Verizon's analog coverage, Wisconsin

[Cubs619]

Hello,

After reading more through several posts, I discovered the existance of Verizon's Samsung a530, which apparently is scheduled to be released across the country Monday. After looking through Verizon's and Samsung's interactive demos, I stopped by their store today and the phone definitely met my expectations and is seriously sweet...

However, as with all good things, the Samsung a530 isn't perfect... apparently, the phone is not tri-mode (works on digital networks, no analog functionality). Reading through some of the other posts, it appears that Verizon's other new phones (i.e. LG's upcoming VX6000) will also be only digital. While I'm not exactly a huge fan of analog, it's better to have reception than no reception...

Does anybody know what the deal is with Verizon and their analog coverage? I saw a post which said that 96% of Verizon's network is digital anyway and that analog is on the way out... so since I don't really want to worry about paying roaming charges, this might not effect me too much. I live in the Madison, WI area and occasionally travel south to the Chicago area suburbs.

Also, any posts regarding the Samsung a530 and it's reception capabilities compared with the Motorola t720 and LG VX4400 would be appreciated from those who may already have the phone would be appreciated.

Thanks all!

[Gonz]

Cubs, Verizon does not have analog in WI. Their network in this state is PCS (1900 mhz). Also, with your roaming point, verizon and many carriers will continue to support analog, it is just being used less. If you choose an America's Choice plan, you will get the benefit of US Cellular's coverage area without roaming charges. (They have a contract). Personally, I have US Cellular, they are much like verizon, only more localized. Verizon covers many of the major cities all accross the US. but US Cellular does a more complete job covering the midwest. If you don't travel outside of the midwest very often, I would go with a plan from USCC. The benefit of USCC verses Verizon is that when verizon roams on USCC, AKA America's Choice calling area, Text messaging and many other features are not available because you are not actually on Verizon's system. Since you would most likely be on USCC's system throughout the midwest, digital features will be available in all of your home coverage area.

...Just to add, in most places in the US except for where Verizon was formerly primeco (in Wi, FL, and a few other places), verizon is 800MHZ CDMA (Digital Cellular). Digital cellular relies in analog as a backup to it's own system, and PCS doesen't except for when it roams. Verizon wouldn't actually be able to get rid of analog unless it bought up PCS licenses in most of the US. From what I hear, Verizon has a mixture of Cellular and PCS licenses covering the grand majority of the markets in our beautiful country. The problem with this is that in most areas, all seven available licenses for any type of carrier are already taken, and would have to be bought from another carrier, which is most likely using that license already. Say for instance, that ATT wanted to go PCS in Chicago (I believe that they are 800MHZ IS-136/Analog), they would have to buy out one of the PCS companies in order to obtain the license...Or so I believe.

[Cubs619]

Thanks for your feedback, Gonz... I actually have looked into U.S. Cellular and would probably consider them more strongly if not for their selection and price of phones compared with Verizon. As for their digital features, if I lose the ability to text message while on the USCC network, that's not a big concern to me. I'm just worried that if I go with the Samsung a530, being a digital only phone, I will not be able to receive coverage in some areas of Madison. I read a couple of other posts though where some Verizon customers claimed to go into analog in bars and other buildings in the Madison area. I know Verizon's network here is all digital... but I suppose it's possible for pockets to exist and for there to be areas where there is no digital coverage.

In my office (on the UW campus), my old Nokia 5165 switches occasionally from Cingular to Cingular Extend and the "D" on the phone (for digital coverage) occasionally disappears. I know Cingular is TDMA compared with CDMA, but should this be a concern for me also if I'm worried about coverage?

[Gonz]

Cubs, sorry about not reading the thread for awhile! Hey, I went to band camp at the UW campus. My phone never went into analog, but I was able to force it to roam on two seperate carriers, Sprint, and Verizon. It seems that between the three (Sprint, Verizon, USCC), the campus is covered almost completely. And to add to your TDMA/CDMA coverage question, TDMA would rollback on analog because cingular is not PCS in Madison...And also, because this is a charachteristic of TDMA phones. Anyway, my point is that TDMA does not have the benefit of roaming on other carriers. CDMA, on the other hand, relies on others pretty freely, as there are MANY CDMA carriers around.
For example: in the band room at school, for some reason, I don't get US Cellular Coverage. (There's a tower above our building, and evidently, the signal doesen't travel DOWN), But verizon has a tower not on our premises. In the band room, if my call doesen't go through on uscc within 20-30 seconds, my phone goes to verizon, and puts the call through.