringe areas of 3G this tool in invaluable. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=283797

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by wierdo

Does anyone have an idea which markets are UMTS800 and which are UMTS1900?

I don't think there are any UMTS 850 markets (yet)... not many markets can afford to give up 10 MHz of a 25 MHz license. Those that typically have 2 bands end up using UMTS 1900.

Posted by: redwolfexr

Kentucky and Tennesee markets are Ericsson UMTS850. (Louisville/Frankfort/Nashville/Knoxville/Memphis)

Posted by: walkguru

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwolfexr

Kentucky and Tennesee markets are Ericsson UMTS850. (Louisville/Frankfort/Nashville/Knoxville/Memphis)

when okc comes on line, it will be 850.

Posted by: walkguru

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I tried using Opera Mini on my CU500 and I keep getting to fast and unstable on every speed test that I try.

i have the same, and im in a edge area.

Posted by: dbd

for that guys who dont have opera mini i posted it on my web site

download for free from there

Posted by: mbranscum

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbd

for that guys who dont have opera mini i posted it on my web site

download for free from there

you can downlod at mini.opera.com for free.

Posted by: wierdo

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

I don't think there are any UMTS 850 markets (yet)... not many markets can afford to give up 10 MHz of a 25 MHz license. Those that typically have 2 bands end up using UMTS 1900.

Tulsa is UMTS800; I was wondering which others are as well. I was quite surprised when I asked my Sierra card which band it was on and it reported 800, since I was also under the impression that it was all at 1900 so far. I was also surprised because of the relatively crappy signal strength I get in my apartment, less than half a mile from the nearest site. I get around -75dBm on GSM and around -95 on UMTS.

To be fair, it hardly makes any difference in the speed whether it's at -95 or -50. Lenovo needs to hurry up and start using the MC8775 so I can get my hands on one.

Posted by: awj223

I wonder if Cingular learned from the problems caused by doing the 1900 only GSM rollout. When will they get UMTS 850 up in the Bay Area? My phone will probably stop hopping onto GSM in weak signal areas once that happens.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by awj223

I wonder if Cingular learned from the problems caused by doing the 1900 only GSM rollout. When will they get UMTS 850 up in the Bay Area? My phone will probably stop hopping onto GSM in weak signal areas once that happens.

It comes down to an issue of available spectrum to 'play' with.
I suspect the Bay area is similar (but better) than So. Cal, using the following:
Cellular A side : 25 MHz
PCS D Block: 10 MHz
PCS B (part of): 10 MHz

Since GSM has the majority share of customers, and UMTS can failover to GSM, it makes sence to use GSM on the band with the better/stronger signal.

Posted by: awj223

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

Any reason they've implemented UMTS to GSM handoffs, but haven't implemented handoffs in the other direction (GSM to UMTS)? If you want as many calls as possible on UMTS, it doesn't make sense to have a situation where once the call goes to GSM, it stays there until the call ends or drops. In addition, if I'm using data during a call and the call goes to GSM, the data session gets cut off and I have no hope of getting it back even if I move back into UMTS range.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by awj223

I cant even get a proper handoff from UMTS to GSM. My call will drop EVERY time.

Posted by: redwolfexr

Any market that is entirely GSM850 has to be UMTS850 unless they decide to build more towers to fill the gaps. The towers have to be closer together in a 1900 system. (in general this more affects the "suburbs" since the core areas are usually over-covered)

As far as handoffs go -- Cingular has been setting it up so that the handoffs between UMTS to GSM during a voice call are all one way. (UMTS->GSM) Once the voice call terminates the phone will handoff to UMTS if its available. Data sessions in such a case should resume at EDGE rates as soon as the voice call ends until it goes back to UMTS. It suspends the data session, it does not terminate it. I have tested that in Nashville, anyhow.

My guess is that its done that way to minimize handoffs, since the GSM network is larger by far than the UMTS system. (every handoff increases the odds of a dropped call, and its a trackable statistic)

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwolfexr

Any market that is entirely GSM850 has to be UMTS850 unless they decide to build more towers to fill the gaps. The towers have to be closer together in a 1900 system. (in general this more affects the "suburbs" since the core areas are usually over-covered)

As far as handoffs go -- Cingular has been setting it up so that the handoffs between UMTS to GSM during a voice call are all one way. (UMTS->GSM) Once the voice call terminates the phone will handoff to UMTS if its available. Data sessions in such a case should resume at EDGE rates as soon as the voice call ends until it goes back to UMTS. It suspends the data session, it does not terminate it. I have tested that in Nashville, anyhow.

