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med1 · 07-21-2003, 2:56 PM

Anyone has any recent experience with Cingular in the Chicago area, primarily with the GSM service in the city, western suburbs. I have T-Mobile and am thinking of switching to Cingular but need feedback on real life use and not the XYZ has 1900MHZ, ABC has 850MHZ or ABC has so many towers on my block, etc.
thanks

CaliphoniaBoy · 07-21-2003, 4:13 PM

Looking at your footer I am wondering why you want to switch...

Just curious

C.

Airb330 · 07-21-2003, 6:16 PM

I would steer away from Cingular in Chicago. I have heard their GSM is not quite that great from many people on here and Hofo. Plus, their plans are not nearly as nice.

Hi Caliphonia...haven't seen you around here in a awhile!

Kenster · 07-21-2003, 8:44 PM

Yeah what's the reasoning for considering the switch? You've been a strong advocate for people to strongly consider T-mobile in Chicagoland because it "rocks."

willcall · 07-22-2003, 8:10 AM

Yeah, why THAT switch. In my experience, my rule of thumb is: If you want GSM go T-Mobile, If you need always there coverage go Verizon. Those are the two best around Chicago for their individual reasons. IMO

med1 · 07-22-2003, 12:29 PM

Reason for considering the switch is I am on the 69.99 family plan with T-Mobile. Cingular has the 59.99 family plan with 200 less anytime minutes but gives me nights (which I use more then 200 minutes a month), I don't travel much so the Cingular local plan will work for me. And also, if I get Cingular as a SBC customer which I am, there is an additional 10% discount on the service or if I switch my cable internet to SBC DSL I get an additional 20% discount on the service.

Now can someone from Chicago please give me real life experience and not be critical of my footer from the east or west coast.

gymball3510 · 07-22-2003, 2:17 PM

I have a GAIT phone, so coverage is not a problem. However, GSM coverage seems spotty; some times you can get a GSM signal just about anywhere, other times my phone defaults to TDMA, and cannot find a GSM signal anywhere. In general I have found Cingular coverage to be very good, even in some difficult areas (geography, buildings). There appears to be more consistent GSM coverage over time, but occasionally cannot get anything but TDMA. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

willcall · 07-23-2003, 7:50 AM

I've heard responses similar to gymball's from a couple of people at work who are on cingular GSM personally. One has a GAIT phone and the other doesn't. The one who doesn't wishes they had one. It's not personal experience but hopefully gives you some info.

100thMonkey · 07-23-2003, 9:52 PM

honestly, Chicago GSM is fairly robust except for the North side, where it is fairly spotty. At this point, there is no reason to go to Cingular because you will likely spend a fair amount of time with T-Mo roaming. Superhome plans have no roaming, so you'll be okay there. GSM 850 coverage is spotty on the north side, but fine in southside and all surrounding suburbs. Since all Cingular has is 850, they can't allocate all spectrum to GSM so it seems as though TDMA is still eating a lot of 850 and GSM gets kicked to T-Mo 1900.

If you want GSM, stay T-Mo, if want better coverage, go Verizon

07-21-2003, 2:56 PM	#1
med1 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 171 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago Anyone has any recent experience with Cingular in the Chicago area, primarily with the GSM service in the city, western suburbs. I have T-Mobile and am thinking of switching to Cingular but need feedback on real life use and not the XYZ has 1900MHZ, ABC has 850MHZ or ABC has so many towers on my block, etc. thanks

07-21-2003, 4:13 PM	#2
CaliphoniaBoy Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 379 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago Looking at your footer I am wondering why you want to switch... Just curious C.

07-21-2003, 6:16 PM	#3
Airb330 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3,526 Phone(s): Palm Pre, 8830 (Work/VZ) Provider(s): Sprint PCS Devices: iPod Nano (Black), XM Radio Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 3	CINGULAR in Chicago I would steer away from Cingular in Chicago. I have heard their GSM is not quite that great from many people on here and Hofo. Plus, their plans are not nearly as nice. Hi Caliphonia...haven't seen you around here in a awhile!

07-21-2003, 8:44 PM	#4
Kenster Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 421 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago Yeah what's the reasoning for considering the switch? You've been a strong advocate for people to strongly consider T-mobile in Chicagoland because it "rocks."

07-22-2003, 8:10 AM	#5
willcall Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago Yeah, why THAT switch. In my experience, my rule of thumb is: If you want GSM go T-Mobile, If you need always there coverage go Verizon. Those are the two best around Chicago for their individual reasons. IMO

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07-22-2003, 12:29 PM	Original Poster #6
med1 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 171 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago Reason for considering the switch is I am on the 69.99 family plan with T-Mobile. Cingular has the 59.99 family plan with 200 less anytime minutes but gives me nights (which I use more then 200 minutes a month), I don't travel much so the Cingular local plan will work for me. And also, if I get Cingular as a SBC customer which I am, there is an additional 10% discount on the service or if I switch my cable internet to SBC DSL I get an additional 20% discount on the service. Now can someone from Chicago please give me real life experience and not be critical of my footer from the east or west coast.

07-22-2003, 2:17 PM	#7
gymball3510 Fresh Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago I have a GAIT phone, so coverage is not a problem. However, GSM coverage seems spotty; some times you can get a GSM signal just about anywhere, other times my phone defaults to TDMA, and cannot find a GSM signal anywhere. In general I have found Cingular coverage to be very good, even in some difficult areas (geography, buildings). There appears to be more consistent GSM coverage over time, but occasionally cannot get anything but TDMA. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

07-23-2003, 7:50 AM	#8
willcall Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago I've heard responses similar to gymball's from a couple of people at work who are on cingular GSM personally. One has a GAIT phone and the other doesn't. The one who doesn't wishes they had one. It's not personal experience but hopefully gives you some info.

07-23-2003, 9:52 PM	#9
100thMonkey Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CINGULAR in Chicago honestly, Chicago GSM is fairly robust except for the North side, where it is fairly spotty. At this point, there is no reason to go to Cingular because you will likely spend a fair amount of time with T-Mo roaming. Superhome plans have no roaming, so you'll be okay there. GSM 850 coverage is spotty on the north side, but fine in southside and all surrounding suburbs. Since all Cingular has is 850, they can't allocate all spectrum to GSM so it seems as though TDMA is still eating a lot of 850 and GSM gets kicked to T-Mo 1900. If you want GSM, stay T-Mo, if want better coverage, go Verizon

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