North Carolina coverage

I'm moving to the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area next month and need to get a cell plan for my wife. I'm being provided with a Spint plan at work, which isn't great since everyone including my boss says Sprint is crappy. My wife has heard good things about Verizon in the area where she'll be working just west of Winston-Salem. I've pulled up Cingular's maps and they appear to have pretty good coverage, especially out US 421 towards Boone. I've been unable to find a Verizon map that shows coverage in any detail, so we're just going on word of mouth. Sprint's maps show substantially less coverage than Cingular. Am I correct in thinking that Sprint's network is CDMA 1900, but that I could roam on Verizon's CDMA 800 network if I have a dual-band, dual-mode phone, i.e. AMPS 800, CDMA 800, CDMA 1900? I haven't been able to find any information on the phones Sprint offers that explicitely states that they can operate on CDMA 800. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions, especially from personal experience.

Thanks,
Adam

CINGULAR

[Joe0378]

Verizon is the way to go. Cingular sucks!

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

you would only roam on verizons 800CDMA network IF verizon is the preferred roaming partner in that area.........and you would pay roaming charges to boot.

cingular

[larry]

Adam,

You would need a dual band/tri-mode SPCS for roaming on 800 CDMA. I wouldn't necessarily expect to be able to do it though. Some areas it's possible and others it's not. Sprint has not fully committed to this yet because they would rather keep shopping around for the best roaming deal in each market whether it be with an analog/TDMA carrier or a CDMA carrier. Even in areas where it is possible you still might end up on analog depending on which signal is stronger. Here in the Los Angeles/San Diego area my phone will roam on 800 CDMA (verizon) when away from the SPCS coverage area.

[gelbelt]

Thanks for the replies. I guess my login didn't work on the first message.

With Cingular, I'd be locked into using GSM 1900 in the US, right? The only benefit of the multi-band GSM phones seems to be worldwide use. If that's the case, since I don't plan to take the phone out of the country, I don't see the need for a multi-band GSM phone. The current GSM phones don't appear to support AMPS. Since I'm pretty unhappy with my current VoiceStream GSM 1900 coverage in Atlanta, Cingular wouldn't be an upgrade for the times when I'm visiting Atlanta in the future. Now, the comparison is basically GSM 1900 vs CDMA 800 + CDMA 1900 + AMPS 800. Which covers more area in North Carolina? How beneficial is having AMPS support? We were down near Bryson City and nobody could get signal on any interface.

Regarding Sprint, I'm more concerned with useability than roaming charges since the phone is provided by work. I'm sure they'd prefer me not to rack up roaming charges, but my main question is "Can I use my Sprint phone where Sprint doesn't offer service but another CDMA provider does?" Verizon sells a bunch CDMA 800 + CDMA 1900 + AMPS 800 phones that they call tri-mode. Sprint calls their phones dual-band and sometimes tri-mode. Looking at the high end phone Sprint offers (Sanyo SCP6200, Sanyo CP-5150, Samsung SPH-A460, Samsung SPH-I300) do any of those not support AMPS or CDMA 800?

Now for Verizon, what is the difference between the National SingleRate and the America's Choice. Does the National SingleRate include operation over any interface anywhere in the US? Is the America's Choice just where digital coverage is available?

Thanks again,
Adam

[bobolito]

Experts in this forum always say never pay attention to those who say a carrier "sucks" or "i love it" without tangible reasons for their approval or disapproval.

Yes, you are correct when you say Sprint is only CDMA 1900Mhz and you can roam on Verizon's CDMA and Analog network. But, Verizon also has 1900Mhz in some markets. I think all Verizon's phones work on both bands. Not all Sprint phones work in 800Mhz or Analog. If you enter the phone model on Yahoo or Google search on the Internet I am sure you'll find this info.

I doubt Sprint has coverage in Boone but I know Verizon does. I don't know if Cingular has digital coverage other there. The last time I was there they has some TDMA 800Mhz coverage and some areas was analog (back in 1999).

[Joe0378]

<< Now for Verizon, what is the difference between the National SingleRate and the America's Choice. Does the National SingleRate include operation over any interface anywhere in the US? Is the America's Choice just where digital coverage is available? >>



The only difference between the America's Choice Plan and National Single Rate is roaming. On the AC plan. if you leave the Verizon network or a preferred (extended partner which they have contracts with), you will be charge for roaming...this happens in mostly rurals areas. on the SNR plan, you don't get charged for roaming period..even if you're on a different carrier which Verizon does not have a contract with. I'd go for the AC plan since I travel a lot and never seen my phone roam yet and they offer a lot more anytime minutes plus unlimited nights/weekends.

[Joe0378]

forgot to mention..even if you dont use the internet via cell phone, its comes with the unlimited nights/weekends promo. Verizon will have new promos August 1st.

[gelbelt]

Thanks Henry.

The map I'm looking at for Cingular is at http://onlinestore.cingular.com/html...dcs_nc_gre.htm
It shows orange all the way out 421 to Boone, maybe with a little weakness to the east of Deep Gap. The Sprint map at http://activate.sprintpcs.com/maps/m...ensboro_NC.gif is harder to read since the colors don't match up with the key. I believe dark green is the "Sprint PCS Nationwide Network" and the medium green is no service. Then there's a grey-green and a light green for "Planned Future" and "Off-Network." It definitely looks like there's no coverage on 421 past I-77, but I can't tell if the map includes AMPS or not. Verizon's maps are even worse.

The odd thing is that Sprint provides good coverage up in the north Georgia mountains to Hiawassee while I get no GSM 1900 there.

