North Carolina Coverage

[zebraNY03]

I live outside of Greensboro in the "country" to me cause I am originally from up north, but I guess that they would not call it that down here. I will say that I live in a rural area of North Carolina. I just want to know who has the best coverage outside of the city. I have AT&T right now but they sink and I cannot decide between Cingular, Sprint, Verizon, or Alltel. There are so many options I just want to make sure I get the one with the best coverage in NC. Please help me decide!

[SQFreak]

How outside of Greensboro do you live? Do you live in Guilford or Forsyth County? If so, go with Verizon Wireless. If you live north of those counties (Stokes or Rockingham County), you need to go with Alltel because Verizon will not sell service to you. (Verizon Wireless is not licensed in those counties, but Alltel is. If you have a Verizon Wireless phone, you'll use the Alltel network at no additional charge - it doesn't matter what plan you're on, you will get charged as if it was a Verizon Wireless network, including IN-Network Calling, but because Verizon Wireless doesn't technically exist there, they won't sell service to someone who lives there.)

[jones]

Why don't you take advantage of their 15 day trial.
Your house could be closer to any Carrier's Tower.
You really have to try them out at work and places you need them to work.
Other people's place may not be your place.
Return the One with a Wimpy Signal.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

If you live in a really rural area of North Carolina. Verizon or ALLTEL is probably your best bet.

[zebraNY03]

I live north of greensboro in Rockingham county. My chooses were between verizon and Alltel. My parents have verizon but I can never hear them when I am talking to them on the phone. My father told me that Alltel uses verizons network but you are saying it is the other way around. Which makes me go for Alltel more. Thanks for the tip. Hope that they work out for me.

[jones]

How about Cingular?

[ComicalMoodyDan]

Cingular is pretty good in NC. Even in rural areas but I still think Verizon/ALLTEL has a slight edge over them. North Carolina is very mountainous and you'll need analog coverage in some really remote areas. If you stick to Cingular's coverage it's great in NC but go beyond it and you'll not have a signal. If you truely want the best coverage in NC even in the middle of nowhere ALLTEL/Verizon is your best choice.

[jones]

Originally Posted by TNDan21 Cingular is pretty good in NC. Even in rural areas but I still think Verizon/ALLTEL has a slight edge over them. North Carolina is very mountainous and you'll need analog coverage in some really remote areas. If you stick to Cingular's coverage it's great in NC but go beyond it and you'll not have a signal. If you truely want the best coverage in NC even in the middle of nowhere ALLTEL/Verizon is your best choice.

Your signal at HOME/Work matters a Lot for some people. They may have strong Signal in some rural areas but if you have 1 Signal bar or none at all where you live, then that's a tough choice.
But, Thanks for the Update.

[scottb]

Based on your location - Rockingham county - I would suggest trying Alltel first.

[SQFreak]

Cingular is awful in the Triad area though, and that's Winston-Salem--Greensboro--High Point. Avoid them there.

Alltel is your best bet. (Verizon is better in the cities, though.)

[jones]

Maybe i did'nt go to a street you went but i did'nt really have any problems
using the service in Winston-Salem--Greensboro
How come your carrier is VZW and you're having problems w/ Cingular.

[scottb]

Cingular's coverage can be spotty in this area. I know mine was. I could not use my phone in my house and I do live in the city.

[SQFreak]

Originally Posted by jones Maybe i did'nt go to a street you went but i did'nt really have any problems using the service in Winston-Salem--Greensboro How come your carrier is VZW and you're having problems w/ Cingular.

I used Cingular until November of last year. I watched service go from good to bad as Cingular forgot about the area BellSouth Mobility DCS built up. I watched calls drop. I watched my signal meter go from five bars to two bars in the same place on the same phone. I watched sound quality turn to crap. I have friends who can't use their phones. (I have friends with Cingular here. The phone simply will not get a signal anywhere near here. But I'm near Charlotte now.) I've lived in Winston-Salem for the previous 18 years. I had a BellSouth Mobility DCS cell phone for over 2 years.

