What's the best cell phone service?

[Member 5605]

ATT everywhere I've been.

I've compared identical phones in cities with download speeds between ATT & Verizon at the same time and att came out on top.

I've also never had a cheap device either. They can make or break your service.

If you bump service to the Xfinity, I don't think for the price point you can go wrong.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Because you're walking around with a trackable gps transponder at all times and you can't get away from anyone anymore.

It's a friggin incriminating leash...

 

[parallax]

Verizon, seems best, but also probably most expensive. has worked for me all over U.S. as well as Canada, only place it did not fair well was Challis, Idaho for some reason..LOL

 

[Caveman Jim]

I have a tale of great & crappy service on two lakes that I frequent.
I love fishing lake Merwin but while there are two cell towers there I have NO Verizon service AT ALL!!!
A new to me lake that is a lot closer than Merwin (1 hour closer) that has no visible cell towers but has Mega Verizon service...
I think that new to me lake is my new home...

 

[Retired Guy]

Another vote for Verizon. But as others have pointed out, each area is different. I have been up in the Cascades hunting and have gotten a signal in very remote places. Recently I was hiking at Sunrise, Mount Rainier and got a signal near Frozen Lake. I was really surprised! But also disappointed because the guy hiking in front of me was on his phone giving someone a running commentary about his hike.
Luckily due to all the competition, fees have been coming down. My plan gives me coverage in Canada and Mexico. Two years ago while visiting Canada, I had to pay a daily access fee and for each individual text or talk minute. Now it's all included and my plan costs less.
Recently I was thinking about switching to T-Mobile because their prices are much cheaper. But the wife and kids all revolted because they have many friends on T-Mobile and they call complain about the poor service. But if you're planning on spending time in Europe or Japan, T-Mobile has the advantage. On VZW, I had to pay $10/day to use my phone in Europe or Japan. T-Mobile gives you free text and (2G) data as part of your plan.

 

[The Heretic]

You can get boosters/extenders for cars too.

 

[The Heretic]

Another vote for Verizon. But as others have pointed out, each area is different. I have been up in the Cascades hunting and have gotten a signal in very remote places. Recently I was hiking at Sunrise, Mount Rainier and got a signal near Frozen Lake. I was really surprised!

Can you hear me now, Mount Rainier? Cell phone service coming to national park

 

[CountryGent]

You can get boosters/extenders for cars too.

When we were out in eastern Oregon, we had external cell antennas mounted on the vehicles. They seemed to help.

 

[The Heretic]

When we were out in eastern Oregon, we had external cell antennas mounted on the vehicles. They seemed to help.

An external antenna will help - the gain on the antenna will help both ways. An extender/booster will help with transmitting and in combination with an antenna will be better than the antenna inside the phone.

 

[Jeedia]

I also vote for Verizon! If you dont have service just climb the hill and you should get some.

 

[3putts]

When there was 3G and 4G was the coming thing, I complained to Verizon because I had a new phone capable of 4G, but was only getting 3G at my home. They sent me a signal booster that worked well until there was better 4G coverage. This was provided free, learned the cost was around $240 if bought retail. I will pay it forward to someone that can use it, shopping cost only. I seems to only boost the signal from 3G to 4G, not necessarily signal strength, as I understand.

 

[3putts]

When there was 3G and 4G was the coming thing, I complained to Verizon because I had a new phone capable of 4G, but was only getting 3G at my home. They sent me a signal booster that worked well until there was better 4G coverage. This was provided free, learned the cost was around $240 if bought retail. I will pay it forward to someone that can use it, shopping cost only. I seems to only boost the signal from 3G to 4G, not necessarily signal strength, as I understand.

 

[Mikej]

@Cogs We said NO to Verizon several years ago. We've been happy, and saved money, with an outfit called Page Plus Wireless.
Unsupported Browser / Navegador Desactualizado | Page Plus Cellular They run on Verizon towers so their coverage is the same as Verizon. I believe any "Verizon" phone will work with Page Plus.

 

[mkwerx]

There are places ATT blows VZW out of the water, literally. For example, my Verizon phone gets no signal at Hagg Lake but ATT customers get service enough to make voice calls. At best I can get a small text msg out. Sending a pic does not work.


That said... my biz partner is a SAR guy. He's itching to switch to Sprint from Verizon, as they got a FedGov contract to build a 100% coverage, network nationwide - the idea is 0 blind areas. Blanket the whole US - and emergency responders will net priority on the network during critical events. They also do a discount for emergency personnel I guess. So when they get that done he's pushing for us to ditch Verizon and switch our business account to Sprint.

 

[Cogs]

Great responses all around! I really appreciate the feedback!

I bit the bullet and went T-Mobile. I got the Samsung Galaxy S8 and family planned 3 phones (really wanted the 9+ but...).

First outing in the woods was Mt Hood up the NF 45 road and had really good signal there. Performance all over the Portland metro area has also been good and haven't experienced any trouble so far. (I chock up a lot of the performance improvement to simply switching phones, from a several year old ZTE, to a Galaxy S8!). You can bet, I'll be checking reception at the cleanup in Tillamook Forest this Saturday.

So, I'm set for now. But as technology and services change so rapidly, I wouldn't doubt it if we need to revisit this conversation again soon! Seems like nothing lasts forever anymore!