Mobile phone coverage in rural areas?

[Kurt]

With the new iphone on the horizon, I'm thinking of switching back to an IOS device and maybe changing carriers from t-mobile. I'm happy with T-mobile, I get a very cheap unlimited plan with no contract since I own my Android handset outright, but the coverage outside of major metropolition areas leaves a bit to be desired. [Half my calls in Bishop were dropped or no network]. AT&T shares part of that network, so I'm wondering if anyone with Sprint or Verizon could let me know how those networks perform in remote areas. I noticed on gold mountain a few weeks back I had no signal on my phone but my Verizon 3G Ipad had 4 bars.

 

[f5moab]

So far, in the western states, it appears Verizon is king and that is with 3G service.

I'll add, that as much as Verizon pees me off at times, overall the experience has been good and I don't believe you can beat the coverage nationwide. (Plus I get a 22 percent discount on all service and 25 percent discount on all accessories.)

 

[3Hummers]

I had AT&T. Dropped them when I kept dropping calls in town. Have had very few issues with Verizon.

 

[Zach]

After Bishop, I dropped tmobile. I pretty much had no service the whole weekend. I would have already ditched them but was waiting for my daughters phone to go out of contract. I have since switched to verizon. On the Gold Mountain run I had coverage most of day, same with Cleghorn. Had done these runs before and no coverage with tmobile. Have only been with Verizon for just over a month and completely happy with them. Basically tmobile can't compare in my opinion.

 

[alrock]

Agreed that Verizon tends to be best out west. Sprint is likely the weakest in rural areas, in my opinion. Jerry S. travels with Sprint and often does not have coverage when I've got good coverage. Of course there are the odd times Sprint beats Verizon, but it is rare.

T-mobile has the hottest women in their commercials. That should count for something.

 

[M22KLARS]

Verizon's CS sucks donkeys as far as im concerned. But I love their damn service. I have full bars pretty much everywhere I go. (I live way the F out in the country and work in the cities) I did leave Verizon about 9 months ago and switched to virgin mobile... :shame: And then switched back 2 months ago.

 

[Scarsman]

I agree, Sprint/Nextel is pretty much only in cities. You out and away and they don't exist. I am going to swith soon from them to Verizon for just that reason.

 

[Kurt]

Hmm sounds like I may want to switch to verizon from t-mobile then.

I'll see if they offer a discount plan if you own the handset already. T-mobile knocks 20$/mo off their plans and doesn't require a contract if you buy your phone outright, I'll see if Verizon has something similar with the iphone 4S.

That Iphone has CDMA and GSM support so in theory if you buy an unlocked phone you can keep the same handset and jump to any carrier in the US.

 

[Kurt]

Ugh.

Scratch that, apparently the US CDMA carriers don't want people jumping from carrier to carrier so the "unlocked" iphone 4s is good for at&t only (or international carriers).

Boo. I hate phone contracts.