Dobson Cell1 RFB GSM Rocks!

[Gonz]

Hi all,
Just got back from Northeast Michigan. Have some interesting news. Dobson has done an absolute kickA## job of building out GSM in northeast Michigan, where the former RFB (primarily CDMA) network was. Through the whole trip to michigan, I had better service overall on my cingular gsm phone than my Verizon loaded with a prl with alltel and RFB CDMA/Analog! I would never have expected this, but the GSM works way better than the amps or CDMA ever did on that network. There is a noticeable downgrade in the cdma, and a little bit with the amps, but the GSM is AMAZING! And to think, I was worried I'd never be able to get coverage up there again! I have half bars where it was always fringe, and dont have to force my phone over networks, etc. There were some very remote places where both alltel and Cell1 had there even dead spots, but I almost always had better call quality and coverage with dobson. Yay for my cingular phone. Props to dobson for a job well done on the buildout. Too bad cingular can't do as well of a job around here in Waukesha Co...

As of note: Verizon does allow roaming on Dobson's former RFB properties (still CDMA up and running in RFB-land) as well as the cell 1 network in northern wisconsin, although none of these networks are in the PRL's. I'm not sure if it'll let me analog roam on Dobson in the northwest part of michigan though, my dad was seemingly having trouble with his phone there when it was forced to analog A-side.

[CaptainLoose]

I travel often to Lewiston MI....not really Eastern lower peninsula but am wondering about GSM / Dobson coverage there. Last time I was there, I had marginal/sporadic coverage except along major highways -e.g. 32/33 or Hwy 612. Any hope for really rural coverage near Garland?

[TWX]

Gonz, did you happen to go through Rogers City?? When you were in the Northeastern michigan?

[strunke]

I wouldn't expect Lewiston to be any better. I believe Gonz is talking about the NE Upper Penninsula of Michigan. I might be wrong though.

[Gonz]

No, I was talking about the LP. My cabin is off HWY 612 in Crawford County. Half way between the Hartwick pines road and Lovells.

Before I leaft Best Buy, I printed detailed coverage maps of the county. Cingular (through Dobson) had the entire county covered minus the southeastern corner and a swath up the center.

http://63.241.153.180/coverageviewer/B2B.html
type in 49738 (grayling)

[CaptainLoose]

Very intersting Gonz...I went to your Cingular link and checked the map. The coverage shows as "partner"...I assume that's RFB? At any rate, it looks like Garland and Lewiston are well covered by a "partner"....sure beats Alltell or VZW in that particular spot.

Thanks for the info

[Gonz]

Yes it does. Only place I couldn't use my Cingular (RFB) phone, but could my Verizon (on alltel) was down the stephan bridge road, at stephan bridge along the ausable river.