SOUTH U.S. -- verizon/alltel service problems

[redstorm]

I'm with verizon, and live in the middle georgia area...I usually get great service everywhere, but ironically at my house the verizon signal is more or less non existant. It's to the point where I constantly miss calls, or drop calls. Now there seems to be an Alltel tower close by because when it switches service to them, I have full bars.

I don't mind the roaming if it means I can actually talk to the people I want to talk to, is there any way to force my phone to use alltel's tower? The phone is a LGVX8300

[strunke]

Originally Posted by redstorm

I'm with verizon, and live in the middle georgia area...I usually get great service everywhere, but ironically at my house the verizon signal is more or less non existant. It's to the point where I constantly miss calls, or drop calls. Now there seems to be an Alltel tower close by because when it switches service to them, I have full bars.

I don't mind the roaming if it means I can actually talk to the people I want to talk to, is there any way to force my phone to use alltel's tower? The phone is a LGVX8300

You could change the NAM, but before doing that there may be a simpler way. What is your zipcode? We can figure out which frequency each are in. There is a good chance alltel and att are the 850 and vzw the 1900. In the programming menu you can set it to 850 cellular...

[Eric47]

yea zipcode will help. im in GA also, i will know the area. its possible that either Alltel or ATT will work there, Verizons coverage in GA is generally good, but i think that ATT has vastly improved just in the past 2-3 years beyond what many Verizon customers realize.

Also Alltel's coverage has always been good in GA but is often overlooked, mainly bc of the fact that they do not have coverage in Atlanta (native or non-roaming coverage that is). ATT however has always been known for Great Atlanta coverage.

Anyhow.. thats just a short summary of info. if we get the zipcode we should be able to help give you a little more specific suggestions, as well as knowing where your traveling about.

[redstorm]

The zip code is 31027. I generally get very good service everywhere except at home as I live a good ways out in the country.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by redstorm

The zip code is 31027. I generally get very good service everywhere except at home as I live a good ways out in the country.

Okay, do this...

Press : Menu + 0 + 000000

Then Network Select

Then Band preference, select Cell only instead of Any.

Then that should get you on Alltel.

Though it may vary.

It will take a little bit for it to register with the network. Then it should stay on there. I would reccommend going back to that menu and setting it to "Any" instead of cell only when you are in an area where you know vzw covers well. I'm not sure if the settings stick when you turn on and off the phone though, so keep that in mind.

If that doesn't get you on there is another setting change we can try as well.

It's the same thing except you also change the "roam preference" also under network select. Change that to affiliated and have it set to cell only. That should also work.

[WirelessBeachBum]

Wirelessly posted (XV6600 and Blackberry 7250: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.0.10406/298; U; en))

in many areas the vzw has coverage they will put alltels sid into negative so you will be forced to stay on their network, ironically if you were to get a phone that doesn't perform as well it will often not pick up the weaker signal, and switch over to alltel sooner

[redstorm]

Originally Posted by strunke

Okay, do this...

Press : Menu + 0 + 000000

Then Network Select

Then Band preference, select Cell only instead of Any.

Then that should get you on Alltel.

Though it may vary.

It will take a little bit for it to register with the network. Then it should stay on there. I would reccommend going back to that menu and setting it to "Any" instead of cell only when you are in an area where you know vzw covers well. I'm not sure if the settings stick when you turn on and off the phone though, so keep that in mind.

If that doesn't get you on there is another setting change we can try as well.

It's the same thing except you also change the "roam preference" also under network select. Change that to affiliated and have it set to cell only. That should also work.

It still switches back and forth between services pretty regularly. Thanks for trying though. For future reference though, the settings stay as you left them if you power the phone off then on again.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by redstorm

It still switches back and forth between services pretty regularly. Thanks for trying though. For future reference though, the settings stay as you left them if you power the phone off then on again.

Hmmm, well thanks, so it even does it when both "Cell only" and "Affiliated" are set?

[strunke]

The last option it to change the NAM SID.

