T-Mobile “Making Great Progress” On 4G Network Modernization -

[ilvla2]

Well let's see.. let them **** on the threads and not say anything. Ok, I've got it now. I've been trying that and it's not working.

Wow, you take these forums and carriers WAY too seriously, relax, life's too short.

[ggore]

Sprint's coverage in this area-

Attachment 82216
Pretty pathetic. LOL

The Pin is good ole Redwood Valley.

Now now, you can't trust those maps, they're just lies, they cover that entire area! ROFL!!!!!!!!! Bazinga!

[J.D.M.]

Any news about T-Mobile upgrading all of their sites to at least 3G? I am really wanting to switch to T-Mobile, but T-Mobile's still stuck on EDGE where I live. T-Mobile does great with voice coverage here, but I hear nothing but bad things about how useless data is. I know some people who have switched from T-Mobile because of it. Might there be any good news for those of us still on EDGE/GPRS with T-Mobile's 4G network modernization effort?

[terryjohnson16]

Any news about T-Mobile upgrading all of their sites to at least 3G? I am really wanting to switch to T-Mobile, but T-Mobile's still stuck on EDGE where I live. T-Mobile does great with voice coverage here, but I hear nothing but bad things about how useless data is. I know some people who have switched from T-Mobile because of it. Might there be any good news for those of us still on EDGE/GPRS with T-Mobile's 4G network modernization effort?

I'd be surprised if T-Mobile didn't enable 3G on those EDGE towers in the areas where they are putting HSPA+ on PCS.

[Danny4G]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-574...?tag=txt;title

T-Mobile USA and Leap wireless said today they plan on exchanging spectrum in several markets in the U.S. to better improve the potential coverage.

The spectrum swap also includes T-Mobile, Cool Inlet/VS GSM VII PCS, a joint venture in which T-Mobile has a non-controlling majority stake, as well as Savary Island Wireless, which Leap has a non-controlling majority stake in.

The deal is just the latest move by the wireless carriers to improve their various spectrum positions. By realigning their spectrum holdings, the carriers can build a network with better coverage, and potentially, better service. The transaction also signals the broader need for more spectrum in the wireless industry.

"These transactions will enhance our spectrum depth in these markets and provide us longer term flexibility to offer a larger LTE channel," said Leap CEO Doug Hutcheson. "In addition the transactions will allow us to re-align spectrum in key markets into contiguous channels thereby optimizing our delivery of wireless services."

T-Mobile said the agreement would allow it to enhance its 4G user experience and modernize its network for future its planned LTE deployment.

The deal means Leap, which operates a prepaid wireless service under the Cricket brand, would get additional spectrum in Phoenix, Ariz., Houston, Galveston, and Bryan College Station, Texas. Leap and Savary Island are also assigning T-Mobile and Cook spectrum in various markets in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. T-Mobile, Leap, and Cook Inlet will also exchange spectrum within markets in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., Atlantic City, N.J., and other markets in Texas and New Mexico. Leap and Cook Inlet will swap spectrum between each other in Texas.

[Julian]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-574...?tag=txt;title

T-Mobile USA and Leap wireless said today they plan on exchanging spectrum in several markets in the U.S. to better improve the potential coverage.

That's 2 months old....

[Antenna]

I wouldn't put all my trust in those maps, T-Mobile says our house and Redwood Valley is in strong coverage, but it's actually horribly weak. To be fair, ALL the carriers like to pad their maps, but I have to say T-Mobile pads their maps for this area more than anybody else. I am guessing Oklahoma being pretty flat (yes, I know you have some hills, but not mountains like we do ) and for the most part not heavily forested are some reasons deployment is easier there.

Edit-Do you have coporate stores in your area? The closest T-Mobile corporate store to me is in Santa Rosa, 70 miles south, T-Mobile and Metro PCS only have authorized dealers here, we do have corporate stores though from AT&T, Verizon and U.S. Cellular though, as well as authorized dealers for those three.

Yes Verizon flat out lies on my map, showing San Bernardino as LTE, without a lick of it. And they cost $50/1gb. There's no excuse for them

Back to topic; Hopefully as Tmobile refarms the PCS band, they will have 3G in your market

Sent from my DROID RAZR

[Loyal Servant]

There is this bizarre coverae area that I happen to live in that I still cannot figure out.
They have one BTS that is EDGE only dead smack in the middle of an H area.
I have a real hard time understanding that one...

