Cell Phones..?

[TxDieselKid]

I have Cingular with TDMA service and I love the service that I get. I ALWAYS have SOME service but the plan I have now does not have near enough minutes. If I upgrade my plan for more minutes then I would have to go with GSM, no optinion, and the service sucks with GSM here where I live. My contract is up so it's time for a choice.



So now I'm thinking of going to Nextel because I like the walkie-talkie features, and I love the phones(i730, and i830), but the service sucks maybe just as bad. I'm not to sure though because I don't know ANYONE who has it here where I live.



This is why I'm posting, how is the service for some of you all that have traveled through the parts with little service? How is the service for the rest of you all with Nextel?



I really LOVE the FREE INCOMING CALLS, which is why I REALLY want Nextel.



Here is the local Nextel coverage map... .

#ad




And here is the same map with where I live (the red dot in the center) and the 2 highways I drive a LOT.



#ad




What would yall do?

 

[Jeff Clark]

I have GSM and I hate it. I get crappy service around my area. I can't even use my phone from inside my house.



Off topic: what do you do up in Greenville? That's not far from me.

 

[mikel]

Cingular pulled the same BS on my wife and I just recently. We had to replace one of the phones with a GSM POS, but we could keep the other on we already had. My wife had the oldest phone so she got the new one and I kept my old one. It really annoys her that I can be sitting right beside her and get a signal in places that she can't.



Anyway, back to the subject, you may try the Nextel and see how it works, most phone plans allow 10-20 days of trial and you can cancel for any reason during that period with no penalty.



Good luck,

Mike

 

[klenger]

Try Verizon. They have a 14 day return policy and one of the largest networks of any of the operators. I have always been please with the coverage and customer service.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by Jeff Clark

I have GSM and I hate it. I get crappy service around my area. I can't even use my phone from inside my house.



Off topic: what do you do up in Greenville? That's not far from me.

My girl lives there.



Nextel has a 15 day return policy, but if I take it then I would have to cancel my Cingluar account and lose the plan that I have now. If the Nextel doesn't work out then I would lose my TDMA if I try to go back to Cingluar, and HAVE to get GSM.







Thanks for the help so far guys.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Coverage is my #1 consideration on my cell phone because it's my business line and I simply have to get all my calls (someone has to be around to fix this place when it goes down ). Nextel up here in Michigan has good coverage as long as you are in the lower part of the lower peninsula or are on major highways. Off of the highway 30 minutes north of me you can just about forget getting coverage. I had a client of mine that switch to Nextel because of the 2 way feature (they researched it and found that 90% of their calls were inside the company) and saved a fortune. But they had a TON of problems with coverage. In the end the supervisory people all switched to a different carrier and live without the 2 way feature - the underlings still have Nextel.



For myself I have a tri-mode phone (analog, digital, PCS) so that I will always have coverage. I have literally NEVER been anywhere that I couldn't get a signal. My phone is with Alltel - they aren't the cheapest around but they do have great coverage and have reciprocal agreements with pretty much everyone out there. You really need to look at exactly what your usage is and how important coverage area is in order to find what plan is the best out there for you. I travel a lot so roaming is a big consideration, as said before coverage is #1. I have a 2000 daytime minute/3000 night and weekend, nationwide free roaming, nationwide free long distance (I've never paid roaming or long distance charges), and two phones (mine and my wifes) with conference calling, call waiting, voice mail, etc (everything except internet access) and I pay $250/month.

 

[XcumminsX]

Nextel sucks but i wouldnt use any other service. .

 

[midlife crisis]

Ditto what Klenger said. BTW- Verizon users- just yesterday I spoke to Customer Service. They had me "Reflash" my phone! I dialed *228-send and waited for the programming to complete. They claim it is to get access from newer cell towers(?). I am also told my charge will last longer. It seemed to last longer today-(didnt mean to hijack)-luck to all--

 

[bmoeller]

The Nextel two-way is great. Cell service sucks. A LOT of dead areas. I have used Sprint, USSC, Verizon and Nextel. Verizon has the best coverage.



One stupid thing with the Nextel, there are plenty of places where the 2-way will work, but can't take/make a call, even with one bar on the meter. But then again, there are places where the Nextel will work, but not Verizon. Go figure.



Been thinking on trying a Wilson Trucker phone antenna.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by bmoeller

Been thinking on trying a Wilson Trucker phone antenna.

Me likes the way you think!!



I understand that service is a MAJOR selling point but why don't they just all make us happy by offering different service plans, while still having their own kirks on the same towers?

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by TxDieselKid

... . but why don't they just all make us happy by offering different service plans, while still having their own kirks on the same towers?

Good question. Then they could rent each others towers, instead of charging up more to put up new ones.



Mine is a work phone. Right now I'm finishing up the Nextel contract. Boss switched to US Celular again. Was to expensive to keep the Nextel. I miss having the 2-way.



The cell companies offer all these "great" plans at sign-up to get ya, but don't encourge you to stay.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Have you looked into Boost Mobile?



Seriously - it's pretty neat.



Basically, it's pre-paid Nextel. $0. 20/minute for nationwide cellular with free long distance (yeah, that's a bit steep... I know... ) and $1. 50/day for unlimited nationwide direct connect.



I bought one just for the direct connect. If I don't use the phone... I don't get charged. No monthly fees, no monthy bills, no roaming - as if anyone else even uses iDEN .



