wireless service

[socoguy]

HI i AM SURE IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED B-4, WHAT IS THE BEST WIRELESS FOR THE RVTRAVELER? THEY ALL CLAIM TO BE THE BEST. Moving UP TO A 4G smart phone. Thanks

[joescuba]

had att (would get discount as retiree),but now have verizon

[1olcatonr]

we use version, seems to be better coverage as we travel.

[runriver]

We use verizon. We travel all over the country, and are in the trailer throughout the year. Not "full-timers" but we are generally out 3 weeks a month year around. We work from our trailer as consultants and do depend upon our cell phones as our office phones and have cellular internet. We have good serve most places. Michigan seems to be a challenge. We run 2 4G smartphones and a cell modem router.

We have just ordered, but not installed yet, a cellular booster system. It has an exterior antenna, amplifier, and indoor antenna. Hopefully we will get that going this week, and let you know.

Pam

[Stan]

Verizon here as well. Has the best coverage in the US but may not be the cheapest.

[Dayle1]

Verizon also

[gossamar]

Big Red here as well(verizon). I have the 4g Mi-Fi where I can run up to 5 devices on a secured connection and as others have said coverage is very good in all sorts of places....

[Hunter11]

I guess I am the odd man out, we use Sprint.

[socoguy]

Hello All. Thanks for the input. Verizon isrecommended on other forums as well. Looks like the obvious choice. Hunter what are your two cents on the Sprint network, odd man out doe not mean you arenecessarilywrong. Thanks again

[NH Horseman]

In the wireless communications business for over 40 years has convinced me to comment on this post. There are ONLY two true Cell Phone companies; Verizon and US Cellular. All others are PCS phones. What's the difference? Cell Phones operate in the 800 to 900 mHz band while PCS phones operate in 1200 to 1400 mhz bands. When you double the frequency (mhz) you get 1/4 the range. So, PCS phones have 1/2 to 1/4 the range of Cell Phones and are generally referred to, in our industry, as "Highway Phones" since that is their first attempt at coverage where most cars are. So, if you have a choice, stick with a Cell Phone and stay away from PCS phones. The phone companies won't tell you this and most of us think a cell phone is a cell phone. Also, pine needles absorb PCS phone radio waves a lot more than Cell Phone frequencies so, watch where you travel; forested areas are murder on PCS phones.
Jim

[socoguy]

Wow! Thanks Jim. Great info and hascertainly helped to target the best service. I have no knowledge of USCellular but will investigate. Thanks I am sure this will spark some interest here.

[Hunter11]

Al, I have a HTC EVO 3D and my wife an iPhone both with Sprint. I use my phone with Easy Tether for internet access with our laptop and although we have not been all over the US like a lot of the others we have never had an issue getting service where ever we are. I use my phone in a lot of RV parks because it is usually faster then the free WIFI. Just my two cents worth.

[socoguy]

Thanks Keith. I willcheckSprint out. Jim's post is very interesting, tech info I never knew.

[Lloyd]

We don't fall in with the majority of cell phone users, so maybe my post is not worthwhile to this particular question, but I would like to add my thoughts.
We have what is called, a pay as you go plan. Use to be with Alltel but they taken over by Verizon. So we were "grandfathered" in. We don't use a cell very much so pay as go has worked good for us. It only cost $5.00 every two mos. to keep things updated and the min. rollover. We get 30 new min. every time we reup. Believe it or not, the min. keep multiplying. Main purpose for having the phone is being able to communicate or call for help when out and about.
We spend a lot of time in the camper in a NF. Needless to say we had trouble getting a signal. Cell is worthless. To remedy that problem we bought a "phone booster" I believe it's a Wilson.That solved the problem for us. I don't think we have come across any area where our phone doesn't work now. Plus my wife feels a lot more comfortable knowing we can call if there is ever a need.

[artgpo]

I have a Verizon Droid 4G LTE phone with Mobile Hotspot. I can tether 10 devices to my phone. This has worked very well for us. Previously used a Virgin Wireless mobile aircard. There is no better cell phone company than Verizon Wireless. I have traveled from one end of the country to the other with no loss of service or dead spots. Yes, there are still areas of the USA without cell coverage so no one gets service there. Had AT&T and Sprint in the past but have been a very satisfied Verizon customer for over ten years.

