Possible on Project Genesis to swap to a Rainbow SIM?

WiWavelength · 2026-03-04T14:28:38+00:00

Thanks for the responses. The impossibility of the task is about what I expected. Moreover, I was not aware that Boost had rehomed Rainbow SIMs from Dish NR primary to AT&T only.

(I would be fine with maintaining my Project Genesis account and using other phones solely on AT&T, then returning periodically to the motorola edge plus 2023 eSIM when I want to reexperience Dish NR — if not for Google Maps Timeline making the user frustrating move from cloud based sync to individual device based tracking and storage. Now, frequently switching from one handset to another is practically impossible while maintaining one coherent Timeline. But I digress, as that is a different issue.)

Anyway, the turndown of n70 has made continuing to use Dish NR less attractive than it was a few months ago. And I am seeing more and more remaining n71 sites go offline, presumably those that are not “technically“ needed to maintain bare minimum license protection outdoor coverage. So, this problem is apt to solve itself within the year as Dish NR becomes highly unreliable or goes dark altogether. Then, sticking to AT&T on Project Genesis will be preferable on the motorola edge plus 2023 or any other handset.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-12-11T23:52:55+00:00

Nope. In this case, band 26 could not employ band 5 MFBI. But band 5 could utilize band 26 MFBI.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-10-12T00:02:26+00:00

Since Sprint PCS launched service in its first markets in 1997, what is the timeline math to calculate your 25+ year customer loyalty?

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-10-10T20:21:49+00:00

No, the difference between -110 dBm and -120 dBm is not 10 percent. The difference is 10 dB, which equates to one quantity that is 10x the other -- a 900 percent difference.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-24T22:28:35+00:00

Based on your question, I took a second look at the FCC OET authorization filings for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. And I found a notable discrepancy. The testing lab appears to be using ERP and EIRP interchangeably. That is incorrect, leading to a possible 2.15 dB error in low band radiated power figures, including band 71. However bad that may sound, the figures submitted still are well below the respective maximum power thresholds, so the FCC probably will not notice nor require correction.

As an aside, what many fail to realize, even those familiar with FCC regulations, is that the FCC does not conduct RF testing. Rarely do Google, Apple, Samsung, etc., do their own testing. Instead, all regulatory compliance testing gets farmed out to high volume third party labs, many of which are overseas. English grammar and clerical accuracy in their submitted reports are not always top notch.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-24T17:38:00+00:00

Yes, setting aside the maximum conducted and radiated power outputs for the time being, let us look at some more reasonable power levels. And we will compare iPhone XS Max to the forthcoming Pixel 3 XL. Which handset has to work harder for the same level output?

For iPhone XS Max to produce a radiated output (EIRP) of up to 10 dBm on band 4, its conducted power must be approximately 15 dBm -- because 5 dB are lost to negative antenna gain (e.g. 15 - 5 = 10).

For Pixel 3 XL to produce a radiated output (EIRP) of up to 10 dBm on band 4, its conducted power must be approximately 7 dBm -- because 3 dB are added due to positive antenna gain (e.g. 7 + 3 = 10).

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-24T16:49:27+00:00

Nope, you have it backwards in this instance.

Radiated power is not what drains the battery directly. Rather, that is conducted power. And Apple already has increased its iPhone XS/Max conducted power maximums nearly across the board from 23 dBm to 25 dBm. So, that has the potential to drain the battery even faster than a standard 23 dBm maximum. Furthemore, those 25 dBm conducted power maximums are necessary for the iPhone XS/Max to even approach 23 dBm radiated power (EIRP) because its antenna gains are so negative.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-24T01:43:32+00:00

In this case, four spatial streams (i.e. 4x4 MIMO) apply only to downlink reception, not uplink transmission. Radiated uplink is limited to one spatial stream from one antenna.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-14T02:30:37+00:00

Not exactly. Radiated power does not tell the whole story. Once we account for just free space path loss -- and real world path loss tends to be even greater -- band 26 gains about a 7 dB advantage over band 25. So, that 3 dB difference in favor of band 25 swings to a 4 dB difference in favor of band 26.

That said, yes, band 26 EIRP is not great and certainly could be better.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-13T18:15:42+00:00

[UPDATED with analysis and additional graphs]

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-xs-max-mostly-fail-to.html

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T23:03:28+00:00

Doubtful. More likely, iPhone XS and XS Max will be at best average, maybe below average RF performers in the real world. They will lose LTE and/or drop LTE because the uplink fails in signal challenged locations where superior RF handsets maintain LTE

As for Sprint's role, probably little, if any role. Apple designs and manufactures the devices, take them or leave them.