I bought the cheap i205 Motorola - it gets great service in Madison and Washington, D. C. - haven't tried it anywhere else yet. It even works in the basement of some buildings where my T-Mobile GSM phone won't work at all...



I figure that if I like the Boost Mobile (Nextel) coverage that this pre-paid thing offers... I can always upgrade from GSM to a regular Nextel iDEN plan. In the meantime - I'm having a blast with the direct connect.



Until all the carriers get togehter and allow cross-carrier direct connect... I'm hesitant to invest in a 1 or 2-year agreement. I'll keep going month-to-month on my GSM plan now that it has expired... . and keep looking for the next best deal... .



Matt

 

[Chipstien]

I was a Verizon customer for 13 years and then I decided to try something new. Switched to Nextel, thought the Walkie taltie would be cool. Bottom line... . my 1 year contract is up in August and I will be drop kicking the Nextel to Guam.



First and formost, the customer service sucks, big time. I had charges for phone that I didn't have and it was the 5th month into the contract until the statement was corrected.



Second, my monthing cell bils went up 35% from what they were at Verizon. Nextel is the most expensive carrier out there.



Third, the walkie talkie is a joke, PERIOD. Half the time it doesn't work and when it does everyone near gets to listen to your conversation. Granted for businesses it is great but for the average Joe it is a waste. With Verizon you can call any other Verizon wireless user and talk for half-price. So if you talk for 5 minutes you only get charged for 2. 5.



Fourth, coverage is pathetic. I rarely traveled outside the coverage area with Verizon including while hunting in the woods. But with Nextel I am always traveling through no coverage areas.



Fifth, the selection of phones suck a fat one compared to what is available with Verizon.





And finally, Verizon now offers "push to talk" also so you do not have to have crappy coverage just to get the walkie talkie feature.



Can you tell I am un-happy with Nextel?

 

[TxDieselKid]

I don't really wantto do the Boost thing. I have looked into that, but want a real deal cell phone.



Also I LOVE the motorola phones that Nextel offers. I love the size, and the options that you can get on them. I have had a v60 for 2 years now with only one problem which is not even really a problem. I will have a /\/\otorola flip no matter who I go with, if it's Nextel then most likely the i730 or i830.

 

[bighammer]

I have an old promo plan with Alltel that's $9. 95/mo with 100 minutes. I have a 2nd line that shares the minutes for another $9. 95 for my wife. Both our phones are so old and big, and if they aren't charged every day, forget it. I wanted to get new phones but they want to either charge me the full price or sign me up for a more $$$ plan with a 2 year contract. (and even then they want some $$$ for some of the phones.



I bought a Nokia 1260 on eBay for about 10 bucks but it's only good on AT&T. (not available up here) :{ I didn't realize some phones are only good for certain providers. DOH!

 

[Forrest]

I've got the ATT service with the Analog / Digital Nokia 8265. Works great, excellent coverage. Wifie has the GSM ... very sparse coverage.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Here's the coverage area of my Alltel plan. I had a t-mobile guy try to sell me one of their phones and I told him that coverage was my main concern - he said no problem. When he showed me their coverage map I laughed at him. I couldn't imagine not having analog as an option on my phone.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

Here's the coverage area of my Alltel plan. I had a t-mobile guy try to sell me one of their phones and I told him that coverage was my main concern - he said no problem. When he showed me their coverage map I laughed at him. I couldn't imagine not having analog as an option on my phone.

Steve, compare that one which is basicly the SAME as mine to this one from the Nextel site...



#ad




Now you might be wondering WHY would I want to switch to that kind of coverage? Well I currently have 350 "anytime" minutes and 3,500 night(9pm to 6am) and weekend minutes with NO charge for nation-wide calling. I have litterly doubled my allowed "anytime" minutes, causeing HUGE phone bills. More then my truck payments were. Nextel has a "NATION-WIDE UNLIMITED EVERYTHING" plan which would mean I would NEVER go past my minutes. On top of that I get a 10% break on my monthly bill because I work for a state run university.



The only down side to switching is the coverage. Do I really want to sacrifice? $100 to $400+ per month or No service?



Andrew

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Take a look at Alltel's plans Andrew - http://www.alltel.com/estore/wireless/plans/ . They have a national freedom plan that looks like it would cover all the areas you are in on the basic plan that costs has unlimited night and weekend minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile (with other alltel phones), and no roaming or long distance charges (within the national freedom network - all the dark blue areas in this map). The pricing is based on the number of anytime minutes - $35/300 $45/600 $55/750 $75/1100 $100/2000. I'm on the total freedom plan where there are no roaming or long distance charges anywhere anytime and on that plan you can get 600 anytime minutes for $69. 95 or 900 for $99. 95. Alltel used to be Century Tel and I've been with them for 12 years and haven't had any desire to switch companies at any time.

 

[fest3er]

And don't stay too attached to TDMA. All of the domestic TDMA carriers are converting over to GSM. US TDMA (IS-136) is being retired. Well, the major ones, at least. USCellular switched to CDMA. Once Cingular and AT&T get their networks converted to GSM, there'll be very widespread GSM service available.

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone makes a dual-mode, dual-band GSM phone (one that covers analog [AMPS] and GSM on both 800MHZ and 1900 MHz).

N