Go to Service Prg. instead this time. (Menu + 0 + 000000)

press ok, then your phone number should show up, press ok, then your MIN should show up (write this down), press ok, then your nam 1 sid should show up just press ok (don't change anything until we reach the second MIN), press ok again, then it will same nam 1 basic programming completed. now select "more" not exit. then press ok to service code (should be all zeros), press ok again to the MCC, press ok again to the nmsid, press ok again, press ok again, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok (this should be the "NAM 2 setting"), press "Edit",

Press ok, then type in your phone number, ok, then put in the MIN you wrote down, ok, then put the Alltel SID in (which we need to figure out, it's either 520, or 204, or 1148), ok, ok, Exit

Then the next thing you need to do is go to menu, Settings, system, network, set nam, select nam2.

Then after that it restarts and you need to go to menu, Settings, system, network, system select, then select "Home Only".

Now it should be set.

You will not have to do this every time. In the future all you have to so is change the NAM to nam1 and back and forth when you need it. (menu, Settings, system, network, set nam, select nam2/nam1.)

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by redstorm

The zip code is 31027. I generally get very good service everywhere except at home as I live a good ways out in the country.

when you goto AT&T Coverage Viewer you can see the ATT coverage out there. it is probably on par or better than verizons, depending on where in that zip code that you live.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Eric47

when you goto AT&T Coverage Viewer you can see the ATT coverage out there. it is probably on par or better than verizons, depending on where in that zip code that you live.

I actually think they are looking to keep using verizon, just to force there phone onto alltel's good signal at their house....it's easy to do once we figure out the SID that the op is roaming onto from alltel it's one of the three i mentioned above.

[redstorm]

Originally Posted by strunke

The last option it to change the NAM SID.

Go to Service Prg. instead this time. (Menu + 0 + 000000)

press ok, then your phone number should show up, press ok, then your MIN should show up (write this down), press ok, then your nam 1 sid should show up just press ok (don't change anything until we reach the second MIN), press ok again, then it will same nam 1 basic programming completed. now select "more" not exit. then press ok to service code (should be all zeros), press ok again to the MCC, press ok again to the nmsid, press ok again, press ok again, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok (this should be the "NAM 2 setting"), press "Edit",

Press ok, then type in your phone number, ok, then put in the MIN you wrote down, ok, then put the Alltel SID in (which we need to figure out, it's either 520, or 204, or 1148), ok, ok, Exit

Then the next thing you need to do is go to menu, Settings, system, network, set nam, select nam2.

Then after that it restarts and you need to go to menu, Settings, system, network, system select, then select "Home Only".

Now it should be set.

You will not have to do this every time. In the future all you have to so is change the NAM to nam1 and back and forth when you need it. (menu, Settings, system, network, set nam, select nam2/nam1.)

That seems to have worked, many many thanks.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by redstorm

That seems to have worked, many many thanks.

No problem....no we just need to get you to "come and get the love" from alltel. LOL....no just let me know if you have anymore questions/problems with it.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by strunke

No problem....no we just need to get you to "come and get the love" from alltel. LOL....no just let me know if you have anymore questions/problems with it.

Thanks for the programming tip! It's sweet that the Lg phones are easily manipulated. I just stuck with the cell only option and the locked out sids as needed.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Quint101

Thanks for the programming tip! It's sweet that the Lg phones are easily manipulated. I just stuck with the cell only option and the locked out sids as needed.

No problem. Yeah I like LG's programming. Its simple and easy. Just wish they offered a flip phone worth ditching my KRZR for. Signal is important to me too. And while they are very close, the moto's edge out the lgs slightly still.

[MetroSingular]

Having two or three bars in a house, or building is really not that bad. I don't really know that much about Verizon or Alltel. Because both of them in my area lol

[Thomas B Young]

Originally Posted by redstorm

I'm with verizon, and live in the middle georgia area...I usually get great service everywhere, but ironically at my house the verizon signal is more or less non existant. It's to the point where I constantly miss calls, or drop calls. Now there seems to be an Alltel tower close by because when it switches service to them, I have full bars.

I don't mind the roaming if it means I can actually talk to the people I want to talk to, is there any way to force my phone to use alltel's tower? The phone is a LGVX8300

Well Redstorm, maybe your problem will be over since Verizon has just taken over Alltel . It will be a year from now from what I hear for it to be approved by the government.

I'm an Alltell customer in Florida and just got a letter from them saying that Verizon is merging with them. Really I hear that Verixon just bought them out. I had good service with Alltel. Looks like Verizon has more of a phone selection.

Tom

[spleck]

Assuming the OP is in Laurens county, then VZW has a cellular 850 license for that county according to the FCC license search. If VZW is forced to divest Alltel's license, then there wouldn't be any improvement to VZW.

The FCC shows both AT&T and Alltel on the B side for that CMA though--it looks like AT&T maybe in the north and Alltel in the south. The FCC even lists sites for those licenses--VZW has two in or around Dublin, while Alltel has one at the courthouse.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by spleck

Assuming the OP is in Laurens county, then VZW has a cellular 850 license for that county according to the FCC license search. If VZW is forced to divest Alltel's license, then there wouldn't be any improvement to VZW.

The FCC shows both AT&T and Alltel on the B side for that CMA though--it looks like AT&T maybe in the north and Alltel in the south. The FCC even lists sites for those licenses--VZW has two in or around Dublin, while Alltel has one at the courthouse.

how do you read all that? when i goto the FCC website i feel cross eyed.

[spleck]

Originally Posted by Eric47

how do you read all that? when i goto the FCC website i feel cross eyed.

One of my buddies is a Sprint RF Engineer and he said the same thing.

[RadioFoneGuy]

Even thou Verizon is buying Alltel they have to run as competitors until the official close which will probably this time next year.

Does Verizon have a 50/50 roaming rule? Will the OP face ETF roaming on Alltel to much in a Verizon native coverage area? Just a thought.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by RadioFoneGuy

Even thou Verizon is buying Alltel they have to run as competitors until the official close which will probably this time next year.

Does Verizon have a 50/50 roaming rule? Will the OP face ETF roaming on Alltel to much in a Verizon native coverage area? Just a thought.

highly likely

[Joe912]

I have a similar problem when driving from Uvalda GA to Vidalia GA on HWY130/135. I get a great signal from Verizon in Uvalda and Alston, but as I get closer to Vidalia the signal starts to fade but there is just enough Verizon Signal to not allow my phone to switch over to Alltel or Sprint Roaming until I get into Vidalia. Sometimes it stays on Verizon for a while in Vidalia and doesn't want to pick up the Alltel or Sprint towers. I have an LG Voyager & LG 8600. Does anyone know of a way to force the roaming? I know that when and if Verizon & Alltel merge this will not be a problem. The zip code for the Verizon tower is 30473 and the Alltel & Sprint towers are in 30474. Thanks for any help...

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by Joe912

I have a similar problem when driving from Uvalda GA to Vidalia GA on HWY130/135. I get a great signal from Verizon in Uvalda and Alston, but as I get closer to Vidalia the signal starts to fade but there is just enough Verizon Signal to not allow my phone to switch over to Alltel or Sprint Roaming until I get into Vidalia. Sometimes it stays on Verizon for a while in Vidalia and doesn't want to pick up the Alltel or Sprint towers. I have an LG Voyager & LG 8600. Does anyone know of a way to force the roaming? I know that when and if Verizon & Alltel merge this will not be a problem. The zip code for the Verizon tower is 30473 and the Alltel & Sprint towers are in 30474. Thanks for any help...

If I recall correctly, Verizon doesn't allow any Sprint roaming in most of the state. If you can roam on sprint, you may want to try accessing the programming menus on the LG and force the PCS option ... Try searching the forum, some posters have posted some LG hacks. I have dialed *22802 to force AllTel signal and immediately made a call afterward. That's crude but it has worked for me.

[Joe912]

Originally Posted by Quint101

If I recall correctly, Verizon doesn't allow any Sprint roaming in most of the state. If you can roam on sprint, you may want to try accessing the programming menus on the LG and force the PCS option ... Try searching the forum, some posters have posted some LG hacks. I have dialed *22802 to force AllTel signal and immediately made a call afterward. That's crude but it has worked for me.

Thanks Quint101 I tried the *22802 and it has worked a few times