Signal Strength

[JR1]

What is the maximum distance (on average) that you can be away from a tower and still get a good signal? I have about 3.5 miles from 2 towers. One is north and one is south. It is a very rural area with lots of trees and hills. I usually get pretty good signal strenght but can never get more that 3 or of 5 bars.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by JR1

What is the maximum distance (on average) that you can be away from a tower and still get a good signal? I have about 3.5 miles from 2 towers. One is north and one is south. It is a very rural area with lots of trees and hills. I usually get pretty good signal strenght but can never get more that 3 or of 5 bars.

If you're in a rural area w/ that many trees & hills be lucky you get that much signal.

-Jay

[Fire14]

You could also try a different phone then the SE T306 as listed in your profile, maybe a Nokia to see if your reception inproves some since they are known to have the best Rf but I have noticed my Moto's get equal to or better Rf, of course if you can make & recieve calls with your signal strength, that is all that really matters since the bars don't always tell the whole story.

But as Jay said, with the terrain and trees you are dealing with, that may be the best signal you can get.

[hillbilly44]

Originally Posted by JR1

What is the maximum distance (on average) that you can be away from a tower and still get a good signal? I have about 3.5 miles from 2 towers. One is north and one is south. It is a very rural area with lots of trees and hills. I usually get pretty good signal strenght but can never get more that 3 or of 5 bars.

JR,

The average doesn't really exist. The distance and signal strength relate to things like terrain (if you're in Eastern KY it can be brutal), trees, time of year (winter or summer), the frequency band 850 or 1900Mhz (Cingular has both), and how much traffic (phone calls) a site (tower) is taking each hour. I've seen sites have a range from 5.5 miles in real flat terrain (like Texas) to as little as 1/2 mile (like SW Virginia and WV). The best phone for a GSM system is to try several (although the new Nokia's are good)

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by hillbilly44

JR,

The average doesn't really exist. The distance and signal strength relate to things like terrain (if you're in Eastern KY it can be brutal), trees, time of year (winter or summer), the frequency band 850 or 1900Mhz (Cingular has both), and how much traffic (phone calls) a site (tower) is taking each hour. I've seen sites have a range from 5.5 miles in real flat terrain (like Texas) to as little as 1/2 mile (like SW Virginia and WV). The best phone for a GSM system is to try several (although the new Nokia's are good)

I agree. I've been able to hold onto a tower for as much as about 8 - 10 miles in relatively flat rural areas, but this is definately not the norm. Most often I can be walking down the sidewalk and the phone will switch towers every 10 feet. It just depends on which tower is the strongest at that moment.

PS - I like Motorolas for fringe service areas.

-Jay

[JR1]

So which Nokia would you suggest for me? I like it to be tri or quad band since I got to Europe a lot, and I'd like it to have EDGE.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by JR1

So which Nokia would you suggest for me? I like it to be tri or quad band since I got to Europe a lot, and I'd like it to have EDGE.

I would suggest a quad-band, since that would give you both frequencies Cingular(and their roaming partners) use in the U.S. as well as both European frequencies.

[hillbilly44]

Originally Posted by JR1

So which Nokia would you suggest for me? I like it to be tri or quad band since I got to Europe a lot, and I'd like it to have EDGE.

Try the 6230 or the new 6682 (I think is the model). Good Luck

[walkguru]

Originally Posted by hillbilly44

Try the 6230 or the new 6682 (I think is the model). Good Luck

the 6682 is a great phone, i have it, but its only a tri band. it lacks the 900 band.

[JR1]

I looked at the 6682. I like it but I've read that it has a lot of bugs in working on cingular.... Do you have any problems?

[hillbilly44]

JR;

Just finished testing the 6682 today (still have it as a matter of fact) and works great. I highly recommend it. By the way 1800 is all over Europe so don't sweat it.