T-Mobile service/Northern VA

[Fubar]

Gang,

I just moved to Fairfax, VA about two months ago from Chicago. Have had T-Mobile for over two years now and get excellent service in both places. My current phone, the Siemens M46 is a piece of crap but I haven't had a dropped call in months.

Would like to stay with T-Mobile and need a couple of recommendations.

First, my experience with T-Mobile has been great here in Fairfax but is anyone else having problems or would tell me to switch based on their experiences?

Second, I'm looking to upgrade my phone and can buy a Motorola V300 for $149 at the local retail store in the mall.

I like the speakerphone on this model and also the camera. Does anyone have any advice/warnings about this model or suggestions for another phone?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[GoodmanR]

Fubar,

T-Mobile is excellent in the Washington area. I have two phones on a T-Mobile account here that my family uses and have never had any problems with the service. Capacity does not seem to be an issue, and coverage is generally excellent. I really don't think coverage is any worse than my Cingular phone or the Verizon phone we still have. The TMO network is also well optimized in the DC area, voice quality is excellent and features all work correctly. As for the v300, I do not know much about it. Make sure you can handle the keypad on it, I find it somewhat annoying when playing with it at a store. But I think the phone should be fine. Also, TMO is supposed to launch the v600 in the next few months if you can wait and that is something you are interested in.

[Matt]

I echo Goodman's comments. I've had T-Mobile in NoVa for over four years and have no plans on switching. This is definitely one of their best markets and I've been able to follow (online) and witness the great expansions/improvements/coverage fill-ins, etc. since 2000.

I don't know much about Moto phones. If a camera is not a requirement, the Samsung e105 is a good phone, but I think it's the same price as the v300 right now.

[Matt]

Here's a list of recently approved towers in Fairfax County VA. Note: Some of them may still be "in process" but are in the last steps of being approved. You'll have to use a source like mapquest to find their exact locations since the towns aren't listed...and you might have to guess the towns (try alexandria, fairfax, vienna, centreville, etc...) Most of them are very recent so they are not active yet.

7389 Lee Highway
2751 Prosperity Avenue
7830 Rebel Road
6560 Braddock Road
5827 Columbia Pike
4201 Stringfellow Road
7350 RONALD STREET
7500 MARGARITY ROAD
1977 HUNTER MILL ROAD
Fairfax County Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue
11260 Roger Bacon Drive

4700 Medford Road, Annandale High School

These three are, I believe, in the last steps of approval and aren't approved yet:

12355 Sunrise Valley Drive
5801 Franconia Rd. Edison High School,
7500 Magarity Rd. Westgate Elementary School (I can see this one from where I work - it's an existing tower )
7350 Ronald St.

[Fubar]

Originally Posted by GoodmanR

Fubar,

T-Mobile is excellent in the Washington area. I have two phones on a T-Mobile account here that my family uses and have never had any problems with the service. Capacity does not seem to be an issue, and coverage is generally excellent. I really don't think coverage is any worse than my Cingular phone or the Verizon phone we still have. The TMO network is also well optimized in the DC area, voice quality is excellent and features all work correctly. As for the v300, I do not know much about it. Make sure you can handle the keypad on it, I find it somewhat annoying when playing with it at a store. But I think the phone should be fine. Also, TMO is supposed to launch the v600 in the next few months if you can wait and that is something you are interested in.

Thanks for the response. May I ask why it says you "returned" the V600 in your profile under your username?

[GoodmanR]

Fubar,

I returned the v600 because I decided it was a little bulky for me. I use a 6340i now, which is pretty big, but is easier to carry than the v600. The v600 was just really too dense for me and a little bit wide. I wish I could use a 1900 only phone because I would break out my old T28W in a second. Other than that though, the V600 was nice. The screen was fantastic and everything else seemed fine in the week or two that I had it. I also believe that the v300 is slightly smaller/less bulky than the v600.

Matt,

Do you by any chance have a list of approved sites for Montgomery Co. or the District?

[Matt]

Goodman, no I don't have any info. I would suggest searching the local Gov't websites. That's where I get my info for Fairfax and Loudoun. (for example http://co.fairfax.va.us )