Cell phones and coverage.

[DTro]

Sorry, not really fishing related, but I feel the opinons and advice here is unmatched.

I have had verizon for the past 10 or so years and plan on staying with them. I have upgraded phones at least every two years. I started off with a Nokia back in the days (the big block phone). Since then I've only owned LG phones. I currently have the 6100. I don't have a landline so reception is my biggest need. I am coming up on my next upgrade and would like to hear thoughts on other phones out there. I am pretty much sold on the Motorola E815, but thought I'd "fish" for some opinions. I also spend a lot of time up on Vermilion and in the past had spotty service at best.

I am in Jordan and with the current setup I can expect to drop calls quite frequently. I am not sure if it's the phone or the service.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I don't know if Verizon has them, but I have heard that Sanyo phones some of the best reception. I have an 8100 and it usually pulls a signal when others can't. I'm with Sprint, though.

[Eckie]

Dtro..

I too have been a loyal customer of Verizon for 3 years now and also have an LG(4100). I recently stopped by the Verizon outlet in Minnetonka(inside Circuit City) and talked at length with the rep there about upgrading. My questions mirrored yours and his recommendation for the LG phones having the best reception were the 6100 and the 8100. I don't know about you, but I'm alway a little sketchy about switching brands of phones for fear of ending up with worse service than I had with LG. I'll be interested too see other people's opinions.

[DTro]

Well, I can tell you that the the coverage of the 6100 is.....so-so. I think I had better luck with the 6000.

[marine_man]

When I first started with Verizion about 4 years ago I had a LG TM510 phone.. I had great reception, and was happy with the phone. About 2 years later the hinged portion of the phone broke, I decided to go for a motorola (don't remember the model) what a mistake that was... the reception was noticeablly poorer than the LG, and switching back to a LG 6100 about a year ago was the best thing... I live in a small town in ND that doesn't have a lot for verizion coverage.. with the Motorola I couldn't place a call without having it dropped... now I have a lot better luck with the LG.

marine_man

[SCUMFROG]

I have a Motorola phone from verizon. I've also been with them for 10+ years. I would never switch to any thing else. When I go to my cabin I need that phone to work, and mine is the only one that does. My wife has an LG and hates it, but we keep it cause it works for what she needs. My sister has the other cell phone people and her phones don't work, and when they do it poor. Check the Motorola line of phones and I think you'll find them to your liking.

[Opie]

Dtro,

I recently dropped my AT&T plan when they merged and joined my wife's Verizon plan. We also have the LG6100. As far as Vermillion goes, I had little problem with my old Nokia (AT&T) getting signal on the west end, but now I lose signal just west of Virginia/Eveleth. I love the phone, just not sure if it this model, Verizon's coverage, or what?

Dean Thorn

[Jeremy airjer W]

Most of the problem is anything N. of virginia is still analog cellular. This is fine if you have an older hybrid phone (analog and digtital) or a "cellphone" and a "cellphone" service provider. We have been with T-mobile for quite a while. This is a digital only company (pcs phone) after we get passed lookout mountain, just north of virginia we lose service because there isn't any digital service north of there.

So, If you need reception in northern Minnnesota I would suggest finding a hybrid phone.

[Eckie]

Sadly, but also unrealistically, the only true way to find the best choice would be trial and error. It's too bad we couldn't try out a few phones for a couple of weeks and make a decision based on those findings.

[SCUMFROG]

TRI-MOD phones are getting harder to to find. verizon has told me they will always have those phones until the whole world is digital. And loosing your service (dead spots.) is most likly the phone. you can reprogram your phone by dialing *228. I redo mine every month and I don't have any problems loosing service any were I go.

[DTro]

actually the 6100 IS a tri-mode phone. The 6000 I had previously was digital only. I got about the same results with both. Here's the problem though. When I go up there now, it reverts to analog automatically, because of the stronger signal, which is fine, except that I lose all my digital features (missed call notification,text messaging, pic messaging, etc.).

Verizon's policy is that you have 14 days (I think) to try out the phone. Seeing that, I just got off the phone with them and a new 815 is on the way. I'll give it a try. The 815 is digtal only also, so I guess I'll have to take a trip up to give it a try there.

[ChuckN]

I've had Verizon for several years, and between the wife and I, we've had 3 different Audiovox phones (9000, 9100 and 8600). All have been excellent phones with good reception all over the state. All are older models, but if they fall overboard I don't feel a pinch to the wallet. Simply go to hsolist and buy another for $20.

[Eckie]

Good luck with the Motorola...would you mind shooting me an email with your findings/opinion? I'll be upgrading next month and am curious to see how it works out for you.

my home email is [email protected]

Thanks...

[DTro]

also I was just looking at the Verizon service map and it shows digtal coverage up to IFalls. There is a small "non- coverage" area north of the Laurentian. I usually don't get a decent signal until I get around Angora.

I guess my biggest concern is VERY GOOD coverage at home.

[Eckie]

I've actually had pretty good luck in I Falls and even over the border. It fails me when I'm driving back through the desolate country between the Falls and Blackduck. Service also works well on URL and LOW when guys I've been with who have other providers would not have any luck.