[jones]

A lot of upgrades can be activated in 9 months.
I was just there this summer (July), 3 months ago.

[SQFreak]

And my friends who still use Cingular? Who can never get calls through? Who drop calls more often than they hold them? They don't count?

[jones]

i beg to differ. Did'nt have any problems using it.

Maybe VZW having trouble.

[scottb]

Jones, what part of NC do you live in?

[SQFreak]

Originally Posted by jones i beg to differ. Did'nt have any problems using it. Maybe VZW having trouble.

It wasn't calling me. It was calling landlines, calling other Cingular users, calling anyone. You can always find problem areas with any carrier. The difference is how many there are and where they are. Where you went was probably covered. But go west of the Winston-Salem city limits into Clemmons and Lewisville, and that "no problems" phone will be dead. I have friends that had trouble picking up a signal going down I-40 in eastern Forsyth County. Come on...

[jones]

Originally Posted by scottb Jones, what part of NC do you live in?

From the Raleigh Airport to Durham-Greensboro-Salem-Charlotte.

When Driving: From Richmond,VA to Durham,Greensboro

Or Driving from Richmond,VA to Raleigh,NC (via I95) to Myrtle Beach, SC
Even 10 Miles offshore riding Casino Boat.
From Myrtle Beach to Charleston, SC

[scottb]

Originally Posted by jones From the Raleigh Airport to Durham-Greensboro-Salem-Charlotte. When Driving: From Richmond,VA to Durham,Greensboro Or Driving from Richmond,VA to Raleigh,NC (via I95) to Myrtle Beach, SC Even 10 Miles offshore riding Casino Boat. From Myrtle Beach to Charleston, SC

Wow, you live in all those places?

Anyway, your only mention of Greensboro sounds like 40/85. That's probably fine for the most part. The OP was asking about areas away from highways. I live about five miles from I40 and have trouble with Cingualr, AT&T and Sprint. Verizon and Alltel are the only ones that work in my neighborhood.

[jones]

did you read the whole sentence?

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Commits to Massive $55 Million Expansion of its North Carolina Network in 2004
Company to enhance in-building, residential, high-traffic route and rural
coverage throughout the region

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today unveiled
its massive network expansion plan bringing greater coverage and enhanced
service to Cingular's growing North Carolina customer base. The nearly $55
million expansion campaign will increase network coverage, capacity and
enhance the data services offered to customers throughout the state. Over the
past three years, the company has invested more than $300 million in its North
Carolina network. The enhancements planned for this year coupled with the 2003
expansion efforts will improve coverage in the following areas:

- Charlotte: improved coverage along I-77 and Highway 21, I-485 corridor
and Highway 27 and in key residential and industrial areas.
- Roanoke Rapids: new coverage along the Virginia/North Carolina state
line and enhanced coverage in Roanoke Rapids, Weldon and Garysburg.
- Rocky Mount: expanded coverage north of Rocky Mount along US Highway
301 and enhanced coverage in Battleboro, Dortches and Whitakers.
- Raleigh/Durham: improved coverage in key residential and industrial
areas in Hillsborough and North Durham. Expanded and better in-building
coverage in suburban Raleigh especially around Morrisville, Apex,
Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Wake Forest, Smithfield and Zebulon.
- Fayetteville: new coverage along Highway 87 from Fayetteville to
Wilmington covering Tar Heel, Elizabethtown and Riegelwood. New
coverage along US Highway 15/501 from Aberdeen to Laurinburg.
- Wilmington/Carolina Beach: improved coverage in residential areas North
of Carolina Beach and Porters Neck.
- Goldsboro: new coverage along US Highway 13 North between Goldsboro and
Greenville. Improved coverage along US Highway 258 from Kinston to Snow
Hill and improved in-building coverage in Goldsboro, Kinston and
Greenville.
- Lake Lure: brand new coverage in resort community.
- Asheville: new coverage and improved system quality along Highway
23/441 - Franklin, Highway 40 and 276 - Waynesville, US 64 and 74 - Bat
Cave, I-26 and Hwy 25 - Northern Hendersonville.