My guess is that its done that way to minimize handoffs, since the GSM network is larger by far than the UMTS system. (every handoff increases the odds of a dropped call, and its a trackable statistic)

In an area that has 850MHz only, Cingular would have to build out quite a bit as well, as their available spectrum for GSM users would be cut in half. Instead of having about 20 MHz dedicated to GSM, it would drop to 10 MHz. AMR-half rate codec would be used A LOT.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

I cant even get a proper handoff from UMTS to GSM. My call will drop EVERY time.

I'm surprized your still having that issue. I have yet to run into that issue in the Hartford area.

Posted by: PaulieORF

Come on Cingular, let's get 3G in the Waterbury area already! :-)

Posted by: P1mpPanther

Good news for those in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas!

I just got off the phone with a very nice tech from Cingular's data support and after asking her when I can expect to get 3G service, she told me she received an email today regarding 3G roll-out in 17 new cities this week. Being in LA, I had asked about what areas would be covered. Here are a few:

Anaheim, Burbank, Concord, Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pomona, Santa Ana..

Not sure if I'm covered in Venice / Santa Monica, but at least it looks like 3G is on the way.

Also, she wasn't clear whether this was them 'turning on' the network or just building the infrastructure, but my guess is that it's ready to go...I can't see Cingular sending out a formal email to employees everytime they put up a cell tower.

Posted by: awj223

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I'm surprized your still having that issue. I have yet to run into that issue in the Hartford area.

Same here. Never had a handoff problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

You are forgetting about the lighter call load on the GSM network due to some calls being carried on the more efficient UMTS network. Time to push those 3G phones out the door! They should stop selling GSM only phones soon.

It's not as bad as a 50% reduction. It's more like 25 MHz down to 15 MHz.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulieORF

Come on Cingular, let's get 3G in the Waterbury area already! :-)

Yeah I was in Cheshire today and was on GSM most of the time along RT10, although I saw some techs working on a silo tower. 3G upgrade?

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by awj223

Same here. Never had a handoff problem.

You are forgetting about the lighter call load on the GSM network due to some calls being carried on the more efficient UMTS network. Time to push those 3G phones out the door! They should stop selling GSM only phones soon.

It's not as bad as a 50% reduction. It's more like 25 MHz down to 15 MHz.

While I do agree with you on that... until they flood the market with UMTS phones (i.e. have more than say 25% of the users with 3G phones), it won't help much. Currently there are only a few 3G phones (LG CU-500, LG-CU-400, Samsung Blackjack, Samsung a707, Samsung ZX-20, 8525), most of which are high end, with the exception LC-CU400

When you see more free/low cost 3G phones (i.e. Moto L2/L6, Nokia 6030, LG-CU 225), it will be easier to change over to WCDMA/UTMS

Posted by: rpmura

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1mpPanther

Good news for those in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas!

I just got off the phone with a very nice tech from Cingular's data support and after asking her when I can expect to get 3G service, she told me she received an email today regarding 3G roll-out in 17 new cities this week. Being in LA, I had asked about what areas would be covered. Here are a few:

Anaheim, Burbank, Concord, Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pomona, Santa Ana..

Not sure if I'm covered in Venice / Santa Monica, but at least it looks like 3G is on the way.

Also, she wasn't clear whether this was them 'turning on' the network or just building the infrastructure, but my guess is that it's ready to go...I can't see Cingular sending out a formal email to employees everytime they put up a cell tower.

I've gotten 3G in Downtown Los Angeles and Burbank. Not all of Los Angeles has it yet. Hollywood, Glendale, Los Feliz, Pasadena don't have it yet. Soon I hope. I know most of the T1 circuits for UMTS in these areas were provisioned back in November. Now I think they're just waiting for Cingular to connect their side of the circuits and turn UMTS up site by site.
I curious if each time they do a site, that site then has a working 3G signal or do they do the work on all of them and then turn them on all at once.

Posted by: PaulieORF

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Yeah I was in Cheshire today and was on GSM most of the time along RT10, although I saw some techs working on a silo tower. 3G upgrade?

That would be excellent!

Posted by: ilvla2

Hey Paulie! This is RR Conductor from dslreports

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

There is 3G in La Cienega/beverly center, Century City, and at least portions of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Posted by: Badandy1

Beverly Hills AND....

DOWNTOWN LA are go! today i was in downtown, full 3G signal, 800 kbps down...

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I'm surprized your still having that issue. I have yet to run into that issue in the Hartford area.

So you have a successful handoff? Like when your on your way home from work and the UMTS network drops off?

Posted by: stephman

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Yeah I was in Cheshire today and was on GSM most of the time along RT10, although I saw some techs working on a silo tower. 3G upgrade?

