Voicestream and State College?

i dont know about their recpetion over there, but I was talking to a voicestream rep and for now they share towers with AT&T. i dont know if that helps you any but that is something to look into. I just got voicestream to give it a try to see how their mobile web and AIM service is.

 

Skadoo323,
Would you please come back and post how your experience with AIM turns out?

 

When did VS/T-Mo start using AT&T ANYWHERE?

-SC

 

SC - I think there might be an implication of sharing tower space. w/AT&T. There is no roaming agreement.

Anonymous - you will be roaming on Conestoga Wireless service (it's free with a national plan) while at PSU and the surrounding area.

 

Hi Matt, thanks. I've read a lot of your posts regarding the structure of T-Mobile and Connestoga and how that is working out with their roaming agreement and such, but I guess what I'm really asking is if I'll take a hit in call quality by roaming in Connestoage vs being in a native T-mobile area. Also, I'm interested in using some of the features such as wireless internet and email, and I'd like to know if those features are available when roaming in Connestoga.
Thanks,
DerekJ

 

AT&T on the PSU campus is pretty good. In fact, there is this envelope of REALLY good reception that goes about 5 blocks out from the University. However, once you are past that, the signal drops. I switched my cell phone service because even though I could see the university 1.2 miles line-of-sight away, I couldn't use my cell phone in my apartment. I've also had other signal problems in the 2+ years that I had the phone.

The AT&T service rep explained to me that they were going to put GSM in the State College area in 2-3 years, if that's any help.

James

 

Fudgehammer,

finally my web service on my tmobile phone is working. the aol im on it isnt bad, but they only thing i found to be a negative is that for some reason its blocked from accessing hotmail's web site. with voicestream's mobile web you are limited to 500 message or screens. for now i just got the basic plan with the $2.99 mobile web option. I pretty much just wanna see how their mobile web service is. I also got a nextel service with mobile web which is $30 total and with their mobile web its unlimited but i can access both aol and hotmail. still got a few days on the trial period so i am giving both a try.

 

Derek, as mentioned aboe, standard GSM functionality like SMS and email should work fine. AFAIK, Conestoga does not have GPRS (iStream/T-Mobile Internet) on their network yet, but you could I suppose use your phone as a modem and dial a CSD connection at 14.4kpbs. I don't know how good or bad Conestoga's coverage is up there - haven't traveled to that part of PA.

 

...with voicestream's mobile web you are limited to 500 message or screens. for now i just got the basic plan with the $2.99 mobile web option. I pretty much just wanna see how their mobile web service is. I also got a nextel service with mobile web which is $30 total and with their mobile web its unlimited but i can access both aol and hotmail. still got a few days on the trial period so i am giving both a try.[/quote]

Skadoo323.
I am wondering how fast the 500 screen pages (1 MB) would melt away with the AIM updating itself every time a buddy signs on or off in addition to IM'ing buddies. Maybe one can't tell until they get their bill for the overage? LOL. Also does the BuddyList stay current by itself or does one have to manually do something like with the $2.99 500 Text Message option available with the phones with embedded AIM?
You may email me if you care to. Thanks.
ALF

 

The thing with Conestoga is that you actually can just call them up and ask - I did it awhile back, but didn't write down the locations. I've found most of Conestoga's towers in Reading (Berks) and Schuylkill Counties, but haven't done as much in Centre (its a drive for me.) My recollection is that there is one at a mall, and there is definitely a tower atop Tussey Mountain in SC.

I have found Conestoga's coverage more than servicable given the low population density of the regions it serves. My only travels through Centre county have been along I-80. I will append the site notes of the towers I have logged below.

If you are interested, Conestoga base stations look like a 4 foot high, 1.5 foot deep, and 3 foot wide (very approximate) grey cabinet. They usually have a bright yellow sign saying Conestoga posted on the side of the box.

Bellefonte - Prob Freestg Twr N of I-80 and Slightly E of Exit for PA-26
Mingoville - Prob twr S of I-80 and S of Snyderstown Rd. Approach via PA-64 and SR1010
Milesburg - Prob CrownCastle tower W of Exit and S of I-80 N of Moose Run Rd
Snow Shoe - Prob in Complex S and W of Int of PA-144 and I-80 E of Townsite
Snow Shoe - Pop W of Town on I-80 - Western Conestoga Tower on I-80

jason

 

Hmm - I noticed you had included the bsic numbers for the attws towers in State college.

In the past, I spent more time looking for those sites.

Here is my list of att sites I have recorded in the SID 247. Have you found more sites in this area?

40 State College - Pop at Pugh and College
42 State College - Pop along Expressway US-322 S of State College
44 State College - Apts University Drive and College Ave
50 Boalsburg - Atop Tussey Mtn Ski Area
51 Lemont - Pop at US-322 and PA-26
53 State College - Pugh and College
55 Reedsville - Prob tower atop Mtn E of town with unk access
56 Bellefonte - PA-26 and I-80
57 Bellefonte - PA-26 and I-80 - weak pop
58 Lemont - Pike and PA-26
61 Lewistown - Prob twr on Blue Mtn - S of town and SW of big bend in 322
65 Lewistown - N of Walnut St on US-322
81 Mingoville - Eastern tower in SID on I-80 - Maybe site NW of Millheim

 

You Continue to amaze me. All the sites I am 100% sure of are listed in my previous post. The sites that cover a wide area continue to elude me. Here are some photos of Site 50 on little flat Mtn. (Near Tussey Ski area)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/e/rem204/Pics2/PSU4-2002/Dcp00641.jpg

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/e/rem204/Pics2/PSU4-2002/Dcp00643.jpg


Take care, sorry to hijack the Voicestream post

 

FYI while you are in Berks county you will use PCSOne/T-Mobile- the two companies overlap there

 

I clarified this above:

Does this mean your phone will display T-Mobile? No. Will your phone work? Yes. Will it be free? Yes, if you are on a national plan, or a regional plan that includes PA. If you live in State College, can you sign up for T-Mobile? No.

 

What about ATT? Does ATT offer GSM coverage in State College? I'm wondering if I'd be able to get a T68i and use it in State College. Anyone have any idea?

 

no AT&T GSM in State College - they are still working on the big cities....

 

Hey Matt, I was wondering if you know of anywhere I can find a map of AT&T's GSM coverage, or if they have a GSM rollout schedule anywhere?

 

AT&T GSM map and links

 

I see there are some areas (NC/SC/E. TN) covered by another carrier. Most likely Cingular. I read that Cingular has an agreement with AT&T to build GSM networks.