Sprint 4G LTE finally in Cedar Rapids

[cytech]

Sprint 4G LTE finally in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines too

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Only 2 towers so far but rest will be coming soon. Des Moines and Ames are about a month behind Eastern Iowa.

Loving the download speeds while they last though.

I am shocked to see Sprint beat AT&T to have LTE in the area. Sprint now has more nation wide LTE than AT&T does.

 

[CysRage]

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Only 2 towers so far but rest will be coming soon. Des Moines and Ames are about a month behind Eastern Iowa.

Loving the download speeds while they last though.

I am shocked to see Sprint beat AT&T to have LTE in the area. Sprint now has more nation wide LTE than AT&T does.

I just got FreedomPop which uses Sprint's towers but I am only showing 3G. Which parts of Cedar Rapids has 4G?

 

[ISUAlum05]

This makes me very tempted to switch to Sprint. We are lifelong Verizon customers, but are paying way too much. Currently out of contract, grandfathered in to unlimited data. Convince me to switch.

 

[CYme]

This makes me very tempted to switch to Sprint. We are lifelong Verizon customers, but are paying way too much. Currently out of contract, grandfathered in to unlimited data. Convince me to switch.

I've been thinking of dropping VZW as well. My concern is the coverage of the Sprint network. I travel to some pretty remote areas for work and have never had problems with VZW. Don't need to be in the middle of the desert and find myself without signal.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

Don't do it. I have a pretty schweet package for unlimited thru sprint and am about to drop it and pay more just because I'm tired of having crappy coverage.

In Des Moines

 

[00clone]

This makes me very tempted to switch to Sprint. We are lifelong Verizon customers, but are paying way too much. Currently out of contract, grandfathered in to unlimited data. Convince me to switch.

Don't necessarily have to switch to Sprint....I'm on Virgin Mobile...$35 a month for 300 minutes, unlimited messaging and data (throttled after a cap limit). No contract. Uses Sprint towers. GO NO CONTRACT!!!!

 

[ianoconnor]

Don't do it. I have a pretty schweet package for unlimited thru sprint and am about to drop it and pay more just because I'm tired of having crappy coverage.

In Des Moines

It's really that bad? Bummer. We are/were heavily leaning towards Sprint w/ the unlimited data. I'm grandfathered in on my parent's plan through Verizon, but I really want to go off on my own with my wife rather than sending money to my parents each month.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

It's really that bad? Bummer. We are/were heavily leaning towards Sprint w/ the unlimited data. I'm grandfathered in on my parent's plan through Verizon, but I really want to go off on my own with my wife rather than sending money to my parents each month.

I've been on it for years...like 8 I think...and I've put up with it because I have had a pretty good deal. But I have an S3 and still struggle to get a signal in a lot of places in des moines...ankeny...etc. It's not horrible but I'm almost at my end. Especially since you can now get those pay as you go with unlimited data for around 35 bucks.

 

[ISUAlum05]

Hmmm...any other opinions on Sprint's coverage? They BOGO HTC One's right now, which would be perfect. We can't get new (discounted) phone's through Verizon without losing unlimited data.

 

[ianoconnor]

Problem with the pay as you go plans is that they have previous generation phones. I looked at Virgin Mobile. They are selling the S3.

 

[00clone]

Problem with the pay as you go plans is that they have previous generation phones. I looked at Virgin Mobile. They are selling the S3.

True, but I happen to not be all that worried about that. I have the Galaxy Victory, no concerns thus far...but I'm an old fart compared to some of y'all.

 

[simply1]

It's really that bad? Bummer. We are/were heavily leaning towards Sprint w/ the unlimited data. I'm grandfathered in on my parent's plan through Verizon, but I really want to go off on my own with my wife rather than sending money to my parents each month.

Can't you just do an assumption of liability for the lines? People sell those plans and do that, so it seems like it'd be a no-brainer for you to do.

 

[2020cy]

Sprint is good on interstates and bigger cities and even Puerto Rico. A little dicy in the sticks. It does sound like they are upgrading slowly. 3 G does get frustrating for now.