Hey buddy, you seem to drive all over the state checking out 3G service availability!
Let me know if you ever hit the Meriden area, specifically Route 5, Berlin Tpke, where it meets up to Route 5/Broad St. in Meriden.
I want to switch to Cingular so bad, but I'm being a good boy and holding off until March when my T-Mob contract is up. 3 more months!
I'm guessing by that time, Meriden and surrounding areas should be up with 3G if they're not already.

Posted by: redwolfexr

When they finish integrating a site its brought up as Cell Barred. Its on the air, but only for users with special SIM cards. (known as Engineering)

Except Dallas, that market was complicated. (there was an existing Blue UMTS system while the "new" system was Orange)

Posted by: P1mpPanther

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badandy1

Beverly Hills AND....

DOWNTOWN LA are go! today i was in downtown, full 3G signal, 800 kbps down...

Damn, I envy you - they just need to make it a few more miles west....

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1mpPanther

Damn, I envy you - they just need to make it a few more miles west....

Or a few more miles north... last place I connected to (-56 dBm on WCDMA 1900) was at Woodley and San Fernando road in North Hills, and it was a 'barred' service.

Posted by: cingular#1

More than 160 markets of 3G in less than a year.

Quote:

ATLANTA, Dec. 20 -- Cingular today said its 3G mobile broadband network now extends from San Francisco to New York, and from Chicago to Dallas, making advanced wireless services available in more than 160 markets, including most of the top 100 major cities in the country.

The company's 3G network offers advanced wireless services, such as viewing video clips, and enhances existing wireless services by making them run faster. Customers can now download a game or ringtone, or access e-mail, in a fraction of the time it used to take. Additionally, Cingular customers using a 3G handset can access all the company's data services whenever they're connected to the Cingular network.

"We're delivering on a commitment we made to our customers to enhance our core network and extend our 3G services nationally," said Ed Reynolds, president of Network Services for Cingular. "We will continue investing in and building out our 3G network so that customers across the country can experience all the benefits that wireless communications can deliver."

Cingular customers can now use its 3G mobile broadband network to rapidly access e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on-the-go whether standing under the Space Needle in Seattle or partying along Miami's South Beach.

Cingular's 3G network provides average download data speeds between 400- 700 kilobits per second with bursts to over one megabit. HSDPA/UMTS technology makes it possible for people to enjoy a wide variety of wireless content and gives Cingular the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services to customers based upon the global standard for wireless communications - GSM. For businesses and consumers, this means more feature- rich services and content, and for Cingular, a more economical method for carrying traffic and more efficient use of spectrum.

HSDPA is the high-speed evolution of GSM/EDGE (Global System for Mobile Communication), which shares a common core network and therefore is backward compatible with EDGE/GPRS.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, customers will automatically receive service on the company's EDGE network. The Cingular EDGE network is available to more than 270 million people in 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways, providing average data speeds up to 135Kbps. GSM is the world's most popular wireless technology, which is used by international wireless carriers to serve more than two billion people worldwide and enabling Cingular customers to make/receive voice calls in nearly 200 countries and access data services in more than 115 countries. With select 3G devices, customers traveling internationally can receive mobile broadband connections in more than two dozen countries.

Consumers can use Cingular Video to watch video highlights from media outlets including ABC TV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CMT, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Disney Mobile Studios, ESPN, FOX Sports, FOX News, FOX TV, FUEL, HBO Family (premium), HBO Mobile (premium), iFilm, Jayski Alerts, MTV, Music Choice, NASCAR.com To Go (premium), NCAA Championship Sports Content, NBC, Nickelodeon, Richard Childress Racing, SPEED, Spike, The Weather Channel, TV Guide Channel and VH1. They can also view highlights of a number of HBO's series including "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage" or "The Wire."

Business customers can use Cingular's LaptopConnect solutions to access the Internet or e-mail, download large files and attachments, or run corporate business applications. Cingular LaptopConnect combines either an external LaptopConnect card or an integrated modem within a Laptop and Cingular's Communication Manager to provide access to the 3G network. The service also offers additional security features compared to alternative wireless technologies.

For more information on Cingular's 3G services, coverage maps, devices and more, please visit http://www.cingular.com/3g.

Posted by: PaulieORF

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilvla2

Hey Paulie! This is RR Conductor from dslreports

The internet is a small place, now isn't it?

Posted by: ilvla2

It's a Small World After All!

Posted by: formercanuck

Made a 3G call from Woodland Hills near CompUSA today, then was barred/lost 3G service.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

Sitting in the Hilton Universal City - very strong -53db EDGE signal on my air card; had 3G all day up in Seattle. Sigh.

