What cell phones / service works?

[marilou]

I need a cell phone and service that can work between Gaylord and Atlanta, MI. I had an analog phone that worked for years with cingular service up there, but now my phone has been deactivated. I need to check-in with family while hunting. Any help?

Marilou

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by marilou

I need a cell phone and service that can work between Gaylord and Atlanta, MI. I had an analog phone that worked for years with cingular service up there, but now my phone has been deactivated. I need to check-in with family while hunting. Any help?

Marilou

Best bet would be to talk to people who live in that area and see what carriers they use or use the trial period that carriers offer to test service out in the areas you go hunting. Then pick the carrier that works the best.

In remote areas like that sometimes no carrier will work... there are always hand held radios (CBs) for places like that. At least you'd be able to get out in an emergency.

[Bsilvertab]

You basically have two choices for phone service, Alltel and Cellular One. I can't speak for either of them in the Gaylord/Atlanta areas, but I have found Alltel coverage throughout the state to be very good.

[PCSuser]

You may want to look into Sprint - they allow unlimited off-network roaming for no charge. Therefore you could get EvDo roaming, and voice roaming by using the Alltel network.

What type of plan are you looking for?

[Andy]

If ALLTEL is available, which Bsilvertab says is, I would definitely take a look at them, because ALLTEL generally has a very well built out network in the areas they cover, and they are a very customer friendly company.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Andy

If ALLTEL is available, which Bsilvertab says is, I would definitely take a look at them, because ALLTEL generally has a very well built out network in the areas they cover, and they are a very customer friendly company.

I would have to agree with this as well, especailly with Analog going to be allowed to be shut down in 2/08, someone like Alltel would have coverage in these remote areas, and if Cellone/Dobson is in the area, I would check them out as well.

Basically get a phone & try it out in these areas to see if it works where you would use it the most in an emergency.

[Alienware_51]

Originally Posted by marilou

I need a cell phone and service that can work between Gaylord and Atlanta, MI. I had an analog phone that worked for years with cingular service up there, but now my phone has been deactivated. I need to check-in with family while hunting. Any help?

Marilou

I would go with Cellular One, they are adding/added some new towers around the Atlana area.

As for Alltel, I'm not sure, when I had them I really wasn't in that area. But I'm sure they would be fine also.

Cellone and Alltel's coverage is getting pretty close to the same, for the most part.

[cellular_freak]

I used to have Cellular One and they were an okay company when I had them, but they seem to have gotten progressively worse at least around here in the thumb of Michigan. My mom still has it and she has frequent dropped calls. My dad also has it and says he also has a lot of static in his phone from transmission noise.
I would go with Alltel. I have heard nothing but great things about Alltel in Michigan. Supposedly, Alltel representatives will tell customers that Michigan is their base. I have been told from friends that have it that they always have good signal. I have Verizon, and whenever I lose signal, I actually roam onto Alltel. So that shows you how good they are. And in my opinion, CDMA rocks over GSM. Voice and data wise!!!!!! (No nasty GSM static in your phone)
Take my advice: ALLTEL

[UFO]

Originally Posted by marilou

I need a cell phone and service that can work between Gaylord and Atlanta, MI.... I need to check-in with family while hunting. Any help?

If you're not a heavy user, I would direct you toward a pre-paid plan like alltelU. You can pre-pay per minute at 15 cents/min or pre-pay per day at 75 cents/day + 10 cents per peak minute and get 2 of 4 features detailed here AlltelU prepaid. Cellular One also has pre-paid but is a little more expensive at 17 cents/min or $1/day + 10 cents per peak minute. Just to use on hunting trips and while traveling, a pre-paid would probably save you quite a bit over paying at least $40/month for a regular plan and a lot of minutes that you may not need in the long-term although you would have to pay more initially for a phone and activation fee.

[strunke]

I've driven through Gaylord and had very good coverage with Alltel. Also took 33/32 down through Atlanta to get to Fairview. Good coverage there also.

[JasonWells]

From driving vacations, through your area and many others, ALLTEL has been the best so far. It has had coverage many, many times when my friends with Verizon had nothing. The plans are competative and if you like N&W can start @7pm. You can change your plan at any time for free, and they don't extend your contract like VZW.