Posted on 10/27/2009 10:08:15 PM PDT by This Just In
We are currently searching for a wireless service provider. The local businesses are unable to provide us with coverage due to our remote location.
Unless I invest in a satellite, our option appears to be Verizon Wireless. Are any of you Verizon customers whom live in a remote are as we do? Overall, are you satisfied with your service? If you have any recommendations/suggestions my family and I would appreciate your assistance.
TJI
I live in upstate NY in a fairly remote area. Sprint is the only carrier that has signal where I live. Verizon is a joke out here to everyone in my area
Don’t bother with satellite, it’s too damned expensive. If you plan on travelling, Verizon covers more of the rural parts of this country than any of the other providers do. My brother has T-Mobile, which works great in Phoenix, but when he’s visiting me here in rural Montana, it doesn’t work.
What many people in rural areas with weak service do is purchase a repeater which they mount up in the attic and viola! Anything in the house gets a strong signal.
How many is many? I'll bet you many people have never heard of such a thing.
Verizon has very good coverage. I had been with them for many years. I recently dropped them because of their customer service though. It used to be pretty good, with helpful friendly voices. In the past year it’s gone downhill though. Several folks I know have had some unfortunate situations with them.
Anyway, I went AT&T now. Love my iPhone. Coverage in my area is every bit as good as Verizon. AT&T has a coverage map at their site. Check it out.
What is the cost for a reliable repeater?
If we are using wireless, do we need a clear line of sight? If so, what is the distance?
I am ignorant of such things, as you can see.
I have been very happy with my verizon coverage. I live in the southeast and it has better rural coverage here than any other carrier. On scout outings many other adults often have to borrow my phone to make a call.
Just remember that any wireless internet service will cap you at about 5 gigabytes per month, total up and down.
I would recommend getting a MiFi, which creates a Wifi access point for up to five computers.
What is the cost for a MiFi, and how does it work?
We live in CA, and have had various carriers for cell service. My husband worked out of town, often in remote locations, including sites in Wyoming and Oregon. Verizon is the only service that worked everywhere he went. None of the carriers are perfect, but our phones are the only ones in our family that have consistent signals.
It works as a router connecting computers to the cellular network over wifi. It's a little gadget that can fit in your pocket or laptop bag. You don't have to install a cell modem or any software on your computer.
The only real negative is that it doesn't have a really long WIFI range like some wireless routers. It won't work both people if one person is in the kitchen and another is in an upstairs bedroom.
have him check his roaming settings. T-Mobile has free roaming on any network including Verizon. T-Mobile customer service can probably help him.
Do you live in a rural area?
Oh don’t i wish! Unfortunately, i am just a bit south of there...
We live in rural New Mexico, and I am reading and responding to to your post on my phone right now. I have been a Verizon customer for 5 years and, aside from some crazy customer service in their store locations, have been very pleased with the customer service overall. The tech folks are great and will spend the time it takes to help you with any probs you may have. Like others haave pointed out, no service is going to be perfect, but Verizon does deliver better than most in rural and “off the path” locations. -— This past weekend I was lurking on FR in a very remote area miles south of Chama, NM, while others were talking about not being able to make a call at all. For what it’s worth...
I love Verizon Wireless. One of the reasons I have them is that they provide excellent coverage in the remote areas where I often hike and ride—if I come off my horse onto my head, I want to be able to call for help, and I don’t get such good coverage from other carriers. Very very few dropped calls or problems with completing calls here.
Very obliging repair service despite the terrible abuse I administer to their phones. No billing problems, though I think all wireless carriers have fairly inscrutable bills. Their live assistance in hooking up my WiFi modem to three computers and resolving other internet issues has been fabulous, I could not be happier with the customer service folks, even those in India, who seem to be paragons of efficiency.
Sounds like Verison if you want a cell, regardless of suggestions.
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