T-Mobile ifishers

Freakwater · 08-07-2003, 09:55 AM

I'm not a heavy cell phone user, but I do like to carry one when I'm out in my crappy boat. I'm dumping my AT&T plan because it's too $$$ and more plan minutes than I need. T-Mobile has the only reasonable sounding $19.99 plan.

Do any ifishers have T-Mobile? How is the coverage and service on the coast (T-bay, Netarts, Siletz, Astoria) and CR and Willy around PDX?

Thanks

[ 08-07-2003, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: jpat ]

fishnxtc · 08-07-2003, 09:56 AM

You cannot get coverage on the coast with T-mobile. T-Mobile is about the worst for coverage area. I would stick with ATT and just get a cheaper plan.........Chris

[ 08-07-2003, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: fishnxtc ]

Jeffhead · 08-07-2003, 10:04 AM

JPat,
I just went through the whole which cell phone and plan do I get thing. I ended up picking Verizon and am glad that I did. As for the coverage it is great. I was in Oregon in vacation last week, first in Bend then over to the coast (Florence & Pacific City). I had coverage and great reception wherever I was. I was on the "extended network" in Bend and some of the options like voicemail didn't work but on the coast I had at least 2 bars all the time even in what I thought were some pretty remote spots. My plan is the Family Choice and I picked up the 2 for 1 deal on the phones and gave 1 to my 18 year old daughter. Base price is 39.99 (400 anytime, unlimited nights & weekends, 1000 mobile to mobile) and 20 for the second line (We share the minutes).
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Freakwater · 08-07-2003, 10:05 AM

Thanks XTC,

Their dang map shows coastal coverage! Good to know. I'm not going back to AT&T, but thinking of Verizon as an alt.

foxer · 08-07-2003, 10:18 AM

Been happy with Verizon. No service out at Hagg lake though [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

DF · 08-07-2003, 10:25 AM

I have t-mobile... and get coast coverage..no roaming or long distance
their map dosent lie, I have sat in seaside and used my phone, and drove through astora and used it.
Dustin

First Bite · 08-07-2003, 10:28 AM

I have AT&T as a work phone and also a T-Mobile as my personal phone. AT&T has much better coverage but I still can get reception with my T-Mobile in certain areas while I'm at the coast. If you're in Tillamook you'll be okay but once you head North on 101 then it becomes spotty. T-Mobile must have recently put up a tower around Rockaway Beach because I can now get service in areas where it was dead before.

Mark

Freakwater · 08-07-2003, 12:01 PM

Thanks for all the input.

What I find tricky about T-Mobile is they advertize "No Roaming Charges". As I understand it's because THEY DON'T ROAM. If you are out of their coverage, you do not get switched to Verizon , for eg. They are an entirely different system. When I first saw they had no roaming charges I thought, "sweet!" .......
Correct me if I'm wrong.

jpat

bob'r down · 08-07-2003, 12:02 PM

They do have the most $$ efficient rate plans. That is why I picked them. If you are in the city or the I-5 corridor, most of the time you can get coverage but not always. I do not know about out of state coverage and have not been to the coast since I signed up so I can not comment about that.

On Eagle Creek I get no coverage while Verizon does. Out of Brownsmead on the Columbia I do not get coverage and Verizon does. Out of the Fishery I do not get coverage and Verizon does. If I get too far off the I-5/I-84 corridor I do not get coverage and Verizon does. SE of Oregon City (past Beavercreek) I do not get coverage, Verizon does. Outside of Heppner T-mob forget it, Others do!

My point is if all you need to do is call from or close around the City you are probably OK. For most of us on this board who fish & hunt the outskirts, I question T-mobile's coverage areas.

jpat, you are correct...no roaming charges means no roaming! You can't make a call because there is no coverage. Yes roaming is expensive but if you look at your phone you have the choice to make the call or not, with T-mob you'll save money because you CAN'T make the call.

For the $5 to $10 per month I wish I had Verizon.