"Cingular's focus in 2004 is to improve the overall customer experience
and making continual investments in our network is a critical component of
this effort. We are focusing our resources on vastly improving coverage,
particularly in residential and commercial areas and in-building locations
throughout the region," said Rob Forsyth, Vice President and General Manager
for Cingular Wireless-Carolinas. "These improvements will enhance data
services and fill in coverage to make a great network even better. Our network
engineers across both North and South Carolina drive about 2 million miles per
year to test and improve the network performance."
Cingular launched its advanced GSM/GPRS network in the Carolinas in 1996,
and since then has focused on improving coverage and capacity throughout the
region. GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, giving customers
the latest technology advances, including phones with greater functionality
and unique features, high-speed data connectivity and superior sound quality.
With almost 1 billion people in 200-plus countries using GSM technology, more
than 70% of the world's total wireless market is GSM. And what GSM delivers
for voice, GPRS technology delivers for data. GPRS, or General Packet Radio
System, is an enhancement for GSM that transmits and receives data in packets.
It provides consumers with "always-on" connectivity and greater bandwidth and
connection speed -- all from a wireless phone.
"We are dedicated to our customers in the region and to giving them a
superior wireless experience and believe our customers choose Cingular because
they have the highest expectation for their wireless service," said Forsyth.
"It's our commitment to make sure we deliver this exceptional level of service
and with our no-hassle 15-day return policy, customers can experience the
difference with total peace of mind."
In addition to its extensive network campaign, Cingular will continue to
roll out a number of new initiatives throughout the year to enhance the
customer experience and the company's customer service systems and procedures.
These include improving the customer experience at all points of contact --
the initial sale, service, billing, call center contact and online presence.
The company recently announced the availability of Star Services, a
self-service tool that allows post-paid customers with regular consumer
accounts to access basic account information from their wireless phone. Over
the next month, Cingular will introduce a new simplified bill, self-service
enhancements on the web, and simplified coverage maps and rate plans.

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Commits to Massive $50 Million Expansion of its South Carolina Network in 2004
Company to enhance in-building, residential, high-traffic route and rural
coverage throughout the region

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today unveiled
its massive network expansion plan bringing greater coverage and enhanced
service to Cingular's growing South Carolina customer base. The nearly
$50 million build campaign will increase network coverage, capacity and
enhance the data services offered to customers throughout the state. In 2003,
the company spent more than $35 million on improving its South Carolina
network.
The enhancements planned for this year coupled with the expansion that
took place in 2003 will improve coverage in the following areas:

- Columbia: increased coverage in residential, commercial and industrial
areas; along major roadways including Interstate I-20, Highway 277;
downtown near Assembly St.; Lake Carolina - Blythewood; and along Bush
River Rd. and Mineral Springs Rd. in West Columbia.
- Orangeburg: increased coverage in St. Matthews between I-26 and US
176; North Orangeburg along Farnum Road and Belleville Road; and in
South Orangeburg between US 178 and 21.
- Florence: increased coverage West of Effingham; North Effingham along
Alligator Road; in Darlington along US Highway 52; and southeast of
Florence towards the Great Pee Dee River.
- Anderson: increased coverage along Highway 59 - South Seneca; in West
Anderson near Highway 187; Williamston Road and US 29 North of
Anderson; along US 76 in Belton; along US 76 in Honea Path; along
Highway 8/US 29 and in downtown Pelzer; and US 153 in Easley.
- Greenville: increased coverage in residential, commercial and
industrial areas along I-85 and US 25, I-85 and I-385; Woodruff Road;
US 29; and Highway 253 in Taylors.
- Charleston: increased coverage along US 52 near Goose Creek; along US
17A in Ridgeville; I-95 in Reevesville; I-26 in Harleyville; Highway 64
in Walterboro; in downtown Charleston (peninsula area) and along US 52
around Lake Moultrie.
- Spartanburg: increased coverage in residential areas along Hwy 56,
I-85 and Highway 176.
- Blacksburg: increased coverage within the town of Blacksburg; along
I-85 and highways 198 and 29.

