Coverage in Washington, DC - VZW or Cingular?

[caphillguy]

Hi all,

How is Verizon coverage in the DC metro area these days? My wife and I are trying to decide between Verizon and Cingular. Verizon has long been reputed to have the best network in the area, but recently I've heard lots of reports about network problems, dropped calls, busy signals, etc. Cingular seems to have decent coverage and calling plans that offer good value, and the soon-to-be-completed ATTW merger should make them even more competitive. However, reliability and coverage are our main criteria -- in other words, I'm willing to pay more for Verizon if we can depend on it when we need it.

So, is Verizon's network still tops in DC, or is it beginning to suffer capacity problems? And how does Cingular's compare?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated -- thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Andy]

Hey,
I don't live in D.C. but visit it frequently(I've visited the area with my Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile phones) and out of all of those Verizon has worked best for me. While I'm there on my trips, I usually always get great service, but of course I'm not there all the time and don't visit all areas, but the areas I've been to have generally been great.
Hope this helps a little, I've never had Cingular(they do not offer plans for people living in Utah), so I can't compare the two.
Andy

P.S. Before getting "stuck" in a one or two year contract with any carrier, you can try them for 15 Days.

[GoodmanR]

Verizon still has excellent coverage in DC, but it has really suffered some capacity issues. While some people who use Verizon in other markets will deny that this is possible, just about everyone in DC and many other east coast cities has had some bad capacity issues ranging from delayed outgoing calls to a fast busy signal when someone tries to call you.

Who is best for you really depends on where you are in DC. IMO, Cingular coverage for me was pretty comprable to VZW coverage so long as you don't take the metro. TMO also has pretty good coverage. If you live in the suburbs though away from a denser area, stick with VZW or Cingular.

Originally Posted by caphillguy

Hi all,

How is Verizon coverage in the DC metro area these days? My wife and I are trying to decide between Verizon and Cingular. Verizon has long been reputed to have the best network in the area, but recently I've heard lots of reports about network problems, dropped calls, busy signals, etc. Cingular seems to have decent coverage and calling plans that offer good value, and the soon-to-be-completed ATTW merger should make them even more competitive. However, reliability and coverage are our main criteria -- in other words, I'm willing to pay more for Verizon if we can depend on it when we need it.

So, is Verizon's network still tops in DC, or is it beginning to suffer capacity problems? And how does Cingular's compare?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated -- thanks in advance for your assistance.

[agentHibby]

hey goodman, any clue on when Verizon will add calling channels to there PCS network in DC?

[DemoMan]

I spent a month in DC this past summer and I roamed on Verizon. Service was great everywhere and I don't recall problems with dropped calls. My roomie had Cingular and he had a few network busy signals and no service in the metro.

Good luck...

Brad

[GoodmanR]

Originally Posted by DemoMan

I spent a month in DC this past summer and I roamed on Verizon. Service was great everywhere and I don't recall problems with dropped calls. My roomie had Cingular and he had a few network busy signals and no service in the metro.

Good luck...

Brad

Cingular really doesn't have any capacity issues in the area, so I'm not sure where that is coming from...

[GoodmanR]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

hey goodman, any clue on when Verizon will add calling channels to there PCS network in DC?

No, I don't. Right now, I think they are keeping PCS devoted to data. I haven't really heard of any concrete plans to create PCS voice channels at all in DC.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by GoodmanR

While some people who use Verizon in other markets will deny that this is possible, just about everyone in DC and many other east coast cities has had some bad capacity issues ranging from delayed outgoing calls to a fast busy signal when someone tries to call you.

GoodmanR,
I visited D.C. and NYC this summer with my VZW phone, I made a lot of calls while there and the calls I made while there were great, I was not aware of any network busies, etc. I'm just a visitor for a week or two, and I don't visit all the places, but I wouldn't deny capacity issues if I had any. What good would it do me to deny issues and have the user that asked the question get a service that sucks?? The user that asked the question shouldn't depend on my reply, since in my first post, I posted that I don't live there. I use VZW all over the place and I like the company, they've never given me trouble, coverage is good in the places I use my phone, but if I would have problems I would at least be honest, and I would switch carriers immediately if someone else could give me better coverage, the same CS, etc. for the same or cheaper price.

~Andy

[GoodmanR]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

GoodmanR,
I visited D.C. and NYC this summer with my VZW phone, I made a lot of calls while there and the calls I made while there were great, I was not aware of any network busies, etc. I'm just a visitor for a week or two, and I don't visit all the places, but I wouldn't deny capacity issues if I had any. What good would it do me to deny issues and have the user that asked the question get a service that sucks?? The user that asked the question shouldn't depend on my reply, since in my first post, I posted that I don't live there. I use VZW all over the place and I like the company, they've never given me trouble, coverage is good in the places I use my phone, but if I would have problems I would at least be honest, and I would switch carriers immediately if someone else could give me better coverage, the same CS, etc. for the same or cheaper price.

