What's going on?!

If all of a sudden you are getting a weak Verizon signal instead of full Extended Network, Verizon probably fired up a cell site somewhere near you, but not near enough to provide you adequate service.
The only thing you can really do at this time is either wait for Verizon to expand more or to force your phone to U.S. Cellular using the Service Menu-Press Menu #073887* then all zeroes. Go to Extended NAM, then NAM1 and copy down all the information. Then go to your NAM2 settings and put in all the information from your NAM1, except for your CDMA/HOME SID, which you will put as U.S. Cellular's SID(not sure what it is up there). Then you will go to your normal network menu, select NAM2, then Home ONLY, and there you go...your phone will use U.S. Cellular.

 

Well there is your problem right there. If that new tower is 5 or 10 miles away, your phone is just barely hanging onto a very weak verizon signal, and not switching over to roaming. In this case, a new tower actually hurt your signal. In general, the usefulness of a site is only really up to about 3 miles

 

Most towers only have a range of about 1-2 miles. After that the phone will go into handoff mode and will pick up other towers. I would be very surprised if you could pick up a tower than is nearly 10 miles away and have it be reliable.

 

Also remember that the US Cellular signal is 850 Mhz, and Verizon's new (EVDO) signal is most likely 1900 Mhz. The higher frequency signal won't travel as far, before becoming weaker. Verizon is probably putting a few 1900 Mhz sites in resort areas with higher population concentration because they only have a licence for that frequency, and they would like to save on paying roaming fees to US Cellular.

 

Larry...I did 70 Miles about two months ago. Great signal, especially when I had line of sight to the mountain where the tower is at.

 

Verizon has been building out in that area. I just checked the Verizon Web site there are a couple of recent news releases for Windsor.

05/04/2007

WINDSOR, VT — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Vermont and New Hampshire, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with a new cell site in Windsor, Vermont. The new site provides coverage and capacity along Route I-91, US-5, NH-12A, and VT-131/NH-12.


04/12/2007

SPRINGFIELD, VT — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Windsor County, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with three new cell sites. The new sites provide coverage to downtown Springfield, along portions of I-91, US-5, Hwy-143, in West Hartford and also along portions of US-4.

Fs

 

I found another one.

FS

01/04/2007

SHARON, VT — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Windsor County, Vermont, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with a new cell site. The new site provides new coverage along I-89 between White River Junction and Sharon.

 

In a mountainous, low populated area like the Upper Valley, I would never carry a phone from a 1900Mhz carrier. I'd ditch Verizon and go with USCC or Unicel. They are the 2 850Mhz carriers in the area and you will get much more reliable service. I had USCC when I lived in Laconia and drove a delivery truck all around NH & VT and loved the service. Just my 2 cents.

 

It will probably improve with time. Since Verizon does not cover Windsor (you are just unlucky enough to pick up the distant tower), it's probably going to be tough to get them to do anything about this.

The same thing happened on the Seacoast when Verizon first turned on 1900. Things have improved quite a bit since then, but it was frustrating to the people on the fringe of the new 1900 towers.

 

Just be patiente and everything will be fine!