Cell Phones and Service (NFR)

[crabbait]

So, I am about to make the plunge and join the celular age but I don't want to end up with a useless toy. Some time ago, y'all said that Verizon had the best cel service for our out-an-about lifestyle. I've heard recently that AT&T has added some cel towers and now their service is best. What's your opinion on the best carrier? Who has the best plan and what is it?

Is Nokia the best phone? Or what? Why?

Thanks for the help. :depressed: [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[Scrambler]

If coverage footprint is your concern then stick with a cellular carrier (AT&T, Verizon) rather than a PCS carrier (Voicestream, Quest, Sprint, Cingular, Cricket). AT&T and Verizon both have their strengths and weaknesses. A lot depends on where you travel. What's right for one person may not be right for another. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img]

As far as phones go, you get what you pay for. There are many fine phones to chose from. Make sure you get one that is right for the application. A small light weight phone with a no visible antenna will not perform as well as a larger phone with a external antenna. Buy quality.

Rate plans, there is no one plan that is the best. Do your homework and read the small print.

Sorry, No easy answers. Good luck!

[crabbait]

Thanks, Scrambler, but I already knew that the PCS carriers were out. What I would like to hear is peoples opinion of the service and coverage they receive from AT&T or Verizon. Can ya hear me now? Good! :smile:

So, what works where you fish and what doesn't?

What phone do you recommend and which carrier? :whazzup:

Thanks.

[ 04-09-2002, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

[spooner]

I have cellular one and every month I have to go in and fix my bill they keep charging me long distance for home area calls and I gess it is the same every where my dad said they do the same thing in alaska. I cant change because there the only one with analog sevice here. You think they would fix the problem if they were loosing money?

[bajaspecial]

AT&T, erricson phone. Can't count the times I've been out and someone ask to use my phone cause theirs isn't working.

PS...don't get the phone with the internet...waste of $$. By the end of the year there will be the new 3G network...on the new units you'll be able to watch small MPEG compressed movies, in real time, with no lag time...at least that's what they say. We'll see!

[Ocean]

Crabbait:

I've had ATT about 10 years and they seem to have the best coverage. I also have had many people borrow my phone when they were out of coverage.

ATT has a couple of features that are worth looking at:

1) Free long distance - free for any calls from your cell phone.

2) Shared minutes between two or more phones. My wife and I have this and the plan pools the minutes between the phones. Also calls between the two cell phones do not count.

Another handy feature is text messaging. You can send and receive email from your cell phone. It's not convenient enough to compose long messages, but it's handy for sending notes back to your office or responding to simple yes/no questions. When I'm gone for several days I have my email handler forward a copy of all incoming email to my phone so I can keep track of things without a laptop.

I have a Nokia 6150. It's not small but I keep it in the truck, boat or briefcase and don't have it attached to my belt.

Regards,

Mark

[Pete]

I recently did the drill ... compared plans, talked to a lot of people with various services ... and ended up looking at Verizon and AT&T. It seemed coverage was similar, but the decision came down to equipment and service. I didn't like any of the hardware AT&T offered. Also, Verizon is very customer satisfaction focused. They have a "solve it with one call" policy that has been there when I needed it.

[Ocean]

ATT has a "solve it with three calls, five transfers and 30 minutes on hold" policy.

[dampainter]

I recently signed up with A T & T and live in the dalles. I have not had any problems other than the areas where all cells have problems....in gully type areas and cliffs.I have a nokia antenna less #3360 most I have talked to also have A T& T. a couple have sprint, have not heard anything bad from them.take your time, look around.my plan is local calling only which is all of oregon and some area codes in washington, if I call outside this I believe my charges are 6 cent a minute.

[Cutter]

I would have to agree with ocean. While hunting last year my father-in-law's cell pone could not get any signal from the top of Flagtail Mt. in eastern Oregon, it was verizon. While the AT&T phones had no problems. There may be reversed cased of this but I have not seen it. I want to see that Verizon guy go over to eastern Oregon and try his, "Can you here me now", :shocked: ,"Crap no signal and just when I really needed it" [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[duckcall]

I have both ATT and Verizon, one for work and the other personal. I prefer Verizon for coverage and its simplicity. I just returned from the Denver area and had signal 99% of the time. Can't say that for ATT. Good luck. :smile:

[Tinned Fish]

I chose ATT, and have never been out of service when my pals weren't also. The phone is the more crucial part. Like they were saying above, for the remote areas get a brick with a big antenna. The slender pocket phones are great for the city and along teh highway, but not the hills.

Look at Transmit power on each phone in the technical specs. I have a small pocket phone, and my wife has a bigger one. A lot of times my phone will show bars (indicating it can detect the network), but can't punch out (the vallys in the Gifford Pinchot) because of it's little battery. So when I go fishing I steal her phone! <grin>

Nokia's are the best I've seen in the feild as far as signal, but their sound is always tinny and filled with echo (wife and I have owned three of em).

If you're really only going to be using the phone in the feild 5% of the time, I'd recommmend something small and easy to carry. After all, do you really want to get phone calls when yer three beers, 2 trout, and 1 nap away from civilization?!