[socoguy]

Thanks Lloyd andArthur. As always this forum gets me the info I am looking for. Saves a lot of leg or should I say fingerwork.

[tator447]

Lloyd,
We presently have (for many years) US Cellular but will be dropping them. We were thinking of Spring (unlimited data plan) but what I'm more interested in is what the "booster" is that you bought. I'd be interested in getting one. My wife works for a cable TV company and she gets free service for 5 years when she retires. They will be giving us a device that will allow us to connect our phone to the Internet and download cable TV if we desire too. To this point I have been happy with the standard HD channels as we mainly watch CBS exclusively.

Thanks,
Jim

[avvidclif]

Originally Posted by NH Horseman

In the wireless communications business for over 40 years has convinced me to comment on this post. Â*There are ONLY two true Cell Phone companies; Verizon and US Cellular. Â*All others are PCS phones. Â*What's the difference? Â*Cell Phones operate in the 800 to 900 mHz band while PCS phones operate in 1200 to 1400 mhz bands. Â*When you double the frequency (mhz) you get 1/4 the range. Â*So, PCS phones have 1/2 to 1/4 the range of Cell Phones and are generally referred to, in our industry, as "Highway Phones" since that is their first attempt at coverage where most cars are. Â*So, if you have a choice, stick with a Cell Phone and stay away from PCS phones. Â*The phone companies won't tell you this and most of us think a cell phone is a cell phone. Â*Also, pine needles absorb PCS phone radio waves a lot more than Cell Phone frequencies so, watch where you travel; forested areas are murder on PCS phones.
Jim

Edited by: avvidclif

[NH Horseman]

With due respect, That's the biggest pile of C%^&amp; I have ever seen posted.</span>




</span>
In my opinion, that wasn't "with due respect". I gave what I knew from years of experience. What I didn't say was that I have been retired for 6 years from the business and things might have changed a bit but, here is a chart of frequencies for different uses. Note the PCS band. Nextel was in the 900 band and ATT bought them out so they are using that band but the "real" cell phones and the originals were 800 phones. Before you demean people's attempt to help, you need to check all your facts.</span>
I take offense at your comment; you could have said it with more "respect".</span>
</span>

System </span> Band </span>Uplink (MHz) </span>Downlink (MHz) </span>Channel number
T-GSM-810 </span>810 </span>806.2–821.2 </span>851.2–866.2 </span>dynamic
GSM-850 </span>850 </span>824.2–849.2 </span>869.2–894.2 </span>128–251
P-GSM-900 </span>900 </span>890.0–915.0 </span>935.0–960.0 </span>1–124
E-GSM-900 </span>900 </span>880.0–915.0 </span>925.0–960.0 </span>975–1023, 0-124
R-GSM-900 </span>900 </span>876.0–915.0 </span>921.0–960.0 </span>955–1023, 0-124
T-GSM-900 </span>900 </span>870.4–876.0 </span>915.4–921.0 </span>dynamic
DCS-1800 </span>1800 </span>1,710.2–1,784.8 </span>1,805.2–1,879.8 </span>512–885
PCS-1900 </span>1900 </span>1,850.2–1,909.8 </span>1,930.2–1,989.8 </span>512–810</span>
</span>
</span>

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by tator447

Lloyd,
We presently have (for many years) US Cellular but will be dropping them. We were thinking of Spring (unlimited data plan) but what I'm more interested in is what the "booster" is that you bought. I'd be interested in getting one. My wife works for a cable TV company and she gets free service for 5 years when she retires. They will be giving us a device that will allow us to connect our phone to the Internet and download cable TV if we desire too. To this point I have been happy with the standard HD channels as we mainly watch CBS exclusively.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim, this is what I was referring to. Here's a link for you to read on.


http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ProductDetails.aspx?Product=8&amp;title=SIGNALBOOS T+Cell+Phone+Booster+%28811210%2f811710%2f811910%2 9&amp;Category=8