LTE panels going up in Delaware

[Airb330]

About half of the AT&T cell sites in northern DE have LTE panels installed. The nearest one to me right now is in New Castle, DE and has 1 thick LTE panel, 1 thick 3G panel (not sure what frequency(ies), and one very thin old AT&T blue style GSM panel (most likely at 1900 only).

Verizon's has had LTE here for awhile. Now if AT&T puts LTE on all of their sites, it will be better than Verizon's. Verizon's cell site spacing here is really wide and they do not have LTE on every site even, so it's inconsistent.

[Baldilocks]

I live near Smyrna. While LTE is a non issue for me because I use only unlocked international phones, it's good to see that AT&T is installing LTE in Delaware. They FINALLY got HSPA+ in my neck of the sticks not too long ago.

It only makes sense that Wilmington and it's surrounding areas and Dover and it's surrounding areas will see LTE first.

[Airb330]

I live near Smyrna. While LTE is a non issue for me because I use only unlocked international phones, it's good to see that AT&T is installing LTE in Delaware. They FINALLY got HSPA+ in my neck of the sticks not too long ago.

It only makes sense that Wilmington and it's surrounding areas and Dover and it's surrounding areas will see LTE first.

I grew up in Smyrna. Stick with AT&T there. Verizon still isn't too hot in lower NCCo or Kent. Verizon, finally, added a site in Clayton, after AT&T had one there since 2004. AT&T has 3 more sites in the area versus Verizon: Extreme west Clayton (Clayton Delaney Rd), North Smyrna (black diamond rd) and South Smyrna (Brenford Rd), are still clearly superior for AT&T where Verizon barely works outside. If I still lived back home I'd still have AT&T, but in Philly AT&T had some severe UMTS issues in 2008 that scared me away to Sprint and now Verizon.

How are the 3G speeds in Smyrna/Dover on AT&T now? Last time I had them, it was EDGE only, but around 200kbps. The 3G speeds in Wilmington and Philly were atrocious, 200kbps, so it wasn't very fast back then. If they are true HSPA+ speeds, LTE really isn't even necessary at this point. Verizon's 3G is so slow in DE, you're lucky to get 200-400kbps unless you are next to a site.

[mush10]

How are the 3G speeds in Smyrna/Dover on AT&T now? Last time I had them, it was EDGE only, but around 200kbps. The 3G speeds in Wilmington and Philly were atrocious, 200kbps, so it wasn't very fast back then. If they are true HSPA+ speeds, LTE really isn't even necessary at this point. Verizon's 3G is so slow in DE, you're lucky to get 200-400kbps unless you are next to a site.

I am in the same situation as you - Philly area and switched to Verizon. Jumped my main lines over to Verizon when I couldn't drive a minute without dropping an AT&T call. My iPhone experience with Verizon data is okay at best while driving through Delaware and into Maryland from Philly. I am trialing some new devices on AT&T and trying to get an idea of what works best for my needs at this point.

Good to hear they are rolling out LTE in Delaware. LTE in DC and Baltimore on AT&T has been pretty solid. I am really hoping to see Philly lit up soon and the shore areas of NJ and Delaware, but I get the feeling that is a ways off. Supposedly Verizon is lighting those up with LTE on Thursday.

[Airb330]

I am in the same situation as you - Philly area and switched to Verizon. Jumped my main lines over to Verizon when I couldn't drive a minute without dropping an AT&T call. My iPhone experience with Verizon data is okay at best while driving through Delaware and into Maryland from Philly. I am trialing some new devices on AT&T and trying to get an idea of what works best for my needs at this point.

Good to hear they are rolling out LTE in Delaware. LTE in DC and Baltimore on AT&T has been pretty solid. I am really hoping to see Philly lit up soon and the shore areas of NJ and Delaware, but I get the feeling that is a ways off. Supposedly Verizon is lighting those up with LTE on Thursday.

2008 was not a good year for AT&T in Philadelphia. I could walk around city hall and drop 7-9 calls. Unreal. I hear it is better now, but I have no desire to go back to them after that. Even in S. NJ where we live now, AT&T is a little better (and still better in most of Delaware), but I'll pass. Especially now that my discount won't apply to data and it's capped.

I bet Verizon's LTE will involve only 2-3 towers at the Delaware beaches. I honestly think that is all they have. Severely lacking in Bethany and Lewes. They suck down there compared to AT&T. AT&T, used to be weak in Dewey though. I'm not nearly as familiar with NJ beaches even though I live in south Jersey now, but I still think Verizon will probably put LTE on 1 tower per beach town just to say "it is covered."

[Baldilocks]

I grew up in Smyrna. Stick with AT&T there. Verizon still isn't too hot in lower NCCo or Kent. Verizon, finally, added a site in Clayton, after AT&T had one there since 2004. AT&T has 3 more sites in the area versus Verizon: Extreme west Clayton (Clayton Delaney Rd), North Smyrna (black diamond rd) and South Smyrna (Brenford Rd), are still clearly superior for AT&T where Verizon barely works outside. If I still lived back home I'd still have AT&T, but in Philly AT&T had some severe UMTS issues in 2008 that scared me away to Sprint and now Verizon.

