TDMA problem in O.C.

I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or so
away from the affected area.

If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular in
a heartbeat.

Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.

---

› See More: TDMA problem in O.C.

I would not expect cingular, or any carrier that has (upgraded) to gsm
for that matter, to work fast, hard, or spend much to repair/maintain
their old, obsolete tdma network.


saxmaniac wrote:
> I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
> Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
> phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
> concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
> phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
> claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or so
> away from the affected area.
>
> If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular in
> a heartbeat.
>
> Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.
>
>

I would expext ANY company to work hard and fast to repair equipment they
still support and accept my money on a monthly basis to use. I don't care if
they (or you) consider it obsolete. If they're going to continue to allow me
to subscribe to it then they better maintain it. If not, then they should
say so and start forcing a migration off of that equipment.

"Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I would not expect cingular, or any carrier that has (upgraded) to gsm for
> that matter, to work fast, hard, or spend much to repair/maintain their
> old, obsolete tdma network.
>
>
> saxmaniac wrote:
>> I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
>> Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
>> phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
>> concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
>> phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
>> claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or
>> so away from the affected area.
>>
>> If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular
>> in a heartbeat.
>>
>> Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.

My point is that, unless it is some small company that is still
tdma/analog only, their main focus is else where. I do not have any
inside information from cingular and I do not speak for cingular, but my
point is I don't think they do still support tdma. They do not sell
tdma phones. They sell gsm phones and the majority, if not all, of
their support is to their gsm network. Kind of makes sense don't it. I
wonder how many people they still have under tdma contract? I bet they
do not let those contracts be extended. I wonder when the last of those
contracts expire. Perhaps as soon as there are no contractees in each
given market, any remaining tdma users will get notice to move to gsm
since the network will be shut off. Thirty days notice seems fair.


JohnF wrote:
> I would expext ANY company to work hard and fast to repair equipment they
> still support and accept my money on a monthly basis to use. I don't care if
> they (or you) consider it obsolete. If they're going to continue to allow me
> to subscribe to it then they better maintain it. If not, then they should
> say so and start forcing a migration off of that equipment.
>
> "Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I would not expect cingular, or any carrier that has (upgraded) to gsm for
>>that matter, to work fast, hard, or spend much to repair/maintain their
>>old, obsolete tdma network.
>>
>>
>>saxmaniac wrote:
>>
>>>I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
>>>Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
>>>phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
>>>concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
>>>phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
>>>claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or
>>>so away from the affected area.
>>>
>>>If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular
>>>in a heartbeat.
>>>
>>>Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.
>
>
>

Sure they will accept your money, as long as you are willing to give it
to them. So will a lot of people/companies. But no one is forcing you
to keep giving it to them. If what is left of the tdma network is no
longer viable for you, then change. They are saying so. You can not
buy new tdma handsets any more, for a long time now. That is forcing a
slow migration. The fast migration may come, like I said, when the tdma
contracts have expired. They may have a hard time finding new tdma
network equipment.

JohnF wrote:
> I would expext ANY company to work hard and fast to repair equipment they
> still support and accept my money on a monthly basis to use. I don't care if
> they (or you) consider it obsolete. If they're going to continue to allow me
> to subscribe to it then they better maintain it. If not, then they should
> say so and start forcing a migration off of that equipment.
>
> "Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I would not expect cingular, or any carrier that has (upgraded) to gsm for
>>that matter, to work fast, hard, or spend much to repair/maintain their
>>old, obsolete tdma network.
>>
>>
>>saxmaniac wrote:
>>
>>>I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
>>>Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
>>>phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
>>>concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
>>>phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
>>>claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or
>>>so away from the affected area.
>>>
>>>If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular
>>>in a heartbeat.
>>>
>>>Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.
>
>
>

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> My point is that, unless it is some small company that is still
> tdma/analog only, their main focus is else where. I do not have any
> inside information from cingular and I do not speak for cingular, but my
> point is I don't think they do still support tdma. They do not sell
> tdma phones. They sell gsm phones and the majority, if not all, of
> their support is to their gsm network. Kind of makes sense don't it. I
> wonder how many people they still have under tdma contract? I bet they
> do not let those contracts be extended. I wonder when the last of those
> contracts expire. Perhaps as soon as there are no contractees in each
> given market, any remaining tdma users will get notice to move to gsm
> since the network will be shut off. Thirty days notice seems fair.


