Wireless in Pa... 'preciate some advice

Well, I go to school at Villanova and Sprint is the best carrier on campus. I also used Cingular for more than 2 years, but I don't know much about the Delco area with Cingular (I live in Bucks Co). Cingular and Verizon have more overall Philly coverage than the others, so Cingular wouldn't be a bad try, but Sprint might be able to work with you too.

BTW, for Sprint you can go to www.sprintsitesusa.com and literally see if they have a tower in the Media area. However, this site is not foolproof because it does not list all of Sprint's towers, but only the freestanding ones that they own (not leased space from another carrier). This site is where I discovered a tower within 1 mile of Villanova.

 

Perhaps, right now you have a coincidence. I agree, try out Cingular next, they are the other cellular carrier (A, Verizon is B) in Delaware County. When your ATT phone went to roaming in your home, it was using a Cingular tower. I personally use the Nokia 6430i, a phone with dual digital modes (TDMA, GSM) plus analog (AMPS). Voicemail is kept at the switch, not in the phone. (The 6340i can record three minutes of voice, both sides of a call, and is a feature I haven't used yet.)

After that, there's Nextel and T-Mobile.....

COtech

 

Yeah, I'd try Cingular next. Usually Verizon and Cingular are the best in s. PA, DE, and s. NJ. Then try out Sprint, Nextel, and T-Mobile...something has to work!

 

If ATT was in roam or extended area it had to be off a cingular tower. Therefore if you had a strong signal cingular would be good but if not stay away from cingular. You are probably better off with TMo or Sprint(it took a lot to say that). Sprint cs and service is less than desirable but if it works where u need it -why not?

 

My vote is the 120e wasn't a good phone of choice living in a fringe area... I'd try another phone (LG VX4400, 2000.)

 

Why try another phone if another carrier works better? I only point this out because 1 carrier doesn't work for everyone. I love Sprint because I can't go to a spot on my suburban college campus without fill signal strength on my phone (including low floors of thick-walled buildings). However, if my carrier's signal was barely there at my house, I'd look at others. I stick by my vote: Go with Cingular or Sprint (or T-Mobile, or anyone who works).

 

Actually there can be a difference based on design (even though actual transmission power does not vary by law among phones). This is especially true with Sprint, where Sanyo phones run circles around LGs and Samsungs for reception. I don't know how true it is with other carriers.

 

jmccrane, (just opening a parenthesis here) I know the general conception is that Sanyo's have better reception than LGs. However, I question how much truth is in it. I have a friend that switched from a Samsung (I forget the model) to a Sanyo 4700 and I couldn't help noticing the negative change in sound/call quality when I was talking to her. Also, the number of dropped calls increased. After a year of unhappiness, I gave her an LG 5350 for christmas and although the signal indicator seems to show a weaker signal now, the ability to maintain a call on the LG is much better than the Sanyo, not to mention the sound is much better. I've also noticed that Sanyo's have a longer antenna than LGs. I am not going to judge general conception of a brand against one isolated case. However, what do you think? Could it be that the signal indicator fools people into thinking Sanyo's have a better signal? Could it be that the longer Sanyo antenna is responsible for the apparent reception advantage?

 

bobolito, I don't know. First of all, there is a LOT of testimony from Sprint users to back up the notion that different cell phones have different quality when it comes to reception. I have used my Sanyo 4900 against an LG 5250 and some Samsung models in the same area and the conversations on the other phones were more garbled. Also, the area showed 4 bars on my phone and only 1 on the LG. I know the bars aren't the best way to measure, but a 3 bar difference is significant no matter how the measuring software works, IMO.

On a side note, I am told the LG 5350 does a better job than most other LGs on Sprint in terms of reception. Also, I've also been told that the 4900 beats the 4700, which was not at strong for reception. Again, this is based on various testimony, not experience.

 

Tmobile is awesome in delaware county- in and around newtown sqaure/media/broomall/villanova/havertown... i have verizon and my sister and a few of my friends have Tmobile, they get service way better than i do.. i use their phones because my simply says NO service on my phone, where they are actually getting FULL service.... Tmobile is cheap so it can save u a lot of money a year... there GSM service is great in the philly area.. i say get more with T-mobile.... no one is having problems with them atleast in this area... i heard nothing but great things so far.....

 

do u know any similar websites to find tower locations for t-mobile, at&t, cingular and verizon

 

SPRINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sprint is by far the best service in E. PA. I have had them all. Att was OK, Verizon was OK, Cingular was good, T- Mobile was horrible. Sprint seems to be very good in this region. I travel E. Pa NJ and DE and never get dropped calls. I live in Morgantown ( no Amish jokes) and get full bar action. Trust me...go with Sprint

 

PA is a big state. You need to be more specific. Wireless in Southeast / Eastern PA is entirely different from central PA... is entirely different from western PA.
You mustn't have signed up for the correct AT&T plan, otherwise you wouldn't be roaming in your own home.

Please tell us where you live, and where you plan on travelling.

 

SPRINT will work the best in that area. The PCS network is fantastic and reagrdless of where you are at, all features work the same. Give Sprint a try and you won't bother with anyone else.

 

thats a one sided answer come on now. sprint is the best in any area ? how do you figure..do you have any idea how many customers have come to me complaining about how horrible sprint is ? now thats just what they had to say..personally it wasnt that bad but the coverage couldnt compare to cingular. and as far as him roaming off of at&t thats only if cingular is tdma in his area (which he did not say) if cingular is gsm (lower eastern PA) he may have a better shot.