Arizona Trip Report

[Scrumhalf]

Last week, I made a road trip from Phoenix to Sedona and back and then to Morenci in Eastern Arizona and back to Phoenix. Here is a report on what I found for ATT coverage.

Equipment/Service:
1. Motorola V600 on ATT GSM (National Plan)
2. Motorola V60 on ATT TDMA (Free2go prepaid)

Route:
Part 1: Phoenix to Sedona and back
I-17 North and AZ 89A to Sedona
Part 2: Phoenix to Morenci and back
US 60 to Florence Junction, US 70 to Safford, US 191 to Morenci

Report:
I-17, as expected, had excellent coverage. There were just a couple of dead spots for GSM right around milepost 240 and the Yavapai county line. Three were no dead spots for TDMA except for a mile or two where the freeway went in a canyon between a couple of hills.

Sedona was a different story. The approach to Sedona on AZ 89A was fine, but my destination was in a canyon that did not have any cell phone coverage, period.

At the end of my stay in Sedona, I retraced my journey back to Phoenix, but then veered off to the east on US 60, heading to the copper mines in eastern Arizona to visit my cousin who works as a metallurgical engineer.

US 60 had good GSM and TDMA coverage from Phoenix to Florence Junction. At Florence Junction, the GSM signal disappeared all the way to Globe on US 70. TDMA signal was strong but I was digital roaming, presumably on Cellular One (Dobson).

In the town of Globe, the GSM signal reappeared but my phone said USA-400 instead of AT&T Wireless. I made calls without any problems but I couldn't tell whose network I was on. TDMA signal was strong as usual.

At the eastern outskirts of Globe, the GSM signal disappeared for good. TDMA continued to be strong as I entered the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The TDMA signal persisted almost throughout the drive through the reservation except for a brief distance between Periodot and Bylas. However, the signal was now analog roaming.

TDMA continued to be strong on US70 and US191 through Fort Thomas, Safford and Clifton to Morenci, switching back to digital roaming somewhere around Clifton. GSM was of course nonexistent after Globe.

Summary:

GSM coverage disappears after Florence Junction except for a brief return in the town of Globe. TDMA signal is strong and almost totally covers the entire route except for a brief stretch in the middle of the Indian reservation and when the road winded through some canyons.

Bottom line - if you are travelling on US 60/70 to eastern AZ, leave your ATT GSM phone at home and bring your TDMA phone along.

My cousin has Verizon - he says he has good coverage in the Morenci area and has reasonable (but not 100%) coverage on the drive from Morenci to Phoenix.

[WiggyFife]

thanks for the report. very informative...

[Airb330]

Bah Verizon sucked everywhere we went in Arizona except the cities.

Those GSM problem areas should be fixed soon, as Dobson will get 100% GSM up and runnning very soon.

[Andy]

Nice report! Thanks for that.

[roamer1]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

In the town of Globe, the GSM signal reappeared but my phone said USA-400 instead of AT&T Wireless. I made calls without any problems but I couldn't tell whose network I was on. TDMA signal was strong as usual.

USA-400 seems to be Commnet Wireless (311-400)...they do have a 1900 license for Gila County, and the same MCC-MNC has been reported in Illinois where Commnet has 1900.

-SC

[Scrumhalf]

Great! I was wondering who they were... thanks for the info!

[Gamer03]

Sedona was a nice town.

It had a lot of expensive tourist traps.

[WiggyFife]

Originally Posted by Gamer03

Sedona was a nice town.

It had a lot of expensive tourist traps.

Thats exactly what they are known for, no doubt!!!

[Scrumhalf]

Too bad... I didn't get to see much of the town as my conference would run till about 6pm with dinner around 7:30. The resort was spectacular, though....(except for the lack of cell phone coverage lol..)

[Rich]

I don't know about you guys..but, the last thing I want to use is my cell when relaxing in beautiful sedona.

[Tony E!]

Not if you're a cell phone enthusiast....lol

nice report Scrumhalf....

[Scrumhalf]

Yeah, I know what you mean but after years of having a phone in my pocket *ALL* the time, it was a real weird experience going to a pay phone during the lunch or coffee breaks during my conference and calling my wife, or waiting till I got to my room in the evening. We get so used to instant communication that not having it for even 2-3 days is really unnerving.

[Gamer03]

It's nice to have a cell phone wherever you are in case of an emergency....and to keep in contact with family and friends.

Scrumhalf summed it up....I would feel funny if I didn't have my cell phone for longer than 2-3 days.

[Rich]

Okay, so I lied. I would probably go nuts if I didn't have my cell.

[AnthroMatt]

The cell phone not working is a fabulous excuse NOT to have to talk to anyone. Since I hate talking on the phone for the most part, all I would miss is the internet and SMS.

[Tony E!]

Originally Posted by Rich

Okay, so I lied. I would probably go nuts if I didn't have my cell.

he,he....lol

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

.if you are travelling on US 60/70 to eastern AZ, leave your ATT GSM phone at home and bring your TDMA phone along.

Commnet Wireless is also planning a whole bunch more GSM coverage for that area east of Phoenix. They recently updated their GSM coverage map and it is quite extensive.

They are very proud of their GSM expansion as it requires a lot more than just sticking up a site, and AZ is one of two areas they are adding lots of rural coverage.

Don't leave the GSM phone home, take it along to keep us updated!

BTW, they are only the 2nd carrier to offer service at Grand Canyon!

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by Airb330

Bah Verizon sucked everywhere we went in Arizona except the cities.

Those GSM problem areas should be fixed soon, as Dobson will get 100% GSM up and runnning very soon.

That is why Verizon is shrinking and Commnet is gowing. Verizon will NEVER say that is true but look at the map http://www.commnetwireless.com/coverage-analog.htm

[Scrumhalf]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

......

Don't leave the GSM phone home, take it along to keep us updated!

Good point, Bill! Of couse, what I really meant was - don't just have a GSM phone because right now, GSM coverage is nonexistent along US 70 and US191. Hopefully, this will improve soon.

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

That is why Verizon is shrinking and Commnet is gowing. Verizon will NEVER say that is true but look at the map http://www.commnetwireless.com/coverage-analog.htm

Verizon has added at least 20 sites over the past year in Colorado alone. And that's all that they registered w/the FCC. That's more than Commnet has put up in a year, total.

That map also shows "future TDMA coverage". I bet that doesn't happen. They have TDMA sites they are considering shutting down!

BTW, they are only the 2nd carrier to offer service at Grand Canyon!

I stand corrected. Commnet says the site belongs to AT&T.

[Airb330]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

Commnet Wireless is also planning a whole bunch more GSM coverage for that area east of Phoenix. They recently updated their GSM coverage map and it is quite extensive.

They are very proud of their GSM expansion as it requires a lot more than just sticking up a site, and AZ is one of two areas they are adding lots of rural coverage.

Don't leave the GSM phone home, take it along to keep us updated!

BTW, they are only the 2nd carrier to offer service at Grand Canyon!

Well, when I was at the Canyon in July...there was only ATT GSM Service, either Commnet wasn't up, or Cingular doesn't roam on them. I'm positive it was ATT, because if I dialed 543 as a number, it would give me the snotty ATT message, and if I called 611 it would tell me I needed to contact [i\]my[/i] service provider, again in a snotty tone. Did Commnet say where that ATT site was located, I couldn't find it! It wasn't in Tusayon (where all providers should have coverage....put some panels on the McDonalds or something!) and it wasn't in the Park either....we even flew in a helicopter and I never saw the ATT site! We stayed in Tusayon, about 1 mile from the entrance to the park. I got 2-4 bars everywhere around there. Verizon was totally dead...nada....it wouldn't even roam. I forced it to Alltel A-side, which got maybe 1 bar analog outside (solid triangle)! In the Canyon itself, Alltel Digital was great (tower in the park), but again Verizon could only use it if I forced my stepdad's T730 onto A band, and then it displayed the solid triangle. I don't know if he was charged though, as it's a work phone. So, for where we stayed ATT GSM kicked everyone else! In the park though, ATT was scattered, but I had service in some parts, while Alltel was excellent. Overall, I feel ATT was leaps and bounds ahead of Verizon, and almost as good as Alltel once we left Flagstaff. Once eastern AZ GSM is complete and Cingular adds a tower or two north of Flagstaff and in the Grand Canyon Village.....Cingular will have one awesome GSM PCS network in AZ!

One odd note, all the coverage north of Flagstaff (yes there was actually usuable coverage for many miles) there was no GPRS, but there was GSM. Everytime we passed a tower, there was only two providers on there, Alltel and ATT.