According to a new web site and map that shows the location and activity of Nextel cell sites, work in the Reno area will begin in late April 2012 to begin shutting down cell sites. According to Sprint its Nextel/iDEN cell sites are expected to be be phased out in 2013.

AT&T recently added a new cell site near the intersection of Vista Boulevard and Interstate 80 in east Sparks. Since the nearest T-Mobile cell site covering this area is over 2 miles away, it was previously reported that this cell site was a T-Mobile site. However it has now been discovered that it is an AT&T site – just 6/10 of a mile southeast of another AT&T cell site also in Sparks’ industrial area.

Verizon Wireless recently added a new cell site behind Wal-Mart on Damonte Ranch Parkway in south Reno. The site is co-located on a monopole with antennas for T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket, Clearwire and AT&T Wireless.

Verizon Wireless has turned on a new cell site at the Washoe Tennis Center near Moana Lane and Plumas Street with the tower disguised as a pine tree.

The Reno Gazette-Journal posted an article recently that lists the current roll-out schedule for the wireless carrier’s 4th generation data network in the Reno area. Bottom line: T-Mobile’s is already active, the other 3 major carriers had no specific timetable.

Timetable updated July 2013:

T-Mobile: Now
AT&T: By 2013, but nothing more specific – Launched LTE December 2012
Verizon: No estimated date – Launched LTE September 2011
Sprint: No estimated date Washoe County – Expected to launch LTE July 2013

AT&T has recently turned on 2 new cell sites in Sparks, and will be turning on a third soon.

The first cell site went active on approximately September 1 near the northwest corner of McCarran and Prater way. The cell site’s antennas are disguised in a fake pine tree. CID 6117x

The following week another site went active in Spanish Springs, with antennas located in a flagpole at Vista Blvd and Los Altos Parkway. CID 6105x.

A third site is still under construction above the Summit Church at 7075 Pyramid Lake Highway and Golden View Drive. The antennas are disguised behind a fake rock wall.

AT&T recently turned on a new cell site covering the Somersett area of Northwest Reno. AT&T is the last wireless carrier to provide coverage to the area from a co-location facility off of Chalk Ridge Court. The cell site is only a 2G/EDGE site at this time. CID 6131x

Many people complain about indoor cell phone reception – particularly in their home or office. The major wireless providers have addressed this problem by providing miniature cell sites or “femtocells” to enhance coverage in areas up to approximately 5000 square feet. A recent article on PC World goes in-depth about how to get the best cell phone reception possible with personal femtocells and other devices.

Edit 4/4/10: The AT&T 3G MicroCell will be available for sale in Reno on April 5. See their website for more info.

AT&T is expected to make their 3G MicroCell available this month to customers in the Reno area. The device is a femtocell – a small device that connects to a broadband internet connection and improves cell phone reception to a limited area, such as a home. Brian Klug has posted a very detailed article on Anandtech about femtocell’s that are now available through all 4 U.S. major cell carriers. Read the full article here.

2009 was an uneventful year for new cell sites in the Reno area. T-Mobile was most active adding the most new cell sites and turning on their 3G voice & data network in 2009. Cricket added coverage in the Spanish Springs area. Otherwise, all other carriers did not add coverage via new cell sites this year according to our sources.

For 2010 Verizon Wireless has a new cell site planned for southwest Reno near the Washoe Golf Course. AT&T has a cell site planned to improve coverage in the Somersett area of northwest Reno.

In the new year posts to this website will occur as new cell sites are known, and other major carrier news is announced. For more frequent updates, check out our Twitter MicroBlog Updates in the left column of this website, or follow us from your Twitter account @RenoWireless.