Nextel Service in CT

[cvpiradio]

This morning, I observed people working on the cellular tower at the Kelleher Court firehouse in Wethersfield, while driving on Route 5/15. They were working on the Nextel antenna platform near the bottom of the tower. Then, during the afternoon, I go by there again, and the whole Nextel platform has been removed, except for the triangle frame that the antenna panels attached to. I checked the CT Siting Council site and there is nothing mentioning the decommissioning of the Nextel service there. I know that Sprint is in the process of decommissioning the Nextel service, during the course of this year. Anyway, I'm sure that it will help to improve reception for the Wethersfield system, and especially the CSP system.

 

[MTS2000des]

sounds like Sprint's "Network Vision" is right on schedule, supposedly the entire iDEN system will be history by August 1, 2013- that's the date my Sprint rep says all the sites should go dark.

In my area (Atlanta), they have made close to 38 sites go dark since first of the year, with more on the way.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Is there a reason why their shutting it (Nextel) down?

 

[fdscan]

This is what the Spring Nextel Wikipedia page says...

In October 2010, as part of the "Network Vision" plan, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced the decommissioning the iDEN network to reduce costs, improve the coverage and performance the 3G CDMA network and enable Sprint Nextel to focus on 4G LTE technology.

I always thought Nextel was neat. More for commercial use... Too bad it's going to be shut down. There is Zello, very similar but runs on celluar data or Wifi and can be used for free or with some more features for commercial use for a monthly fee.

 

[ecps92]

Yes - Nextel causing interference with Public Safety

Is there a reason why their shutting it (Nextel) down?

 

[N1TGE]

iDEN is like a 90 year old running a marathon. Enough said.

 

[cvpiradio]

Well today is the day. The Nextel system is now shut down. I currently don't have a scanner anymore. Was wondering if anyone has noticed any improvement yet with listening to the CSP system? I have a relative with business property that has a cell tower with Nextel and Sprint on it, along with AT&T. They haven't come out yet to remove anything from that site yet. I was a big Nextel user years ago, especially for work purposes. It used to drive me crazy how much the CSP reception got completely covered while I was in my car, while passing a Nextel site. I'd hear them saying something then it just gets totally unreadable.

 

[APX7500X2]

Well today is the day. The Nextel system is now shut down. I currently don't have a scanner anymore. Was wondering if anyone has noticed any improvement yet with listening to the CSP system? I have a relative with business property that has a cell tower with Nextel and Sprint on it, along with AT&T. They haven't come out yet to remove anything from that site yet. I was a big Nextel user years ago, especially for work purposes. It used to drive me crazy how much the CSP reception got completely covered while I was in my car, while passing a Nextel site. I'd hear them saying something then it just gets totally unreadable.

CSP and other 800 users in CT Rebanded years ago to get away from the nextel issue.

So nextel shutting down changes nothing for them.

 

[cg]

You may still have interference issues from other high power users. When I was helping ID some Nextel interference to the 800 TRS where I worked, we determined Nextel wasn't the only problem. One spot had no coverage with portables even though it was 3 miles direct line of sight to the tower. When Verizon shut down their site at the same location, coverage was 100%. Just too much power too close.
Since scanners are more broadband and not as robust as the commercial radios, you will still have issues around some cell sites.

chris

 

[Tom_G]

I'll check this out over the next few days.
I drive by that tower almost daily. Thanks,

 

[Tom_G]

I've been driving by daily and it still looks like all levels of that tower are being used.
Kinda hard to get a good long look at with all the trees in full bloom now.
Overall, I am not noticing any real difference with CSP reception so far.

 

[eclipse175]

I understand sprint wants to build out their LTE infrastructure on the old 800mhz Nextel frequencies. Do we anticipate them continuing to occupy the Nextel antennas and rack space or upgrading the current sprint equipment relinquishing the old Nextel equipment shelters

 

[PJH]

Several sites are actually being removed. The panel antennas are very narrow focused on freq and the such basically, nothing but the shelter could be reused. Depending on the coax, that usually needs to be replaced as well.

Last I recall hearing is they want to continue on building out the LTE stuff on the exsiting frequencies. Sprint bought out some other company for all the licesnes they held in the US and will be using those licenses to expand out the 4G. Don't expect at this time for 800MHz to be reused... The handsets on the LTE stuff they are using last I checked wouldn't support it anyways.

 

[eclipse175]

It seemed from most of the press release that they really wanted to take advantage of the 800mhz properties to bring their network coverage in better competition with ATT and VZW. Very true that they have no handsets ready for 800MHZ LTE. Although the theory is a great idea!