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Southeast Phoenix Valley Coverage Report

Discussion in 'Western US Wireless Forum' started by M in LA, Sep 28, 2005.

  1. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Well I'm back home is Southern California. Had a great time in Arizona, especially meeting Wiggy! :D

    Now for the coverage report. As I alluded to in a different thread, there were some big surprises in the coverage levels of the different carriers in the Phoenix area. I was specifically in the Gilbert/Higley, Queen Creek, and Chandler areas. This area can be a black hole for some carriers. Here is what I discovered:

    Verizon Wireless - Coverage was good to great depending on where I was. While staying at relative's houses in Higley/Queen Creek I had about 1 to 2 bars. Good enough to make calls, but there was a dropped call. It happened to be when I was talking to Wiggy. In other areas, the signal was full bars. This was seen in Ahwatukee/South Mountain, Downtown Phoenix, Glendale/Peoria, and Tempe. Most of Gilbert and Chandler were very strong as well. Overall a 4 out of 5.

    T-Mobile - This was the biggest surprise. T-Mobile was the ONLY carrier with FULL SERVICE everywhere I travelled. Yes, there were signal fluctuations, but is was always very strong. Apparently the T-Mobile network is excellent in the Southeast Phoenix area. Inside my realtive's home, service was always full bars. When Wiggy and I drove through the different communities (those I mentioned in the VZW review), the signal was always full. I was stunned!!:eek: . Overall a 5 out of 5. Wow! I didn't expect this. EDGE service was up in SE Phoenix, but not at the airport.

    Cingular - I don't have Cingular service, but my relatives did. Signal was weak. Mostly 1 to 2 bars at their house. Only when we forced their phones to the T-Mobile network did we see full service. Cingular is particularly weak in Higley/Queen Creek. Overall 2 out of 5 (this was how my relatives with Cingular felt, not me).

    Sprint - One cousin of mine has Sprint, and it suffered the same as Verizon. One to two bars. I don't have Sprint, so I cannot give a more detailed review.

    Alltel is an incumbant carrier in the Phoenix area, but no one I know has their service. I was able to purchase a V710 case at an Alltel store, so that worked out well. :browani:

    No one I know has Nextel either, so I cannot give a coverage report for them either.

    So there you go. This is what I experienced while in Phoenix. T-Mobile was the biggest, and most pleasant, surprise. WiggyFife can concur with a majority of my experiences considering he was a witness to the phone's readings. I had a great time even though it was over 100 degrees every day I was there. I plan on going back soon, maybe permanently...:)
     
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    #1 M in LA, Sep 28, 2005
  2. WiggyFife

    WiggyFife still knows nothing!!!
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    Awesome write-up, lbMike!!! I concur w/ all you said, & I did see it for myself.

    That call that dropped that lb was referring to was sincerely a fluke though!!! For those who care, it was at the intersection of Alma School & Queen Creek, outside the Target Store. It really never happened before. It just figures it would hapeen whilst 1 cell phone aficianado talks to another cell phone aficianado from a Wireless forum!!!

    It musta been rigged, I tell you!!!:browani: :biggrin: ;)
     
    #2 WiggyFife, Sep 28, 2005
  3. larry

    larry Sprint loyalist and former mod
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    Remember that you can't go by just how many signal bars were showing. Each phone and manufacturer calibrates differently. One phone might continue to show full bars until -90 dbs while another might only show full bars until -75 dbs. Other factors such as EC/IO can be more important.
     
    #3 larry, Sep 28, 2005
  4. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Larry, I can't disagree with you. I've never gone into the actual signal parameter mode on any of my phones. Also, I've never gotten into the super techical aspect of signal flux and dbs levels.

    What I can say is that for the average "joe" who bases coverage on how many bars he sees on his phone, it was evident who was the strongest. My report, though, is not meant to be the authority on who is the best in the Phoenix area, just what I experienced when I was out there.
     
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    #4 M in LA, Sep 28, 2005
  5. azcellphonejunkie

    azcellphonejunkie The Cell Phone Junkie
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    Great report, very infromative. Thanks!

    On cingular's behalf, I can tell you that I don't have any issues with them here in Phoenix. I love the service, one of the best, most reliable ones I have used to date...
     
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    #5 azcellphonejunkie, Sep 29, 2005
  6. Andy

    Andy Diamond Senior Member
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    So say the average Joe has a Sprint LG and Samsung phone. The Samsung will show full service when the LG has no bars. Which one is more accurate? The LG, but the average Joe will think the Samsung phone either works much better, or if they are comparing a Samsung Sprint against, say a Verizon, that Sprint is much better. I have personal experiences with Samsung vs. LG on Sprint.
     
