Hi..I recently got a Samsung SCH-A670. Love the look & feel. Problem is I noticed most of the time I only had 1-2 bars of power, although at times I have all 4. When I asked verizon about this, they said this phone is digital (shows you how up I am on things-didn't realize there was digital & tri mode!) Anyway...I can turn it back in and get tri mode but 2 problems. 1. I have come to LOVE this phone and 2. not very many great options w/tri modes. How concerned should I be that this phone will fail me? I live in Mass and do most of my driving literally between a small area of space. I do notice at times I have no signal, but am still able to make a call. Verizon rep told me to just be sure I update my phone regularly, which I do. He also said I could swap it in for the same, just in case it is simply this particular phone. I may do that, although I already have all my contacts and voice recordings on the old one...:browani: What do people think? I usually don't travel too far out of my own space so I'm wondering if I'll be ok. The tri modes I have looked at are all bigger and I don't like as much. Thanks!
What was the phone you had before? Check Verizon maps to see if coverage is just lacking in some areas of if Analog backup would help.
I had a lg vx3200. Real plain basic phone. I liked but wanted something a little "jazzier." When I look at the verizon map it appears there is digital coverage EVERYWHERE. My thinking would be then that the phone should work great everywhere! I see here where people carry phones as a backup. If I have to carry a backup, shouldn't I just have a tri mode then? Wouldn't I have to pay for that extra phone? I know I could turn back on my old one, but wouldn't I have to pay the $10 a month for it? I took the new one in tonight and had it swapped out for another of the same brand. Hopefully this one will be better and I can end the issue! Thanks for your reply.
If you swap over to your old phone there is no charge. It's called an ESN change and can be done over the internet or over the phone. You can always go back and activate your old phone, and then switch back to your new phone, no problem. If the maps indicate digital everywhere you shold be fine. Just make sure you don't wander into any analog areas, otherwise analog backup would probably be better. Verizon's own network is 100% digital, but some of their roaming partners still have large areas of analog only areas. Hope this helps.
Oh I didn't realize it was that easy to go back to old phone! thanks for info. For instance this morning when I turned on I had 1 signal, then 0. Only for a couple seconds tho. As I said before, I have had no signal a couple times but been able to make a call no problem. The verizon rep told me the indicators can be a little flexible. If mine says 2 it may really have 3. Same w/0, obviously is still getting some signal as I am able to make a call. I guess I am just worrying too much about the what if...I don't mind switching back to old phone (although not happy that I wasted my free up). Problem is finding out I need to switch back is going to mean I got stuck w/no signal. THAT'S the thing I fear. I have a very small window of opportunity to just say the hell w/it and get a tri mode phone w/verizon's blessing. I called their main # and she said that because digital vs. tri mode was not explained I could take it back even tho I have already swapped it once. I guess I'm still not sure what to do!!!! Appreciate the input
Andy...maybe you can help me w/a curiousity question then. What IS the benefit of a digital phone vs. tri mode??? And how quickly do you think they'll get more digital coverage in these empty spots? If we are talking over the next so many months, I'd feel better. They did tell me to make sure I do that *228 (updated roaming towers) on a regular basis. Just seems like a lot of work for a phone!
LRando, the only real difference a tri-mode phone would make is its ability to go into Analog if there is no digital signal. If you live in a large metro area the chances of this happening is very small. In fact, the analog signal is mostly unusable in urban areas. I am not a master at all of this technical stuff, but you should be fine with the digital only phone. The RF performance is what you are concerned about. Samsungs are good, but I have had better experiences with Motorola's and Nokia's, which are famous for strong RF.
