cell phone plans: best/worst at launches - CONCLUSION

30knotwind · Since 20 Apr 2012 36 Posts White Salmon, WA

I am switching service because I have trouble getting ATT data at remote launches, e.g. 3Mile and Pistol--no signal whatsoever at Pistol.

Please reply with any known service failures, i.e. data, voice or no signal, at any sites you know of, coast or gorge.

I am particularly interested in T-moble because of the Simple Mobile plans.
http://www.mysimplemobile.com/

Friends with Verizon seem to get signals when I can't. Any gaps in the Verizon service?

Thanks!
Chris

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

Go ipone!!

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

I seem to get Verizon service just about everywhere I kite and ski.

30knotwind · Since 20 Apr 2012 36 Posts White Salmon, WA

Aeolus · Mon Jul 09, 12 7:06 am

I have verizon ....covers pistol nicely....
U.S. Cellular good too.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I'm mostly in The D, Da Gorge Corridor and then summer in PDx. and Southwest US. Sprint seems to be the best for the money, but it's only 3g, but I can usually find WiiFii when I need it.

Sella · Mon Jul 09, 12 10:44 am

My phone is the cheapy T-Mobile 3G plan and it seems to work anywhere....but slow.

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

Admittedly I am a cheap bastard so I have Pageplus Cellular. They piggyback Verizon's network and have very cheap plans, like $29.95 (all taxes and fees included) for all the voice, texting and data I need. Granted I have my phone massaged to beam Scotty up via wifi.

Remember, don't leave wind to find wind.

shred_da_gorge · Tue Jul 10, 12 12:50 pm **Re: Sprint works well for me...**

30knotwind · Since 20 Apr 2012 36 Posts White Salmon, WA

FWIW I went with a Verizon plan and the HTC Incredible phone because:
1. Discounters, e.g. Page Plus, will apparently suspend you if you overuse a tether/hotspot.
2. Verizon coverage seems to be the best, based on comments on forums.
3. Voice on the Incredible was the best, which is important when forwarding your work calls to a beach. Wink

WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHONE, TEST VOICE QUALITY

This became the deciding factor on the actual phone. I was 'upgrading' from a 4 year old Blackberry on which voice was ALWAYS as good as a landline.

I started with the LG Spectrum for the first two weeks: voice was unbelievably terrible--everyone I called commented on it and many times I could not be understood at all--the salesperson at the Verizon store confirmed the poor quality by testing my phone and the demo Spectrum. Other LGs were also bad.

Next, I tried the newest Blackberry Bold-like model: voice was not great.

I then tested voice on the not-yet-released, "hot new thing", Samsung Galaxy III(?): it was almost as bad as the Spectrum, but not quite.

I ended up with the HTC Incredible, which had voice quality as good as my four year old Blackberry, modern features and Hotspot capability.

Discount sellers, without official hotspot/tethering features
ATT network: http://www.airvoicewireless.com/
Verizon network: http://www.pagepluscellular.com/
T-Mobile network: http://www.mysimplemobile.com/

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

HTC phones suck comapred to the Galaxy S though. My HTC was such a piecer, was so glad when I finally was able to upgrade again and went with the Galaxy S II.