Verizon in Wisconsin

[Lears]

I thought I would get some thoughts and opinions of people who are Verizon users in Wisconsin. I have been with Verizon for over 2 years now and I dissapointed in ther network coverage. I understand that the current network in Wisconsin was built by Primeco 4-5 years ago, but the coverage has not improved very much at all since the acquisition. It really frustrates me when I see Verizon building 1X high-speed networks all around the country and in Wisconsin they have only added Milwaukee to EN. One would think that Madison is a big enough market to host EN, but we have not seen this happen. Having said this, I know with the Primeco network as new as it is, they want to get as many users on the system to reduce the costs of running that system and that takes time. However, they need to expand their coverage especially between Wisconsin Dells and LaCrosse/Minneapolis on 90/94. Everytime time I drive through the area I go into extended network and miss calls and voicemail messages. Another area is southeast of Madison, Whitewater, Fort Atkison, Jefferson areas. I am not asking that Verizon service all rural areas in Wisconsin, that is what U.S. Cellular does best. I would like to see a native system put into place in these areas mentioned above. I am not down on Verizon at all I have had a good experience with the company overall for the last two years. I just thought I would get this off my chest. Please write any of your thoughts and opinions on this subject.

[AnthroMatt]

Well, they might be working on it around Madison. After a conference in Milwaukee (1x Verizon and 1x "roaming" on USCC) I visited family in Monona. My phone at the time (VX4400) was switching back and forth between 1x and "regular" digital all the time at my grnadmother's house. So perhaps you won't have to wait long for 1x in the Madison area!

[Jimi77]

They are currently testing 1X in all of WI, and from what I've been hearing is that the entire Verizon network in WI, and most of the country will be 1X by end of june.

[BillRadio]

Lears,
Consider yourself lucky. In Colorado there is NO Express Network, and we are still suffering with some analog. The OFFICIAL word from Verizon right now is that they will be 100% EN-capable by "Mid-Year". Mid-year is 7/1/2003. They may also see 8/31/03 as close enough to 'mid-year'.

I would be thrilled to see them adding new coverage in the state, but until we have EN, there's at least Mobile Office.

-Bill

[rgm313]

I have talked to a lot of people in Madison, and they seem to think that Verizon stinks, a lot of them have switched, mainly to USCC, and a few to AT&T. They always said that everytime they went into a bar or other building, it would go to analog roam. And that damn echo that Verizon has/had just about drove me nuts!! Everytime I would talk to a Verizon customer I could hear everything I said a second or two later. In response to a comment above, doesn't Verizon let you roam on USCC in rural WI? Or maybe you have to have a newer plan. I've always wanted a nationwide provider, but I've decided that superior local coverage (USCC) in more important to me considering I don't travel a whole lot...

[Cubs619]

Hi all,

I'm currently a Cingular customer thinking of switching to Verizon (my contract expires in a few weeks). I haven't been too crazy about their phones in general, although I really like the soon to be released Samsung a530. The problem with this phone is though it's not tri-mode... it only works on the digital bands and does not have analog capability.

I live in Madison right now and probably will for a few years so obviously digital service here is big for me... I'm mainly going to be be around the UW Engineering campus and I need a phone which will work indoors for me. Would any of you recommend going to Verizon or to another provider. I know Sprint has a F&C America plan which includes free roaming.