Last I heard, non-GSM customers amounted to around 40% of existing
service on Cingular - I don't know if that figure was before or after
the blue acquisition. I suppose existing service contracts would be
allowed to die a natural death without renewal. In so far as network
coverages are concerned, AMPS and TDMA are slowly dying due to
conversions to GSM because nobody is inventing more spectrum - more GSM
becomes available at the expense of AMPS/TDMA. But you're right,
Cingular isn't writing any new contracts for AMPS/TDMA service that
extend beyond current contracts - only existing service is supported,
nothing new. Yet, there are a number of small Mom n' Pop providers that
have no intention of offering GSM - their primary revenue stream is from
roaming contracts with other providers, and those dollars are shrinking
as more roamers can no longer access their networks from new GSM-only
phones. Eventually, those networks will also die a natural death, the
spectrum licenses will be sold, converted to GSM, and Mom n' Pop will
retire. I expect most of this activity will occur when the AMPS sunset
approaches, and I expect a minimum sixty day notice would be appropriate
because that includes one complete billing cycle for everyone - time
enough to close the books.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Even if it is 40 % today, when the last contract runs out, I expect
cingular will make some changes/turn-offs. Even if new tdma network
equipment is available, when was the last time cingular bought any? Are
those mom&pops selling any new tdma phones? Are the manufacturers still
making any? Are they making any tdma network equipment? If they have
not already, tdma users need to wake up and smell the coffee.


Jer wrote:
> Jerome Zelinske wrote:
>
>> My point is that, unless it is some small company that is still
>> tdma/analog only, their main focus is else where. I do not have any
>> inside information from cingular and I do not speak for cingular, but
>> my point is I don't think they do still support tdma. They do not
>> sell tdma phones. They sell gsm phones and the majority, if not all,
>> of their support is to their gsm network. Kind of makes sense don't
>> it. I wonder how many people they still have under tdma contract? I
>> bet they do not let those contracts be extended. I wonder when the
>> last of those contracts expire. Perhaps as soon as there are no
>> contractees in each given market, any remaining tdma users will get
>> notice to move to gsm since the network will be shut off. Thirty days
>> notice seems fair.
>
>
>
> Last I heard, non-GSM customers amounted to around 40% of existing
> service on Cingular - I don't know if that figure was before or after
> the blue acquisition. I suppose existing service contracts would be
> allowed to die a natural death without renewal. In so far as network
> coverages are concerned, AMPS and TDMA are slowly dying due to
> conversions to GSM because nobody is inventing more spectrum - more GSM
> becomes available at the expense of AMPS/TDMA. But you're right,
> Cingular isn't writing any new contracts for AMPS/TDMA service that
> extend beyond current contracts - only existing service is supported,
> nothing new. Yet, there are a number of small Mom n' Pop providers that
> have no intention of offering GSM - their primary revenue stream is from
> roaming contracts with other providers, and those dollars are shrinking
> as more roamers can no longer access their networks from new GSM-only
> phones. Eventually, those networks will also die a natural death, the
> spectrum licenses will be sold, converted to GSM, and Mom n' Pop will
> retire. I expect most of this activity will occur when the AMPS sunset
> approaches, and I expect a minimum sixty day notice would be appropriate
> because that includes one complete billing cycle for everyone - time
> enough to close the books.
>

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> Even if it is 40 % today, when the last contract runs out, I expect
> cingular will make some changes/turn-offs.

They're already making some changes/turn-offs. Rumor has it that the
only analog that continues to exist in urban areas is barely enough to
satisfy FCC must-carry requirements. I would imagine TDMA coverage is
pared back according to waning demand, though there are no statutory
must-carry requirements for it.

> Even if new tdma network
> equipment is available, when was the last time cingular bought any?

My guess is it's been quite a while now.

> Are those mom&pops selling any new tdma phones?

The Mom n' Pop providers have never sold any consumer equipment that I'm
aware of. Their few customers haven't really needed any new equipment
for some years now - most still use the same old analog equipment
they've always been happy with.

> Are the manufacturers still making any?
> Are they making any tdma network equipment?

Dunno

> If they have
> not already, tdma users need to wake up and smell the coffee.
>

Some will, some won't. We each make our decisions and deal with the
consequences. That is as it should be.


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

saxmaniac wrote:
> I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
> Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
> phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
> concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
> phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
> claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or so
> away from the affected area.
>
> If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular in
> a heartbeat.
>
> Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.
>
>

My TDMA phone also stopped working, without any notification or warning
of any kind, about Sept. 11 in the south east part of Florida. Every
time I try and make a call, Americas Roaming Network hijacks my call and
prevents me from making a normal call. The phone works ok though while
in the Miami area but not north of Fort Lauderdale. I originally signed
up with ATT and apparently Cingular has declared war on ATT TDMA
customers. I was told that I had to upgrade my phone to GSM to fix the
problem, however the fact remains that I had no problem before 9/11. The
problem is not just one tower but a wide area of thousands of square
miles. This is a problem Cingular implemented, and not a problem with
ATT TDMA phones.

Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.

