Cel phone reception
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Freds
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know how you'd find out which is best for your area, except by talking to friends and neighbors in the area )</font>
That and try them out. Most cell phone carriers have a trial period that you can drop them within that time without charge. Been there done it, twice.
In my area Cellular One has by far the best plans.... and the worst service.
I also tried Sprint a few years ago. My buddy, up from Pgh, had Sprint and it worked great. I got it locally and it stunk. I even tried different phones... weird. His was clear as a bell.
Verizon is pretty popular, but they didn't have as good a plan as Nextel, who I had had before, so that's who I use now, Nextel. I like the extra loud ringers their phones have, I've never lost a call, and last I knew they were the only ones with a true nationwide long distance, where you aren't limited to zones.
They all have good and bad points.
That and try them out. Most cell phone carriers have a trial period that you can drop them within that time without charge. Been there done it, twice.
In my area Cellular One has by far the best plans.... and the worst service.
I also tried Sprint a few years ago. My buddy, up from Pgh, had Sprint and it worked great. I got it locally and it stunk. I even tried different phones... weird. His was clear as a bell.
Verizon is pretty popular, but they didn't have as good a plan as Nextel, who I had had before, so that's who I use now, Nextel. I like the extra loud ringers their phones have, I've never lost a call, and last I knew they were the only ones with a true nationwide long distance, where you aren't limited to zones.
They all have good and bad points.
Farmwithjunk
Super Member
I live in an area where our home phones are serviced by Alltel. Our basic local calling with standard long distance calling added is over $100 per month. I get DSL service from them also, for ONLY $9.95 a month. That's a bargain. The phone service is a giant rip-off. We are only 1/4 mile inside their area. People a few minutes away pay about $40 a month for the same phone service. For that reason, Alltel is off my list for cell phones. They get enough of my money already.
Sprint service in our area is great. (We live on a hill, the highest point in 4 counties. Cell tower just 1/2 mile away. We have "line of sight" connection. Sprint has a network of towers in this area second to none. I have a package with them that's cheap for the service provided. My employer picks up 2/3rds of that. (and 90% of the calls are personal)
My wife's employer provides her with a Nextel phone. Shes happy with that service.
Sprint service in our area is great. (We live on a hill, the highest point in 4 counties. Cell tower just 1/2 mile away. We have "line of sight" connection. Sprint has a network of towers in this area second to none. I have a package with them that's cheap for the service provided. My employer picks up 2/3rds of that. (and 90% of the calls are personal)
My wife's employer provides her with a Nextel phone. Shes happy with that service.
ronjhall
Super Star Member
<font color="blue"> Our basic local calling with standard long distance calling added is over $100 per month. </font> /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I would look into one of the VOIP services for $25 - 30 a month. and reduce the local service down to the very lowest I could get. My Son uses pocketinet.com. I use AT&T Callvantage. But Since SBC has taken them over. It may not be as good anymore. There is also Vonage that I have heard a lot of good things about.
I would look into one of the VOIP services for $25 - 30 a month. and reduce the local service down to the very lowest I could get. My Son uses pocketinet.com. I use AT&T Callvantage. But Since SBC has taken them over. It may not be as good anymore. There is also Vonage that I have heard a lot of good things about.
KentT
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We recently went to Charter Cable's voice over IP (VoIP) and are quite pleased with it.
It added $30 a month to our cost of digital cable/internet. We were paying basically the same amount before for just local phone service... So, for slightly under $100 a month we get the basic digital TV cable (no premium channels but hundreds of others), 3Mb Internet access, and unlimited local and long distance to the US and Canada at any time of the day or night...
If digital cable is available in your area, I strongly recommend you consider VoIP -- it's clear with NO static, the volume is considerably louder, and so far it's been very reliable....
It added $30 a month to our cost of digital cable/internet. We were paying basically the same amount before for just local phone service... So, for slightly under $100 a month we get the basic digital TV cable (no premium channels but hundreds of others), 3Mb Internet access, and unlimited local and long distance to the US and Canada at any time of the day or night...
If digital cable is available in your area, I strongly recommend you consider VoIP -- it's clear with NO static, the volume is considerably louder, and so far it's been very reliable....
1962
Silver Member
as freds posted, most cell carriers will give you a couple weeks grace period. that way if a certain cell phone has bad reception, or if you dont like it for whatever reasons, you can exchange it for another.
my buddy lives at the bottom of a big hill. and the verizon signal strength at his house is low because of that. thats for both his cell and mine when i am at his house. i used my cell quite often at his home and never dropped a call. he on the other hand drops calls very often. which gets old quick. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
the only difference i can figure is that his cell is a $39.99 promo that he purchased when be opened his verizon contract agreement. his phone works great away from home, but i think it has alot to do with terrain, and cell phone quality. ya get what ya pay for.... i have also considered getting a new RAZR cell phone which i have read good things about on consumer reports. but these phones are GPS and i dont really care for the "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING" scene. my old phone is digital CDMA. so what that means is if i would purchase a new(razr) cell from verizon and a new contract. then they would always know where you are, even though they(verizon) states its only for 911 emergency personal to locate your position.. it would be better for the consumer if the phone was like a handheld GPS for your own location, not telling others where you are..
my buddy lives at the bottom of a big hill. and the verizon signal strength at his house is low because of that. thats for both his cell and mine when i am at his house. i used my cell quite often at his home and never dropped a call. he on the other hand drops calls very often. which gets old quick. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
the only difference i can figure is that his cell is a $39.99 promo that he purchased when be opened his verizon contract agreement. his phone works great away from home, but i think it has alot to do with terrain, and cell phone quality. ya get what ya pay for.... i have also considered getting a new RAZR cell phone which i have read good things about on consumer reports. but these phones are GPS and i dont really care for the "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING" scene. my old phone is digital CDMA. so what that means is if i would purchase a new(razr) cell from verizon and a new contract. then they would always know where you are, even though they(verizon) states its only for 911 emergency personal to locate your position.. it would be better for the consumer if the phone was like a handheld GPS for your own location, not telling others where you are..