How are the 3G speeds in Smyrna/Dover on AT&T now? Last time I had them, it was EDGE only, but around 200kbps. The 3G speeds in Wilmington and Philly were atrocious, 200kbps, so it wasn't very fast back then. If they are true HSPA+ speeds, LTE really isn't even necessary at this point. Verizon's 3G is so slow in DE, you're lucky to get 200-400kbps unless you are next to a site.

This is in Smyrna.


Sent from my Galaxy S II

[Airb330]

Wow not bad. I'm assuming it's hitting the main Smyrna site on Locust. Just the tower spacing AT&T has in the area over Verizon is much better, let alone the speed difference. On Verizon I can hit over 1mpbs when I am on the new Clayton tower, or very close to the Smyrna tower on Brick Store Landing Rd. Otherwise I plod along at 200kbps. Considering everyone I know except 1-2 relatives uses Verizon in Smyrna/Dover I guess it does not surprise me they are slow. While Verizon is better than before, I am surprised they garner that kind of loyalty considering so many areas are very bad for them like Brenford Rd which has seen a majority of housing growth for Smyrna. It's just too far away from the Brick Store Landing site.

Now when will AT&T finish the 2-3 cell sites in Delaware that are EDGE only? Looks like a tower or two near Seaford and the tower on Clayton Delany & Saltere Roads in extreme west Clayton are it? Verizon and Sprint need to co-locate on that tower. AT&T is the only provider with even outdoor service in a lot of that area thanks to that tower.

[mush10]

The Jersey shore has always been a disaster for AT&T. My experience is mostly at South Jersey shore points. The network would become unusable during peak weekends. Verizon's would be slow, but you could use data. Last year AT&T added a lot of towers and it helped some, but my Verizon iPhone still would beat my wife's on AT&T which shouldn't happen. Verizon LTE down there will be a welcome addition.

[Baldilocks]

Wow not bad. I'm assuming it's hitting the main Smyrna site on Locust. Just the tower spacing AT&T has in the area over Verizon is much better, let alone the speed difference. On Verizon I can hit over 1mpbs when I am on the new Clayton tower, or very close to the Smyrna tower on Brick Store Landing Rd. Otherwise I plod along at 200kbps. Considering everyone I know except 1-2 relatives uses Verizon in Smyrna/Dover I guess it does not surprise me they are slow. While Verizon is better than before, I am surprised they garner that kind of loyalty considering so many areas are very bad for them like Brenford Rd which has seen a majority of housing growth for Smyrna. It's just too far away from the Brick Store Landing site.

Now when will AT&T finish the 2-3 cell sites in Delaware that are EDGE only? Looks like a tower or two near Seaford and the tower on Clayton Delany & Saltere Roads in extreme west Clayton are it? Verizon and Sprint need to co-locate on that tower. AT&T is the only provider with even outdoor service in a lot of that area thanks to that tower.

Not exactly sure. I have HSPA+ in Blackiston. Which is way out in the boonies.

My friends in downtown Clayton with Verizon have pretty spotty coverage.

Sent from my Galaxy S II

[Baldilocks]

The Jersey shore has always been a disaster for AT&T. My experience is mostly at South Jersey shore points. The network would become unusable during peak weekends. Verizon's would be slow, but you could use data. Last year AT&T added a lot of towers and it helped some, but my Verizon iPhone still would beat my wife's on AT&T which shouldn't happen. Verizon LTE down there will be a welcome addition.

My girlfriend had to switch to my AT&T plan. She lives in Glendora,NJ. She has very little signal and dropped calls with Verizon. Now she has -78bB (a fullllll 5 bars) of full HSPA+ coverage with AT&T.

Sent from my Galaxy S II

[fraydog]

Have any pics?

[Baldilocks]

Have any pics?

Of???

.............

[fraydog]

The panels in question.

[Airb330]

Not exactly sure. I have HSPA+ in Blackiston. Which is way out in the boonies.

My friends in downtown Clayton with Verizon have pretty spotty coverage.

Sent from my Galaxy S II

Not really...you're probably hitting the Kenton tower or the Clayton tower. It doesn't seem out in the boonies to me...as you are only probably a few miles from my family's house. Very weird you live where I grew up...and I live in Gloucester County NJ not too far from your girlfriend! Verizon sucks in Gloucester County. I get 1X at my house 95% of the time. LTE should be available now, but I obviously cannot use it with my iPhone. I'm glad at&t is working better for her.

Even when I had Verizon way in 2001 with a 5185i, Clayton and rural areas were fine. The oldest tower is located near the Prison. As more users came onto the network, that tower really couldn't serve all of Clayton and Smyrna. In 2003, as AT&T was building it's GSM network, it added a site in Clayton (@Hanover Foods) and Kenton. Cingular then kept these sites in 2004 and added GSM850. Verizon co-located on the Kenton tower that year as well. Fast forward to 2012 and Verizon finally added a site in downtown Clayton. It's on the (oval?) shaped blue water tower. Now the biggest weak spot for Verizon is around Brenford Road in south Smyrna and in Odessa. Verizon LTE panels have been spotted in Middletown on this board but not lit up.

Fraydog, I'll see if I can get a picture of the one site with LTE near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I've only noticed about 3-4 sites with LTE panels, but they are definitely adding them.

[Airb330]

T-Mobile is up top. The center of the tower has: ATT LTE, ATT WCDMA, ATT GSM, and on the far right a Clear WiMax panel. Metro or Cricket is on here too, but I don't think it is visible.