Cingular Dilemma -- Staten Island, ny

[pangelid]

hello...newbie here! was wondering if you folks could help me out!! PLEASE [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

ok, here's my dilemma...I'm moving to a new basement apartment in staten island, ny, where my current Sony Ericsson T68i P.O.S. doesn't get any service, aside from the occasional one bar every hour or so, and is completely useless..

Now, my dilemma is figuring out why I don't get service down there... is it b/c of the weak reception of my phone, or just bad cingular GSM service in general. I am hoping someone could fill me in with an opinion..

Here are the facts..
Basement apartment w/windows (not completely underground)...Verizon CDMA and ATT TDMA work down there appx 3 bars. Sprint got no service. My own t68i gets one bar here or there if i'm standing in the right spot or really close to the outside door. Overall, my phone gets poor to average performance compared to those of my friends'.

I want to avoid leaving Cing. b/c of high breach contract costs...You all think its a lost cause? go for the land line? I'm sure its probably a combination of the two factors, but do you think its worth maybe swapping out the sims with another cheap cingular phone, or even buying a prepaid to test it out? I really want to get the nokia 6590i but dont wanna buy it unless I know I'm gunna get service...Right now if I want to buy another cingular, I have to pay full cuz I'm only a customer 6months...you think if I complain enough, they may give me a deal?

opinions please...thanx in advance...

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: pangelid
hello...newbie here! was wondering if you folks could help me out!! PLEASE [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] ok, here's my dilemma...I'm moving to a new basement apartment in staten island, ny, where my current Sony Ericsson T68i P.O.S. doesn't get any service, aside from the occasional one bar every hour or so, and is completely useless.. Now, my dilemma is figuring out why I don't get service down there... is it b/c of the weak reception of my phone, or just bad cingular GSM service in general. I am hoping someone could fill me in with an opinion.. Here are the facts.. Basement apartment w/windows (not completely underground)...Verizon CDMA and ATT TDMA work down there appx 3 bars. Sprint got no service. My own t68i gets one bar here or there if i'm standing in the right spot or really close to the outside door. Overall, my phone gets poor to average performance compared to those of my friends'. I want to avoid leaving Cing. b/c of high breach contract costs...You all think its a lost cause? go for the land line? I'm sure its probably a combination of the two factors, but do you think its worth maybe swapping out the sims with another cheap cingular phone, or even buying a prepaid to test it out? I really want to get the nokia 6590i but dont wanna buy it unless I know I'm gunna get service...Right now if I want to buy another cingular, I have to pay full cuz I'm only a customer 6months...you think if I complain enough, they may give me a deal? opinions please...thanx in advance...

1.) t68 = worst reception GSM phone EVER (at least according to my friends and these forums.)

2.) If you can have a friend try their Tmobile phone (preferably a samsung/nokia) and see if thiers works. If it doesn't then no go switcgh services. If it does its time for a new phone.

[Scalici26]

I live in Staten Island. I have tried all the cell providers. Verizon is the Best!!!

Don't even bother trying a friends T-Mobile phone because Cingular and T-Mobile use the same towers.

The t68 has terrible reception so that can be your problem. Try to get the Nokia 3390, I have found that phone to have excelent reception.

Where are you on SI? I can tell you where the nearest tower to you is.

P.S. In my own opinion, T-Mobile/Cingular has the second best cellular service on Staten Island. Verizon is #1

[t720]

Use AT&T TDMA or Verizon. Verizon is a bit more costly in my opinion, but if it's what you want, then buy it. AT&T GSM is not good in Staten Island, so don't get that. AT&T TDMA also hops onto Cingular TDMA in the area, and they kick the costs since they both hop onto each other. The reason why ur T68i is only getting 1 bar...is because it's a T68i! Anything gets a better signal than that phone. Don't worry about Cingular's contract...just SWITCH phones! Then they won't kill u with the termination fee.

[Canarsiejoe]

Well here is my input about cell service and Staten Island. I live in new dorp i have found that most of the service works great on this part of the island. My AT&T TDMA worked fantastic in my house basement included. I switched to the GSM Not great but it works. When i lived in heartland village it was hit or miss somedays the service worked somedays no. Denpending on what part of Nome Ave. I was on. And forget about Rockland Ave and Snake hill road and this was with most carriers. As for some other carriers in the same areas. A friend has verizon. and the same problem existed when i lived in heartland. No or poor service. I also had sprint for about 5 years. again certain parts of the island where great others where others were not I dont what is with staten island but its like and cellphone service but its like any other thing find one that works best for you and stick with it. As for the AT&T GSM on staten island the answer i keep getting from customer service is give it time the lsland will get better. As for me I am Switching back to my digital AT&T V60i.

