What bands is Sprint PCS using?

Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1 single
band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage outside
of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you better
buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter America
Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and if
not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?

So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a signal
in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably Verizon)
or seek an AMPS connection?

---

› See More: What bands is Sprint PCS using?

"Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1
single
> band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage outside
> of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you
better
> buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter
America
> Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and if
> not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
>
> So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a
signal
> in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably
Verizon)
> or seek an AMPS connection?

It seems most Sprint PCS phones, in particular, the Samsung phones, are
programmed to first try PCS CDMA, then AMPS and finally Cellular CDMA.
Seems a sort of silly default. This seems to be primarily based upon the
fact that Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless hate each other like Pakistan and
India. Funny is that Sprint phones would rather roam on Verizon analog than
Verizon digital.

Tom Veldhouse

In article <[email protected]>,
"Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1 single
> band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage outside
> of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you better
> buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter America
> Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and if
> not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
>
> So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a signal
> in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably Verizon)
> or seek an AMPS connection?

All Sprint Cell phones I have ever seen have a setting:
ROAMING

1. Automatic
2. SprintPCS only


a few have
3. Analog


In Automatic, if it can't find SprintPCS it tries other bands it has
capability for.

In SprintPCS, you'd never get hit with a roaming fee if you were on
a plan thayt charged $1 minute for roaming

It depends on the prl in your phone, and your location.
Here, it might be Sprint PCS, the verizon pcs, then uscellular cdma,
then uscellular analog.


Kevin wrote:

> Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1 single
> band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage outside
> of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you better
> buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter America
> Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and if
> not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
>
> So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a signal
> in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably Verizon)
> or seek an AMPS connection?
>
>
>

Which are in the Sprint Network or considered an extended Network, and which
require an extra roaming fee (or F&C America)?



"Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Ydp%[email protected]...
> It depends on the prl in your phone, and your location.
> Here, it might be Sprint PCS, the verizon pcs, then uscellular cdma,
> then uscellular analog.
>
>
> Kevin wrote:
>
> > Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1
single
> > band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage
outside
> > of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you
better
> > buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter
America
> > Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and
if
> > not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
> >
> > So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a
signal
> > in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably
Verizon)
> > or seek an AMPS connection?
> >
> >
> >
>

If you use any network besides Sprint's with your Sprint phone, you will
be charged a roaming fee unless you have the F&CA plan or a roaming
bundle.

Technically there are "affiliate" coverage areas, but the affiliate
areas show up as "Additional PCS Coverage" on Sprint's maps, are
1900MHz CDMA, and are basically branded as Sprint.

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

"DrDeke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
|
| If you use any network besides Sprint's with your Sprint phone, you will
| be charged a roaming fee unless you have the F&CA plan or a roaming
| bundle.
|
| Technically there are "affiliate" coverage areas, but the affiliate
| areas show up as "Additional PCS Coverage" on Sprint's maps, are
| 1900MHz CDMA, and are basically branded as Sprint.
Additional PCS coverage is just 2g. Airgate updated the sprint maps to
reflect their 3g upgrade in Iowa.

Thomas T. Veldhouse wrote:


> It seems most Sprint PCS phones, in particular, the Samsung phones, are
> programmed to first try PCS CDMA, then AMPS and finally Cellular CDMA.
> Seems a sort of silly default. This seems to be primarily based upon the
> fact that Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless hate each other like Pakistan and
> India. Funny is that Sprint phones would rather roam on Verizon analog than
> Verizon digital.


THis doesn't seem to be the case on my Sanyo 8100 when set to automatic.
During the balckout, it switched briefly to Verizon CDMA when an
AMPS singal was also readily available.

If you are in the areas marked Sprint Nationwide PCS Network or
Additional PCS Service, your phone's display will usually show Sprint
PCS. If it shows roaming, you will be charged extra, or you can get FCA
or Roaming Bundles. If you are in an Off-Network Service area, then
your phone's display will likely show roaming or no service.


Melisa Johns wrote:

> Which are in the Sprint Network or considered an extended Network, and which
> require an extra roaming fee (or F&C America)?
>
>
>
> "Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:Ydp%[email protected]...
>
>> It depends on the prl in your phone, and your location.
>>Here, it might be Sprint PCS, the verizon pcs, then uscellular cdma,
>>then uscellular analog.
>>
>>
>>Kevin wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1
>
> single
>
>>>band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage
>
> outside
>
>>>of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you
>
> better
>
>>>buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter
>
> America
>
>>>Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and
>
> if
>
>>>not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
>>>
>>>So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a
>
> signal
>
>>>in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably
>
> Verizon)
>
>>>or seek an AMPS connection?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

1900mhzcdma(SU) wrote:

> |
> | Technically there are "affiliate" coverage areas, but the affiliate
> | areas show up as "Additional PCS Coverage" on Sprint's maps, are
> | 1900MHz CDMA, and are basically branded as Sprint.
> Additional PCS coverage is just 2g. Airgate updated the sprint maps to
> reflect their 3g upgrade in Iowa.


Correct. Sprint doesn't distinguish between Sprint PCS-proper and an
affiliate's coverage on their maps.

I think the choice of analog vs digital roaming just seems to depend on
the agreements sprint has in your area. Maybe sprint uses whichever
agreement costs them less.

A few years ago I used to roam on digital networks, but with with my
newer FCA plan & the newest PRL it seems all I get is analog roaming on
my A500. And this is in areas where I know for a fact they have
Verizon digital coverage available... Analog roaming bites but it's
free (Free&Clear America) so I won't complain.

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

"Phoenix999" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I think the choice of analog vs digital roaming just seems to depend on
> the agreements sprint has in your area. Maybe sprint uses whichever
> agreement costs them less.
>
> A few years ago I used to roam on digital networks, but with with my
> newer FCA plan & the newest PRL it seems all I get is analog roaming on
> my A500. And this is in areas where I know for a fact they have
> Verizon digital coverage available... Analog roaming bites but it's
> free (Free&Clear America) so I won't complain.

I would. Your battery life is diminished quickly on AMPS. Further, your
ESN is broadcast in the clear for anybody with a "sniffer" to hijack.

Tom Veldhosue

Sprint PCS is using the PCS band only, hence their name. If a Sprint PCS
signal is not available your phone will seek out either CDMA at 1900
MHz, or 800 MHz, or Analog at 800 HMz. It all depends on the PRL
version on the phone as to either you will roam digitally, or analog.
Your phone will not necessarily search for digital first then analog.
This is only possible on a Dual Band/Tri-Mode phone of course.

Sprint PCS phones come in sigle band (1900 MHz CDMA), dual band/bi-mode
(1900 MHz CDMA, and 800 MHz AMPS), or dual band/tri-mode (1900 MHz and
800 MHz CDMA, and 800 MHz AMPS). There is no tri-band phones from
Sprint PCS. Those are usually GSM phones that are made to work in North
America, and Europe.

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

"Thomas T. Veldhouse" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<snipped>
> It seems most Sprint PCS phones, in particular, the Samsung phones, are
> programmed to first try PCS CDMA, then AMPS and finally Cellular CDMA.
> Seems a sort of silly default. This seems to be primarily based upon the
> fact that Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless hate each other like Pakistan
and
> India. Funny is that Sprint phones would rather roam on Verizon analog
than
> Verizon digital.

It all depends on what roaming agreement is made in what market, and where
those SIDs are ordered in the PRL. Verizon may not want other services to
roam digitally in markets where they already have a high penetration of
customers, and using digital for roamers. So, they cut a roaming deal with
SPCS where the analog SID is placed higher in the PRL than the digital SID
for that area.

Bob

"Phillipe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Hi band CDMA used to be the primary SprintPCS freq. I know from my 1
single
> > band phone, you better have a dual band phone if you want coverage
outside
> > of major population centers. And I know from my dual band phone, you
better
> > buy a $10 block of analog or your bill will be quite hi. Now enter
America
> > Free and Clear. Will a tri-band phone search for hi band (Sprint), and
if
> > not found seek low band CDMA (Verizon), and if all fail seek AMPS?
> >
> > So if I am on America Free and clear, hi band cdma will not give me a
signal
> > in my work place, will the phone look for a low band cdma (probably
Verizon)
> > or seek an AMPS connection?
>
> All Sprint Cell phones I have ever seen have a setting:
> ROAMING
>
> 1. Automatic
> 2. SprintPCS only
>
>
> a few have
> 3. Analog
>
>
> In Automatic, if it can't find SprintPCS it tries other bands it has
> capability for.
>
> In SprintPCS, you'd never get hit with a roaming fee if you were on
> a plan thayt charged $1 minute for roaming

What $1 roaming charge are you talking about? Without the F&CA plan, roaming
fees can vary, depending on how old the plan is, i.e.: $0.39/min for local &
$0.69 for outside the roaming area, and adding $0.25/min, if it's an
outgoing LD call. Some of the older plans, in certain markets had a flat
$0.39 roaming fee + LD, no matter where they called in the states.

On newer plans, without F&CA, the cost is $0.50/min, and if making a LD
call, add another $0.75/min.

Bob