Sprint PCS or Cingular/GSM?

Hello friends,

Hope I am not asking too basic a question that has been answered
before (I did look for such info in both alt.cellular.sprintpcs AND
alt.cellular.cingular groups and didn't find any info). I also
apologize for posting in both these groups.

Well, I have been a long-term user of sprint PCS, two phones, both LG
5250, sharing mins (700 AT mins). We currently live in Middleton
(suburb of Madison), WI, for the past 4 years and have been happy with
SPCS. However, we moved to another apartment about a quarter mile away
and we can't get reception indoors and it is faint outside with no
signal lines appearing in the display! Apparently, we moved closer to
the periphery of the coverage area and hence the problem.

My choices are either to:

1) Change providers and it seems that Cingular gives great reception
in our location, or,

2) Find some way to get better reception and stay with SPCS.

So, my questions are:

1) Since I need nationwide calling, is one better than the other, ie.,
Cingular vs SPCS? If indeed one is generally, significantly and
consistently better than the other I could go with that one. Cingular
offers GSM that could come in handy for me since I do travel abroad
once a year. Any recommendations on GSM phones that would work well
with Cingular (signal strength and compactness are priorities). Is
SPCS good only between PCS phones and not with others?

2) If I stay with Sprint PCS, would you suggest that I change phones
(they are expensive and the 2 year contracts will begin to apply
again!). From SPCS website I identified two phones to choose from, the
PM-8200 and the RL-7300; are these good phones, anyone have any
experience with them?

I feel terrible that I have to reorganize this aspect of my life just
because of a move quarter mile away! The impending expense is scary
and something that I can hardly afford at this point.

Well, I apologize for the rather long post. Any thoughts would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Aravind

---

› See More: Sprint PCS or Cingular/GSM?

On 1 Oct 2004 01:07:48 -0700, [email protected] (Aravind)
wrote:

>1) Change providers and it seems that Cingular gives great reception
>in our location, or,
>
>2) Find some way to get better reception and stay with SPCS.

Barring you getting a cellular repeater which can be rather pricey you
probably cannot stay with SPCS if you want good reception in your new
location.

>1) Since I need nationwide calling, is one better than the other, ie.,
>Cingular vs SPCS? If indeed one is generally, significantly and
>consistently better than the other I could go with that one.

You really can't say as radio reception can vary significantly from
one area to another. That's the very nature of radio reception.

>Cingular
>offers GSM that could come in handy for me since I do travel abroad
>once a year. Any recommendations on GSM phones that would work well
>with Cingular (signal strength and compactness are priorities).

Keep in mind that though GSM is very friendly for international travel
(with the right equipment) it is not cheap to do it this way and local
prepaid SIMs are the better way to go if you are spending more than a
few days in one location.

>Is
>SPCS good only between PCS phones and not with others?

Not sure what you mean "Is SPCS good only between PCS phones"

>2) If I stay with Sprint PCS, would you suggest that I change phones
>(they are expensive and the 2 year contracts will begin to apply
>again!). From SPCS website I identified two phones to choose from, the
>PM-8200 and the RL-7300; are these good phones, anyone have any
>experience with them?

A different phone might give you *better* reception but it will not
cure a bad reception area.

>I feel terrible that I have to reorganize this aspect of my life just
>because of a move quarter mile away! The impending expense is scary
>and something that I can hardly afford at this point.

It's necessary if you want mobile service that works where you need it
to work.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Aravind" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello friends,
>
> Hope I am not asking too basic a question that has been answered
> before (I did look for such info in both alt.cellular.sprintpcs AND
> alt.cellular.cingular groups and didn't find any info). I also
> apologize for posting in both these groups.
>
> Well, I have been a long-term user of sprint PCS, two phones, both LG
> 5250, sharing mins (700 AT mins). We currently live in Middleton
> (suburb of Madison), WI, for the past 4 years and have been happy with
> SPCS. However, we moved to another apartment about a quarter mile away
> and we can't get reception indoors and it is faint outside with no
> signal lines appearing in the display! Apparently, we moved closer to
> the periphery of the coverage area and hence the problem.
>
> My choices are either to:
>
> 1) Change providers and it seems that Cingular gives great reception
> in our location, or,
>
> 2) Find some way to get better reception and stay with SPCS.
>
> So, my questions are:
>
> 1) Since I need nationwide calling, is one better than the other, ie.,
> Cingular vs SPCS? If indeed one is generally, significantly and
> consistently better than the other I could go with that one. Cingular
> offers GSM that could come in handy for me since I do travel abroad
> once a year. Any recommendations on GSM phones that would work well
> with Cingular (signal strength and compactness are priorities). Is
> SPCS good only between PCS phones and not with others?

