CENTRAL U.S. -- IPCS cell site addition #'s

[larry]

Sprint affiliate IPCS has added their largest number of new cell sites in one quarter in several years. 67 new sites were added from March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008. That's sure to help make a difference! I suspect that many of those were synergy sites (CDMA added to existing IDEN sites).

[RadioFoneGuy]

Once again buyout speculation comes in to play. I was at a power outage and ran into a Ipcs tech and they all get the vibe from conference calls that this is a sort of ramp up to make the company look more appealing. They have been tweaking the EVDO up to Rev A and adding a ton of sites.

If you remember Dobson the last year before buyout they bragged about building a years worth of towers in 6 months and churn was down and data was up etc.

Also look at Unicel before buyout, they added a ton of sites. More sites equals less dropped calls, less churn. Makes an easier sales pitch to stock holders.

[Bill Clinton]

Originally Posted by RadioFoneGuy

Once again buyout speculation comes in to play.

If you remember Dobson the last year before buyout they bragged about building a years worth of towers in 6 months and churn was down and data was up etc.

Also look at Unicel before buyout, they added a ton of sites. More sites equals less dropped calls, less churn. Makes an easier sales pitch to stock holders.

That's a good point. I would love to see IPCS get bought out, but if they keep building at this rate I will be just as happy. IPCS territory has been known to have problems and I think their network is sub-par. I am very glad to see them aggressively trying to improve their network which has always been inferior to the surrounding Sprint cooperate network.

[cellular_freak]

I know what you mean. I was so shocked to find out that iPCS was putting up a panel on the Dobson tower in my town. I didn't think iPCS would ever venture away for the interstate and come over here into rural Michigan. But they are. If they do a good enough job, maybe I'd think about switching to them down the road. Because as of right now, there's only three cell companies that provide service where I live (Dobson/AT&T, Thumb Cellular, and Nextel).

Does anybody know how long it takes once a panel has been added to a tower how long it takes to become active? I am testing out an old Sprint phone I got off eBay for cheap just to see how the service will be here and it appears that it isn't active yet.

[Bill Clinton]

Sometimes it takes a few months. Knowing IPCS it probably will, but hey they surprised me once by actually attempting to do something right for a change so maybe it will only be a couple weeks before the site is active.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by Bill Clinton

Sometimes it takes a few months. Knowing IPCS it probably will, but hey they surprised me once by actually attempting to do something right for a change so maybe it will only be a couple weeks before the site is active.

Oh, wow. I didn't realize it took so long to bring a panel to life. I guess I'll just keep testing the phone that I have out and just play a waiting game. It'll be interesting. They just put the panels up a couple weeks ago, so we'll see.

[larry]

Usually takes about 3-4 weeks from the time the panels are installed from what I've seen on most sites. But problems can arise and it can sometimes takes longer. I've seen some sit for 4 months before going on air.

[RadioFoneGuy]

Alot of times the wait is on contractors and telco (backhaul). 911 for that tower needs to be set up with the county which uses a contractor as well. Its all about waiting for contractors.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by RadioFoneGuy

Alot of times the wait is on contractors and telco (backhaul). 911 for that tower needs to be set up with the county which uses a contractor as well. Its all about waiting for contractors.

Well what happens if all they're doing is adding a panel to an existing tower?

[larry]

Each carrier still has to have their own telco, e911, etc. which requires seperate contractors.

[RadioFoneGuy]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

Well what happens if all they're doing is adding a panel to an existing tower?

same thing applies. even if it was Sprint Corporate putting CDMA on a existing iDEN site it would still take awhile. You still have to put brand new equipment at the site, hire a tower company to put up the cables and antennas. You also have to wait for the backhaul lines which can take forever.

Corporate Sprint is easier in that they can pop a cabinet in an existing Nextel building and utilize some of the antenna cables, where as Ipcs has to place a brand new outdoor cabinet and order new electrical service and have brand new lines put on the tower and antennas.

I just seen iPCS finish a site in about 2 months but that doesnt count what they had to do before hand with Leasing, 911 setup, ordering equipment and supplies and anthing else.