 

[cytech]

I just got FreedomPop which uses Sprint's towers but I am only showing 3G. Which parts of Cedar Rapids has 4G?

The 2 active towers are on SW side near 380/30 and 32nd st NE and Center point road. There may be one downtown active now too. All of the sprint towers in the area have been fully upgraded already and they are just waiting for mediacom to finish the fiber backhaul to turn on the 4G.

I've been thinking of dropping VZW as well. My concern is the coverage of the Sprint network. I travel to some pretty remote areas for work and have never had problems with VZW. Don't need to be in the middle of the desert and find myself without signal.

Coverage is not as good as Verizon, but Sprint does roam on their network and roaming is included in simply everything plans.

As I mentioned in my first post Des moines is currently getting upgraded now like Cedar Rapids was last month. Before I would make any decisions to drop Sprint I would wait till the LTE, and the 800Mhz voice band goes live.
The new antenna's are supposed to put out much better coverage for voice. Also since the Soft Bank purchase of Sprint (them having $$) and Sprint buying Clearwire (them having spectrum) they plan on expanding into more rual areas once they have upgraded their full network.

 

[cytech]

For people who are interested

Coverage Maps | 4G - USA - Sprint | Sensorly

Here is a nationwide 4G LTE map for Sprint. These maps are generated by users with a android app. There is a scale on the bottom left will show how strong the signal is. You can look at any carrier on the upper left. It is really amazing how much LTE Verizon has already installed.

 

[ianoconnor]

Can't you just do an assumption of liability for the lines? People sell those plans and do that, so it seems like it'd be a no-brainer for you to do.

Not quite sure what you mean. I'm an added line on my parents' plan. If I were to leave their plan, I would no longer have the unlimited data with Verizon because I'd have to sign a new contract.

 

[Bader]

Not quite sure what you mean. I'm an added line on my parents' plan. If I were to leave their plan, I would no longer have the unlimited data with Verizon because I'd have to sign a new contract.

The next time you get a new phone with Verizon you'll use your unlimited data anyway

Edit: I guess, unless you're willing to pay the full cost of a new phone

 

[ISUboi12]

I had Verizon, which I loved, for 10 years and then this past year their customer service/sales teams made a huge mistake with my account so I switched to Sprint when my contract ended.

If you live in Iowa, Verizon 3g seems to be better than Sprint as far as data goes. Calls are basically the same. LTE in KC and Chicago are amazing for Sprint. Once they roll out LTE in DSM, Iowa City, Ames, and Omaha/CB I would definitely opt for Sprint over Verizon if I were renewing a plan. The 2 gb cap on verizon doesn't go far if you use your phone for movies and skype. Currently, with Sprint, I pay $45 per person on a 3-person family plan.

 

[ianoconnor]

The next time you get a new phone with Verizon you'll use your unlimited data anyway

Edit: I guess, unless you're willing to pay the full cost of a new phone

Yea, and that's why I'm fed up with Verizon & will most likely switch. We've been customers for > 10 years, but getting rid of unlimited/eliminating grandfathered plans was the last straw.

 

[aeroclone]

The 2 active towers are on SW side near 380/30 and 32nd st NE and Center point road. There may be one downtown active now too. All of the sprint towers in the area have been fully upgraded already and they are just waiting for mediacom to finish the fiber backhaul to turn on the 4G.



Coverage is not as good as Verizon, but Sprint does roam on their network and roaming is included in simply everything plans.

As I mentioned in my first post Des moines is currently getting upgraded now like Cedar Rapids was last month. Before I would make any decisions to drop Sprint I would wait till the LTE, and the 800Mhz voice band goes live.
The new antenna's are supposed to put out much better coverage for voice. Also since the Soft Bank purchase of Sprint (them having $$) and Sprint buying Clearwire (them having spectrum) they plan on expanding into more rual areas once they have upgraded their full network.

Looks like 4G may also be up near West Branch off I-80 near Cedar Johnson Rd.

4G is starting to come up in Des Moines as well. There is a site up at SE 14th and Hartford.

From what I saw during the buildout in KC, before the city is officially announced, sites can come up and down and the experience can vary. But it is nice to get an early taste of LTE goodness.