There are both good and bad coverage areas for either provider. As for GSM,
they use different Freqs outside of the US. GSM in the US is on 800 & 1900.
In Europe, it's on 900 & 1800, So if you want to use a Cingular phone
overseas, it will need the capability to communicate on all those freqs.

As for the rest of the areas you go into, you should check the Cingular maps
to see whether service is afforded there.

>
> 2) If I stay with Sprint PCS, would you suggest that I change phones
> (they are expensive and the 2 year contracts will begin to apply
> again!).

That 2 yr contract extension will only apply if you use the mail in rebate
coupon. If you just buy the phones straight up, from SPCS or other
distributors, no contract extension. Or ... you can take a $100 mail in
rebate and extend your contract by one year.

> From SPCS website I identified two phones to choose from, the
> PM-8200 and the RL-7300; are these good phones, anyone have any
> experience with them?

All models from Sanyos have a great reputation in the SPCS newsgroup. As for
the specific models you've enquired about, I'd suggest you do a search on
those model numbers in the SPCS newsgroup.
>
> I feel terrible that I have to reorganize this aspect of my life just
> because of a move quarter mile away! The impending expense is scary
> and something that I can hardly afford at this point.

You could also call SPCS and create a trouble ticket. Could be you are in
fringe coverage, or there is a problem with one of the local antennas.

One other thing with regards to SPCS, they do offer a Free & Clear America
option (for $5/mo. in corporate areas) to allows you to roam up to 50% of
your minutes, and it includes LD outgoing calls.

>
> Well, I apologize for the rather long post. Any thoughts would be
> greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Bob

"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Aravind" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hello friends,
> >
>
> There are both good and bad coverage areas for either provider. As for GSM,
> they use different Freqs outside of the US. GSM in the US is on 800 & 1900.
> In Europe, it's on 900 & 1800, So if you want to use a Cingular phone
> overseas, it will need the capability to communicate on all those freqs.
>


Thanks for writing in, Bob. And thanks for the information above. My
yearly travels take me to India where it is GSM (don't knnow the
freqs) but my understanding is that one could buy a SIM card and put
it into any generic GSM phone and it would work in that country. That
is my understanding now, may be I am wrong. If I were correct, my
Cingular GSM phone could work there, similar to a "prepaid" phone. An
alternative would be to actually buy another GSM phone in India and
make it to work there the same way.


> As for the rest of the areas you go into, you should check the Cingular maps
> to see whether service is afforded there.
>
>

The maps from both Sprint and Cingular look similar in the area where
I currently live. I do think now that a newer sprint phone would work
better with better signal strength and I would get to keep my existing
plan.



>
> That 2 yr contract extension will only apply if you use the mail in rebate
> coupon. If you just buy the phones straight up, from SPCS or other
> distributors, no contract extension. Or ... you can take a $100 mail in
> rebate and extend your contract by one year.


> All models from Sanyos have a great reputation in the SPCS newsgroup. As for
> the specific models you've enquired about, I'd suggest you do a search on
> those model numbers in the SPCS newsgroup.


> You could also call SPCS and create a trouble ticket. Could be you are in
> fringe coverage, or there is a problem with one of the local antennas.


Well, I called Sprint and apparently they tested signal strength at a
location outside my apartment and they reported back saying that it
was good. In other words, I guess if I change my phone things would be
better.

Thanks again.

Aravind

Aravind - I don't know about your (potential) Cingular GSM phone, but
some GSM phones sold by US providers are "SIM-locked" to that provider,
so only that provider's SIM will work in their phones. A SIM bought in
India wouldn't work with such a phone. Some US providers (T-Mobile,
I've heard) will give you the code to unlock your phone after you've had
it for a certain number of months.

Aravind wrote:

> Thanks for writing in, Bob. And thanks for the information above. My
> yearly travels take me to India where it is GSM (don't knnow the
> freqs) but my understanding is that one could buy a SIM card and put
> it into any generic GSM phone and it would work in that country. That
> is my understanding now, may be I am wrong. If I were correct, my
> Cingular GSM phone could work there, similar to a "prepaid" phone. An
> alternative would be to actually buy another GSM phone in India and
> make it to work there the same way.

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A620

"Frank Harris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Aravind - I don't know about your (potential) Cingular GSM phone, but some
> GSM phones sold by US providers are "SIM-locked" to that provider, so only
> that provider's SIM will work in their phones. A SIM bought in India
> wouldn't work with such a phone. Some US providers (T-Mobile, I've heard)
> will give you the code to unlock your phone after you've had it for a
> certain number of months.
>
> Aravind wrote:
>
>> Thanks for writing in, Bob. And thanks for the information above. My
>> yearly travels take me to India where it is GSM (don't knnow the
>> freqs) but my understanding is that one could buy a SIM card and put
>> it into any generic GSM phone and it would work in that country. That
>> is my understanding now, may be I am wrong. If I were correct, my
>> Cingular GSM phone could work there, similar to a "prepaid" phone. An
>> alternative would be to actually buy another GSM phone in India and
>> make it to work there the same way.
>
> --
> Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A620

