Santa Clarita down thru SFV Coverage?

[blcklab666]

As my VZW contract draws to a close early next year, I am considering other carriers. VZW and my AC Plan coverage has been excellent, but damn if those GSM phones catch my eye. I know there is the the debate of phone that looks good vs. calls good.

Anyhow, since SoCal is pretty well covered by most carriers, will I have much problem with T-Mobile or Cingular from Valencia down through Burbank and Pasadena and out to the West Valley?

I also occasionally travel up the 101 to the Monterey Peninsula, but that isn't as big a deal.

Overall how do the carriers rate in North L.A. County?

Thanks for any detailed input.

[Tony E!]

I would just stay with Verizon if i was you, i've also been tempted by those nice looking GSM phones, but i wouldn't sacrifice the signal that i get now with Verizon, to go with Cingular or T-mobile in the SFV or Sta. Clarita,Valencia, and surrounding areas.
The only other carrier that i would go with in this area would be Sprint, i've seen and experienced such better signal coverage here in the SFV area lately, that it's pretty much even with my Verizon phone right now. That's just my two cents, being that i live here in the SFV area and go pretty much all over the place from Woodland Hills to Burbank to La Crescenta.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[shimo]

Stay with Verizon. I live in the Valley and work out in Monrovia which is 5 mins from Pasadena. Coverage is excellent in Pasadena and in Burbank, no compliants. I occasionally drop a call driving on the 210 from Pasadena to the Valley going over some Hills that lead into the valley.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND SPRINT. I carry a Sprint cell phone for my work and although the coverage has improved over the last few years, I still drop a lot of calls in the valley. I'm using an LG phone (forgot which model) and also I have used the Sanyo camera phone (forgot the model number also).

I DO NOT RECOMMEND CINGULAR. I had Cingular before Verizon and they were horrible, almost as bad as Sprint. Drop calls, static, calls cutting in and out. Most of my friends still have Cingular and they complain to me about it still. (I tell them to go Verizon).

If you want a cool looking phone get a GSM phone, but if you want great call quality and reception (the main purpose of a cell phone) then stick with verizon.

[Rasputin]

I would recommend staying with Verizon, but if you are looking to switch I would think about T-Mob, or Sprint. With T-Mob/Cingular you might not have as good of interior coverage in some places and might get a few more dropped calls, and coverage stops somewhere above Morro bay until you hit Monterey on the 101. I have not tried out Sprint myself but my brother has it and it seems to work well for him in the SFV.

[blcklab666]

Any idea when the new Kyocera phones with hit VZW next year? I don't really care about downloadable ringtones etc, but I guess my biggest gripe with VZW is the lame phones. My coverage is excellent and my calling plan isn't too bad. My N&W also starts at 8, not nine.

[Computerteacher]

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] I also live inthe Santa Clarita Valley and recently moved here and HAD AT&T. Their service was beyond miserable! ( and I am a retired employee) I finally got away from them and went to
Verizon the best choice I ever made. Coverage is wonderful, celar etc and I could not be happier.
Only one thing on the motorola t120 they donot let you download ringtones yet the phone is set up for it!

Other than that WONDERFUL SERVICE and I travel between here San Diego and the inland Empire and never had a problem~

[ZaphodB]

I have T-Mobile (which is the same coverage as Cingular) and there are only a few 'dead' spots I can think of... there's a dead spot near Victory and the 170... maybe weak is a better word... there's a dead spot on the 2 between Verdugo (the northern one up by the 210) and Mountain... and there's a dead spot on the 118 in the Santa Susana Pass.

I would say, given that no one here has given any CURRENT criticisms of Cingular (it has come a long way in 2 years, after all), you might want to try out Cingular or T-Mobile for the 14-day trial period. If it works for you, great, cancel your Verizon service if you want. If it doesn't work for you, return it within 14 days, pay the partial month and you've spent about $20 for some knowledge.

[larry]

I think most if not all carriers have a dead spot on the 118 over the Santa Susana Pass. There's not that many places to locate a tower.

[blcklab666]

I have the same dead spot on the 170 on VZW. Somewhere between victory and sherman way.

[larry]

I don't remember having that weak spot on the 170 with Sprint. But I haven't been through there in about a year.

[ZaphodB]

Originally posted by: blcklab666
I have the same dead spot on the 170 on VZW. Somewhere between victory and sherman way.

It's an odd place... I used to work at Victory and Laurel Canyon and the only one that had coverage was AT&T. Now there's some coverage...

Also, the dead spot that VZW has on the 210 between La Tuna Canyon and Sunland is covered by Cingular/T-Mo and AT&T.

[larry]

Sprint just activated a new antenna near La Tuna Canyon and the 210. It's on an Edison tower. I haven't had a chance to go up and check it out yet.

[Tony E!]

Originally posted by: larry
I don't remember having that weak spot on the 170 with Sprint. But I haven't been through there in about a year.

I can confirm that with Sprint there is no dead spot on the 170, i drive through there everyday, i have good signal there with my Sanyo 8100. and every monday i drive through the 210 going to La Caņada, and i also have signal at La Tuna Cyn. and Sunland where as my LG6K with Verizon drops my call, i even tried my Audiovox 9500 there, and it still drops.

[larry]

Yes I was pretty sure that Sprint covered the 170 very well and now with the new antenna at La Tuna Canyon Rd. they are really looking good.