Best PCS Phone serive????

[hockman96]

Hey guys. I was just wondering if any of you have any feedback regarding the PCS services. Currently I have Sprint PCS but I'm going to switch phones soon so I wanted to get the best service. (Service includes best service plans, prices, and what not)

[Timotheus]

I'm on Sprint PCS for $75.00 for 1000 minutes. Can't beat that with a stick. Great coverage too. (for my area at least)

Tim

[webba]

DON"T GET THE SAMSUNG 8500!!
Ithas cool features, but it just can't seem to get reception in toughplaces such as movie theatres orcomputer labs..things like that...

[Chunky]

i have sprint too, but i'm not much of a big bucket user. $40 for 400 minutes, chose the no ld option. as u kno, coverage works well in the city, but not too well on the farm in rainbow. no roaming as long as ur in the network, which works well for me because i move between philly, la, nyc, boston, new orleans, etc. it really comes down to what u want in a plan, so what do u want? just don't go with verizon.

Chunky

[pennypinch]

As I'm sure you know, service runs the gamut for different areas. For instance, Sprint is absolutely piss poor in SoCal, but I understand quite good in The City and in DC. Alternatively, I hear Verizon is very good in LA and Chicago, but the Bell Atlantic portion in NY is not holding up it's end of the bargain. I'm going to go with Verizon, but it's all a function of where you live. You know, I saw a website that tested dead zones in different cities, but I can't remember where the hell it was, or what it was called. Anyone?

[Chunky]

don't go with verizon. i haven't had the chance to test their reception, but i kno that their small print sux. there are a lot of hidden fees, like roaming for example (i'm assuming that ur getting a local service, cuz their ld/no roaming service costs an arm and a leg for like 50 minutes).
so say ur home area is la. if u call san francisco, that's long distance of course, u pay the ld charge there. if u go down to sd, u have to pay for local roaming, if farther u have to pay for extended roaming, which costs more, obviously. now if u go all the way to frisco and make a call to la, u have to pay for the physical distance between where ur phone is at and ur home location, so that's ld+roaming. if u call frisco from frisco, it's ld+roaming+ld(la to frisco). now if ur in la, and u get a call from bob in miami, he pays for the ld call from his end like normal, and u pay for the ld call from miami to la to receive it.
i haven't had any problem with my reception for sprint here on the east coast, and peeps actually can't tell the diff between my cell and a landline.

Chunky

[psycho-]

Small print sucks...but in the end it's the service quality that matters.. The service on my Verizon phone makes Pacbell, Omnipoint, and Sprint PCS look like a joke. No service? I've never heard of that term....... It's all about "Tower Density", and the sad fact is that Verizon has the highest density in the markets in which it exists...

------------------
Victor
http://psychokid.com
http://rurouni.org

[haven]

AT&T Digital One Rate is expensive, but my phone even worked in Cancun. There are few places that I have not had it work.

[hockman96]

Haven...what do you get with the Digital one rate?

[calng]

I had sprint last year. It sucked in my area, I would always get dropped calls within 30 seconds and can never get service. Therefore I switched back to Cellular One, and got a Nokia 6120 which ain't bad. The service is great also. I am in California, the bay area.

[Grizybaer]

calng, where is your area?

------------------
~Grizy
Great, so how much is shipping?

[NSX]

Stick with Sprint PCS. As far as I know, they are the only PCS company that runs on 1.9GHz Digital (in my area). Much clearer than the others than run on 800MHz crap. And try to have a phone that uses QUALCOMM's CDMA chipset and not there own. (Nokia uses their crappy own implentation and it sucks.)

What are my credentials? No I don't work for Sprint. Last years (certainly not this years!) NASDAQ darling is my hint...

------------------
[NSX]

[pm]

Try:

http://www.point.com

They do cell phone comparisons.

A couple of comments though...

People shouldn't try to compare networks. sprint may work great in Orlando, but suck in San Francisco. Trying to say "Voicestream is the best because I never have problems with it here in Denver" is pointless unless the original poster also lives in Denver. Comparing nationwide networks makes sense, but talking about your local service is a waste of time.

