Tracfone: only uses own towers/network ??

I called the Tracfone cust. service number today to get some details
on coverage areas. She insisted that Tracfone uses only its own
towers, etc. Their coverage map of the Richmond, VA area shows much
more complete coverage than Verizon - especially in the sparse rural
areas.

Can anyone comment on either or both of these claims?
Frank

In <dng7nk$vf9$1@ratbert.glorb.com> Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> writes:

>Well, maybe they use Cingular or Alltel or someone else in central VA - they
>don't use the same carrier everywhere, except for their Net10 prepaid
>service which exclusively uses Cingular GSM.

Would they also use the handful of "gsm corridor" and
similar tower/backbone-sharing arrangements that
Cingular, T-Mobile, and (some small number of others)
set up on some beyond-nowhere highways?


--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

danny burstein wrote:

>> Well, maybe they use Cingular or Alltel or someone else in central VA - they
>> don't use the same carrier everywhere, except for their Net10 prepaid
>> service which exclusively uses Cingular GSM.
>
> Would they also use the handful of "gsm corridor" and
> similar tower/backbone-sharing arrangements that
> Cingular, T-Mobile, and (some small number of others)
> set up on some beyond-nowhere highways?

That, I don't know. My impression is that most prepaid providers tied to a
single carrier don't roam, but that's just an assumption...


--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek 888-480-4638 PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Company website: http://JustThe.net/
Personal blog, resume, portfolio: http://SteveSobol.com/
E: sjsobol@JustThe.net Snail: 22674 Motnocab Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307

"Frank" <Frank@home.com> wrote in message
news:7c8np15snnk6opge738ja6sv2n41ckag40@4ax.com...
> I called the Tracfone cust. service number today to get some details
> on coverage areas. She insisted that Tracfone uses only its own
> towers, etc. Their coverage map of the Richmond, VA area shows much
> more complete coverage than Verizon - especially in the sparse rural
> areas.
>
> Can anyone comment on either or both of these claims?
> Frank
>

JoshIII responds:
TracFone does *NOT* have it own network.

TracFone use existing networks.

The network you get depends on your local calling area and the model
TracFone you choose. Some models use CDMA technology (5180i, 2126, 2285,
v60ic, c343). Some models use GSM technology (1100,c170, c155, 2600). Some
models use TDMA technology (Nokia 1221).

I have seen my CDMA TracFone using the following networks: Alltel,
Verizon, Suncom, others. My home network is Verizon.

When using the GSM models, its harder to determine who owns the cellular
tower you are currently using. Unlike CDMA models where you can display
the SID for the tower you are currently using, GSM cellphones do no have a
SID (system ID) display option or code like the CDMA models. I've asked
the question about determining ownership of the GSM towers in here before
and got no response.

Its hard to tell if the GSM models roam on other networks. Only way I know
to prove this is to call 611 every 10 minutes while traveling?

Hope this helps!

JoshIII, 11 DEC 05
josh3i@hotmail.com (josh3i at hotmail.com)
Activating a TracFone soon? Get an email referral from a
TracFone user *before you activate* and you'll both receive
100 Free airtime minutes! Tracfone uses Cingular, Verizon,
Alltel, Cellular One, and T-Mobile networks, just to name
a few. I've been a happy TracFone user for 4 years.
See website for free airtime and phone details!
http://pasofinosc.tripod.com

Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in
news:dng7nk$vf9$1@ratbert.glorb.com:

> Well, maybe they use Cingular or Alltel or someone else in central VA
> - they don't use the same carrier everywhere, except for their Net10
> prepaid service which exclusively uses Cingular GSM.
>

I saw them in Ratshack and asked what system they were on. The guys over
there say Verizon CDMA only, but I suppose they could roam. I was gonna
buy one, use up the time, then put it on Alltel if it was programmable,
which I think not.

"JoshIII" <josh3iREMOVE@hotmail.com> wrote in news:439c3fe4$0$86609
$892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreenews.net:

> Tracfone uses Cingular, Verizon,
> Alltel, Cellular One, and T-Mobile networks, just to name
> a few. I've been a happy TracFone user for 4 years.
>

You know, if that thing will ROAM to any system it can find, it might be a
great deal if you're a light user. It would be better than our our-own-
systems-only PRL locked out phones us paying customers use...

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9729C41AE877Cnoonehomecom@63.223.7.253...
> "JoshIII" <josh3iREMOVE@hotmail.com> wrote in news:439c3fe4$0$86609
> $892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreenews.net:
>
> > Tracfone uses Cingular, Verizon,
> > Alltel, Cellular One, and T-Mobile networks, just to name
> > a few. I've been a happy TracFone user for 4 years.
> >
>
> You know, if that thing will ROAM to any system it can find, it might be a
> great deal if you're a light user. It would be better than our our-own-
> systems-only PRL locked out phones us paying customers use...


JoshIII responds:
I have a CDMA and a GSM TracFone.

I know from experience when I am roaming, my CDMA TracFone will use the
predominant CDMA carrier (if other than Verizon) where ever I am located.
My home carrier is Verizon, but I have seen it using Alltel, Suncom, and
other regional networks.

Since TracFone has agreements with several GSM and CDMA carriers, I have
always thought a GAIT type phone (supporting GSM, TDMA, Analog) would be
the perfect choice as a TracFone. Then I wouldn't have to keep a separate
model for GSM and CDMA.

On 2nd thought, the perfect TracFone would be one that supports GSM, CDMA,
and Analog. TDMA networks are being phased out or converted to GSM.

I'm still trying to figure out an easy way to determine if my GSM TracFone
can roam on other GSM networks besides Cingular, which is my home carrier.
Other than dialing 611, how can you determine the network in use on a GSM
cellphone?

JoshIII (josh3i at hotmail . com)
http://pasofinosc.tripod.com








..

Larry wrote:

>> Well, maybe they use Cingular or Alltel or someone else in central VA
>> - they don't use the same carrier everywhere, except for their Net10
>> prepaid service which exclusively uses Cingular GSM.
>
> I saw them in Ratshack and asked what system they were on. The guys over
> there say Verizon CDMA only,

That may be true for your part of SC.


--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek 888-480-4638 PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Company website: http://JustThe.net/
Personal blog, resume, portfolio: http://SteveSobol.com/
E: sjsobol@JustThe.net Snail: 22674 Motnocab Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307

"JoshIII" <josh3iREMOVE@hotmail.com> wrote in news:439cd20d$0$54116
$892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreenews.net:

> I know from experience when I am roaming, my CDMA TracFone will use the
> predominant CDMA carrier (if other than Verizon) where ever I am located.
> My home carrier is Verizon, but I have seen it using Alltel, Suncom, and
> other regional networks.
>
>

You see right THERE is a fantastic reason to use Tracphones on trips.
We're not allowed to roam from our home companies, no matter how bad they
suck in a certain area, but the Tracphones WILL roam over to whoever has
service...trumping the home phones when they're needed most.

Very encouraging when you've GOT to have comms, even if the bastards at
your local cellphone fiefdom don't like it.