[larry]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

Oh, wow. I didn't realize it took so long to bring a panel to life. I guess I'll just keep testing the phone that I have out and just play a waiting game. It'll be interesting. They just put the panels up a couple weeks ago, so we'll see.

I heard the site in Caro is now on air. Apparently they were testing it though so it might be on and off for a few days until it stays on for good.

Also I heard that one North of Midland went on yesterday.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by larry

I heard the site in Caro is now on air. Apparently they were testing it though so it might be on and off for a few days until it stays on for good.

Also I heard that one North of Midland went on yesterday.

Well that's good to hear. So I'll have to test my phone when I get back home. Do you know if any are going up in the Merrill/Hemlock area?

[larry]

You are referring to the site just South of the 24 right? The one owned by Global Tower Partners?

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by larry

You are referring to the site just South of the 24 right? The one owned by Global Tower Partners?

Yes. It's actually right in between M24 on two sides, LOL. Because of the way M24 turns right near there. That's the tower I use when I'm at home because Dobson is on top.

[liagb59]

any going up in Ct

[Bill Clinton]

Originally Posted by liagb59

any going up in Ct

Well the thread was referring to IPCS and Connecticut isn't IPCS territory. IPCS is a company Provides service for Sprint in a small part of the country in return for using the Sprint name and using Sprint corporate's network in the rest of the country.

You can check the Sprint site for coverage maps and if you zoom on your area and there is a tool that shows new and recent towers.

Also think about calling Sprint to complain that coverage is lacking. If it is reported Sprint will know that they have an area that needs fixing. If it doesn't get reported Sprint doesn't fix it because they aren't aware of the problem.

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by larry

I suspect that many of those were synergy sites (CDMA added to existing IDEN sites).

This would not happen, iPCS and Nextel co-locating as synergy sites. It could and is happening with Sprint PCS & iDen sites. iPCS being an affiliate of Sprint means it has no real relationship with Nextel.

[spleck]

Originally Posted by Dogma

This would not happen, iPCS and Nextel co-locating as synergy sites. It could and is happening with Sprint PCS & iDen sites. iPCS being an affiliate of Sprint means it has no real relationship with Nextel.

Just like Verizon and AT&T never co-locate right?

Originally Posted by larry

I suspect that many of those were synergy sites (CDMA added to existing IDEN sites).

In this case would they really be "synergy" sites, or just a standard co-location, probably with some cost savings in there somewhere?

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by Dogma

This would not happen, iPCS and Nextel co-locating as synergy sites. It could and is happening with Sprint PCS & iDen sites. iPCS being an affiliate of Sprint means it has no real relationship with Nextel.

Well they may not be these "synergy" sites, but iPCS is for sure only putting up new towers around me where existing Nextel towers were and nowhere else!! I find it kind of interesting . . . .

[larry]

Originally Posted by Dogma

This would not happen, iPCS and Nextel co-locating as synergy sites. It could and is happening with Sprint PCS & iDen sites. iPCS being an affiliate of Sprint means it has no real relationship with Nextel.

Technically no they wouldn't be synergy sites unless IPCS is actually adding CDMA to the same array as Nextel and/or using the Nextel equipment shed to house their own equipment.

[spleck]

Originally Posted by larry

Technically no they wouldn't be synergy sites unless IPCS is actually adding CDMA to the same array as Nextel and/or using the Nextel equipment shed to house their own equipment.

Wow. You mean they're using the same antenna mounts (triangle platform/whatever its called)? Any pics in the gallery?

[larry]

Originally Posted by spleck

Wow. You mean they're using the same antenna mounts (triangle platform/whatever its called)? Any pics in the gallery?

Yes they've been doing that for 3 years now. Thousands of them have been done that way. I have posted plenty of pics in the California gallery over the past 2 or 3 years. Here's an example: http://gallery.wirelessadvisor.com/s...php?i=4785&c=6

What they do is remove one IDEN panel per sector (which is actually a dummy or spare panel) and replace it with a CDMA panel. They drop the CDMA equipment right inside the Nextel shed (if there's room). If not they often place the equipment right outside the Nextel shed in the fenced off, leased area.