The best part of that is they have that labeled on their maps as "3G" but in reality its all EDGE for the 2 mile radius around that BTS - because that's all there is.
At first I assumed that this BTS was simply down but upon investigating it appears they never upgraded it.

I figured.. perhaps they could not get the backhaul to it for some reason or the landowner to agree to let them drop some more cabinets on the site or something but there are other carriers colocated on the same tower.
Can't help but notice the Verizon cabinet with LTE sector antennas up there as well as the AT&T cabinet right next to it with their GSM antennas.. then the old, cruddy T-Mobile cabinet sitting between them that still says SunCom on it. (LOL)

Got me.... perhaps this site is on the list in their modernization plan.
It's got to be embarrassing for the T-Mobile engineers to work this site with the 10+ year old rusting SunCom cabinet between two shiny new cabinets.

[i0wnj00]

There is this bizarre coverae area that I happen to live in that I still cannot figure out.
They have one BTS that is EDGE only dead smack in the middle of an H area.
I have a real hard time understanding that one...

It must be the old crusty BTS from Suncom that T-Mobile USA forgot, neglected to touch or will decommission. I will have to bet this site you're referring to still has the 1900 MHz only antennas from the Suncom days.

My money says that they will turn it off, remove the equipment and reuse the spectrum for the other nearby sites. Then again I can be wrong.

I figured.. perhaps they could not get the backhaul to it for some reason or the landowner to agree to let them drop some more cabinets on the site or something but there are other carriers colocated on the same tower.

This implies T-Mobile USA needs more space for cabinets. All they have to do is likely inform the landowner that they will gut the old cabinet and install a new one or reuse the old cabinet and install new gear inside. I doubt a landowner is going to throw a fit if all they're doing is gutting/reusing the cabinet.

[Loyal Servant]

Removing this site would probably be bad.
When I look at the voice coverage map I can clearly see where it is on the map.
If they removed it there would be a hole in voice coverage along at least 3 miles of interstate and the surrounding area, including my house.

There are 2 other BTS that are HSPA+ pointing at me but terrain attenuates that down substantially.
Other than that I get EDGE @ -89dBm on average off that site and that is inside the house with substantial
foliage between me and that BTS.

I hope they upgrade it because that would give me solid HSPA as well as our entire development which rides at EDGE because of the terrain.
Once I crest that hill going towards one or the other BTS with HSPA+ my handsets jump to 4 or 5 bars immediately from 0-1 or EDGE.

All I can do is hope that the sites covering that corridor are upgraded in this new modernization plan of theirs.
I have excellent voice coverage otherwise.
It sort of sucks being surrounded with H+ but being closest to one BTS that's only serving EDGE.

... Any t-Mobile engineers read this and want the site number?

[jsimp2006]

Same problem up here in MI! Urban area with HSPA+ 42 in all directions and there's an EDGE tower that serves my office park =/

[danska]

I've generally been able to put my amaze on wcdma only and get at least 1 bar or less, and keep a data signal when that happens. Depending on the area, my amaze will pick up 2g if 4g is weak or even a little weak.

[jarrodpd]

Removing this site would probably be bad.
When I look at the voice coverage map I can clearly see where it is on the map.
If they removed it there would be a hole in voice coverage along at least 3 miles of interstate and the surrounding area, including my house.

There are 2 other BTS that are HSPA+ pointing at me but terrain attenuates that down substantially.
Other than that I get EDGE @ -89dBm on average off that site and that is inside the house with substantial
foliage between me and that BTS.

I hope they upgrade it because that would give me solid HSPA as well as our entire development which rides at EDGE because of the terrain.
Once I crest that hill going towards one or the other BTS with HSPA+ my handsets jump to 4 or 5 bars immediately from 0-1 or EDGE.

All I can do is hope that the sites covering that corridor are upgraded in this new modernization plan of theirs.
I have excellent voice coverage otherwise.
It sort of sucks being surrounded with H+ but being closest to one BTS that's only serving EDGE.

... Any t-Mobile engineers read this and want the site number?

If it is busy area and within the top 150 markets I would say you would defiantly get a new base station I'm surprised they would wait 15 years to update it though.

[jarrodpd]

We should be finding out within the next day how much they have accomplished there website is getting worked on and the native coverage map is unavailable, I would post screen who but I'm on my iPhone

[ja5219]

Wow! Looks like they're gonna be changing colors, not to mention you get a better idea of 3G/4G coverage without having to zoom in all the way!!