The Public Opinion Soapbox

Wrangler3 · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Location: umop apisdn w,I

Our phone plan is up in a few months so I am researching to see where we will be heading next.

We started with Virgin mobile service. It was good in my opinion but costly when used alot.

We tried Sprint since I got a discount through work. With 4 days I took the phones back. As stated elsewhere, the fine prints says about roaming too much, which we did around Chambersburg.

Which brings us to our current plan from AT&T. They seem to have coverage everywhere but call quality is terrible. All we get done saying is what did you say, I can't hear you.

I either want to go back to prepay phones and just use them less or try verizon or t-mobile.
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Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2600 Location: Chambersburg

I have some discouraging news for you Wrangler... Virgin Mobile and Sprint-Nextel are the exact same thing. Razz

Coverage-wise at least; I'm sure pricing is a bit different.

There's really only six major phone companies in the US; I'm not sure whether AT&T or Verizon are bigger at this point, but I think AT&T got a huge boost from the iPhone. Their network has been suffering from a lot of problems and inconsistencies lately.

The rest include Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile, Alltel, and U.S. Cellular. Other providers like Virgin, Boost, CellularOne and other carriers are subsidiaries of one of the above companies, with some regional-based exceptions.

First, call quality (such as whether or not someone can hear you clearly) is based on many factors, but the most significant is usually the phone itself. You should probably try a different phone before shopping around for another provider.

That said, you probably can't go wrong with AT&T or Verizon at this point, coverage-wise. There are pro's and con's with each; and some people like one more than the other. There's also GSM, CDMA and GPRS considerations, but you don't need to worry about that if you're not using mobile data communications.

Honestly, in Franklin County, I think that Verizon has considerably better coverage than AT&T, which is better in more metropolitan areas. Verizon's problem is the whole proprietary, V-Cast garbage on all of their phones, but I think they may start phasing that out soon. It made them miss the boat on the iPhone, but I'd prefer my Blackberry to that trendy Apple stuff any day.

But if you already have AT&T, try a different phone. It might make all the difference. It's a good idea to research phones before you buy; C-Net has good phone reviews. The cell phone salespeople are pretty much the scum of the tech sales Earth and it's a good idea to have some idea of what you want before going in.

Me!!!!!!!! · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 305

I too have Att and I was looking to change companies but after researching on verizon I am staying with ATT. but not renewing any contract. Verizon told me coverage is ok for Franklin County and the plans are higher and no rollover minutes. I love the rollover minutes..it prevents me from going over my minutes nad all of my family and friends already have ATT and we can call each other for FREE!

Good luck looking but that is what I found out when I did.
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Chbg Resident · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

I am an elite user and techno type person who has broad knowledge of cell phone communications systems, etc. The "best" cell phone service provider in this area is Nextel (the true Nextel with Direct Connect), they have extensive coverage throughout this entire area.
Other than that, Sprint is followed up as next best. They have been expanding their service coverage within the past several months (adding more towers). As of this week, they have been updating their data network to what's known as EVDO Rev A. The highest data speed service for internet, etc. which far exceeds any of the other companies. The one thing nice though with Sprint, is that if you are in an area without Sprint Service, it will roam onto a Verizon Tower. So in other words, you get the best of both worlds.
Nextel is the best choice for Cell Phone Service (excellent coverage). Sprint is next best choice, especially if looking for data internet service too.

Me!!!!!!!! · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 305

I had sprint and know alot of friends that have it and once you hit west of Sunnyway it is worthless. I can't say much for nextel but when I called them they did not recommend it for me because of my location.
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I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?
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Chbg Resident · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Nextel absolutely has the best coverage all over the country (specifically for Franklin County for this purpose) and the best sounding call quality and calls come through (reliable).
Nextel alone has towers in the following areas: Smoke stack at Chambersburg Light Plant; Garber Road tower (near Memorial Park); new tower along 997 just outside Pleasant Hall; tower in Scotland (along I81 by Exit 20); Coble Road (Carlton Heights in St Thomas); Stamey Hill Road (Mont Alto); Caladonia (on top of mountain at Tick Tock); Greencastle (behind Antrim Twp Building along I81); Mercersburg (tower behind McDonalds); Waynesboro (tower on Cold Spring Road); Blue Ridge Summit (tower on mountain top near ISP Minerals Co); Spring Run (tower along Turnpike); Shippensburg (tower near Cleversburg, can't remember road name).
Nextel's service and coverage is excellent. The only area that I have ran into trouble with no service in Franklin County is in "Lower Horse Valley" between Pleasant Hall and Fannettsburg (the area down in between the mountains). Other than that, Nextel is by far the excellent provider for service, call quality and few call drops.

Sprint and Verizon come close to 2nd. They are both CDMA devices. My personal pick is Sprint due to the higher internet and data speeds (and if I don't have phone service in an area, it roams onto Verizon anyway). I could go on with tower locations for both Sprint and Nextel.

AT&T would be my third choice (TDMA device).

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2600 Location: Chambersburg

I did a little research, at least on mobile broadband (EVDO for Sprint/Nextel and Verizon, G3 for AT&T). I compraed the coverage maps from the different companies.

One thing I noticed is that there is separate coverage for Sprint and Nextel, even though they're now the same company. From looking at the voice coverage maps, it looks like Sprint has better coverage in the area than Nextel. As for broadband, it seems that there is no EVDO/Broadband coverage in our area from Sprint, although there is in Carlisle and Hagerstown.

http://coverage.sprintpcs.com/IMPACT.jsp?PCode=vanity:coverage

Verizon is another story; it seems that there is Mobile Broadband/EVDO coverage right here in Chambersburg from Verizon, at least in most parts:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST&coveragetype=broadband

And, finally, AT&T's 3G coverage, like Sprint's broadband, is available in the Harrisburg area starting from Carlisle but not here.

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/

It looks like Verizon is the way to go, in Chambersburg at least, as far as mobile broadband is concerned. And as far as I know, CDMA/EVDO is a a superior broadband wireless service over GPRS/3G.

Although, Chbg Resident, you seem to be pretty familiar with local Sprint service, but does tower locations really make that much of a difference? It seems like most mobile phone companies share towers and actual coverage is based on a lot of factors.

I'll concede that you know more about the standards (CDMA, GSM and everything in between confuses the heck out of me), but the coverage maps speak for themselves.

Chbg Resident · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Hi Coppy,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, the Sprint EVDO has just been turned on in Chambersburg, Waynesboro, etc this week (and they are still working to get Shippensburg, Scotland, etc on line). The coverage map probably won't be updated for a month or so (not sure how long it takes for Sprint to update the maps).
Yes, Nextel and Sprint are owned by the same company, but at one time, were totally seperate. They are still 2 totally different systems. The Nextel is on 800 MHz IDEN system. The Sprint is the CDMA. I have personally never tired Verizons data, but use Sprint exclusively. From all of the "wacker blogs" that I get on, everyone agrees that Sprints EVDO is much more reliable and faster than Verizons version.
Don't know if any of this helps or not. Thanks

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2600 Location: Chambersburg

It does actually, and I will consider Sprint's EVDO if I ever decided I need to go the mobile broadband route... although I doubt I ever will. Blackberry is enough for me to be reached any time, I don't need access to the VPN or anything when I'm in the middle of a corn field.

Wrangler3 · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Location: umop apisdn w,I