Is this an SFO Thing?
I continue to see posts like this about the Verizon network versus AT&T:
I've been using AT&T for over a year now, and switching back to Verizon was a breath of fresh air. The web browsing is markedly faster on the Verizon 3G network. Calls stayed up on the three times I made a longer call while driving. In short, it just worked. iPhone fanboys, you have to admit that's a weakness.
I realize that Verizon has the better network, but seriously, in day to day usage, I've not seen any difference at all. Not here (Baltimore/Washington corridor), not in NYC, Boston, Cincinnati, or Minneapolis. Admittedly, I haven't driven out into the sticks with my iPhone, but I never did that when I was on Verizon, either. I think that well over 50 percent of the perceived problem that AT&T has stems from whatever it is they are doing wrong in the greater bay area out in California - because I'm sure not seeing any problems myself.
Also, at this point in time, at least for me, there's just no reason for me to return to Verizon. Why? I don't travel overseas extensively, but I do go to Europe a few times a year - and it's really nice to not have a useless brick while I'm there. The Droid would be a brick, which isn't really what I'm looking for in a phone...
Hat tip Rob Fahrni.
Comments
rough in some areas that aren't the sticks
[Troy Brumley] November 8, 2009 14:21:56.682
Out in Colorado for a week in early October, I had to live on the Edge, and it was a definite downgrade, but in my travels I haven't seen anything that makes me want to give up my iPhone and switch to Verizon.
Twitter & sms
[John M McIntosh] November 8, 2009 18:45:15.058
Last summer we travel extensively in Europe WITHOUT out a GSM phone. At 23:00 in Bucharest after missing a train we regretted that decision, fortunately a local hotel was handy, but we had haul off to Vienna the next morning to fix things since it was impossible to do in Bucharest without a phone.
Yes it is that Bad in California
[Erik] November 9, 2009 9:48:28.494
I have had Verizon for years then switched to an Iphone when the 3G came out. I do not live in the sticks. I live in Orange County, CA and work in Irvine. I et 5 dropped calls a day I lose 3G often. I have used my iPhone in SFO and it was pretty bad.
The frequencies set aside for GSM do not punch through building materials as well as the Verizon bands. This is not ATTs fault but affects the reception in buildings.
Years ago when I first had Verizon the phone did not work at my house but worked everywhere else. They did fix it within a few months. I visit Madison, WI and ATT works very well there.
My reception is getting worse every month. That is what is disheartening. I have called ATT and they are aware of the issues and promise to put up new towers to improve things. The tower that should help my drive to work has been delayed for a year.
I drop calls five time on the way to work down the third busiest freeway in the country.
If you want me to call you sometime during my drive i can.
AT&T Service Dallas/Fort Worth
[Karl] November 9, 2009 9:49:39.938
Another data point for you. AT&T service in DFW has been degrading quickly over the past 6-8 weeks. Many more dropped calls, garbled voice while connected and significant slowdown on the data side as well.
I have a data only plan with Verizon also and have noticed no change in service over the same period using their 3g network to connect using various laptops.
I really like the iPhone but I've come close to throwing threw the local AT&T store's window in frustration a few times.
Personal Experience Tells Me It Is Over Much Of The Country
[W^L+] November 10, 2009 1:57:21.683
Let's start with Pasadena, California. Ten steps outside the AT&T store, no service. Los Angeles, spotty service with lots of dropped calls. Reno Nevada the same. Albany and Binghamton, New York, the same (and most of the way from Binghamton to Boston and from Binghamton to Williamsport Pennsylvania). Up the I-15 from Ontario California almost to Las Vegas Nevada, no service. In the cities mentioned, AT&T's support reps kept telling me in each area I was in "we know we have a problem there and we'll be adding more towers there later this year".
I do have to say that I spent a few months working in New Jersey, and AT&T had great service everywhere I went. Verizon's was even better, but they were both excellent there.
Since 2006, my employer usually supplies a cell phone in whatever city I am working. These have always been Verizon, and have always worked reliably, except for two places: Schuyler Nebraska and Sikeston Missouri. I moved my personal phone to the Sprint network a couple of years ago and have had reliable service almost everywhere (there's a big hole in the middle of Missouri, at least when driving the highways). There's also a weak spot just South of my Southern California home (also affects T-Mobile and AT&T), caused by a couple of hills.
My guess? During the mergers, they might have eliminated towers to cut costs. In the process, they may have cut too deeply.
Spotty service in Los Angeles? In areas like Century City, Miracle Mile, the Wilshire District, and Hollywood? It is hard to take a mobile network serious when they miss key places like those.