~Andy

Andy, my point was that most people who use Verizon in DC and New York will tell you that there are capacity issues. Coming somewhere for a week or two, it is hard to really get a feel for that. They aren't 24/7 problems, but they are problems. Often, you see people who use a carrier in another city comment on the carriers national network, which really isn't relevant for most people. It's great to have coverage everywhere you go, but the odds are, when you visit somewhere, you'll have coverage no matter who your carrier is. Most major cities, in urban centers are kind of must cover areas, so the best coverage at my house in suburban dc doesnt mean anything for best coverage at your house in charlotte.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by GoodmanR

Andy, my point was that most people who use Verizon in DC and New York will tell you that there are capacity issues. Coming somewhere for a week or two, it is hard to really get a feel for that. They aren't 24/7 problems, but they are problems. Often, you see people who use a carrier in another city comment on the carriers national network, which really isn't relevant for most people. It's great to have coverage everywhere you go, but the odds are, when you visit somewhere, you'll have coverage no matter who your carrier is. Most major cities, in urban centers are kind of must cover areas, so the best coverage at my house in suburban dc doesnt mean anything for best coverage at your house in charlotte.

I get what you're saying and you have a point, that's why in my first post, I posted that I don't live there, but that I visit the area on a regular basis and that I did not have problems while there... I made a lot of calls on purpose there just to see whether I'd be having issues as well, since quite a few people on here are saying they're having problems. You are also right in saying that most, if not all, carriers have service in most urban areas, that is correct...things do, however, change when I go out of town camping, 4-wheeling, etc. here in Utah, where VZW is the only available network, then I would actually accept some network busies, etc. just because I get good overall service to the places I go to regulary, but I don't have such problems.

Andy

[danny boi]

Many of our customers where I work are from the East Coast. They call us very frequently from their mobiles and seem to say good things about VZW there. Whenever you bring up T-Mobile or Cingular, they say "EWW, I don't use that crap..." Here in LA we got tree huggers. Over the phone, I've found that New Yorkers especially tend to be very opinionated and emotinal so I could see how a couple of dropped calls can become major issues for some. My brother is from New York City. To him, if something isn't excellent, it is "God awful, crap, sucks, you name it." LOL

[danny boi]

Originally Posted by caphillguy

Hi all,

How is Verizon coverage in the DC metro area these days? My wife and I are trying to decide between Verizon and Cingular. Verizon has long been reputed to have the best network in the area, but recently I've heard lots of reports about network problems, dropped calls, busy signals, etc. Cingular seems to have decent coverage and calling plans that offer good value, and the soon-to-be-completed ATTW merger should make them even more competitive. However, reliability and coverage are our main criteria -- in other words, I'm willing to pay more for Verizon if we can depend on it when we need it.

So, is Verizon's network still tops in DC, or is it beginning to suffer capacity problems? And how does Cingular's compare?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated -- thanks in advance for your assistance.

Try asking your neighbors and workmates who they use in your area. DC is pretty big so I'm sure either one will work better depending on who you ask and where you frequent. VZW works great in LA as a whole, but I could give you a handful of specific spots where they are not too good. Good luck.

[MeatChicken]

Originally Posted by GoodmanR

Andy, my point was that most people who use Verizon in DC and New York will tell you that there are capacity issues....."

My 2.5 cents: It has been my experience, Personally, as well as talking to many people & reading net boards, that "most" people who actually use VZW in the NY market will tell you how good it is!
It seems to be the people on AT&T, T-mobile, Sprint ect, that keep mentioning Verizon capacity issues & network problems!!
At this point in time , capacity issues for all carriers, for the most part, are infrequent & isolated cases, & wheather you visit NY or DC or Boston, & have VZW, Cigular or AT&T, chances are you will never get a fast busy, or unable to place call in full signal area....

[GoodmanR]

Originally Posted by MeatChicken

My 2.5 cents: It has been my experience, Personally, as well as talking to many people & reading net boards, that "most" people who actually use VZW in the NY market will tell you how good it is!
It seems to be the people on AT&T, T-mobile, Sprint ect, that keep mentioning Verizon capacity issues & network problems!!
At this point in time , capacity issues for all carriers, for the most part, are infrequent & isolated cases, & wheather you visit NY or DC or Boston, & have VZW, Cigular or AT&T, chances are you will never get a fast busy, or unable to place call in full signal area....

My wifes phone is Verizon, I use it quite frequently as I try to not use my business expensed phone for personal calls...

That said, I have had far less problems in NY than in DC. In DC, there were significant issues that have been confirmed by many other people using the service in the MSA, both here and on HoFo.

[GoodmanR]

Originally Posted by YourDaddy

Many of our customers where I work are from the East Coast. They call us very frequently from their mobiles and seem to say good things about VZW there. Whenever you bring up T-Mobile or Cingular, they say "EWW, I don't use that crap..." Here in LA we got tree huggers. Over the phone, I've found that New Yorkers especially tend to be very opinionated and emotinal so I could see how a couple of dropped calls can become major issues for some. My brother is from New York City. To him, if something isn't excellent, it is "God awful, crap, sucks, you name it." LOL

I haven't heard really anything bad about TMO in DC...