The OneRate is a great plan if you travel a lot, but it's not so good if you stick in one area and talk a lot on your local phones (there's usually better plans for local calling available).

My experience with Sprint has been pretty poor overall. I despise my Sprint Qualcomm phone which is big, has horrible battery life (12 hours standby at the beginning down to 3 hours after one year) and it does quicky things like turn itself on when you plug it into a power socket (if I want it on, I'll turn it on). Sure, it's an older model and they've no doubt fixed the battery life issue in the newer ones, but that phone put me off Qualcomm completely.

Sprint itself seems to have great coverage in some area (the SF Bay Area) and lousy in other areas (Hawaii). Overall I seem to spend a lot of time in analog roaming mode and this makes the plan fairly expensive. A lot of carriers are on 1.9GHz (Voicestream is one) - not just Sprint.

[NSX]

The original QUALCOMM Phones did suck... I must admit. The latest QUALCOMM phones (and last QUALCOMM Phones...), ie: The QUALCOMM Thinphone, pdQ, etc have far superior reception, battery life, etc etc. than the old original Sprint/QUALCOMM phones. I have the original flip-up earpiece, the thinphone, and a Nokia 6185. The thinphone is by far the best in reception, qualtiy, etc. The Nokia has cool features, but sucks in comparison to the thinphone.

------------------
[NSX]

[ebb]

FYI: Higher Band frequencies on cell phones does not necessary mean u get better reception as when comparing 900 Mhz to 2.4 GigHz cordless phones... The FCC regulates and dictates which frequencies wireless carrier can do business under. Verizon wireless has 800 Mhz under CDMA technology and 1900 Mhz in their PCS coverage, and AMPS or existing analog mode. If u get a verizon single rate(nation plan) compatible phone...you otta get the largest coverage in digital services for 10-13 cents/minute including roaming and LD. MUHAHAH i work for Vz! be sure to get into Vz wireless IPO when it comes out... Should get to 50 ish...from starting price of 20 something.

[[email protected]]

I'm also using Cellular One with a Nokia 6120. She works great and the only time I've had a reception problem was during rush-hour at Logan Airport in Boston.

[haven]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hockman96:
Haven...what do you get with the Digital one rate?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You get nation wide coverage. As far as perks go, it is the standard voice mail, no roaming fees. They do have internet phones if you want to wait that long to read your e-mail and find out that you should have sold your stocks a long time ago.

[pennypinch]

Very sneaky way to create buzz, ebb http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/wink.gif

I'm wondering how one of the above posters connected a non-Sprint phone to their network. I have a generic StarTac CDMA that I simply assume I can hook up to Verizon in California, but is that accurate?

[pennypinch]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chunky:
don't go with verizon. i haven't had the chance to test their reception, but i kno that their small print sux. there are a lot of hidden fees, like roaming for example Chunky<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Uh, don't all local plans charge "hidden fees" like roaming? I got charged roaming when I had my total lemon of a Sprint phone, too.

[CiViC]

Hmmm....i'm looking to buy a cell really soon, you guys know if Sprint has a service that's like $30/month or so? If so, know the details of it? Thanks..

[reagancajun]

I have Sprint PCS and I like it a lot. I live about an hour away from New Orleans and am able to get it out in the sticks. Also was able to get it all the way along my Corpus Christie trip. Pretty nice deal. But
I'm wondering how I can switch services--if ever I need to--and still use my Sprint phone. It was about $150 and I don't want to buy another one. Will other digital services let me use it?

[freenet]

SPRINT PCS bought from Radioshack now has 1000 MINUTES FOR $30/month...200 anytime and 800 nights and weekends...pretty good deal!

[pm]

No, you can't switch services and keep your phone in the US. Virtually everywhere else in the world they use GSM phones and these all have a removeable SIP chip (I think that's what it's called) which reprograms it when you switch services.

Here in the US your phone is locked to a specific provider. Originally this was done because newer systems were built on older systems and one company wanted to maintain compatibility with the old system, while other companies wanted to try the newer system. Now, however, it's simply a way to lock in customers to a plan. You are less likely to switch providers when you've paid $150 for a phone than you are if you can simply swap services.