TinnedFish

[crabbait]

Thanks a bunch guys. I am leaning toward AT&T since I have AT&T cable and broadband.

Info on which phone is much appreciated. I may not want to get a phone call in the outback but I want to know I can make one.

I learn more from you guys that have the stuff and use it than I would ever learn from some salesman.

Love to hear more input. You guys rule! :smile: :smile: :smile:

[Ex-military]

Crabbait, I would follow Scambler's advice and go with a straight cellular vice a PCS service. i have Sprint which works fine in the metro and along the freeway but really starts to degrade when ya get along the coast or into the cascades...

[Slow Roll]

Crabbait,
I have Verizon and have been using them for the last 3 years. They have some of the best coverage and flexible plans that I have seen. But anymore they are all getting pretty comparable.
I have them same phone from when I started, an Audiovox CDM 9000. It has been a great phone that has yet to fail me.

Two things to look into along with all the other stuff that everyone suffested. A long life battery and a Tri-mode phone (one analog and two digital modes). With that you can get a signal most anywhere.

Paul B.

[Tinned Fish]

If you get any deals from the salesguy, pick up a car charger as well. Price the chargers and other accessories online before you go to the shop to determine if they're charging a reasonable price.

With the car charger you can go camping for a few days longer than the life of the phone battery without your boss/SO/kids getting freaked out. And some phones can use the power from the car battery to make a more powerful call than what the internal battery can do.

Another idea for you - those old satchel cell phones from the late 80's have great antenna's and are usually 5 to 10 times more powerful than handheld phones (analog only). You can usually get em for free from someone who has one on a shelf, or for pennies at a thrift store. Just make a call (don't dial 1 first), and in most places an computerized operator will come on line and offer to complete the call for you. The Voice will tell you how much it will cost, it's usually 2-3$ per minutes, and ask for your Credit Card #. For a few calls a year from the woods that's cheap compared to 1 year contract and a new phone!

All old cell phones can dial 911 without having service as well, so tuck a few in all the cars in yer yard, and tell the kids they don't need a new phone just to call for help! <grin>

TinnedFish

[Artwo]

crabbait,
My wife and I had AT&T for a couple years and although their service was ok they kept scewing up our billing, seemed like every month it was something. When our contract was up we went shopping and ended up with Verizon and have nothing but good things to say about them. We have a shared plan with two phones, all calls between phones are free (no minutes lost) and we pool the plan minutes between the two phones. We also have free long distance anywhere as long as you are calling from within your coverage area (I call my folks in Arizona and all it cost me is minutes, no other charges). We got two of the new Audiovox digital phones for next to nothing and they have text messaging, internet access, games, custom rings and a data connection to hook to your computer. We primaraly picked Verizon because they had complete coverage were we live where others did not including AT&T (you will loose AT&T's signal along hwy 99E at Hubbard). The customer service we have recieved from Verizon was night and day compared to AT&T, call in with no waitng and always a quick response to any issue or concern we've had, which have been very few.

Hope this helps,
JK

PS. No I don't work for Verizon.............just like their service. Also, AT&T would not work on the Sandy below Oxbow but Verizon will.

[ 04-10-2002, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Artwo ]

[Steelheader69]

I've had a few different phones. I canceled my Wwest and AT and T because of cell coverage. I deliver in rural places, and could't get a signal from either. I have one route that I Get NO coverage at all with AT and T, xcept by Vashon Iisland. I then canceled al until I got a lead on a better system. Got a family plan phone from Verizon. Free phone. I get coverage virtually everywhere. Even in "dead" areas. I'm a firm believer in Verizon. No probllems llike I had with the other two I had.

[Beer Waggin]

Get Nextel!!!

That way, when your away, no one can get a hold of you and ruin your day! :whazzup: :grin: :grin:

It's a company thing, and I've never seen a bill, so I can't whine to much.

[24 on/ 48 off]

Verizon service, reputation and comittment to customer care rocks.

--spud-- :smile:

[Barviewrocks]

I only use Cell both Verizon and ATT with Nokia phones. I find both coverage areas about equal for the areas I go to (mostly Tillamook, coast, sandy R, willamette R) I do believe the Motorola Startac phone is a bit stronger and clearer. But if the Nokia phones are subsidized by the phone company, I will stick with them as they suit my purposes. Good luck

[STGRule]

I have an At&T for work and Verizon for my personal. I prefer Verizon for all the above reasons, coverage and customer service. I have places IN Portland that I can't get service on the AT&T phone. You only need the tri-mode phone if you are going to travel to the east coast. Other than that, I've had Nokias and Motorolas and like them both (the Motorola I have now rocks, it has voice calling).

[crabbait]

Ok, you have swayed me to Verizon. Service and coverage are important. Now all I have to do is pick a phone and a service plan.

Thanks guys. You are making this painless. I will check back on this thread to see if anyone else has an opinion they would like to share. :smile: :smile: :smile:

[Pete]

... and when you're shopping, you may find the best deals on line!

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