Road Trip Report Phoenix to Northern AZ

[RH]

All,

Been very busy with work and have only been reading the forums but wanted to post the results of a little road trip my wife and I took from our home Phoenix/Scottsdale AZ for the day up to Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff. I had the ATT GSM Gophone(Nokia 3595) and my Verzion (Nokia 3589). We took the I17 North to the 69 turn off. Verzion was fine most or that part of the trip went into analog (tried a test call can would not connect) and some no service in the mountains up to Sunset point rest area. ATT GSM was about the same and also switched to T-Mobile and registered and then went dead for a bit and back to ATT. At the Sunset point rest area the Verizon phone was at 3 bars cdma 1x and att full signal. Then we got back on the I17 and ATT went to T-Mobile a bit then back to ATT full signal ( Verizon was anywhere from 1 to 3 bars and I was able to make some test calls and they were fine same with ATT). Then we got onto the 69 going towards Mayer, Dewey and into Prescott ATT was at full bars most of the time and this is kind of a valley for those not familiar with the area. I was surprised though that near Dewey and Prescott valley Verizon ave me only 1 to 2 bars in some areas on that route and ATT GSM was full signal.( I was able to make calls on Verzion but was just suprised that the signal was not much stronger in a populated area)

Once into Prescott we were walking around Whiskey row and had lunch in this all block old saloon and both phones had full signal and same as we walked around town. For fun I tried a network selection and was able to also find T-mobile and register on there network which was suprising since I had full signal with ATT.

We then left Prescott and drove up the 89A from Prescott to Sedona, along this route Both ATT and Verizon were fine ATT full signal most of the way and then both phones died once we started the climb through the Mingus mountains over to Jerome then to Sedona at one point the Verizon phone did pickup an analog signal but no bars and I could not call out. Once into Jerome Verizon was ok 2-3 bars maybe more and ATT 2-3 also maybe more I was trying to drive and not endanger other people . Once down the hill from Jerome and into Cottonwood both phones did fine and the same with in Sedona. From Sedona we continued on 89A up through Slide Rock national park and Oak creek. Both phones went dead after driving a few min into there but the Verizon phones last ditch effort was on Verizon analog no bars then Sprint but no bars and I tried to make a call and it failed. Once out of that area both phone came back to full signal in this flat wooded area before we ended up at the I17 just on the ourskirts of Flagstaff. In Flagstaff both phones worked well and we even popped over to lake Mary which is outside Flagstaff and this it the only spot where Verizon was much superior 3 bars Verizon digital and GSM died out both ATT and T-Mobile. I also tried *22803 to check for Sprint and was met with a no system message on my phone. On the way home on the I17 I was suprised that I hit one spot where my Verizon phone jumped to Extended Network Sprint for a mile or so and ATT GSM had full signal since this is a major freeway. All in all only speaking from here in AZ GSM is not that bad I was kind of shocked that Verzion was not stronger than it was yes it was better than ATT GSM but not by a huge margin that I had expected. No service is perfect by any means but this little road trip made me surprised.

RH

[Airb330]

Thanks, I'll be up in those parts in late June! We'll have Cingular GSM and Verizon. Good to know they both seem to work reasonably well. I am not surprised by Verizon's showing....they are slightly overrated.

[azcellphonejunkie]

I have done this trip many times, and have found similar results on the Sprint network as you did with your Verizon phone. I now have T-Mobile and have not had a chance to try them out along the I-17, but know that they would do fine if they would have to roam on AT&T if there was no T-Mobile service. Thanks for the interesting report!

[larry]

I've heard several times before that Verizon phones can't use Sprint in Northern AZ as there is no roaming agreement with Alamosa PCS (the Sprint affiliate that owns this market).

[Rasputin]

Good info, I have been in a few areas around there where my brother's picked up Sprint Signal and I could not pickup the PCS signal, I guess Verizon does not have the roaming agreement with Alamosa PCS

[Airb330]

I hear (from Rich) that Sprint is much better than Verizon in northern AZ. I just hope Cingular allows ATT and T-Mobile roaming. Of course we'll have my stepdad's T730 which will be a nice backup on Verizon.

[larry]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

Good info, I have been in a few areas around there where my brother's picked up Sprint Signal and I could not pickup the PCS signal, I guess Verizon does not have the roaming agreement with Alamosa PCS

I've also read on some forums that Verizon does not have an agreement with Alltel in Northern AZ near the Grand Canyon. Sprint does have a roaming agreement with Alltel there. So Sprint might be a better choice than Verizon for N. Arizona. Maybe Bill Radio can confirm all this?

[budney]

Originally Posted by Airb330

I hear (from Rich) that Sprint is much better than Verizon in northern AZ. I just hope Cingular allows ATT and T-Mobile roaming. Of course we'll have my stepdad's T730 which will be a nice backup on Verizon.

Yes, Cingular allows roaming on AT&T and T-Mobile throughout AZ. I just hope you are on a nationwide plan,

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by larry

I've also read on some forums that Verizon does not have an agreement with Alltel in Northern AZ near the Grand Canyon. Sprint does have a roaming agreement with Alltel there. So Sprint might be a better choice than Verizon for N. Arizona. Maybe Bill Radio can confirm all this?

Yes, it's true. VZW will not roam on Alltel in AZ. So, yes a Sprint user would have more available than a Verizon user, but then so would an Alltel customer. But a VZW customer from an "A" channel market, or one who 'forces' their phone to channel A at Grand Canyon, can roam on Alltel without additional roaming charges, if they have and AC or SR plan.