In theory, you could buy into, for example, Verizon's plan with a tri-mode phone (like the StarTac, IIRC) and then switch to the only GSM provider in the US that I know of, Voicestream, and put in a SIP for Voicestream. But I've never heard of anyone doing this, tri-mode phones are expensive, and it would only work to switch to Voicestream.

[pennypinch]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CiViC:
Hmmm....i'm looking to buy a cell really soon, you guys know if Sprint has a service that's like $30/month or so? If so, know the details of it? Thanks..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I sincerely hope you don't live in LA...I thought you did, but I may be wrong.

[Chunky]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pennypinch:
Uh, don't all local plans charge "hidden fees" like roaming? I got charged roaming when I had my total lemon of a Sprint phone, too.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

not with the sprint service. like i said, as long as u live in the city, any major city on the map, u should be in their service range (i kno, service quality changes from city to city, i've been in more than one). if u live on a farm in rainbow (ie - countryside) then u may roam off the network here and there, and get roaming charges. again, like i said, there is no roaming with sprint as long as u r in their network, so u can travel between boston, philly, new orleans, houston, la/sd and there is no roaming with a local plan. for sprint the local plan allows u to pick a home area where ur calls r made from, so the ld charges r calculated from there.

Chunky

[pennypinch]

Huh, now that I think about it, I guess I never did get charged roaming fees, just the long distance when I made calls from my cell...still the Sprint service just sucked donkey nuts...I estimate conservativelyI dropped 80% of my calls. Plus, every time I tried to call tech support or customer service, I'D DROP THE CALL!
I am interested in one thing. Dropped calls are somewhat of a reality, though my experience with sprint was ridiculous. Equally ridiculous was the credit I got: only calls 7 minutes or shorter were credited. I know back in Vancouver, that is just not the way they do business. Is that true of all American cell vendors, or is that just more stupidity from Sprint?

[Q.E.D.!]

I've no idea where you are located, but if you're in NY or FL, Sprint is the only way to go. Pennypinch's experiences are aberrant if not altogether overstated. I have used Sprint for two years now, and have had between ten and twenty calls drop in that entire time; a record I'll challenge any other service to better. I have recently used a Qualcomm "thin" phone and have even more recently switched to the Samsung 8500 (and, unlike the previous diatribe regarding this phone, I've had no reception problems). Simply put, for $75/month, you get 1000 minutes, long distance included, all major options (call waiting, forwarding, voicemail, etc.), solid PCS coverage nationwide (though, I'll admit that the majority of my cell time has been in the two markets previously mentioned), and superior customer service (my CS calls are always answered promptly). Stick with Sprint.

[pennypinch]

Yup, QED, I've heard good things about Spring along the Eastern seaboard. But for you to label my experience either an aberration or an overstatement is to ignore the scores of people on this very board that live on the West coast and have been sucked in by Sprint's el cheapo plans, and have been saddled with a useless phone that never gets reception nor can carry a decently call on the freeway. I challenge you to get a call almost anywhere in Newport Beach or Downtown LA or Century City: it's a joke, a crying joke. I was remiss in leaving out my home area, but don't paint with such broad strokes: Sprint is the worst, bar none, on the West Coast.
My question still stands: what is the dropped-call credit policy with other carriers?

[Carnivore]

I just saw an ad from Radio Shack in today's NY Times advertising 1000 minutes for $30/month. 150 regualar hours, 150 night & weekends and 600 bonus minutes for a year. Plus a $50 rebate on a phone, but I don't remember which phone. I think it might be with Sprint.

By the way, has anyone seen a good advertised deal on the Motorola Timeport 8167 phone? I bought one from Circuit City about 3 weeks ago and have up to 60 days to price match it if it shows up cheaper somewhere else. They retail for $299.

Thanks!

[cat]

cellular one is good for the bay area. I have a 39.99 225 day/ 1000 weekend and nite plan. sprint pcs has realllly sucky reception here...