"numeric" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Ytv%[email protected]...
>
>
> saxmaniac wrote:
>> I have been through hell with Cingular's inept tech support. Commencing
>> Thursday night, I have been unable to make or receive a call on the TDMA
>> phone. They stated it would take 5 to 7 days to fix THEIR problem. We
>> concluded it was not the phone as the problem persisted on another TDMA
>> phone. At first they said it was an authentication error...now they are
>> claiming a faulty tower. Nonetheless, the problem persisted 18 miles or
>> so away from the affected area.
>>
>> If not for my stacked minutes and cheap TDMA plan, I would drop Cingular
>> in a heartbeat.
>>
>> Anyone else in OC California having this TDMA problem.
>
> My TDMA phone also stopped working, without any notification or warning of
> any kind, about Sept. 11 in the south east part of Florida. Every time I
> try and make a call, Americas Roaming Network hijacks my call and prevents
> me from making a normal call. The phone works ok though while in the Miami
> area but not north of Fort Lauderdale. I originally signed up with ATT and
> apparently Cingular has declared war on ATT TDMA customers. I was told
> that I had to upgrade my phone to GSM to fix the problem, however the fact
> remains that I had no problem before 9/11. The problem is not just one
> tower but a wide area of thousands of square miles. This is a problem
> Cingular implemented, and not a problem with ATT TDMA phones.
>

"Mij Adyaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:sbz%e.69865$ct5.48724@fed1read04...
> Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.
>

Because those of us that were with ATTWS had much better plans.

650 Anytime minutes
7 PM N/W
Free Incoming text msgs
Free M2M
Free Long Distance

$29.99/mo . . .

Cingular won't match those rates and terms. When my TDMA service becomes
unbearable, I'm moving to Verizon. No way will I reward Cingular with my
future business, after they stuck it to us ATTWS customers. **** 'em!

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <gTA%e.1812$%p6.631@trnddc06> on Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:49:48 GMT, "Jeremy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Mij Adyaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:sbz%e.69865$ct5.48724@fed1read04...
>> Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.
>
>Because those of us that were with ATTWS had much better plans.
>
>650 Anytime minutes
>7 PM N/W
>Free Incoming text msgs
>Free M2M
>Free Long Distance
>
>$29.99/mo . . .
>
>Cingular won't match those rates and terms. ...

Nor will anyone else -- that's part of why ATTWS is no longer in business.

Cingular might actually come reasonably close, although you need to get to
someone with the authority to do it, which in your case would be "Retention"
(which you get to by telling them you're about to switch carriers), not just
regular Customer Care. For example, how about Nation 450 w/Rollover (the
cheapest Cingular plan at $39.99), plus (say) a bucket of 2400 rollover
minutes, plus Extended Nights and Weekends (credited for the term of the
contract)? Rollover is a big plus that you didn't get with ATTWS.

>When my TDMA service becomes
>unbearable, I'm moving to Verizon. No way will I reward Cingular with my
>future business, after they stuck it to us ATTWS customers. **** 'em!

How is not doing a giveaway sticking it to you? And what makes you think
Verizon will give you a better deal than Cingular would? No offense, but that
looks to me like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Mij Adyaw wrote:
> Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.

I had no complaint with my ATT TDMA phone. Changing to GSM is not a
valid solution. Cingular must restore the TDMA coverage for ATT phones.
It wasn't a gradual loss of service, the loss occurred within one day
over thousands of square miles. I will not be manipulated by the
corporate **** heads at Cingular into buying a GSM phone; Hell will
freeze over first.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <B0E%[email protected]> on Sat, 01 Oct
2005 22:24:33 GMT, numeric <[email protected]> wrote:

>Mij Adyaw wrote:
>> Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.
>
>I had no complaint with my ATT TDMA phone. Changing to GSM is not a
>valid solution. Cingular must restore the TDMA coverage for ATT phones.

Why? Must Ford still sell 1999 model cars?

>It wasn't a gradual loss of service, the loss occurred within one day
>over thousands of square miles. I will not be manipulated by the
>corporate **** heads at Cingular into buying a GSM phone; Hell will
>freeze over first.

Suit yourself, but nobody else is going to give you TDMA (IS-136) service
either.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Sounds like a valid solution to me. cingular must? haha! It ain't
gonna happen! Sure, you do not have to buy a gsm phone. You could buy
a CDMA phone instead.


numeric wrote:
>
>
> Mij Adyaw wrote:
>
>> Why not get a GSM phone? No one uses TDMA anymore.
>
>
> I had no complaint with my ATT TDMA phone. Changing to GSM is not a
> valid solution. Cingular must restore the TDMA coverage for ATT phones.
> It wasn't a gradual loss of service, the loss occurred within one day
> over thousands of square miles. I will not be manipulated by the
> corporate **** heads at Cingular into buying a GSM phone; Hell will
> freeze over first.
>