Alltel N.MI.digital transition.. New Phone?

Your old Nokia uses the TDMA digital standard, which is being phased out. That's the same thing AT&T and Cingular used to use, then they replaced it with GSM. Alltel ended up replacing their TDMA with CDMA which is what Verizon and Sprint use. Along with turning off the analog, they also want to shut off that old TDMA digital network, that is why you will need a new phone.

 

If you want an inexpensive, older, strong reception CDMA Nokia bar phone, I would recommend the 3585i (monochrome display), or 3587i and 6015i (color display). These would all be previously used, of course, from eBay. You should also be sure that the phone is Alltel-branded.

 

Right.

I have some friends that are from that area (Cadillac) that have Alltel and they have LG AX8600s. They love them. My friend also has the LG VX8600 through Verizon, which is the same phone, just through Verizon and it gets amazing reception even in fringe areas. I live in the woods and while my Verizon phone gets 2-3 bars, my friend's phone will get full service (4 bars). I would really recommend that phone through Alltel or any Motorola phone like that RAZR2 V9m.

 

If you spend alot of time on Beaver Island Cellular One (now AT&T) actually has better coverage.
Alltel only has a TDMA / Analog Extenda Cell (Cellular extender) The CDMA is run off a repeater.
The Alltel repeater is on the old Township/Fire Tower by the airport. Repeater sites will not have the same performance as a regular cell site.

Cell One has 2 towers on the island, one out at the township hall and one at the hardware store in ST James, these are both full blown towers and will report when then are down or having problems a repeater will not.

Alltel is a good company and you will be happy with one of their CDMA phones and plans. CDMA will only work with a 2 mile radius of the Township tower on Beaver Island and will not work on the south side by the light house anymore. With your old phone (TDMA) you could pick up towers on the mainland but the with CDMA the distance is to far. Alltel has real respectable CDMA coverage both Voice and Data on the main land.

Upgrade just the battery life alone is worth it.

 

There are 2 towers side by side out on Kings Hwy one is Cell One which is on the left with the White building. The tower on the right behind the old township building has the Alltel repeater on it.

The Cell One tower at the Hardware is a full blown Site not a repeater. Both Sites are pushing 45 watts as compared to the 20 watts on the Alltel repeater. When GSM was added it wouldnt reach town so Cell One added the hardware site.

Once Alltel turns the Analog off you wont be able use your phone on the Island unless your out near the airport. Current you can use your phone and it will pick up Alltels Stutsmanville tower on the mainland.

CDMA wont reach the island as its to far.

There was a power outage on the island a couple of summers ago when I was out there I could see Digital CDMA on my Alltel phones but signal was un-usable and my Cell One GSM was the same both signal were coming from the mainland as everything on the island was dead. On my Cell one TDMA phone I could see both Alltel and Cell One.

Alltels a good company, if you like the TDMA phone CDMA will be a big improvement as there are more CDMA than TDMA towers. The new towers on Beaver Island are for TDS Wifi Project.

 

Alltel doesn't want to cut you off. Have you called them to see what free phone they are offering to customers like you? Do it fast. Alltel said they were going to turn off TDMA and analog in MI on 3/31/08, but have extended that, but only a few weeks. They have not improved the TDMA network, but the CDMA network is better in some areas. Call them today and they can have a phone in the mail tomorrow.

 

Should show "A" in the square for analog. D digital obviously....you probably already knew this though...haha

 

Good luck with Alltel their a good company. There is only 2 choices that work in the crazy terrain of Northern Michigan thats Alltel and Cellular ONe (now AT&T)
Alltels better some places and Cell One is better in others.
I doubt any carriers will build on Beaver Island as it only gets any sort of population during the summer. Most carriers only shoot for major cities and highways and the larger resorts.