Posted by: formercanuck

I had to force 3g service to get it though... Setting my zx-20 to wcdma 1900 only was how I could connect.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

If there is any way to force 3G through CCM, I'd love to know.

Posted by: PiTT

Quote:

Originally Posted by formercanuck

Or a few more miles north... last place I connected to (-56 dBm on WCDMA 1900) was at Woodley and San Fernando road in North Hills, and it was a 'barred' service.

woodley and san fernando is granada hills, east of haskell and south of san fernando is north hills....confused yet? =) i live in west hills now, used to live in granada hills, and no 3G here yet. only place ive been with 3g is downtown and portions of woodland hills. using a blackjack, get my treo 750v on friday and gonna go on a 3g spree! i heard there is strong signal inside the topanga mall as well. so all in all, i think once the valley is covered so will the rest of LA. not too far off.

Posted by: moneyman1978

I have gotten 3g in El Segundo and in Venice where i live. COme on time to get a 8525

Posted by: nieds

It's amazing that the Twin Cities, which I believe is the 14th largest market, still does not have 3G, ugh.

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiTT

Could it also be Mission Hills :P .. either way, in 'the valley' yesterday (Woodland Hills) I had to force my ZX-20 to WCDMA 1900 to get any 3G service, and it wasn't consistant. I suspect that the valley is a little behind the L.A. basin. The Topanga Mall (Westfield Shopping Center?) should have excellent coverage, as does Fry's. I received better than -40 dBm at Topanga and Victory, and -23 dBm at Frys.

Posted by: P1mpPanther

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyman1978

I have gotten 3g in El Segundo and in Venice where i live. COme on time to get a 8525

You get 3G in Venice? That's where I live and I'm not getting it. El Segundo also? That's not even bordering Venice - I work in Playa Vista which is almost between the two and don't get it there either. Hmmm...

Oh, and I could have a 8525 if I really want one

Posted by: trjons

You folks getting 800kbps speeds in L.A....

Is this through the Cingular proxy? OpenDNS?

I'm topping out at 580kbps.

Posted by: PaulieORF

All of the area Cingular retailers are now telling me that the Waterbury and New Haven, Connecticut areas will have 3G launched sometime next month. I guess it was pushed back a bit from earlier reports.

Posted by: rkklinke

Milwaukee, WI should be up either now or in the next week also Madison, WI was supposed to be up this March but they are now saying at least a year before we get it. I have heard it is due to either an installer issue, Cingular fired the firm that was supposed to upgrade Madison, or there is a lack of spectrum issue. Either way the local store I use and my Business rep. both are telling me the same thing. I just turned back in my 8525 and picked up a 680 until the 750 comes out.

Posted by: dbd

Quote:

All of the area Cingular retailers are now telling me that the Waterbury and New Haven, Connecticut areas will have 3G launched sometime next month. I guess it was pushed back a bit from earlier reports.

it's not excluded...everything is possible in this world...

Posted by: DaveTreo300600

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVT

You folks getting 800kbps speeds in L.A....
Is this through the Cingular proxy? OpenDNS?

I consistently get 800+ on my BJ. I don't use any special settings so I guess it's the Cingular proxy.

Posted by: stoobie-doo

Throughout LA today on an Option GT Max 3.6...
Hilton Universal City EDGE
North Hollywood - Lankershim and Magnolia UMTS
El Segundo - Rosecrans between 405 and Sepulveda EDGE

Posted by: capper

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkklinke

Milwaukee, WI should be up either now or in the next week

How do you know this?

Posted by: P1mpPanther

So I'm feeling like a ding-a-ling right now. The reason I'm not getting 3G service here is because I don't have a 3G SIM!! I never received one (used the one from my old Nokia) so I had no idea there even was a 3G SIM until a co-worker recieved his BJ today with a new SIM card.

Doh!

Posted by: formercanuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoobie-doo

Throughout LA today on an Option GT Max 3.6...
Hilton Universal City EDGE
North Hollywood - Lankershim and Magnolia UMTS
El Segundo - Rosecrans between 405 and Sepulveda EDGE

I'm curious to know what kind of speeds you will get (average) on the 3.6 card.

Posted by: capper

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1mpPanther

So I'm feeling like a ding-a-ling right now. The reason I'm not getting 3G service here is because I don't have a 3G SIM!! I never received one (used the one from my old Nokia) so I had no idea there even was a 3G SIM until a co-worker recieved his BJ today with a new SIM card.

Doh!

So you need a 3G sim to get 3G?