    #6 Andy, Sep 29, 2005
  7. CellGeek

    CellGeek Sprint is the BOMB!
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    One or two Sprint bars on one of the newer Sprint phones is as good as four to five over-inflated Verizon bars. Verizon is very liberal with the bar displays on the phones that they sell. You really cannot go by the bars and need to put the phone into test mode and read the DB level. I have done this test with a Sanyo 7400 on Sprint and a LG 6100 on Verizon and came to the aforementioned conclusion. YMMV may vary with different phones, but typically Verizon LG and Motorola phones have inflated signal meters. Notice all of the Verizon bars on the title of my message.

    -jim


     
    #7 CellGeek, Sep 29, 2005
  8. Andy

    Andy Diamond Senior Member
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    Jim,
    If it's your opinion that Verizon oferinflates their phones to overstate signals, then that's your opinion and it's fine. I have not experienced that, especially with Motorolas on Verizon, which I think are rather conservative, and Nokias are especially conservative, but if that's your opinion I'm not going to argue against that.
     
    #8 Andy, Sep 29, 2005
  9. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    I think it is just in the area my relatives live since neither Wiggy nor I had a Cingular phone to check signal as we drove around.
     
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    #9 M in LA, Sep 30, 2005
  10. CellGeek

    CellGeek Sprint is the BOMB!
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    Andy,

    Please understand that I am not trying to dis Verizon. The conclusion that I came to was a result of an experiment with two phones. I have much respect for Verizon as I was with them for over 10 years. (initially Pac Bell, Airtouch, and then Verizon). I was extremely satisfied with their service and would have stayed with them except that I purchased a new home in Laguna Niguel and they could not provide service there. Much to their credit, they sent a technician to check the signal level at my home and determined that it is unusable because they do not have a cell site in the area. As a result, they terminated my contract and I did not have to pay ETF. I was blown-away by the level of service!! Verizon cared enough about one customer to send a technician to check out the problem. No wonder they are rated #1 for customer service/tech support! They are a very professional organization with excellent coverage and service. I highly recommend them reglardless of the bar callibration of the signal meters. :)

    Best Regards,

    -jim



     
    #10 CellGeek, Sep 30, 2005
  11. Andy

    Andy Diamond Senior Member
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    Oh I totally understand and I'm glad that Verizon did at least provide you with great customer service and let you out of your contract for free. I was just a little amazed at your comment about Verizon overstating the signal. You can argue that for some phones for every carrier; I gave a Samsung example for Sprint that would show full bars with -100dBm signal strength... :rolleyes:
    Bars don't mean a thing :) Cingular phones here have bars but don't work or are garbled all the time.
     
    #11 Andy, Sep 30, 2005
  12. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    True, but the illusion of a strong signal is oh-so appealing( ;) ). Gotta love those signal bars. :browani:
     
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    #12 M in LA, Sep 30, 2005
  13. WiggyFife

    WiggyFife still knows nothing!!!
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    all this bars-speak!!! I'm feeling alcoholic right about now!!! Lead me to your Bars!!!:D
     
    #13 WiggyFife, Sep 30, 2005
  14. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Now, now, Wiggy, don't forget about those "12 steps"...:browani:
     
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    #14 M in LA, Sep 30, 2005
  15. WiggyFife

    WiggyFife still knows nothing!!!
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    "Hi!!! I'm the Wiggy... & I'm heavily addicted to Bars!!! I have a serious affliction!!!":loony:
     
    #15 WiggyFife, Sep 30, 2005
  16. jones

    jones Silver Senior Member
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    Singles Bar, Double Bars,
    Three way or anything Goes Bar?
     
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    #16 jones, Sep 30, 2005
  17. WiggyFife

    WiggyFife still knows nothing!!!
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    yayeah!!! Those all sound good about now!!! So does a Candy Bar too!!!:browani:
     
    #17 WiggyFife, Sep 30, 2005
  18. azcellphonejunkie

    azcellphonejunkie The Cell Phone Junkie
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    I think we need to get you out more wiggy!
     
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    #18 azcellphonejunkie, Oct 1, 2005
  19. josephd

    josephd Tomorrow is another day.
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    That's also due to the fact you have the infamous 6230:biggrin: Too bad Cingular discontinued it I tried to get one but it had issues with firmware and the phone freezing up, but it was rated tops in RF, I am still trying to purchase one but do not like the cost.:)
     
    #19 josephd, Oct 2, 2005
  20. azcellphonejunkie

    azcellphonejunkie The Cell Phone Junkie
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    It really is stellar. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a phone that has good RF. I think that for the most part, Nokia's do very well rf wise. That has been my experience....
     
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    #20 azcellphonejunkie, Oct 2, 2005
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