"Cingular's focus in 2004 is to improve the overall customer experience
and making continual investments in our network is a critical component of
this effort. We are focusing our resources on vastly improving coverage,
particularly in residential and commercial areas and in-building locations
throughout the region," said Rob Forsyth, Vice President and General Manager
for Cingular Wireless-Carolinas. "These improvements will enhance data
services and fill in coverage to make a great network even better. Our network

engineers across both North and South Carolina drive about two million miles
per year to test and improve the network performance."
Cingular launched its advanced GSM/GPRS network in the Carolinas in 1996
and since then has been focused on improving coverage and capacity throughout
the region. GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, giving
customers the latest technology advances, including phones with greater
functionality and unique features, high-speed data connectivity and superior
sound quality. With almost 1 billion people in 200 countries using this
technology, more than 70% of the world's total wireless market is GSM. And
what GSM delivers for voice, GPRS technology delivers for data. GPRS, or
General Packet Radio System, is an enhancement for GSM that transmits and
receives data in packets. It provides consumers with "always-on" connectivity
and greater bandwidth and connection speed -- all from a wireless phone.
"We are dedicated to giving our customers in the region a superior
wireless experience and believe our customers choose Cingular because they
have the highest expectation for their wireless service," said Forsyth. "It's
our commitment to make sure we deliver this exceptional level of service, and
with our no-hassle 15-day return policy, customers can experience the
difference with total peace of mind."
In addition to its extensive network campaign, Cingular will continue to
roll out a number of new initiatives throughout the year to enhance the
customer experience and the company's customer service systems and procedures.
These include improving the customer experience at all points of contact --
the initial sale, service, billing, call center contact and online presence.
The company will introduce a new simplified bill, self-service enhancements on
the web, and simplified coverage maps and rate plans, just to mention a few.

[jones]

Now tell mw what did VZW do in the Carolinas?
I'd like to Know.
Except placing more Billboards and TV Ads.

[SQFreak]

There's no point in pursuing this further. You obviously think VZW's coverage is awful, and I obviously think otherwise. Can we agree that Cingular works for you but, due to the OP's location, it may not work for him, and Alltel is probably a better choice?

[jones]

That's why he should try them out, since they a have a 15 day trial period.
That's what I said in the Beginning, and should get the one w/ the stronger signal.

Also ALLTEL will now Lease their Towers to other carriers so other carrier will have their coverage. So they don't have any advantage here.

[scottb]

Jones,

The article you posted does not mention Greensboro--this is where the OP lives. There is no advantage there.

And, yes, I read the complete sentence(s) in your reply. It does not appear that you live in this area. Did you read my question?

The folks who live here are more qualified to assess the coverge gaps than someone who passes through on the highways. Surely, you can't disagree with that. Both SQFreak and I have used Cingular. As a service, I like their offerings--the equipment and plans. They just don't work everywhere I need them to. It is very unlikely they will work in a rural part of Guilford County.

I'm not particularly a VZW cheerleader--they do some things I don't like. But, they work here and they work for me.

[SQFreak]

Originally Posted by scottb It is very unlikely they will work in a rural part of Guilford County.

The OP is in worse shape. He lives in Rockingham County.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by SQFreak The OP is in worse shape. He lives in Rockingham County.

Ahh, you're correct. That does reduce the possibility considerably.

[jones]

I've been to Guilford County many times.
I just was'nt in the place you're saying.
And since I have both service, (one for work, one personal) i can say they both have dead zones.
And since ALLTEL will lease space on their Towers (they're in Financial ?)
that's good.