It sounds like even if I get a Sprint phone that supports AMPS 800, CDMA 800, and CDMA 1900 I may have problems outside the Sprint network because of Sprint's roaming agreements. I've pulled up Sprint's info on the phones along with manufacturer information, and they are all vague about standards and bands. They don't just come out and say something like "GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900" the way Sony/Ericsson does.

I guess if I really wanted the best coverage I would get a tri-band GSM phone for my wife, that way we'd have six possibilities when travelling.

Adam

[gelbelt]

Joe,

Thanks for the info. So there are some analog areas in the AC plan? The AC plan does offer more minutes, but the rural roaming you mentioned is what I'm concerned about. My wife will often be travelling from Lewisville to Yadkinville which probably gets a bit rural. I'm not sure what coverage is out there, but we'd probably be better to go with AC and just pay the roaming for the few times she might be off Verizon or one of Verizon's partners. She talks a lot, so the minutes are probably more valuable.

Adam

[bobolito]

Gelbelt, Cingular does not sell GSM service in Atlanta or N. Carolina. They sell TDMA phones in those areas so if they sell TDMA in your area too then you should be OK with coverage. I don't think the Verizon AC plan includes analog. But if roaming is your concern, then with a Cingular Nation plan, you won't be charged for roaming or long distance anywhere even if you are in analog or no matter who's network you are on. Coverage in TDMA or analog is about just as good as Verizon nationwide. Just make sure Cingular sells TDMA phones in your area, otherwise go with Verizon AC.

[larry]

Sprint has roaming agreements that cover all markets. As long as you don't mind roaming fees you should be able to use it anywhere you can use Verizon and others. The light green areas on the SPCS maps are the areas where you can roam. The medium green areas are SPCS areas that haven't been colored in darker yet. The only phones that support 800 CDMA are the Kyoceras, Audiovox, and Samsung A460. The rest do not.

[gelbelt]

Henry,

The ZIP code search on this web site says Cingular has GSM 1900 and AMPS in my area of North Carolina. It does say that Atlanta is TDMA. Also, all of the phones that Cingular turns up for my ZIP code in NC are GSM.

Adam

in North Carolina you don't need AMPS; Cingular has a thorough coverage.

[scottb]

I'm sure you have enough information here, but here is a little more. I live in Greensboro and have been very satisfied with Verizon. The only place in NC I have had trouble getting service is in the sandhills area around Pinehurst. In the few parts of Winston I go to, there has been good digital coverage.

A friend who lives outside of Winston (Clemmons) had no coverage with Sprint at his house, but did when he went down the street.

Good luck,
Scott

[WirelessBeachBum]

One company to avoid in this area is Alltel,,My sister has Alltel there and says she has poor service on 321 between Winston & HP. That is a former 360 market and many areas outside of downtown's (G-boro, HP and Winston) are rural and still lack adequate coverage. I have roamed on Sprint PCS in that area and had pretty good coverage, and of course if you do not travel outside of the triad at all Cricket is another option, however from your previous post you do. As far as cingular in that area my Uncle has had them for many years since they were BellSouth DCS, and is very happy but he does not travel outside of the local area. My understanding is that GSM coverage in the south is pretty poor at best...at least until AT&T affiliates upgrade to GSM.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

From what I hear Cingular is pretty good in North Carolina. By the way Cingular is GSM in North Carolina, South Carolina, Eastern TN, parts of Georgia, and a small portion of SouthWest Virginia. This is the old BellSouth Mobility DCS network which is now Cingular. Overall they have pretty good coverage but go to the edges of the map and coverage can get iffy, go beyond and your phone might say no signal.

That being said if you stick to NC mostly Cingular should be a excellent choice that is proabely one of Cingular's strongest markets.

[SiemensS40]

I have had AT&T for amost 3 years and traveled all parts of NC, SC, some in VA, and GA. AT&T never failed to provide a signal. It may not always be digital, but it was a signal. And regardless of where I was I had no roaming charge or long distance charge, unlike a lot of plans. Most of my useage is in Winston-Salem, next door to you.

I also activated with Cingular about a month ago because AT&T at the time wasn't offering the T68 and I wanted it's Bluetooth. Cingular indeed covers most of NC even a lot of rural areas with its GSM signal, and the voice quality is superior to the others. Plans are similar to AT&T. I use Cingular as a main phone and have the AT&T with me in case I go too far off the beaten path.

I have issues with the way Verizon and Sprint charge for roaming and "off-network" stuff, things you don't get into with the right plan at the other places. I would not recommend them.

[SiemensS40]

Originally posted by: bobolito
Gelbelt, Cingular does not sell GSM service in Atlanta or N. Carolina. They sell TDMA phones in those areas .

Not sure what you mean. Cingular in NC is GSM. I bought my T68 from them.

[bobolito]

Sorry, I don't know how this happened but for some reason when I looked in NC, several cities came up with TDMA phones. I looked now and they are all GSM markets. Thanks for the info.

[fruitcakes]

I live in Winston-Salem and am currently with Cingular, but trying to find a different carrier currently. I DO NOT RECOMMEND Cingular. They only have digital coverage and that is limited around this area. I can go two miles down I-40 toward Statesville and lose signal. I can travel to Hwy. 8 near Germanton and have no coverage. No coverage in Virginia near Stuart. No coverage near Thomasville. It's VERY frustrating!! I am now considering AT&T or Verizon, but have not decided which has better service for the areas I travel to.

[WirelessBeachBum]

The only carriers that will cover you in the Stuart area are Verizon and US Cellular...US Cellular has the best coverage in that area, but you are still going to be analog...take a bag phone if you have one!!!

When I left that area three years ago, they had one cell-site with a repeater in the entire county...

take a bag phone?

How about take some coins with you? So when you get there you can start looking for a Pay Phone...