Category: at&t

AT&T pushing DSL subscribers to “Internet Air” in the Reno area, but is their network up to the task yet?

Filed under: at&t,Wireless data - May 23 2024

In late 2023, AT&T began notifying internet customers in the Reno area that are not currently eligible for Fiber Internet, about the availability of AT&T Internet Air. The targeted customers include subscribers to DSL and former “U-verse” branded Internet service.

AT&T advertises “as of March 2024, Internet Air delivers typical download speeds between 75-225 Mbps and upload speeds between 10-30 Mbps”. But in order to deliver the advertised speeds on a consistent basis, their wireless cell site near your location needs to be upgraded with the extra 5G+ bandwidth that can support multiple users in your neighbor. As of this writing in May 2024, AT&T has only upgraded 19 of their 60 cell sites in the Reno area. This map shows the cell sites that have been or are currently in the process of being upgraded.

Therefore, before acting upon AT&Ts offer to “upgrade” your service, for best results make sure that you live near a cell site that’s been upgraded to 5G+. Also it is suggested to perform some speed tests near various windows around your home to check download, upload and latency speeds – and compare with your current internet service.

Verizon Wireless completes coverage improvements for commuters and residents along Mt. Rose Hwy

Verizon Wireless recently completed coverage improvements along the Mt. Rose Highway stretching from Wedge Parkway in Reno on the east, to Tahoe Meadows near the Mt. Rose summit on the west. Improvements in the past year include the installation of 4 new cell sites along the Mt. Rose Highway corridor and improvements to an existing cell site atop Slide Mountain.

New cell sites include:

  • Sky Tavern ski area (at the summit)
  • New site serving the Saddlehorn/Arrowcreek/Whites Creek area
  • Mt Rose Hwy & Wedge Pkwy
  • NDF Galena Fire Station – new taller monopine with room for 3 carriers replacing existing monopine.

New monopine on distant/right with Verizon Wireless and AT&T antennas. T-Mobile will locate on the bottom position.

Reno ranks second-to-last in June mobile network test of 125 most populous metro areas

Reno ranks 124th of the most populous 125 metro areas in the United States in testing of overall mobile network performance according to a recent RootMetrics report.

Data for the Reno metro area only shows a virtual three-way tie between T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T for overall network performance. Individual tests of Network Reliability, Call and Text are virtually tied between the 4 major carriers which include Sprint. According to the report Verizon is the Award winner in terms of Network speed and Data, while Sprint falls short of the other 3 carriers in those categories.

Cricket Wireless old CDMA network to be shut down by mid-September 2015

Filed under: at&t,CARRIERS,Cricket - Feb 27 2015

Fierce Wireless has reported that the Cricket Wireless CDMA network will be shut down by mid-September 2015. AT&T bought Cricket in 2014 and has been transitioning customers to AT&T’s GSM/LTE network.

It’s possible that once the shut down is complete AT&T will transition the old Cricket cell sites to AT&T LTE sites and help fill-in coverage gaps in AT&T’s network.

AT&T buys Cricket, advantages for both carriers

Filed under: at&t,CARRIERS,Cricket - Mar 14 2014

AT&T has completed the purchase of Cricket. AT&T will gain additional spectrum to improve coverage and capacity. Cricket users will have access to AT&T’s 4G LTE network. It is unknown at this time if AT&T will utilize some of Cricket’s cell site locations for improved coverage in poor coverage areas. Read more here: wirelessweek.com/news/2014/03/update-t-completes-acquisition-leap-wireless

Reno’s 4 major wireless carriers have launched LTE data: Why Networks Want to Move to Voice Over LTE

Filed under: at&t,CARRIERS,Sprint PCS,T-Mobile,Verizon Wireless - Aug 20 2013

Now that Reno’s 4 major wireless carriers have launched LTE data coverage, their next update will likely be moving voice traffic to LTE. Here’s an interesting article about Why Networks Want to Move to Voice Over LTE.

AT&T launches LTE, T-Mobile launches faster data network in Reno area

Filed under: at&t,New Cell Site Active,Wireless data - Dec 14 2012

Reports on our Twitter feed indicate that AT&T launched its LTE high-speed data network this week in most areas of Reno, with download speeds reported up to 57 Mbps. The Reno Gazette-Journal also reports that T-Mobile has launched enhanced coverage and speeds to its data network.

See the RGJ article for more details.

AT&T adds new cell site in east Sparks

Filed under: at&t,New Cell Site Active - Jan 03 2012

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.

 

RGJ.com: Wireless carriers tell Reno 4G roll-out schedule

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 adds 3 new cell sites in Sparks/Spanish Springs

Filed under: at&t,New Cell Site Active - Sep 16 2010

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.

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