Improved AT&T Cellular Coverage Coming Soon to Sierra Madre, CA.

[Danny4G]

Source: http://sierramadre.patch.com/article...o-sierra-madre

Can you hear me now?" was the only question asked--albeit in jest by Mayor Mosca--as the City Council moved Tuesday to accept preliminary plans from AT&T that will modify an existing cellular tower in Sierra Vista Park in hopes of bettering notoriously bad cell phone coverage from the carrier within the city.

The item was pulled from the consent calendar by Mayor Mosca, he said, in order to highlight what he and many on the council saw as a positive step in a long-running issue for Sierra Madre residents.

The tower modification proposal follows an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile to allow the larger carrier to use the existing infrastructure for what is called a "co-location" design in lieu of constructing an independent, secondary tower.

Practically, the approval by the city council will allow city staff to "proceed with processing [the] application" for the improvement, as well as allow AT&T workers access to the city-owned property and recognizing T-Mobile's consent to that access and eventual modification.

But things may not move as quickly as many of the town's iPhone users would like, according to Elisa Weaver, the city's pubic information officer. In an interview preceding Tuesday's City Council approval of the application process, Weaver said that it could be as long at six months before the plans are approved and the new technology is functional.

The move by AT&T comes after significant pressure from residents on the City Council and staff to urge the telecom giant to improve cellular coverage within the city.

Perhaps most interestingly, the news comes directly on the heels of the release of Apple's iPhone on the Verizon network this week. Until now, AT&T has been the sole carrier for the popular smartphone, the Internet access and data capabilities of which many blame for AT&T's poor service.

Sierra Madre's Management Analyst James Carlson also confirmed that AT&T has expressed interest in implementing a similar co-location tower on the property of the United Methodist Church on Sierra Madre Boulevard. That application for modification is expected to be a simpler process due to the fact that the tower is on private property, according to city officials.

[formercanuck]

Typically, I've noticed that coverage north/east of the 210 has always been on the poor side from Sylmar through Monrovia.

[Danny4G]

Typically, I've noticed that coverage north/east of the 210 has always been on the poor side from Sylmar through Monrovia.

Yeah it's poor with all of them in spots. The closer to the foothill communities away from the main highways the worse it gets. Even Verizon phones go to 1x

Even in populated areas like Pasadena coverage can be swiss cheese. The communities up there don't like cell sites anywhere near their persons.

[formercanuck]

According to. AT&T network news, sites are being added to San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.


Sent from my iPhone 3GS using HowardForums

[thematch]

Source: http://sierramadre.patch.com/article...o-sierra-madre

Can you hear me now?" was the only question asked--albeit in jest by Mayor Mosca--as the City Council moved Tuesday to accept preliminary plans from AT&T that will modify an existing cellular tower in Sierra Vista Park in hopes of bettering notoriously bad cell phone coverage from the carrier within the city.

The item was pulled from the consent calendar by Mayor Mosca, he said, in order to highlight what he and many on the council saw as a positive step in a long-running issue for Sierra Madre residents.

The tower modification proposal follows an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile to allow the larger carrier to use the existing infrastructure for what is called a "co-location" design in lieu of constructing an independent, secondary tower.

Practically, the approval by the city council will allow city staff to "proceed with processing [the] application" for the improvement, as well as allow AT&T workers access to the city-owned property and recognizing T-Mobile's consent to that access and eventual modification.

But things may not move as quickly as many of the town's iPhone users would like, according to Elisa Weaver, the city's pubic information officer. In an interview preceding Tuesday's City Council approval of the application process, Weaver said that it could be as long at six months before the plans are approved and the new technology is functional.

The move by AT&T comes after significant pressure from residents on the City Council and staff to urge the telecom giant to improve cellular coverage within the city.

Perhaps most interestingly, the news comes directly on the heels of the release of Apple's iPhone on the Verizon network this week. Until now, AT&T has been the sole carrier for the popular smartphone, the Internet access and data capabilities of which many blame for AT&T's poor service.

