I spoke to my father today who is up in International Falls right now, it seems RCC has been busy. They have CDMA up and running strong in that area. I wouldn't imagine that that area was at the top of their list for network conversions, so this must mean that they are making good progress.
I don't know if you care but GSM 850 is running in most of Northern MN and WI also. So overall I think if you want to go either way (CDMA or GSM) I think coverage will finally be there.
IS RCC going to have all base stations to have CDMA or GSM or both (like Western Wireless) one day for their own customers in other markets to can use their network in digital, or not have to roam in digital on another network or be in analog? I understand perfectly that where a GSM cellular provider is they will service CDMA in that market. Where a GSM cellular provider is they will sevice CDMA in that market.
I think that they are putting CDMA on all base stations, and GSM only in higher traffic areas, although I may be wrong. wirelessoneder, thanks for that update. do you know if roaming agreements with the major carriers are in place yet for 850 there?
I believe that it'll be GSM-only in Vermont, as both of the other cellular providers are CDMA and there's really no reason for RCC to deploy it. What are they (going to be) selling in MN?
Dobson is the one setting up the GSM. Not definite on AT&T Wireless but would assume so since they are still closely affiliated. Also when you look at Cingular's Nation GSM map it shows Dobson coverage in Minnesota already under "Future Coverage" . Cingular Nation GSM Map
RCC will be selling CDMA when they are done with the network. They also own PCS licenses from St. Cloud to North Dakota for sure. They use GSM on their PCS network. I was just up to Fargo this past weekend. I don't think they've finished the overlay between Alexandria and beyond Fergus Falls yet. I got a very week digital signal and when I tried to make a call, it consistantly dropped to analog. I hope that was the case anyway, otherwise, it doesn't look good. I was also very dissappointed and surprised about VZW coverage on I-29 between the SD border and Fargo. I got very little signal and my phone was searching way too much the whole distance, until we got within 30 miles of the city! This even makes RCC's unfinished coverage look good. Now I know why VZW has said they will be putting money into ND this year, but from the looks of things they should at least double the amount. Dan
Hey guys, is anyone aware of a decent map that shows current (or relatively current) CDMA coverage in MN? As a Sprint customer, I'd love to know where I can roam digitally. My Treo 600 doesn't support analog, so I'm digital only. Sprint's coverage map is pretty lousy, in that it doesn't distinguish between digital and analog - just calls the whole thing "off-network roaming." Which I suppose is accurate, just not very helpful.
That's good to know. From the looks of it MN is going to be better state for CDMA though as a whole. the northern lakes are will be covered by Dobson, and St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Rochester will be covered by AT&T, but the rest of the GSM coverage will be 1900MHz from Tmobile and WW. Not the best for covering a large area. There is at least one cellular carrier in ever part of the state running CDMA. That doesn't mean the coverage will be everywhere, but it gives CDMA users the best chance.