[ 08-07-2003, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: bob'r down ]

DF · 08-07-2003, 12:44 PM

true, it all depends on which service due to the towers, I also get service with t mobile where verizon dosent.. and its the same vise versa, Verizon will get service where t-mobile dosent

salmurai · 08-07-2003, 06:29 PM

jpat, T- Mobile for my buck, for now anyway. I get over Portland way and pick a signal coming into Pendleton and have it all the way to Portland and down to Eugene and back up to the Canadian border. That's where I picked up another signal but was scared to use it. They have served me well in Denver, Boise, LA and San Diego. My bill is always the same. I have three phones that share 800 anytime/anywhere minutes. They use a digital signal and I carry one of my old analog phones for those in between areas. It is not activated with any cell outfit, but I can call out using a credit card in an emergency. No one can call me on it but I pick up my messages on T-Mobile when I get back in a service area. Just my two-cents.....salm

Re:Play · 08-07-2003, 07:37 PM

We have 6 phones with wife, son, daughter, etc. on T-Mobile. There are areas in less populated parts of the states where it will not have coverage. I have coverage at Tillamook and at Buoy 10. Just got back from Vancouver BC, and had coverage all the way up and back. Have coverage most of the way to Salt Lake City via I-84 and I-15. Good coverage in Boston, Washington DC, and Dallas AND--bill is always the same. Also with the family plan, the calls between our phones do not count on our minutes allocation. All services have limitations, and it is hard to pick what you do not know. But, I am satisfied. As a backup, I have OnStar on my truck too, and have not found any place we do not have coverage. :smile:

LuckyDuck1 · 08-07-2003, 07:48 PM

I to have T-Mobile. I went with the get more plan that is $49 a month and you get free weekend and evening minutes and free long distance. Super good coverage out on the ocean to about the rock pile, but as mentioned the Eastern Oregon coverage leaves little to be desired. I also fish up and down the Columbia gorge and have never been without a signal. Luckyduck1

------------------------------------
To fish or not to fish?? What a question! :grin:

weekend warrior · 08-07-2003, 08:12 PM

My buddy just dropped t-mobile and switched to at&t because of there insufficient service areas.
Also, the phone was cheap and kept breaking.
The one thing he did like was the card that stored all your #'s so that if your phone died you could switch the card to any other t-mobile phone and have access to your saved #'s.

Just my .02

Later Geoff

Smily · 08-07-2003, 11:07 PM

Yep,
T-Mobile here too. I think it is pretty good for what you pay for. Happy with the reception that I get too, around PDX area and coast. It is spotty at the coast though.

:smile: Smily :smile:

devonian · 08-07-2003, 11:23 PM

t-mobile also. it is a lot better than it used to be. now have lincoln city.

people at work have at&t and don't like it. from what i hear it will be better in the future. it is like most things....what is good now many not be in the future and vise versa.

bob'r down · 08-07-2003, 11:36 PM

I have T-mobile and will quit just as soon as my 1 year contract is up!!!!! I live in East Oregon City and sometimes can't get a signal at my house. Eagle Creek....forget it. Worst coverage I have had. Need to use friends phones most of the time while out fishing or hunting if I need to make a call.

After more checking I would strongly suggest Verizon. Just my .02.

Bob

Rimshot · 08-07-2003, 11:45 PM

I have the nationwide plan from T-mobile and love it. It is the cheapest rate of all the phone companies and I don't pay long distance or roaming charges. As for coverage, my experience has been opposite of Bobr Down's...I have had coverage when my buddies have not with their ATT and Verizon phones. An example was at a friends wedding at Bridal Veil falls recently. We were trying to call a friend who couldn't be there and my phone was the only phone with service. Also, you definately DO get coverage at the coast. And last, I have had 2 close friends with ATT and they hated it. They said they got dropped a lot and it was way too expensive. Just my .02

fishinlady97140 · 08-08-2003, 06:55 AM

Ahhhh...don't be taken by T-Mobile for their rates...think about it. They give good rates because they can't give service! I'm "in the coverage area" on their map but range from 0 - 1 on the signal bar and my battery drains prematurely from it constantly searching for a signal. You can try to contact them to get them to 'adjust their towers' but all I can say is good luck! I looked into coverage by various providers and Verizon is by far the winner. I figure cancelling T-Mobile is actually worth the cost, since it'd cost me more to keep it and pay for the non-coverage AND I get no phone service! At first when I contact T-Mobile, they were right snippy about the whole issue, saying the contract states they don't have to give you coverage, that the areas are estimates. L-O-S-E-R-S! Bye-Bye T-Mobile

AtWorkALot · 08-08-2003, 07:07 AM

They all have dead spots. Your reception can be greatly affected by a few feet. I have AT&T, it doesn't work at my home... in North Portland. Overall, AT&T is pretty okay.

Seefood Man · 08-08-2003, 11:37 PM

I just signed up for T-Mobile for the wife and I. So far it seems OK, however I can't get a signal at my house here in Woodland, however, I couldn't with Verizon either. I'm only off I-5 a couple of miles, by Gunclub Rd. One would think that they would get a signal here. I was told that T-Mobile is only digital while Verizon, ATT ect. were digital and analog. I really don't know the difference but I was told that analog systems "hold" the signal better. :whazzup: