Sprint cell service

chuckwagon · Oct 5, 2006

Been out in my new straight truck for about two weeks now and even upgraded my cell service.

I had Verizon but was not to happy so I switched to Sprint.

Anyone else using Sprint and how has your service been?
Where do you mainly drive?

Any input would be great - but I dont want to turn this into a this carrier is better than this carrier discussion.

I just want to know about the Sprint service from current or past customers.

Thanks and everyone be safe!!!!!!!!

TeamCaffee · Oct 5, 2006

We have had Sprint service for several years and it does just keep getting better, we also have Verizon and Cingular and it really seems that they all work the about the same.

darkunicorn · Oct 5, 2006

I think they all use the same towers in a lot of places I have friends with all services and seems we all drop signal in about the same places is that funny or what?
in one place in Iowa there is a tower right there and you have full signal but when you switch to that tower you will drop almost every time. can call right back but when you go buy there you will drop!

tec1959 · Oct 5, 2006

Chuckwagon I have Nextel and have not traveled alot since sprint took over nextel but b4 that nextel worked ok for me.

RichM · Oct 5, 2006

I have had Cingular since it was BellSouth Mobility. Simply put I have no complaints other then the normal 48 Hour wait to get a Customer Service rep on the phone. Wife had Verizon for a while but she is now also cingular.

pelicn · Oct 5, 2006

Along these same lines, opinions please, on the Verizon aircard for a laptop in comparison to Sprint's aircard? Thanks

dhalltoyo · Oct 5, 2006

If you will go to the websites for all of the wireless providers in question (open up all their sites at the same time) and review the coverage areas (FOOTPRINT) for each of those companies, the information that is garnered may help you to make an informed decision.

Verizon has the largest coverage area of all wireless providers.

Regardless of the wireless service that you choose, you will experience dropped calls from time to time. Why? The signal can be blocked by mountains, valleys, buildings, electrical storms, electromagnetic force, high wattage two way communication devices (illegal linear amplification), the mysterious FlyingJ pulse generator that blocks your cell forcing you to use their landlines (just kidding), etc. Also if you are out of your home area and you are a guest signal residing on their cell tower you may get knocked off to make room for a resident signal.

Knowing that dropped calls can and do happen, regardless of the provider, I like Verizon because they have the largest (by far) coverage area.

DannyD · Oct 5, 2006

>I just want to know about the Sprint service from current or
>past customers.

Sprint/Nextel has been drastically different for me & a few friends. For me & one friend the service has been brutal. For another friend it's been nothing short of A+ service. We all live in Michigan.

I will be switching companies when my contract runs out. The impact of lost calls isn't enough that I want to pay the charge to switch services right now. I'm aware that Verizon or whoever I go w/ might be just as bad but I'll take that chance.

In a nutshell your cell service is not only determined by who your company is but by a few other things like are ya in a pocket that maybe they don't get great reception in.

Take care,
Danny

greg334 · Oct 6, 2006

Danny,
Where I worked we had a lot of problems with Nextel, mainly lost signals near towers that we actually paid for and that annoying beep never sat well with us. We went to AT&T and never had a problem. I had AT&T for a long time before Cingular bought their cell service and since I have had more dropped calls than I ever had with Nextel. My father has the worst problems, his phone (or mine) does not work in the house, even though he lives less than a mile away from a Cingular tower. Get out on the street and the signal (using my HP equipment) is weak, move on the other side of the tower center line and boom... great signal. Talked to Cingular several times and even met some tower service tech but never convinced them that the array is messed up somehow.

davebeckym · Oct 6, 2006

I've had both Nextel and Verizon and find Verizon to be somewhat better. They both drop more calls once you get off the interstate.

I have Verizon Broadband for $59 per month and So far have been able to get service everywhere I've laid over. I do drop the signal a lot compared to my cell phone.

terryandrene · Oct 6, 2006

Let's get back to Chuckwagon's topic which is a request for comments related to sprint.

CW: I suspect that you can greatly improve that Sprint service (and any other carrier for that matter) with the purchase of an external antenna such as the one I recently mounted. They are available at Flying J and Pilot or online.

http://www.wilson-cellular.com/wils...cker-mirror-mount-cell-phone-antenna-p-1.html

Moot · Oct 6, 2006

Terry, where did you mount this antenna? I need to stay under 8' so I can get into my garage.

How's the new van working. Can you create your own weather with all of those Fan-Tastic-Vents?

terryandrene · Oct 6, 2006

Mounted it on roof. You can get spring loaded detachable, or laydown adapters at pilot. New van doing great at 35K I'm almost out of warrenty with no problems except my driving.

LDB · Oct 6, 2006

I've got Sprint and T-mobile. I added the Sprint because of too many places with no service. The Sprint has greatly reduced the amount of time I have no service but it does have some dead spots. I'm satisfied with it as a pairing with another provider. I might switch from Sprint to either Verizon or Cingular when the contract is up but may just keep the Sprint.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

easyrider2697 · Oct 7, 2006

I have t-mobile paired witha cingular plan for the truck, but a good FYI t-mobile just included a plan where you can talk to and 5 numbers (dialed or recieved) for about 10 extra a month... sit back and think about it for a sec....all calls to home, work and friends on another network unimited for about 10 buck extra, swapping as soon as my billing cycle is up for the month.
With both phones I rarely go without a signal, if I do it never longer than 10 to 15 min.

hondaking38 · Oct 7, 2006

have a nextel phone for the 2-way and panther (business) and a verizon for everything else, they both drop calls, the nextel is a 530 phone its heavier better constructed and you can hear better with it. the verizon is a tri-mode phone for better coverage, works analog or digital areas, i use sprint card for the pc its the new s720 card with a flip antenna on it, it works great and is faster consistantly then flying j wireless, highy recommend it dowload speed is around 100-125 k a second

vipra · Oct 11, 2006

I've had Sprint for 2 years, and I'm almost always able to get a signal. I bought an antenna a year ago to improve my recetion, and I haven't used it for months. It's rare that a signal fades out and cuts off a call. I was on a mountain pass at 10K feet in CO with the nearest town 10 miles away, and my signal was at 2 bars! I was amazed. I've had no problems with their customer service.

mcbride · Oct 11, 2006

We carry both Sprint and Verizon phones. Sprint seems to have better coverage now than Verizon.

We have always used a two phone system. One, the Verizon phone, for business and emergency calls only and the other, Sprint, for friends and family calls.

The only thing I would recommend if you elect to use Sprint is to pay the additional $5 a month to cover any roaming zones. We have found it is well worth the money if you are traveling through the northwest. Paying the extra $5 bucks gives us peace of mind...and no surprises on our bill. lol

Our current plan includes the above option as well as "free" calls after 7pm and weekends. We also can talk free--PCS to PCS--with any Sprint or Nextel customer.

We would also recommend the Sprint air card for laptop computing over the Verizon card.

-mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

Tennesseahawk · Oct 11, 2006

I've had sprint for years, and I can't say enough good about them. Everyone in my family has a sprint, so it's free to talk to them. They have the best coverage and options, IMO. I'm tired of getting that "Please wait while the Nextel customer you're trying to reach is located." As McBride said, roaming is not an issue for $5/mo. Very rarely do I get no service whatsoever.

I have the PCS card, and I like it. Not always the fastest, but it's good. I'm going to get an antenna for my next truck, and bluetooth. I hate driving with one hand, or my elbow while I'm smoking. LOL

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas