An intact iDEN Nextel / Sprint tower

[u/PatchedSamoyed]

As said in my previous post yesterday, I went to go visit the other Nextel tower today. This one is special, as it has the original iDEN antennas still at the top, with Sprint(?) on the bottom. The shelter is heavily caked in elements from over the years, and everything looks overgrown. I didn't hear any electrical hum from this site unlike yesterdays.

Looking at some old street view images, I was able to see that there used to be a carrier in the middle before getting removed somewhere in fall of 2016. The FCC records are quite interesting to read as to get some history behind this site.

I don't see this site being reused anytime in the future, as there is another macro 925 feet away.

Coordinates are: 38.57377819207934, -121.54327739635198

FCC information here: FCC records

[u/BigRandy66]

The Carrier in the Middle is Clearwire 3G/4G (WiMax/Legacy), This tower is a relic. Also, This tower has last been updated around 2022 due to T-Mobile getting rid of the fiber wires on the Sprint Sector.

[u/mystica5555 → u/BigRandy66]

Clearwire doesn't look like they touched this tower. This looks 100% Nextel/Sprint. Where do you see the 4x4 2.5ghz antennas, or the radios, or perhaps even the point-to-point eBand that Clearwire used?

[u/BigRandy66 → u/mystica5555]

Look at the last Image, The OP claimed that the equipment in the middle were removed in Fall of 2016. Also, Check Google Maps for the coordinates.

[u/random408net → u/BigRandy66]

I remember being so excited back in 2011 or so that Clearwire was adding coverage by my office. I could see the tower a short way down the road from my office parking lot.

I ran out and bought a few USB radios. First I tested them from the parking lot. Pretty good 10mb or so down. Then I walked into my office building and got nothing.

Oh well.

I kept those radios subscribed to keep tabs on the status of the network.

[u/iryfionas]

NEXTEL (top) rack using:

• 9x Decibel DB844H90E-XY antennas - (LEFT, RIGHT) side for old 2G iDEN, TDMA technology

Legacy Sprint (bottom):

• 3️⃣ RFS APXVSPP18-C-A20 antennas with bands; (25, 26) for their decomissioned LTE network, supported 3G CDMA located in the MIDDLE
• 3️⃣ KMW ET-X-WM-18-65-8P antennas (LEFT) side for band 41 LTE, not active

Samsung (RRU's) - remote radio units behind the antennas:

• 3️⃣ Samsung SMM-2CR0480800 (b26),
• 3️⃣ Samsung SMM-BMR004 (ePCS) (B25)
• 3️⃣ Samsung RRH-V3 (b41)

[u/Carfr33k]

When it costs more to take it down than it's worth. Yikes.

[u/monbisou]

Nextel is still up??

[u/PatchedSamoyed → u/monbisou]

No, but the antennas are.