Rural western states coverage

[tomgreen1000]

I need to change phones and possibly carriers, due to a major increase in the travel that I will do for my job. My phone use will be approximately 50% Northern California (mostly Sacramento) and 50% travelling throughout the western states. My current plan is Cingular and I have a GSM only phone. So I get essentially zero coverage outside of major population centers. This will no longer be acceptable due to the increase in travel requirements.

As far as carrier, asking around has led me to believe AT&T probably provides the best total coverage area for the west. Web research indicates that Verizon is also good, but I don't know anyone who uses this carrier, so I can't get any feedback. It seems that Cingular does not have enough roaming agreements and that their total western coverage is lacking. Please provide your thoughts/comments.

As far as phone technology what should I look for? I guess I will definitely need analog capability for the less populated areas. Is this "AMPS 800"? I am assuming the digital technology will be solely based on the carrier that I end up using? With AT&T I belive this would be TDMA, so I would need a TDMA/AMPS 800 capable phone?

By the way, I don't need web access or data. Just good, solid voice coverage.

Thanks for your help for a novice.

Tom

[WalterElf]

As far as phone technology what should I look for?

Well, since most networks in rural areas are still analog you want to go for a phone that supports AMPS
800.
At example the Nokia 6340 supports GSM 1900 Mhz, TDMA 800/1900 Mhz, AMPS 800 Mhz but
ATT won't let you use it on their network since it's a GAIT phone. (GAIT means that the phone can switch from one service to the other during a call). But I believe Cingular supports GAIT and let's you use it on their network.

Now since you don't need data or WAP you could also go with the Nokia 6360 which supports
TDMA 800/1900 Mhz, AMPS 800 Mhz

Browse the forum to get more ideas about phone recommendations but in general keep in mind that
GSM coverage in the West is pretty good and will develop further.

As far as we talk providers, I believe Verizon has best coverage in the West but you could be also right with ATT. I'm on ATT and don't have many problems in the South Orange County + LA area.

Hope that helps

[PCW]

If your travels will take you into rural areas, you'd be better off with Verizon or AT&T. Spend some time exploring the past threads on this forum that address your concerns, and visit these websites, too:

www.sfbacell.com Extensive information about wireless service in the bay area, but nonetheless applicable elsewhere.

www.mountainwireless.com Full of useful and reliable information.

www.howardforums.com Discussion forums categorized by carrier and by phone manufacturer.

Check these newsgroups, too. (go to www.google.com, select groups, enter the following newsgroups)

alt.cellular
alt.cellular.verizon
alt.cellular.attws

[tomgreen1000]

Thanks for the links. Wow - I thought I was asking an easy question - how naive. Is the following correct -

If I stay with Cingular, I could get a GAIT phone which would allow use of the analog networks I will need in rural areas. However, Cingular doesn't have as many roaming agreements as other carriers, so I may have numerous areas that have cellular coverage, but to which I will not have access.

If I use AT&T I could use a TDMA/AMPS 800 handset which would give me the analog coverage. However AT&T is headed toward a GSM system, that will eventually not support analog (although this is probably a ways in the future). AT&T seems to have good coverage and a good number of roaming agreements.

If I use Verizon, I can get a tri-mode handset which will give me analog coverage. Plus Verizon has good overall coverage and good number of roaming agreements (although maybe not in Oregon).

I think I am headed to Verizon. Thanks for your help.

Tom

[WalterElf]

I think I am headed to Verizon

I guess your assumptions are correct. The choice it not easy. All carriers have some kind of a satisfaction guarantee. So in your situation I would sign up with Verizon, see if it works, if not return the phone and cancel the service and test another carrier.

[BillRadio]

Tom,
Actually, the decision should be easy. If you want western rural coverage, you have only 2 choices: AT&T and Verizon. Unless you can tell us specific locations in the west, you can price-shop between the two. AT&T has a great Regional plan, but Verizon's America's Choice plan could suit you very well.

AT&T would be better if you traveled more to OR and WA. Verizon is far better if you traveled south to AZ and NM. It's almost a tossup if you roamed mostly across CA, UT, ID, and CO. Verizon is better in MT. In some areas, one carrier would be better just because there is more DIGITAL coverage. Each has its good and bad spots, but the closer you are to major highways, the more they both can serve you well.

-Bill

[tomgreen1000]

Thank you for all of your insights.

One area that I will frequently be driving through seems particularly lacking in coverage. The I-80 corridor between Reno and Salt Lake City.

Also I am still confused about roaming. There may be areas where there is cellular coverage, but if my chosen provider does not have a roaming agreement with the carrier (assuming it isn't my provider), then I won't have access? For me total coverage is most important, so as it was mentioned, I need to check the roaming agreements for the areas that I will frequent the most often.

It may even be better for me to have one phone from each carrier.

Thanks for all of the help.

Tom

[DCinSEA]

Yes, there may be cases where you have coverage, but not with a carrier you can use. AT&T has the most roaming agreements out there for all the rural areas. The only place where you would run into trouble on AT&T that I know of right now is Sussex County, NY. AT&T prefers roaming agreements with TDMA carriers first, then the A side carrier if at all possible, then with the carrier with the best coverage, in that order. In many cases in the rural areas, AT&T has agreements with both the A & B carriers on analog. They keep trying to play off the other carrier to get the lowest roaming rate possible.

Verizon has requested (and gotten) roaming agreeements with AT&T over the last year, because they want better coverage for their analog roamers. (For us at AT&T, we find that the true test of whose network is best, as far as insiders go). AT&T only roams on Verizon if there is no TDMA provider in the area and the B provider has terrible coverage, then AT&T will get a roaming agreement with Verizon.

Hope this helps!

DCinSEA

[ILUVSOCAL]

Actually, there is good coverage in that area, via CC Communications and Cellular One West. Verizon does cover a small portion of that route, but only in the Wells and Jackpot areas. If you go with Verizon, you can roam on them(in fact, they are a roaming partner of Verizon's), and if you go the AT&T route, you can roam on Cell One without a hitch. Now, as far as plans, if you go the AT&T route, make sure and get a regional or national plan, and if you go the Verizon route, get Single Rate National, you could also do a local choice, but that would limit your free roaming to California and Nevada only. Stay away from America's Choice if you will be spending any time in rural Nevada, you will get dinged with roaming charges up the ying yang. Sadly, Verizon did away with their regional plans last year, so that's not an option with them anymore [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]


http://www.cellularonewest.com

http://www.cccomm.net

[tomgreen1000]

Thanks for the help, again. I'm very glad to know the I-80 corridor is covered. I sure couldn't tell from the maps that the major carriers make available.

I appreciate all the responses.

Tom