sprint.com Coverage Maps Updated

Andrew Revering · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: sprint.com Coverage Maps Updated

The coverage maps on the main sprint web site have been updated. They now show Revision A areas as well as Revision 0 EVDO.

They also updated the 1xRTT areas. It's greatly blobular and swollen looking now, but that's because they combined their partner roaming areas into the 'native' coverage areas. I guess those AllTel, Verizon and US Wireless partnerships are completely seamless.

Now these maps can act as data coverage maps by following the green and evdo areas instead of the limited maps drawn on the powervision maps.

Also, it seems more EVDO 0/A areas are represented on the new sprint.com map tool. Check it out and see if your area is now represented.

sirwoogie · EVDO User Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 32 Location: MI

I'm assuming they are listing Rev. 0 as "broadband download speeds" and Rev. A as "Increased broadband upload and download speeds"

Their maps, most notably in my area are off a bit. I have good signal (-63dBm) Rev. A and it puts me in Rev. 0 territory.

Or perhaps I'm assuming wrong?

syncmaster · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:22 am Post subject:

I notice in areas where there is data roaming it is saying that these areas are now native Sprint areas, however I have one question. There are some devices that will not allow data roaming, most notably the Samsung A900. Will the A900 work in these areas for both voice and data as the coverage map depicts?

I just noticed today that my A900 has PRL 20226, and I haven't called customer service since the beginning of Jan., are they pushing it out to the phones now without calling CS and will this have any effect on the question above?

-Charlie

bradford2nd · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 14

Those maps have been updated. Now it tells me my cell service has "signal strength unavailable" when before it said I was "roaming". When infact I have great in network coverage. Also it said before there was a tower built in the last 90 days, now that point is gone.

Are those static maps still available on thier site? Those maps were very conflicting to my area.

***Update:

Looks like those static maps are still on thier site. http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/evdoEnterZip.jsp

In my area, comparing this map to the interactive street level maps. They are both different. Does anyone know what map is correct?

Andrew Revering · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject:

I would assume the map that shows you having native coverage woudl be the most up to date...

Here's a VERY interesting development.... if you go to the main sprint site and go to the bottom and click on Anticipated Coverage in the Next 120 days, it will show you if you are slated for EVDO Revision A (deeper red).

Checking the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) the first indication of EVDO Rev A is showing up using that near Lakeville, MN!

Llama · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject:

Andrew, what is the link to the Anticipated Coverage maps?

The Rev0/A on the street level map literally ends AT my property line. Next farm over is fully covered with Rev A. Sad

I get Rev 0 fine with occasional forays into Rev A.

There is a HUGE coverage gap in my area where all the antenna lobes just have to be pointed the other direction. Would be awesome if the tower sites had some information about their patterns.

Anyone know who I can contact at Sprint to ask about hosting a tower on my property? Seriously. Smile

EDITED TO ADD: Duh, Andrew I found it, its a checkbox on the street level map. Smile

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--Larry

Cummins · EVDO Newbie Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 6

Pekkle · EVDO User Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 34

a month and half a go, I signed up with Sprint broadband, and only to find out my home was in the gray area where there is no service by EVDO, however now just after a month and half, I can see my home is cover by the light orange, the Rev 0. does it mean they are now roaming with vzw? becauese before I returned my broadband card, I tried to choose the option to roam hoping to get the vzw's tower with no luck, what makes them will roam to vzw's tower now? I would hate to go active sprint again only to find out they still don't roam to vzw's tower. it's really a pain to active and cancel the service. I am sure the sale would hate that too.

horsessmellfunny · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject:

Well, Sprint and Verizon dont have a roaming agreement. The agreement is between Sprint and Alltel. They share EVDO roaming. They wouldnt show Data roaming coverage on their website. If you are seeing orange over your house, they turned on EVDO in your area. They may have also added a new tower to that area. Look on the coverage page and check the box that says "Recently built towers" and "future towers". That will help narrow it down. You can do another 30 day trial and see what happens!
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Andrew Revering · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject:

horsessmellfunny said it all, but I'd add/clarify a couple things:

1) Sprint and Verizon DO have a roaming agreement, but as horsessmellfunny said, it is not for EVDO, its just 1xRTT, which is not in question in this situation.
2) The areas shown on the sprint maps may include other partner towers, but they are acting as native sprint towers through partner agreements, and therefore you will find no difference between service when moving around in the green and orange areas on the maps. Your device will 'see' it as a native sprint tower per PRL updates.

W0861 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 15

I have to say that I have been very anti-Sprint since I was a former customer years ago. I was really upset that they took over Nextel. And then when I moved to Verizon I never looked back.

But, checking out these coverage maps, I may have to reconsider. Sprint is building a tower less than two miles from my house. I live in the hills, and cell coverage is notoriously spotty. If Sprint can give me good coverage at my house, then I can use them to replace my home phone, and with the evdo modem, I can replace my internet as well.

jon8105 · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 148

From what I could tell it isn't completely up to date because the Huntsville, Al. area has EVDO and I couldn't see it listed as having EVDO nor did it list it as a future EVDO area!

Michael · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject:

The maps are never updated daily, so there will always be locations that are not yet on the maps. I have heard the Sprint maps get refreshed every 3-4 weeks.

EVDOmaps.com is a tool for everyone to share those new locations.
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jon8105 · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 148

If they do update every 3-4 weeks then why isn't the Huntsville, AL. area, which has had EVDO for a couple of weeks or more, not even listed as a future EVDO area?!? It doesn't really matter to me I just don't want people seeing the map and think they don't have EVDO when there is a possibility that they might!

Andrew Revering · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:

Looking at the new maps more closely, I think the expansion is from integrating Verizon's 1xRTT coverage into the green areas.

If you look at AllTel's maps, EVDO and 1xRTT don't seem to be incoprorated in the native Sprint areas on their new maps. So we have to still pay attention to the AllTel maps when looking for additional coverage via 1xRTT or EVDO on their network.

The differences are obvious when you look at Nebraska and northwestern Missouri.