You MUST have a "world phone", a quad band phone, such as the Motorola V400.
The V400 is sold "unlocked" by Cingular.

bamp

"Aravind" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> "Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:<[email protected]>...
>>=20
>> There are both good and bad coverage areas for either provider. As =
for GSM,
>> they use different Freqs outside of the US. GSM in the US is on 800 & =
1900.
>> In Europe, it's on 900 & 1800, So if you want to use a Cingular phone
>> overseas, it will need the capability to communicate on all those =
freqs.
>=20
> Thanks for writing in, Bob. And thanks for the information above. My
> yearly travels take me to India where it is GSM (don't knnow the
> freqs) but my understanding is that one could buy a SIM card and put
> it into any generic GSM phone and it would work in that country. That
> is my understanding now, may be I am wrong. If I were correct, my
> Cingular GSM phone could work there, similar to a "prepaid" phone. An
> alternative would be to actually buy another GSM phone in India and
> make it to work there the same way.
>=20
> Aravind

The following website shows network information for 47 Indian GSM =
networks.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_in.shtml
Thirteen networks run GSM1800, while two others run dual GSM900/1800.
All the remainder in India run only GSM900.
Verify that your phone will respond to GSM900 and/or GSM1800
before trying to swap in an Indian SIM card.
India appears to be GSM-compatible with Europe, but as Bob pointed out,
that does not guarantee your U.S. phone will work there.
---JRC---

AT&T phones are sold locked, and they won't provide unlock codes. They'll be
hapy to sign you up for the reduced rate of 89 cents per minute, under the
global roaming voice plan.

"John R. Copeland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
"Aravind" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
>>
>> There are both good and bad coverage areas for either provider. As for
GSM,
>> they use different Freqs outside of the US. GSM in the US is on 800 &
1900.
>> In Europe, it's on 900 & 1800, So if you want to use a Cingular phone
>> overseas, it will need the capability to communicate on all those freqs.
>
> Thanks for writing in, Bob. And thanks for the information above. My
> yearly travels take me to India where it is GSM (don't knnow the
> freqs) but my understanding is that one could buy a SIM card and put
> it into any generic GSM phone and it would work in that country. That
> is my understanding now, may be I am wrong. If I were correct, my
> Cingular GSM phone could work there, similar to a "prepaid" phone. An
> alternative would be to actually buy another GSM phone in India and
> make it to work there the same way.
>
> Aravind

The following website shows network information for 47 Indian GSM networks.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_in.shtml
Thirteen networks run GSM1800, while two others run dual GSM900/1800.
All the remainder in India run only GSM900.
Verify that your phone will respond to GSM900 and/or GSM1800
before trying to swap in an Indian SIM card.
India appears to be GSM-compatible with Europe, but as Bob pointed out,
that does not guarantee your U.S. phone will work there.
---JRC---

On 1 Oct 2004 01:07:48 -0700, [email protected] (Aravind)
wrote:

>
>1) Since I need nationwide calling, is one better than the other, ie.,
>Cingular vs SPCS? If indeed one is generally, significantly and

Cingular offers free roaming, vs. having to pay extra for it with
Sprint. Cingular offers better plans (IMO), I just switched to a plan
that gives me 350 more anytime minutes a month for only 4 dollars a
month extra, but 11.00 less per month for the extra phone, with a net
savings of 7.00 a month. Also my unused minutes will roll over and
bank.

>with Cingular (signal strength and compactness are priorities). Is
>SPCS good only between PCS phones and not with others?

If you drop off the SPCS network, even in your home area, unless you
pay the extra fee per month to have it included, you will pay roaming.


--
Deb

On 2 Oct 2004 08:44:37 -0700, [email protected] (Aravind)
wrote:
>
>Well, I called Sprint and apparently they tested signal strength at a
>location outside my apartment and they reported back saying that it
>was good. In other words, I guess if I change my phone things would be
>better.

Don't believe them. I've had them tell me that for several years
now....it's the phone, it's the phone.....Yesterday at our office, not
one of 3 different Sprint phones would get a signal inside the
building (AT&T and Cingular phones had no problem) and not one of the
Sprint phones would hold a signal outside the office in the parking
lot for more than a minute. We are *not* in rural or fringe area.


