Sprint PCS roaming agreements

[MountainDog]

I am about to switch to one of the Sprint PCS business plans to get off-network roaming (I don't live in an area where I can add the $10 trial). Is there any way to determine where I will roam on the CDMA networks of other carriers versus analog? If there is a CDMA carrier like Cellular One, Alltel, or USCC, it would be nice to pick up their signals rather than an analog signal. I have a tri-mode (I know it is dual-mode/dual-band, but they call it tri-mode so I will too) Motorola Timeport P8767 to use when traveling, so I should be able to grab whatever CDMA signal is available to me.

I have heard varying theories on this: (1) if no Sprint PCS signal is available, the phones search for other 1900MHz CDMA --> 800MHz CDMA --> 800MHz analog signals in that order or (2) if no Sprint PCS signal is available, the phones simply take the strongest signal they can find of any kind.

I know the PRL guides the choice where Sprint PCS has roaming agreements. So an additional question is: How di I find out where Sprint PCS has roaming agreements and who they are with?

I have searched the forums for answers to these questions without luck. So, if this is repetitious, I apologize.

[xtoddler2]

Sprint has roaming agreements with just about everyone, except the GSM and TDMA carriers. Your phone will first look for a CDMA signal, if it cant find Sprint....the CDMA signal MIGHT be 1900, or 800, it doesnt really know or care, as long as its got a signal. THEN, if it cant get a CDMA signal, it will go to AMPS.

Sprint PCS, roams on CDMA, with Verizon, Alltel, Telus Mobility Canada, Bell Mobility Canada, and a few others. If its on AMPS, it will pick up an analog signal from Verizon, ATT, or whomever else operates AMPS.

But, it will try to get a digital signal, before an analog one, thats a given

[roamer1]

To add...if VZW has (800 MHz) coverage in a given area it is very likely SPCS will prefer VZW over the other 800 MHz carrier.

-SC

[larry]

I'd have to say that you could easily end up roaming on 800 Mhz analog over 800 Mhz CDMA even if both are available. I think it depends on the way the roaming agreements are set up. Here in So. California I can usually roam 800 CDMA on Verizon if off the Sprint system.