Sierra Madre's Management Analyst James Carlson also confirmed that AT&T has expressed interest in implementing a similar co-location tower on the property of the United Methodist Church on Sierra Madre Boulevard. That application for modification is expected to be a simpler process due to the fact that the tower is on private property, according to city officials.

Just an update, but this tower is still pending. It has to go before the Sierra Madre city council because it is on city property. However, there is a second tower that was approved by the city planning commission on the corner of Sierra Madre and Michillinda. Interestingly, this is an add to a tower with T-Mobile on it as well. I'm surprised that they are willing to add towers to T-Mobile locations with the pending merger.

[Kies]

Is it T-Mobile owned? That's probably the difference.. but they do have to operate as they would have before it's finalized and they don't do any network sharing like before the AT&T/Cingular merger anymore.

[thematch]

Is it T-Mobile owned? That's probably the difference.. but they do have to operate as they would have before it's finalized and they don't do any network sharing like before the AT&T/Cingular merger anymore.

It's on the church's property at that location. There is actually another provider on that tower as well.

That advantage will also be that it will hopefully be 850 capable. When I had T-Mobile, signal would still go in and out.

[Kies]

Well how long ago was that?
The tower at the Methodist church is a T-Mobile owned cell site. It will become AT&T's (as far as we know right now) under the merger but still it's not like they won't take an opportunity to improve coverage now rather than later. T-Mobile is still adding towers, I must have seen about over 100 of those new site location indicators on the map over 2010-11 and notwithstanding the mistakes, most of them turn out to be new cell sites. There are quite a few recent ones up there now.

[thematch]

Well how long ago was that?
The tower at the Methodist church is a T-Mobile owned cell site. It will become AT&T's (as far as we know right now) under the merger but still it's not like they won't take an opportunity to improve coverage now rather than later. T-Mobile is still adding towers, I must have seen about over 100 of those new site location indicators on the map over 2010-11 and notwithstanding the mistakes, most of them turn out to be new cell sites. There are quite a few recent ones up there now.

The approval was last week. I'm sure it will take a few months to actually get the tower up and running.

[Kies]

The approval was last week. I'm sure it will take a few months to actually get the tower up and running.

It's still way before the merger will take place

[thematch]

The tower is now up. I don't know how long it will take to come on air. Interestingly, the Verizon tower went up at the same time and is disguised as a palm tree.

[TWX]

The tower is now up. I don't know how long it will take to come on air. Interestingly, the Verizon tower went up at the same time and is disguised as a palm tree.

If the backhaul has been run to the tower and hooked up, then it may go live in a month. Verizon finished building a 190 foot monopole site in my town (as in the pole was up, antennas/cable was run from the mast to the base station, and fencing was put up). Last week they finally ran fiber backhaul to the site. It isn't hooked up yet though, just rolled up in a spool outside of the conduit.

[thematch]

For those who are interested, a picture of them working on both new sites at the same time. The far one is the AT&T tower (where you can actually see the tower). I know T-Mobile is on the same tower. The person on the closer crane is working on the new Verizon tower. I'll have to take a picture from another angle (I was stopped at a red light).

[fxguy]

For those who are interested, a picture of them working on both new sites at the same time. The far one is the AT&T tower (where you can actually see the tower). I know T-Mobile is on the same tower. The person on the closer crane is working on the new Verizon tower. I'll have to take a picture from another angle (I was stopped at a red light).

I've been dying with the lack of AT&T service in Sierra Madre for years.

Where is that picture of the new tower from?

You mentioned you were at a red light, so Michillinda and Sierra Madre blvd?

Thanks.

[thematch]

I've been dying with the lack of AT&T service in Sierra Madre for years.

Where is that picture of the new tower from?

You mentioned you were at a red light, so Michillinda and Sierra Madre blvd?

Thanks.

You guessed it. Both are located at the church on that corner.

I saw them working on the AT&T tower as recently as yesterday and the crane/truck is still onsite. I believe they are adjusting/tuning the panels.