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deward1
USA
11 Posts |
 Posted - 11/26/2003 : 07:53:40
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I went with Nextel right after Dave did. I am on $59.00 for 1000 minutes, but incoming are not free. Working Richmond I went over $500.00 worth the first month. Also the reception is terrible in the boondocks towards the water. I am looking for another carrier. I also get poor reception around the hill country in Texas. I am sure Kansas would be poor with Nextel. Let's keep one another posted on this subject.
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Davey
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2003 : 10:19:37
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My wife works for Alltel and as a result, I'm privy to most of the changes before they happen. If I get deployed on a storm, I up the plan minutes and when I'm home, I reduce them. As I'm currently home, I'm on their National Freedom plan, with 600 minutes, 250 mobile to mobile free, and unlimited nights and weekends, for $45 amonth. For an additional $4.95, I get 300 more anytime minutes. When I was in NC, I had 1800 minutes, with the extras and my bill wasn't more than $125 per month.
If anyone out there is with Alltel and needs some help figuring things out, let me know. |
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Amber
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2003 : 10:34:27
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Kile - Yes, you have definitely raised some valid points. Although I now have a better understanding of why it's done, I still don't prefer the mid-term renewal practise.
Deward - I was working a very rural area of NC. To my surprise, I had good reception the whole trip. (Using Verizon's America's Choice plan.) The exception being in my hotel room reception was very spotty. However, that has more to do with hotel's construction. |
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deleted
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2003 : 14:56:15
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| Kile, doesnt PCS have to be in large metro areas and along interstate to work correctly? |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2003 : 22:29:30
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Ciri, I am currently working in western Kentucky (pretty rural) and I haven't had many problems with reception. The only exception to that being in my hotel room. The damn phone only works if I'm standing at the window which makes me certain that it is a function of the buildings construction and not necesarrily the coverage.
I have been told by a ham radio operator that the problem with PCS (cdma)is they use a different frequency than normal cell phones. Sprint isn't the only one who uses the cdma technology. I don't know what other companies do but from what I hear it's almost half of the market.
The problem with PCS is it has a shorter range than regular cellular frequencies and therefore requires more towers but someone told me it has better penetration through building which as my previous example of me in my hotel room seems to prove that theory wrong.
That's about all I know about the technology. If anything I said was wrong, please correct me. |
Edited by - KileAnderson on 11/26/2003 22:31:50 |
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trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 05:56:02
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| My plan is Singular and its a second phone. My Realtor wife thinks she must keep the same number for the past 12 years and I tag alone. She was able to get a reduction of about $400. on the $1142. Still sounds outrages to me, but she writes the checks. Sound familar. What I need is a real good telephone rate reduction attorney, who will work on a contingency fee. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 14:51:03
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Wilson makes repeater for Nextel phones, Perhaps it would work in building. I am in the process of hooking up an amp in the truck and will keep you informed as to performance.
Davey, I just changed to Alltel. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 14:56:50
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My opinion is that we should all get with one carrier, I recommend Alltel, then once we have 3000 or so subscribers we go to Alltel and explain what we need.
Also, Wilson makes a cellphone repeater that might alleviate the "in the building problem." I am installing an amp in the truck now, I will let yawl know how that works.
Davey, I just changed to Alltel. |
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danmeler
25 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 16:59:26
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Kile,
I've stayed with ATT because I've consistantly had pretty decent reception NEARLY everywhere. Really my worst beef is the money they steal as per my previous post. I'm glad to hear the industry is about to become a lot more competitive though. If it wasn't for the travel our jobs require, choosing a cel carrier would be worlds easier. Have a Happy TGiving !! |
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goose
57 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2003 : 00:20:19
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Here is a link to the basics of how cell phones work.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone11.htm
Chuck, What program did you get with Alltell? Do you think the coverage is better than Nextel or Vorizon? I have AT&T for work and NEXTEL for communicating with family and friends. The "walkie-talkie" feature with Nextel is free with people in your circle. I also found the coverage is much better with Nextel than AT&T. I am quitting AT&T next week, but I haven't decided who to put my AT&T number with. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2003 : 19:20:40
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Goose, at least look at the Alltel plan. It has some advantages that AT&T doesn't have. Also the system is different and AT&T is changing. The main thing I wanted is the night and weekend minutes outside my home area.
Changing is a pain, I had to go back tonight to get my voice mail set up and my wife's phone never started up, turns out that her name got spelled wrong and computer would not report the number. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2003 : 16:12:24
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| Now the wife's phone is on the fritz, the display is dead. However, I found the necessary adapters for hooking the amp to the Nokia phone. Will update when the amp is up and working. |
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Cell Phones - The switch
Forum Locked
