Cell phones

One of my kids lives in Elicot City MD (Baltimore) and Verizon dosn't work there either---nothing! They installed some kind of booster thing at her house so it would work.

OhhWell wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We have all of the coverage advantages of Verizon's network, but none of the hassles of dealing with Verizon. Our cell phones are Android smartphones from Tracfone, and our Internet data service is from Millenicom. Our phone service averages $16/mo. per phone, and our data service is $70/mo. for 20GB of 4G LTE with 3G fallback.

Verizon is the WORST cell company I have ever dealt with and I about cried when they bought out ALLTEL, making me their customer. Even though I was told my current ALLTEL plan would be 100% honored, I had mystery charges every month and then was told that my plan never existed.

Unfortunately, they have the best overall national coverage. I never had a complaint on signal. So... I would also suggest one of the other companies that uses their network. On one hand, I don't think any of the prepaid companies on Verizon allow tethering but on the other hand, tethering with Verizon itself is scary from a monetary standpoint.

That's correct, Tracfone, Straight Talk, etc., don't allow tethering. Our 20GB 4G data service from Millenicom more than makes up for that though.

X2 We have traveled all over the US and found Verizon was better than AT&T for connections but you can still have some dead spots!

Keep in mind that having cell phone service in an area, to make a phone call, does not mean that you will have 4G, or even 3G service for the internet. Some fringe areas just do not have full service yet, and may never have it. Approaching Silver City, NM from the north, we did not have Verizon or At&T PHONE service until we were 10 miles from the city limits. There was about a 100 mile stretch of secondary road that we could not even make a cell phone call. We ran in to the same situation along the Blue Ridge Parkway a few years ago. The again, there is the "quiet zone" in part of West Virginia and Virginia where you will never be able to receive a cell phone or WIFI signal because of Federal regulations.

2oldman wrote:
The 'best' phone is the one that works for you.

Not if you are someone who is about to full time and travel the entire country. In that case, whatever phone currently works for you may not work so great anymore and you seek the advice of others that are doing what you will be doing.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We have all of the coverage advantages of Verizon's network, but none of the hassles of dealing with Verizon. Our cell phones are Android smartphones from Tracfone, and our Internet data service is from Millenicom. Our phone service averages $16/mo. per phone, and our data service is $70/mo. for 20GB of 4G LTE with 3G fallback.

Verizon is the WORST cell company I have ever dealt with and I about cried when they bought out ALLTEL, making me their customer. Even though I was told my current ALLTEL plan would be 100% honored, I had mystery charges every month and then was told that my plan never existed.

Unfortunately, they have the best overall national coverage. I never had a complaint on signal. So... I would also suggest one of the other companies that uses their network. On one hand, I don't think any of the prepaid companies on Verizon allow tethering but on the other hand, tethering with Verizon itself is scary from a monetary standpoint.

Executive wrote:
I have Verizon, unlimited data plan, and my wife has AT&T, unlimited data plan. By far, Verizon outpaces AT&T in coverage, both in voice and data...we are entering our 5th year of fulltiming.....Dennis

I was glad to see your post because I always wondered if someone had both AT&T and Verizon in the same locations to compare coverage.

So you answered my question and I know you two get around the country...you must have Gypsy blood in your veins.

We've been happy with Verizon all over the country....for sure some dead spots in W. Texas and a couple other obscure places but all in all it's pretty reliable.

2oldman wrote:
The 'best' phone is the one that works for you.

X2, I live next to one of the largest incorporated cities in LA County, Verizon and AT&T are both paperweights and pretty much useless.
The problem with providers are their maps are not accurate, and if you travel I doubt you will find one that works everywhere you go.

I have Verizon, unlimited data plan, and my wife has AT&T, unlimited data plan. By far, Verizon outpaces AT&T in coverage, both in voice and data...we are entering our 5th year of fulltiming.....Dennis

Verizon service with Wilson Electronics cell phone booster has very few dead spots.