[Scalici26]

New Dorp is a great area for all the service providers. They have towers along the Railroad and an actual tower behind Hylan Plaza. As for Heartland Village, Forget it! A big dead spot.

Verizon!!! The Best on SI!!!!

[pangelid]

hey all...

thanks for the responses...i def. agree that verizon is the best service in SI. without a doubt, but not sure if i want to flat out switch from Cing (b/c I like rollover minutes and cooler phones). What I do want to know is if Cingular GSM is strong enough to get into a basement, where verizon cdma and att tdma def. gets service...I have a feeling its my sh!tty t68i phone, b/c I have all sorts of problems with it all over the place...I can have full bars and not be able to make an outgoing call...

do you all think a switch to a better performing Nokia phone like the 3390 or the 6590 would solve my problem, or is Cingular just a bad service...btw, my apartment is sorta where New Springville meets Bulls Head. The neighborhood is like Richmond Avenue between Victory Blvd on one side to Signs Road on the other

Scalici, you said u think Cing. is 2nd best service? u have or had it? You think it would be a problem if I went in there and was like this phone suks, I'd like to switch it out for a diff one? I'm only a customer for 6months....

CanarsiJoe, did ATT GSM work in people's basements?

What if I just get a Pre-paid phone and then just return it after I test my sim? or you can't return pre-paid?

thanx...

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: pangelid
hello...newbie here! was wondering if you folks could help me out!! PLEASE [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] ok, here's my dilemma...I'm moving to a new basement apartment in staten island, ny, where my current Sony Ericsson T68i P.O.S. doesn't get any service, aside from the occasional one bar every hour or so, and is completely useless.. Now, my dilemma is figuring out why I don't get service down there... is it b/c of the weak reception of my phone, or just bad cingular GSM service in general. I am hoping someone could fill me in with an opinion.. Here are the facts.. Basement apartment w/windows (not completely underground)...Verizon CDMA and ATT TDMA work down there appx 3 bars. Sprint got no service. My own t68i gets one bar here or there if i'm standing in the right spot or really close to the outside door. Overall, my phone gets poor to average performance compared to those of my friends'. I want to avoid leaving Cing. b/c of high breach contract costs...You all think its a lost cause? go for the land line? I'm sure its probably a combination of the two factors, but do you think its worth maybe swapping out the sims with another cheap cingular phone, or even buying a prepaid to test it out? I really want to get the nokia 6590i but dont wanna buy it unless I know I'm gunna get service...Right now if I want to buy another cingular, I have to pay full cuz I'm only a customer 6months...you think if I complain enough, they may give me a deal? opinions please...thanx in advance...

Oh yeah, almost forgot.

Nokia 6590 is a prety good choice.

[bobolito]

T720, Cingular doesnt have TDMA service in the NYC metro area.

Pangelid, I think it is a good idea if you try a friends T-Mobile phone, this way you'll find out if by getting another Cingular phone you'll get better service. You say that occasionally you'd get one bar so that means the service is not completely dead and with a better phone (a Nokia preferrably) you may get better reception. If I was to get a Nokia, I would get the 6590i. It is a solid phone and since it supports GSM 800, you may be able to use AT&T's GSM 800Mhz in the future which will have the same coverage as their TDMA service. This is if the AT&T GSM 800 network allows Cingular GSM customers to roam on it.

[pangelid]

Originally posted by: bobolito
If I was to get a Nokia, I would get the 6590i. It is a solid phone and since it supports GSM 800, you may be able to use AT&T's GSM 800Mhz in the future which will have the same coverage as their TDMA service. This is if the AT&T GSM 800 network allows Cingular GSM customers to roam on it.

Hell yeah, this is why I like using message boards...This is the type of sh!t you won't hear at any provider store...thanx Bobolito for the info. One more thing...So even though the Nokia web site says 6590i is GSM 850mHz, you are saying, (and i think I read elsewhere) that this will still work w/GSM 800? How is that possible?

[Scalici26]

Yes I think T-Mobile/Cingular has the best service on SI. There is a town on Richmond Ave and Victory across the street from McDonalds. Also on Forest and Richmond there is a tower. As for switching phones, i absolutley would do that. Like you said try to get a pre-paid phone (Nokia 3390 or 6590i) with either T-Mobile or Cingular (They use the same towers) and see what the results are. If you get a better signal with the Nokia phones then goto Cingular and ask the to switch the phone for you, but they may charge you full price. If worse comes to worse, go on eBay and buy a new/used Nokia phone. Just make sure it works with Cingular.

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: bobolito
T720, Cingular doesnt have TDMA service in the NYC metro area. Pangelid, I think it is a good idea if you try a friends T-Mobile phone, this way you'll find out if by getting another Cingular phone you'll get better service. You say that occasionally you'd get one bar so that means the service is not completely dead and with a better phone (a Nokia preferrably) you may get better reception. If I was to get a Nokia, I would get the 6590i. It is a solid phone and since it supports GSM 800, you may be able to use AT&T's GSM 800Mhz in the future which will have the same coverage as their TDMA service. This is if the AT&T GSM 800 network allows Cingular GSM customers to roam on it.

Thanx for backing me up Bo.

A note thought. Cingular GSM 800 will have to roam on ATT GSM800 in the city. The reason i say this because if the two companies want to maintian the ability to roam on each other were they don't actually have service then it only makes sence that ATT let Cingular roam in the city and that Cingular let ATT roam in Upstate N.Y.

[bobolito]

A correction to myself. I said that Cingular doesn't have TDMA service in the NYC metro area. However, they roam on AT&T for TDMA for free.

Now, If AT&T allows Cingular to roam on GSM 800, that will be in addition to Cingular's own 1900Mhz network which it is shares with T-Mobile. So this will be an example of an area where Cingular will be able to use AT&T even though they have coverage of their own. There are numerous areas where Cingular GSM roams on AT&T GSM already even though Cingular has its own coverage. However, the question is will Cingular charge its customers roaming fees for roaming on AT&T's network. Some say it will be free, but I'll have to see that for myself. Likewise, AT&T GSM users will roam on Cingular GSM 800 networks in central/south Jersey, even though AT&T has 1900Mhz coverage of their own in a number of areas in south jersey. If roaming is free for customers in this area, Cingular and AT&T will definitely have the best GSM network in NJ. The best TDMA network can only make the best GSM network.

[pangelid]

Originally posted by: bobolito
A correction to myself. I said that Cingular doesn't have TDMA service in the NYC metro area. However, they roam on AT&T for TDMA for free.

Now, If AT&T allows Cingular to roam on GSM 800, that will be in addition to Cingular's own 1900Mhz network which it is shares with T-Mobile. So this will be an example of an area where Cingular will be able to use AT&T even though they have coverage of their own. There are numerous areas where Cingular GSM roams on AT&T GSM already even though Cingular has its own coverage. However, the question is will Cingular charge its customers roaming fees for roaming on AT&T's network. Some say it will be free, but I'll have to see that for myself. Likewise, AT&T GSM users will roam on Cingular GSM 800 networks in central/south Jersey, even though AT&T has 1900Mhz coverage of their own in a number of areas in south jersey. If roaming is free for customers in this area, Cingular and AT&T will definitely have the best GSM network in NJ. The best TDMA network can only make the best GSM network.

What about my question about the Nokia 6590i and its 850mHz frequency. Is that going to be compatible with GSM 800? How is that possible?

[Scalici26]

Yes, it the 6590i which supports GSM 850, will support GSM 800. They are both the same. People call it by either name (GSM 800 or GSM 850), but both are the same.

[bobolito]

The 6590i is just a dual-band GSM phone 800/1900Mhz. Like I said, if AT&T allows Cingular to roam on their future GSM 800 network, the 6590i will be able to roam on it. However, that will be a few months away. For now you can only use the existing 1900Mhz network that T-Mobile and Cingular share.

And yes, 800 is the same as 850. Some people thought by calling it 850, they were calling it more accurately but instead they are confusing people. Stupid move.

[pangelid]

Originally posted by: bobolito

And yes, 800 is the same as 850. Some people thought by calling it 850, they were calling it more accurately but instead they are confusing people. Stupid move.

850mHz is on Nokiausa's web site. Very confusing! Thanx for the info tho!~~

[Canarsiejoe]

I am not having a problem getting a signal from AT&T GSM in my basement where i am living now. like i said depends on what part of the island you are on. I was in annadale yesterday at my friends house where he has a finished basement and believe or not i did get 3-4 bars on the phone. And today i was there nothing. But again I had better Luck with the TDMA service than i am with the gsm. Time to switch back. I guess. He has verizon and he gets nothing in his basement where his wife with Tmobile does.

[Canarsiejoe]

Oh and we all have the same phones the Moto T720.

[Dataman]

Your problem may be the phone. I have read all the article pertaining to your delima. Yet i failed to see where anybody mentioned the 15 day return policy. If you want to really see how the other phones operate then buy it and put it on your credit card. take it home, try it, if it works keep it, or return it if doesn't. How hard is it? Cingular RULES

[pangelid]

Originally posted by: Dataman
Your problem may be the phone. I have read all the article pertaining to your delima. Yet i failed to see where anybody mentioned the 15 day return policy. If you want to really see how the other phones operate then buy it and put it on your credit card. take it home, try it, if it works keep it, or return it if doesn't. How hard is it? Cingular RULES

yeah, this is def. a good idea. Since I already have the sim, I don't think I would be charged a connection fee or any of that.....i hope

[Dataman]

There is not a connection charge for changing out phones at least not here in Arkansas.