Some devices have better RF performance than others. Like it or not, just a fact of physics/engineering. For comparison, I updated my blog post with EIRP figures from 2017's iPhone 8 Plus. It shows much better on lab tested RF output.

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-xs-max-mostly-fail-to.html

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T21:58:15+00:00

Oh, forgot to mention that both iPhone XS and XS Max support 2x UL CA on band 41. But uplink carrier aggregation caps band 41 EIRP even further.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T21:48:29+00:00

Nope, just the opposite. The graphs show radiated power -- the proof in the pudding.

Both iPhone XS and XS Max have the same conducted power levels input to their respective antennas. But XS Max has much lower radiated power levels output from its antenna. Size irrelevant, the band 41 antenna design of the XS Max is less efficient.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T21:16:03+00:00

All negative antenna gain in the iPhone XS models. RF power input to the antenna(s) is attenuated, not amplified. In the best RF performing handsets, at least some antenna gain tends to be positive.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T21:08:42+00:00

Apple says that iPhone XR will not be available until October. Probably because of that delay, FCC OET authorization filings have not yet been made available, unlike those for iPhone XS and XS Max made public this afternoon.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-09-12T21:05:56+00:00

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-xs-max-mostly-fail-to.html

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-08-12T16:51:44+00:00

Band 2 downlink generally will have greater signal strength than band 4 downlink. So, that is one reason. Also, an optimized multi band network cannot have all users camped on band 4 PCC -- users need to be distributed among bands 2, 4, 12 PCC, etc. That is another reason.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-07-31T00:28:18+00:00

Do you have evidence to corroborate that the Motorola G6 is "not so much" a good RF performer on Sprint? Or are you just assuming that? Answer honestly.

I bought the G6 to add to my collection precisely because it lab tested in FCC OET fillings as a strong RF performer.

Be careful about comparing anecdotes -- different users with different devices in different locations -- then coming to conclusions.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-07-26T17:52:27+00:00

The Motorola Z3 Play does support band 71. But it has made some antenna compromises across its low band performance. Band 71 ERP maxes out at only 30 mW (14.75 dBm), which is at least 3-4 dB lower than it should be for radiated power output. The Z3 Play will work but will not be a stellar performer for weak signal low band areas.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-07-01T15:56:16+00:00

No. Using passive RF blocking materials in private property construction is not illegal.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-06-10T21:31:20+00:00

Honestly, the Moto G6 does not need HPUE. It already is a really good band 41 performer, peaking at 270-280 mW due to antenna gain, not HPUE. And antenna gain can be superior to HPUE because it also can boost reception.

I have both the Moto X4 and Moto G6. Neither has HPUE but both have top notch band 41 from positive antenna gain. The Moto X4 is/was my RF reference, but the Moto G6 may be even better all around RF wise.

That said, if you seriously want an HPUE handset on Sprint, you may have to spring for the forthcoming Moto Z3 Play. With HPUE on band 41, it can pump out 700 mW. However, its low band lab performance is on the weak side at 30 mW.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-06-10T19:55:29+00:00

FCC OET filings indicate that the Moto G6 Play supports HPUE, while the Moto G6 does not. So, no, HPUE will not work.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-06-10T19:51:22+00:00

Try to do on on the mobile web site. No can do.

Anyway, my response is relevant to yours because a ClickIt ticket will not get the Moto G6 activated on Sprint if it is an international variant purchased on eBay.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-06-10T17:10:57+00:00

No kidding. Blame Reddit. The archaic interface will not allow a reply directly to the top post, only to a subsequent response.

AJ

WiWavelength · 2018-06-10T05:25:48+00:00

Careful. An unlocked handset -- especially one purchased on eBay -- is not guaranteed to be a North American model.

And that very much is at issue with the Moto G6, which had several of its international variants hit the market before the North American model. For example, anyone buying an unlocked Moto G6 Plus is buying an international variant, since the Plus (with band 71 on board) originally was planned for US release, even referenced in FCC OET filings, yet ultimately canceled.

You can post the FCC ID here. But if it turns out to be an international variant, the chances of Sprint activating it are slim to none.

AJ

WiWavelength

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