WirelessAdvisor.com

fjclaus · 05-27-2003, 10:57 AM

Forgive all the questions. I am still new to the technology behind cell phones. I was driving down the highway Saturday and noticed one of many cell towers on the roof of an auto shop building. This was about 1 mile away from the K-Mart my wife and I were going to. Once inside K-Mart I noticed my phone got great reception, but said "Cingular Extend". On the way home I think I noticed the reason. There is a Verizon Wireless store right next to K-Mart. Does the cell technology pick up the cloest tower, or does it try to find the clostest tower for your network first? There was a Cingular tower 1 mile down the road and a Verizon town about 1,000 feet from the building. Is that why it said Cingular Extend?

Buickman · 05-27-2003, 3:22 PM

A phone only picks up another carrier's tower if it can't see it's own first. this can be a problem at times because even if a "home" signal is to weak to use the phone can stick to it instead of switching to a good roaming signal.

Jerro · 05-27-2003, 7:12 PM

There was a Cingular tower 1 mile down the road and a Verizon town about 1,000 feet from the building. Is that why it said Cingular Extend?

NO, your TDMA or GSM CINGULAR, is not going to pick up VERIZON, CDMA.

roamer1 · 05-27-2003, 9:18 PM

A TDMA or GAIT Cingular phone could pick up VZW analog. That said, Cingular (which hates VZW) has many VZW SIDs in their IRDBs as "forbidden" -- which means that they will show "no service" even when there's VZW analog to be had.

-SC

DiverDown · 05-27-2003, 10:34 PM

yeah but I seriously doubt Verizon has analog roaming agreements with cingular, and if they do, it doesn't have to be a gait phone to pick it up, it would just be an cingular phone that had an analog band, which I assume are becoming fewer and far between.

Bugwart · 05-28-2003, 9:38 AM

Whether there is a roaming agreement or not, an analog phone will pick up any analog signal. Generally you can dial out to 911.

On certain such occaisions, I have gotten a message saying that I could charge the call to my credit card.

05-27-2003, 10:57 AM	#1
fjclaus Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nearest Tower Forgive all the questions. I am still new to the technology behind cell phones. I was driving down the highway Saturday and noticed one of many cell towers on the roof of an auto shop building. This was about 1 mile away from the K-Mart my wife and I were going to. Once inside K-Mart I noticed my phone got great reception, but said "Cingular Extend". On the way home I think I noticed the reason. There is a Verizon Wireless store right next to K-Mart. Does the cell technology pick up the cloest tower, or does it try to find the clostest tower for your network first? There was a Cingular tower 1 mile down the road and a Verizon town about 1,000 feet from the building. Is that why it said Cingular Extend?

05-27-2003, 3:22 PM	#2
Buickman Gearhead/Gadget freak Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bye Bye MN, Hello Cali Posts: 864 Phone(s): BB 9550, LG enV2, Retired: BB Curve, Moto Z6tv, E815,V710, Nokia 3285, Nokia 6185 Provider(s): Verizon on both phones Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Images: 1	Nearest Tower A phone only picks up another carrier's tower if it can't see it's own first. this can be a problem at times because even if a "home" signal is to weak to use the phone can stick to it instead of switching to a good roaming signal. __________________ Cars became my job, so phones became my hobby. Car's are not my job anymore, but phones are still a fun hobby.

05-27-2003, 7:12 PM	#3
Jerro Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phila area Posts: 1,569 Phone(s): LG 6100, LG 5200, LG vx 10 Provider(s): VZw Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Nearest Tower There was a Cingular tower 1 mile down the road and a Verizon town about 1,000 feet from the building. Is that why it said Cingular Extend? NO, your TDMA or GSM CINGULAR, is not going to pick up VERIZON, CDMA. __________________ Phones before cellular existed ( IMTS) car phones; 1977, Motorola Pulsar 1, (with a dial) 1982 Motorola Pulsar 2.

05-27-2003, 9:18 PM	#4
roamer1 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sandy Springs, GA Posts: 1,749 Phone(s): Palm Treo 680, Sierra AirCard 860, Moto L2 & L6, Nokia 6015i Provider(s): lots of orange, a little Little Rock blue Devices: way too many :) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 2	Nearest Tower A TDMA or GAIT Cingular phone could pick up VZW analog. That said, Cingular (which hates VZW) has many VZW SIDs in their IRDBs as "forbidden" -- which means that they will show "no service" even when there's VZW analog to be had. -SC __________________ "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. There might be a law against it by that time." -/usr/games/fortune sticking it out at you...

05-27-2003, 10:34 PM	#5
DiverDown Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 245 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nearest Tower yeah but I seriously doubt Verizon has analog roaming agreements with cingular, and if they do, it doesn't have to be a gait phone to pick it up, it would just be an cingular phone that had an analog band, which I assume are becoming fewer and far between.

WirelessAdvisor.com

GENERAL Wireless Discussion

Nearest Tower in Wireless Topics; "Forgive all the questions. I am still new to the ..."

WirelessAdvisor.com

05-28-2003, 9:38 AM	#6
Bugwart Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 951 Phone(s): Samsung SCH i760,, Samsung M600, SGH-R220,, Moto SLVR L7, many retired Provider(s): SKT, Verizon, China Mobile, EPlus Devices: Nuvi 855 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nearest Tower Whether there is a roaming agreement or not, an analog phone will pick up any analog signal. Generally you can dial out to 911. On certain such occaisions, I have gotten a message saying that I could charge the call to my credit card.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads for: Nearest Tower
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sprint tower. What kind of tower is this?	danooo	Western US Wireless Forum	19	12-16-2007 3:19 AM
How Can You Tell Who's Using a Tower?	COMfr3aK	Northeastern US Wireless Forum	8	05-18-2005 1:01 AM
Viaero: "Want a Tower? We'll Build a Tower."	jk870	Central US Wireless Forum	9	02-17-2005 3:25 AM
Which tower am i using?	Yankees368	Northeastern US Wireless Forum	15	12-27-2003 3:26 AM
New AT&T Tower	townslo	Western US Wireless Forum	2	06-27-2003 3:26 AM