[spleck]

Originally Posted by larry

What they do is remove one IDEN panel per sector (which is actually a dummy or spare panel) and replace it with a CDMA panel. They drop the CDMA equipment right inside the Nextel shed (if there's room). If not they often place the equipment right outside the Nextel shed in the fenced off, leased area.

I figured they were sharing sheds or platforms, but I didn't know they were sharing antenna mounts. It sure makes the idea of selling off the iDEN network at some point difficult.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by spleck

I figured they were sharing sheds or platforms, but I didn't know they were sharing antenna mounts. It sure makes the idea of selling off the iDEN network at some point difficult.

That's kind of what I was thinking. If Sprint had already added CDMA to all those panels, it'll be kinda weird to sell them to another company.

And from what I've seen at least around me, whenever Sprint adds CDMA panels to an existing iDEN site, the coverage that it produces is less than what normal Sprint sites are. It seems they may have some issues with doing that.

[larry]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

And from what I've seen at least around me, whenever Sprint adds CDMA panels to an existing iDEN site, the coverage that it produces is less than what normal Sprint sites are. It seems they may have some issues with doing that.

Issues with what? In your area all they are doing is co-locating on a tower that just happens to have Nextel on it right? The Nextel site is completely seperate from the IPCS site so they are not adding to the IDEN. It's really no different than any other site they put up. I don't see how Nextel being on the tower would affect the IPCS site in any way, shape or form.

With that being said I have not noticed any difference with corporate synergy sites compared to regular sprint only sites. It's the exact same equipment being used and should be the same. There will always be variables with any site though such as height on the tower, azimuth direction, terrain, etc that can affect range.

[larry]

Originally Posted by spleck

It sure makes the idea of selling off the iDEN network at some point difficult.

I agree. This is what I was saying when the threads about Sprint selling off Nextel came up a few months back. I don't think it will happen for this very reason.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by larry

Issues with what? In your area all they are doing is co-locating on a tower that just happens to have Nextel on it right? The Nextel site is completely seperate from the IPCS site so they are not adding to the IDEN. It's really no different than any other site they put up. I don't see how Nextel being on the tower would affect the IPCS site in any way, shape or form.

With that being said I have not noticed any difference with corporate synergy sites compared to regular sprint only sites. It's the exact same equipment being used and should be the same. There will always be variables with any site though such as height on the tower, azimuth direction, terrain, etc that can affect range.

I wasn't talking about exactly where I live. The area to the east, south, and southwest of me are all corporate Sprint. I live in a border iPCS - Sprint area. If you go to Sprint's Coverage Viewer and type in Cass City, MI the tower just to the east of them is almost like a dud. It doesn't even cover anything really. The sites to the south cover areas much better.

[larry]

Originally Posted by cellular_freak

I wasn't talking about exactly where I live. The area to the east, south, and southwest of me are all corporate Sprint. I live in a border iPCS - Sprint area. If you go to Sprint's Coverage Viewer and type in Cass City, MI the tower just to the east of them is almost like a dud. It doesn't even cover anything really. The sites to the south cover areas much better.

Ahh ok. I have seen some Sprint sites that are like that. They put them up in an odd place or have the azimuth in a way that's not optimized as good as it could be. That does happen sometimes. Or it could even be a repeater which have smaller coverage patterns. But I doubt it is related to the site(s) being a synergy site.

[cellular_freak]

Originally Posted by larry

Ahh ok. I have seen some Sprint sites that are like that. They put them up in an odd place or have the azimuth in a way that's not optimized as good as it could be. That does happen sometimes. Or it could even be a repeater which have smaller coverage patterns. But I doubt it is related to the site(s) being a synergy site.

Yeah, I don't know what it is that makes it cover such a small area. Just looking at it, I don't understand even why they would bother putting CDMA panels on the site. You would think they'd test out the site first and everything and what not. Just looking at the coverage viewer, you should be like, whoa!!