>
>Thanks again.
>
>Aravind

--
Deb

[email protected] wrote:
> On 1 Oct 2004 01:07:48 -0700, [email protected] (Aravind)
> wrote:
>
>
>>1) Since I need nationwide calling, is one better than the other, ie.,
>>Cingular vs SPCS? If indeed one is generally, significantly and
>
>
> Cingular offers free roaming,

On all plans? Cingular used to have Nation and Preferred plans. Nation plans
are no-roaming-anywhere-in-the-US. Preferred is
no-roaming-in-most-places-on-Cingular's-network-or-select-roaming-partners'-networks.
Much like Sprint Free and Clear or Verizon America's Choice (F&C is
Sprint-only, Verizon AC is Verizon plus selected networks operated by other
carriers)

Most carriers have the two tiers and the true no-roaming-nationwide plans do
cost more. Is Cingular Preferred still available? If so, your statement is
inaccurate as it *will* cost more to sign up for Cingular Nation than it will
for Cingular Preferred. Yes, roaming is included, but the monthly access still
costs more.

> If you drop off the SPCS network, even in your home area, unless you
> pay the extra fee per month to have it included, you will pay roaming.

This is correct, on the local plans or on Free & Clear.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

[email protected] wrote:

> Don't believe them. I've had them tell me that for several years
> now....it's the phone, it's the phone.....Yesterday at our office, not
> one of 3 different Sprint phones would get a signal inside the
> building (AT&T and Cingular phones had no problem) and not one of the
> Sprint phones would hold a signal outside the office in the parking
> lot for more than a minute. We are *not* in rural or fringe area.

On the other hand, you had other people who use Sprint in your area tell you
they have no problems. Seems to me that it might be a localized problem and
that the others who replied to you don't use their phones in your particular
neighborhood, even though they live/work in the same area as you. (Central
Florida, right?)

Again, I say: take advantage of the trial period. I'd say that to someone
signing up for Sprint, for Cingular, or for any other carrier. It holds true
every time. Everyone's experience is different and you have to determine what
works for you.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

> Well, I called Sprint and apparently they tested signal strength at a
> location outside my apartment and they reported back saying that it
> was good. In other words, I guess if I change my phone things would be
> better.

I'd suggest a Sanyo. I've had the 4500, 4700, 4900, and now 4920.
There does seem to be a difference between phones even between current
phones. I'd suggest the 4920 as I've had excellent signal strength
with it. Good luck.

Steve

On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 19:12:27 -0700, Steve Sobol <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>On the other hand, you had other people who use Sprint in your area tell you
>they have no problems. Seems to me that it might be a localized problem and

Here, yes, they have said so. I saw three different phones on Friday,
with 5 bars each, lose signals on every call we tried to make. I was
on the earbud, watching the bars as "signal faded" showed on the
display and the call dropped.

>that the others who replied to you don't use their phones in your particular
>neighborhood, even though they live/work in the same area as you. (Central
>Florida, right?)

Jacksonville / Orange Park area. A number of spots in Jax, including
one that supposedly is one mile from a Sprint tower are totally dead
for me. And as mentioned yesterday, on Friday, we *had*, supposedly,
a signal, but the calls kept dropping within a minute or two. In one
case (not my phone), the tech walked three paces to the right and went
into roaming....

>Again, I say: take advantage of the trial period. I'd say that to someone
>signing up for Sprint, for Cingular, or for any other carrier. It holds true
>every time. Everyone's experience is different and you have to determine what
>works for you.

Yep. Sprint did not work for me, hopefully Cingular will.


--
Deb

On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 19:09:36 -0700, Steve Sobol <[email protected]>
wrote:

>> Cingular offers free roaming,
>
>On all plans? Cingular used to have Nation and Preferred plans. Nation plans

I don't know about all plans, but the plan I just got from them is
Nationwide, and will cost me a net of 7.00 per month less than Sprint
does now, with 350 more (rollover) minutes than the Sprint F&C plan I
had. And, the unused minutes will rollover so if I have a high usage
month (about 2 - 3 times a year), I'll have the minutes available
without going over.

On the Regional plans, there are no roaming charges within your
region, regardless of network.

Also, I get unlimited minutes to any other Cingular phone included as
part of the plan, so calls to hubby won't eat the minutes.

>Most carriers have the two tiers and the true no-roaming-nationwide plans do
>cost more. Is Cingular Preferred still available? If so, your statement is
>inaccurate as it *will* cost more to sign up for Cingular Nation than it will

I will be paying less per month to Cingular for more minutes and no
roaming than I paid to Sprint. So, it is costing me *less* to sign up
for Cingular, with a better plan than I had with Sprint. I also get
unlimited Cingular to Cingular calling included with the plan. That
would cost me $5.00 more per month with Sprint.

>for Cingular Preferred. Yes, roaming is included, but the monthly access still
>costs more.

Perhaps on their network, but compared to my old bill from Sprint, it
is less.

>> If you drop off the SPCS network, even in your home area, unless you
>> pay the extra fee per month to have it included, you will pay roaming.
>
>This is correct, on the local plans or on Free & Clear.

In the Cingular plans, even on the local plans, in your home area, you
do not pay roaming.
--
Deb