I wonder if this will change now that Alltel purchased the Western Wireless sites in SE AZ. This would give VZW much better (and cheaper?) coverage there. But it would mean adding Alltel's AZ SID. That might mean more Local roaming charges elsewhere in the state than they are now paying Sprint PCS for the Wilcox/SE AZ area.

-Bill

[Gideon H]

Thank-you for posting this! Now people will finally beleive me when I say my AT&T and my old Spint phone is so much better than the overrated Verizon sheesh lol. I actually live in Dewey and travel to Prescott Valley daily for school. My V600 always has full or 4 out of 5 bars, and my T68i being a little less since it only has 1900MHz I think. I also know of some dead spots between black canyon city and mayer because of some of the mountains... with the most noticeable a dead spot between mayer and humboltd about a mile before (south) of the house with the ti-pi. But yes thankyou for posting that!

[RH]

Gideon H,

You are welcome, I was not trying to down Verizon I was just very very surprised that they were not much stronger signal wise in those areas and yet ATT was full signal more of the time even in your neck of the woods. I was going to think it would be the reverse. I have not tried Sprint.

RH

[Gideon H]

Sprint is also excellent in Arizona. Probably tying with Alltel with being the best with AZ CDMA in my opinion... but I know you were trying to dis on Verizon. I just hate them becuase they dont have as good coverage as everyone thinks... Verizon is the only carrier that I've dropped more than a couple of calls on (I dropped like 40 calls in the 4 mos. I had them). On my AT&T cell, I dropped one call (I used it while walking into a store in the mall so that's expected). Sprint, none. Cricket, one or two. Nextel, two. So you can see why .

[SQFreak]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

That might mean more Local roaming charges elsewhere in the state than they are now paying Sprint PCS for the Wilcox/SE AZ area.

Verizon doesn't seem to mind paying local roaming with Alltel in the Carolinas or Florida. (Hell, in the Carolinas, they seem to give IN-Network on Alltel!) They don't mind local roaming with AT&T or Sprint PCS in Florida. Their roaming agreement with Alltel is great for both sides, as it gives them cheap, necessary coverage. I think that Alltel is cheaper that SPCS, so if Alltel is added, SPCS will probably be dropped, but I don't see that as a big problem.

I am actually shocked that Alltel AZ isn't in the PRL.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Airb330

I hear (from Rich) that Sprint is much better than Verizon in northern AZ. I just hope Cingular allows ATT and T-Mobile roaming. Of course we'll have my stepdad's T730 which will be a nice backup on Verizon.

Yes, Sprint is by far the best carrier for northern AZ, especially while traveling abroad. When I had Verizon I found that their coverage just wasn't 'up to par' and really unreliable, and since Sprint has launched F&C america their is really no reason to have Verizon..lol just kidding At&T is not to far behind either, they have done an excellent job building out their network in AZ.

[Gideon H]

Exactly what I'm saying... I had Sprint and they were the best anywhere in arizona i went. and for my att gsm, the same story. just i havnt gone to all the places that ive went with my sprint phone yet.

[SQFreak]

Originally Posted by Rich

...since Sprint has launched F&C america their is really no reason to have Verizon

Sure there is. If Sprint isn't "up to par" in your primary use area, it'd be stupid to sign up with them.

My friends with Sprint in this area are having lots of trouble with poor reception, missed calls without the mobile ringing, and calls going straight to voicemail without ringing on either end. I wouldn't sign up with Sprint based on their reports!

Originally Posted by BillRadio

But a VZW customer from an "A" channel market...

Woo! Let's hear it for the Carolinas, where all VZW properties are A-side!
Also, VZW customers from PCS areas where the PCS system has an odd-numbered SID.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SQFreak

Sure there is. If Sprint isn't "up to par" in your primary use area, it'd be stupid to sign up with them.

My friends with Sprint in this area are having lots of trouble with poor reception, missed calls without the mobile ringing, and calls going straight to voicemail without ringing on either end. I wouldn't sign up with Sprint based on their reports!


Woo! Let's hear it for the Carolinas, where all VZW properties are A-side!
Also, VZW customers from PCS areas where the PCS system has an odd-numbered SID.

Hmmm, I can see where this is going
I understand what your saying but, were talking about northern Arizona not NC. Also I think you miss my point, what i am saying is that in northern Arizona there is really no point in having Verizon as your carrier. Sprint has almost every town covered very well, now you add their F&C america option...and BAMM, you have coverage virtually everywhere you need it and you dont have to worry about roaming charges. Believe me when I tell you this, Verizon is not the best choice for AZ there overrated.

[Gideon H]

Verizon is overrated period. Everywhere I went with my Verizon phone including Arizona, NYC, Massachusetts... anywhere I went I got poor reception on my Samsung. This was about a year ago.

[WiggyFife]

Originally Posted by Gideon H

Verizon is overrated period. Everywhere I went with my Verizon phone including Arizona, NYC, Massachusetts... anywhere I went I got poor reception on my Samsung. This was about a year ago.

have you used the same Samsung phone at all these locales??? If so, have you considered maybe that it is the phone. I've used my LG in AZ- (Phx, & Tucson), as well as Detroit and have had no problems whatsoever...

[roamer1]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

Yes, it's true. VZW will not roam on Alltel in AZ.

Even when a phone is set to Auto-A (or similar setting)? That goes against everything about VZW/ALLTEL roaming everywhere else...even markets not in the PRL.

Of course, I'm from a VZW A-side 850 market, so I guess I'm spoiled.

-SC

[roamer1]

Originally Posted by SQFreak

I am actually shocked that Alltel AZ isn't in the PRL.

Given the GC situation and the presence of Commnet Wireless where there's also ALLTEL (along I-8 between Casa Grande and Yuma, etc.), I am too.

-SC