[hockman96]

Acutally, I've had a really good time in Los Angeles with sprint...Great service everywhere. The only place that I've visited that was incredibly great was San Diego. I could get 4 bar (the best on a sprint phone) service anywhere

[Seagull]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pm:
No, you can't switch services and keep your phone in the US. Virtually everywhere else in the world they use GSM phones and these all have a removeable SIP chip (I think that's what it's called) which reprograms it when you switch services.

Here in the US your phone is locked to a specific provider. Originally this was done because newer systems were built on older systems and one company wanted to maintain compatibility with the old system, while other companies wanted to try the newer system. Now, however, it's simply a way to lock in customers to a plan. You are less likely to switch providers when you've paid $150 for a phone than you are if you can simply swap services.

In theory, you could buy into, for example, Verizon's plan with a tri-mode phone (like the StarTac, IIRC) and then switch to the only GSM provider in the US that I know of, Voicestream, and put in a SIP for Voicestream. But I've never heard of anyone doing this, tri-mode phones are expensive, and it would only work to switch to Voicestream. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is not quite accurate, in the US phones are not locked into a provider,only to the type of system your phone transmits and receives on. A CDMA phone will work on any CDMA system regardless of the provider, likewise a TDMA phone will work on any TDMA system. You have to compare apples to apples. I currently use a Nokia 6185 which is a DUAL BAND (CDMA & AMPS) TRI-MODE (800MHz Analog, 800MHz Digital [cellular] & 1.8-1.9 GHz Digital [PCS]. Nokia also uses derivative models that operate as dual band/dual mode and single band PCS only, as do most other manufacturers. Check your owners manual and local providers for the type of systems available to you and stay with one your current phone can use. Basically ATT & their affiliates use TDMA while Sprint & their affiliates use CDMA. It's a toss up as to what the other locals use, and chances are their sales people won't have a clue so just ask to see a manual for one of their phones and check the Technical Data page.
Technically any dual band phone will work anywhere that cellular service is available, however Sprint will charge you roaming fees for being on a cellular system. So if you don't want roaming fees on your Sprint phone grab your manual and change your system settings to "Sprint PCS Only". This way when you are out of a Sprint PCS area your phone will show "No Service" and you won't mistakenly place calls while roaming. In an emergency you can always change the system settings back to "Automatic" which will then allow you to access a Cellular system (and incur roaming fees).
Also, don't be too hard on your phone regarding battery life times. With the exception of a bad battery this is determined by the system you are in. A poorly planned or managed system will decrease your talk time dramatically. If the phone has to constantly search for service on both analog and digital systems the battery will drain much quicker, as will distance to tower ratios. When I am in Chicago my battery will last for several days of use, but when I return to central Virginia I'm lucky to get 1 1/2 days out of it. Also as PM stated the age of the system will play a big part in reception quality. My brother-in-law designs the ceramic filters used on the antennae towers and change in them comes fast. Due to cost the newer filters are used only on the newer towers and not updated on the older ones, so poor reception may not be the phones fault but the cell site you are accessing. Here in central VA reception is the biggest hurdle due to the terrain and lack of multiple towers. After trying several brands of phones I found that Nokia handles these type of problems better than most.
Also, if you live in a difficult reception area, invest in a install kit for your phone so you can hook up an external antenna. I got the Nokia kit for $100 and installed it into an old cellular bag phone bag. This way it can be moved from car to car, you get crystal clear handsfree with it and it will fully recharge the battery in about 30 minutes. I don't know about the other manufacturers kits but the Nokia one will work with any of the similar Nokia phones. My wife can plug her 5120 ATT phone into it and I use it for my 6185 Sprint phone. Just be sure to get a dual band antenna for it, don't try to use your old cellular antenna or it won't receive the PCS signals.

Whew, didn't mean to ramble so long, hope I've added something useful.

Seagull

[andyy]

Actually it is not a SIP chip, but a SIM chip. I currently have AT&T's digital one service is it has proven to be more superior than Sprint's service. When I had sprint I could not make calls from within buildings at the University I go to. Instead I always had to go outside to make the call. AT&T is more expensive, but I would go with them for the quality of the service. :-)