Best cell coverage?

[BernieP]

I was frustrated with Verizon couple months back because of upgrade issues...but anyways, I went to Sprint store in Wildewood to see about switching and Sprint paying off my Verizon contract like they advertise on TV. Very helpful there and asked for my home address. She entered it into their computer system and told me Sprint service in my area was weak and I would have lost calls, etc. She recommended I stay with Verizon, so I did. Isn't what I wanted to hear but I'm still with Verizon.

Oh, I live in Mechanicsville.

First, I thought Sprint was bought and merged with T-Mobile. T-Mobile also picked up MetroPCS. Not sure if their networks have been consolidated.

At least she was honest, someone told me they got a T-Mobile phone (from the place by Kohl's)
Did it because of family, walked out of the store and couldn't get a signal

The pay as you go phones at Walmart (can't remember the name) seem to work all over the country pretty good.
Not sure who they have as their contract carrier. But it's like $45 a month for talk / text and data. I think there is a data limit so use Wifi when available.


* Verizon probably has the best coverage nationwide, not just in urban areas. Have to be careful with the claims the carriers make.
Check to see if you can find the carrier for the prepaid phones. MetroPCS coverage is (was) spotty. BIL has it and gets no service in this area.

 

[SamSpade]

The pay as you go phones at Walmart (can't remember the name) seem to work all over the country pretty good.
Not sure who they have as their contract carrier. But it's like $45 a month for talk / text and data. I think there is a data limit so use Wifi when available.


* Verizon probably has the best coverage nationwide, not just in urban areas. Have to be careful with the claims the carriers make.
Check to see if you can find the carrier for the prepaid phones. MetroPCS coverage is (was) spotty. BIL has it and gets no service in this area.

My best friend has - I think it's called Straight Talk or Smart Talk - that you get at Wal-Mart. But he doesn't use his phone very much, so while
he's happy with the low cost, it's pretty much to phone home or receive messages.

Verizon almost always has the best coverage - but - you pay for it. Most of my calls are to my wife wherever she is.
The rest is the smartphone apps - GPS, of course, - weather apps - news. And texting for all my son's activities, and email.

But I LIVE in a spot where no carrier does it very well. I have to go outside my house for any chance of service.

I'd like to have alternatives, though. These carriers are likely to float you a deal if a competitor is good enough.

 

[jazz lady]

The pay as you go phones at Walmart (can't remember the name) seem to work all over the country pretty good.
Not sure who they have as their contract carrier. But it's like $45 a month for talk / text and data. I think there is a data limit so use Wifi when available.

It is StraightTalk and I have been using them for several years. I have never had a problem with reception as they piggy back off of Verizon and other major carriers. The $45/month is for the first 25GB at high speeds, then at 2G. I use wifi at home, but even out and about I never come close to the 25GB limit for the month.

They also have an unlimited plan at $55/month, with the caveat "at 60 GB, we reserve the right to review your account for usage in violation of Straight Talk’s terms and conditions."

Coverage Map | Straight Talk Wireless

Coverage map

www.straighttalk.com

 

[BernieP]

It is StraightTalk and I have been using them for several years. I have never had a problem with reception as they piggy back off of Verizon and other major carriers. The $45/month is for the first 25GB at high speeds, then at 2G. I use wifi at home, but even out and about I never come close to the 25GB limit for the month.

They also have an unlimited plan at $55/month, with the caveat "at 60 GB, we reserve the right to review your account for usage in violation of Straight Talk’s terms and conditions."

Coverage Map | Straight Talk Wireless

Coverage map

www.straighttalk.com

Verizon gives you I think 10GB of data but you share with others on your plan.
The "friends & family" plans may not be so cost friendly when it comes to data usage charges.

 

[ginwoman]

I was frustrated with Verizon couple months back because of upgrade issues...but anyways, I went to Sprint store in Wildewood to see about switching and Sprint paying off my Verizon contract like they advertise on TV. Very helpful there and asked for my home address. She entered it into their computer system and told me Sprint service in my area was weak and I would have lost calls, etc. She recommended I stay with Verizon, so I did. Isn't what I wanted to hear but I'm still with Verizon.

Oh, I live in Mechanicsville.

that's good that she was honest with you about that

 

[Goldenhawk]

Verizon gives you I think 10GB of data but you share with others on your plan.
The "friends & family" plans may not be so cost friendly when it comes to data usage charges.

We finally switched to the "unlimited" Verizon plan before a big family vacation last month, driving across the US. Figured the grown-up kids would go nuts stuck in the van for three weeks with not enough bandwidth to do anything but check email. Sharing 8GB/month with five people wouldn't cut it...

But...

I'm really NOT happy with the Verizon plan. The lowest-tier "unlimited" plan:

• Limits your speed dramatically "when the network is congested" which is nearly ALWAYS. Was getting speeds in the 600-kilobits per second range, not the full-speed multi meg speeds. There were occasional bursts of full speed, only when we were miles from cities - which is also coincidentally when the towers were too far away for good signal.... Most of the time, I'd click a link and wait 5-10 seconds before something useful happened.
• Limits the tethered speeds sharply. Absolutely horrible for using my laptop to surf or research.
• Limits what KIND of data is unlimited. Watching videos is only unlimited at reduced resolution.
• Charges a lot more for the not-lowest-tier where you get 20-ish GB of unlimited data at full speed... but if you blow that limit, you rejoin the slow speed crowd.

So it's NOT at all "unlimited". In fact, I consider Verizon calling it "unlimited" to be a gross violation of marketing ethics.