Results 1 to 14 of 14
- 07-18-2005, 10:44 AM #1Stanley ReynoldsGuest
"Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
> the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of
> my office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
> problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is
> better, and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not
> mean I'm getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to
> do with using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm
> not sure if it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can
> I switch to a real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
Which handset are you using ? If it is a single-band then this may-be due to
the phone. Where are you ? Some markets are 800Mhz orange and 1900Mhz blue
(orange is old cingular towers and blue is old AT&TW towers). Your handset /
plan maybe TDMA vs GSM which depending on location could effect coverage.
Last which AT&T plan you have and it's cost may effect the change to orange,
some people have a great deal like unlimited peek min they can not get from
a new Cingular plan.
› See More: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
- 07-18-2005, 10:59 AM #2Scott MosemanGuest
Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of
my office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is
better, and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not
mean I'm getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to
do with using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm
not sure if it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can
I switch to a real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
Thanks,
Scott
- 07-18-2005, 01:06 PM #3Scott MosemanGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
Stanley Reynolds wrote:
> "Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
>>the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of
>>my office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
>>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is
>>better, and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not
>>mean I'm getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to
>>do with using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm
>>not sure if it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can
>>I switch to a real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Scott
>
>
> Which handset are you using ? If it is a single-band then this may-be due to
> the phone. Where are you ? Some markets are 800Mhz orange and 1900Mhz blue
> (orange is old cingular towers and blue is old AT&TW towers). Your handset /
> plan maybe TDMA vs GSM which depending on location could effect coverage.
> Last which AT&T plan you have and it's cost may effect the change to orange,
> some people have a great deal like unlimited peek min they can not get from
> a new Cingular plan.
>
>
Nokia 3100, should be GSM, and I'm in the Houston, TX market. I have a
family plan with two phones, XXX anytime minutes, free between phones,
and free nights and weekends. It's pretty recent, so I'm not sure if
it's flagged as an AT&T or Cingular plan (I would need to check my bill
to see what it says). Is there any truth to the fact that I could get
on a different (better) network if I was somehow on AT&T and did a real
switch over to Cingular?
Thanks,
Scott
- 07-18-2005, 02:28 PM #4Stanley ReynoldsGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
> Nokia 3100, should be GSM,
yes GSM and US model covers 850/1800/1900 bands , eazy to unlock with free
caculator from :
http://unlock.nokiafree.org/
If unlocked you can try sims from t-mobile and cingular the prepaid sims are
cheap on ebay.
>and I'm in the Houston, TX market. I have a
> family plan with two phones, XXX anytime minutes, free between phones,
> and free nights and weekends. It's pretty recent, so I'm not sure if
> it's flagged as an AT&T or Cingular plan (I would need to check my bill
> to see what it says). Is there any truth to the fact that I could get
> on a different (better) network if I was somehow on AT&T and did a real
> switch over to Cingular?
No, you should get about the same service , you will need to shop around for
better plans. You didn't give enought info to compare your current plan to
current cingular plans but you can do that at www.cingular.com .
Try t-mobile to see if they have better service at your home and office.
Also try Verizon and or Sprint, your phones will not work but you should be
able to get new phones.
- 07-18-2005, 05:31 PM #5Nicholas CarnevaleGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
The networks are one in the same, it really does not make a difference if
you have an ATT SIM or Cingular SIM.
Cingular will want you to switch to one of their SIM cards, if you want to
alter your plan in any way, so it will make bookkeeping easier for them to
have all customers on Cingular SIM cards.
A friend of mine who was on ATT wanted to upgrade his plan, and was told
that he had to switch to a Cingular SIM and get a new handset, since his
Nokia 6820 was locked to ATT. I simply unlocked his phone, went to a
Cingular store, and got him a new SIM card. No need for a new handset.
Hope I helped!
-Nick
"Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
>the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of my
>office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is better,
>and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not mean I'm
>getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to do with
>using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm not sure if
>it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can I switch to a
>real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
- 07-18-2005, 10:42 PM #6DanGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
"Stanley Reynolds" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> Nokia 3100, should be GSM,
>
> yes GSM and US model covers 850/1800/1900 bands , eazy to unlock with free
> caculator from :
>
> http://unlock.nokiafree.org/
>
> If unlocked you can try sims from t-mobile and cingular the prepaid sims
> are
> cheap on ebay.
>
>>and I'm in the Houston, TX market. I have a
>> family plan with two phones, XXX anytime minutes, free between phones,
>> and free nights and weekends. It's pretty recent, so I'm not sure if
>> it's flagged as an AT&T or Cingular plan (I would need to check my bill
>> to see what it says). Is there any truth to the fact that I could get
>> on a different (better) network if I was somehow on AT&T and did a real
>> switch over to Cingular?
>
> No, you should get about the same service , you will need to shop around
> for
> better plans. You didn't give enought info to compare your current plan to
> current cingular plans but you can do that at www.cingular.com .
>
> Try t-mobile to see if they have better service at your home and office.
> Also try Verizon and or Sprint, your phones will not work but you should
> be
> able to get new phones.
>
>
easy t-mobile street coverage maps are at http://compass.t-mobile.com
Make an imformed decision!
- 07-18-2005, 11:15 PM #7Bill KraskiGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
Scott Moseman wrote:
>>>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is
>>>better, and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not
>>>mean I'm getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to
>>>do with using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm
> Nokia 3100, should be GSM, and I'm in the Houston, TX market. I have a
> family plan with two phones, XXX anytime minutes, free between phones,
> and free nights and weekends. It's pretty recent, so I'm not sure if
> it's flagged as an AT&T or Cingular plan (I would need to check my bill
> to see what it says). Is there any truth to the fact that I could get
> on a different (better) network if I was somehow on AT&T and did a real
> switch over to Cingular?
I'm also ATT (sometimes known as "Cingular blue" <grin>). I have a Motorola
V180, which for ATT is quad band 850/900/1800/1900. I started with ATT
TDMA & was about the only one, then, who got signal inside my office. When
I needed to switch to a national plan, I also switched to a GSM ATT plan &
phone. There was some degradation in signal due to the differences between
TDMA & GSM. But I get Cingular (old ATT) coverage inside the building,
Cingular Wireless (real Cingular) outside the building. There have been
roaming agreements between ATT & Cingular for at least 5 years, if not
longer. So, either one should give you equal coverage. on the older 32k
sims. If you switch & get a newer 64k sim, I've read that it includes some
tower load balancing logic which could put you on a tower with lower signal
strength because that tower had a smaller load from phones in the area.
According to Phonescoop's specs, the 3100 is triband, so you've got both of
the US gsm bands. So, that's not your problem. You didn't say what other
phones & carriers got better coverage in your office. Both could make a
difference. As can the construction of the building. GSM is notorious for
losing signal in block or brick buildings, which is why some large
buildings &/or companies have invested in repeaters in their buildings for
sales force use, with others benefitting. Before I moved to my present
home, I had much better in home cell signal because most of the buildings
were wood (some with siding) & lots of windows. My present home is in a
brick duplex, surrounded by more brick homes, on the side of a hill -- none
of which contribute to good cell signal. :-) If I'm inside my home, I can
move my head very slightly & lose incoming audio. My roommate fairs a
little better because he has a couple of large windows in his room.
If it's Sprint or Verizon that have better signal in your area, then you
need to remember that they use different cell technologies, which means
you'd have to get new phones. And where else you'd be using the phones.--
both are US or North America only. Only GSM has any chance of foreign
coverage in a large number of areas. And, even in the US, different
carriers vary in coverage quality in different areas.
Many of the Cingular plans are comparable to the ATT plans, but switching
would lose you any extra promotional minutes you may have.
Lots to keep in mind.
HTH
Bill K
- 07-19-2005, 11:42 AM #8John NavasGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
In <aZWCe.6071$YD3.4230@trndny03> on Mon, 18 Jul 2005 23:31:18 GMT, "Nicholas
Carnevale" <[email protected]> wrote:
>The networks are one in the same, it really does not make a difference if
>you have an ATT SIM or Cingular SIM.
That's *not* true. Frequency band issues aside, ATTWS (blue) handsets will
only roam on the Cingular (orange) network if there is no "usable" ATTWS
(blue) network signal, and vice versa, even with ENS. Thus in any given
location a blue handset may get much better service than an orange handset,
and vice versa.
>Cingular will want you to switch to one of their SIM cards, if you want to
>alter your plan in any way, so it will make bookkeeping easier for them to
>have all customers on Cingular SIM cards.
It's much more than that -- among other things, the new ENS handsets and SIMs
make it possible for Cingular to manually change the "home" network (blue or
orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better network
coverage until the two networks are integrated.
>A friend of mine who was on ATT wanted to upgrade his plan, and was told
>that he had to switch to a Cingular SIM and get a new handset, since his
>Nokia 6820 was locked to ATT. I simply unlocked his phone, went to a
>Cingular store, and got him a new SIM card. No need for a new handset.
Sure, but (band issues aside) no ENS, which can be a significant disadvantage,
as I explain above.
--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>
- 07-21-2005, 05:53 AM #9BBBGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
I'm in your shoes too. I've recently done quite a bit of research on this
topic.
I own TWO Nokia 3100 phones. The phone that came with my ATTWS service is a
850/1900 MHz dual band phone. I just bought a second Nokia 3100 because I
cracked the display on my other one. Nokia2 is tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz.
ATTWS was a big user of the 850 band (No, not the 800 MHz band as some
people erroneously say), while Cingular originally exclusively used 1900.
Cingular now uses both bands (at least in TX) thanks to the merger.
Yes folks, it's true. You get different performance depending on which band
your phone is using. When I place my two Nokia 3100 phones side by side,
the one broadcasting at 900/1800/1900 loses the network, while the one at
850/1900 holds the network perfectly. Long story short, you get better
performance on Cingular (at least in TX) with a dual band 850/1900 phone
because Cingular uses both bands. Therefore, when you lose one frequency,
the other holds on to the network.
"Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
>the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of my
>office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is better,
>and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not mean I'm
>getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to do with
>using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm not sure if
>it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can I switch to a
>real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
- 07-21-2005, 08:04 AM #10Jerome ZelinskeGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
Well, since a frequency band called 850 MHz would be 10 MHz wide from
850 to 859 MHz, which does not cover all the frequencies used by
cellular and the 800 MHz band is 100 MHz wide from 800 to 899 MHz and
does cover all the cellular frequencies, it seems more correct to me to
call it the 800 MHz band.
BBB wrote:
> I'm in your shoes too. I've recently done quite a bit of research on this
> topic.
>
> I own TWO Nokia 3100 phones. The phone that came with my ATTWS service is a
> 850/1900 MHz dual band phone. I just bought a second Nokia 3100 because I
> cracked the display on my other one. Nokia2 is tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz.
>
> ATTWS was a big user of the 850 band (No, not the 800 MHz band as some
> people erroneously say), while Cingular originally exclusively used 1900.
> Cingular now uses both bands (at least in TX) thanks to the merger.
>
> Yes folks, it's true. You get different performance depending on which band
> your phone is using. When I place my two Nokia 3100 phones side by side,
> the one broadcasting at 900/1800/1900 loses the network, while the one at
> 850/1900 holds the network perfectly. Long story short, you get better
> performance on Cingular (at least in TX) with a dual band 850/1900 phone
> because Cingular uses both bands. Therefore, when you lose one frequency,
> the other holds on to the network.
>
> "Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
>>the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of my
>>office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
>>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is better,
>>and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not mean I'm
>>getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to do with
>>using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm not sure if
>>it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can I switch to a
>>real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Scott
>
>
>
- 07-21-2005, 12:46 PM #11John NavasGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
In <[email protected]> on Thu, 21 Jul 2005 06:53:55 -0500,
"BBB" <[email protected]> wrote:
>ATTWS was a big user of the 850 band (No, not the 800 MHz band as some
>people erroneously say),
It is actually 800 MHz. The term "850" is just to distinguish GSM from TDMA
800 -- the frequencies are the same.
>while Cingular originally exclusively used 1900.
For GSM, but not for TDMA, which it had in many areas.
>Cingular now uses both bands (at least in TX) thanks to the merger.
Cingular used both bands pre-merger, depending on location.
>Yes folks, it's true. You get different performance depending on which band
>your phone is using. When I place my two Nokia 3100 phones side by side,
>the one broadcasting at 900/1800/1900 loses the network, while the one at
>850/1900 holds the network perfectly. Long story short, you get better
>performance on Cingular (at least in TX) with a dual band 850/1900 phone
>because Cingular uses both bands. Therefore, when you lose one frequency,
>the other holds on to the network.
What's different is the 850 band -- 1800 isn't used in the USA. If you have a
handset that also supports 850, then you *may* (or may not) get better
coverage and performance than a handset that supports just 1900, depending on
the specific location.
--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>
- 07-22-2005, 04:15 AM #12BBBGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
>
> No, they are not erroneous. 800 and 850 are the same "cellular"
> frequencies. In case you didn't know sending and receiving is not
> exactly 800 nor is it 850. Before you speak "authoritatively" you
> should first check your facts!
>
Ok, Joe from Seattle. You're right, I'm wrong. Can't we all just get
along? 800 AKA 850.
But this much is true and "authoritative". Where I live. You get better
Cingular reception with a 850/1900 phone than with a 900/1800/1900 phone.
"Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 06:53:55 -0500, "BBB" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>ATTWS was a big user of the 850 band (No, not the 800 MHz band as some
>>people erroneously say),
>
> No, they are not erroneous. 800 and 850 are the same "cellular"
> frequencies. In case you didn't know sending and receiving is not
> exactly 800 nor is it 850. Before you speak "authoritatively" you
> should first check your facts!
>
> - -
>
- 07-25-2005, 05:18 PM #13JohnFGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
So out of curiosity how would you refer to the the 10 MHz band of 800 MHz to
810 MHz?
"Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, since a frequency band called 850 MHz would be 10 MHz wide from
> 850 to 859 MHz, which does not cover all the frequencies used by
> cellular and the 800 MHz band is 100 MHz wide from 800 to 899 MHz and
> does cover all the cellular frequencies, it seems more correct to me to
> call it the 800 MHz band.
>
>
> BBB wrote:
> > I'm in your shoes too. I've recently done quite a bit of research on
this
> > topic.
> >
> > I own TWO Nokia 3100 phones. The phone that came with my ATTWS service
is a
> > 850/1900 MHz dual band phone. I just bought a second Nokia 3100
because I
> > cracked the display on my other one. Nokia2 is tri-band 900/1800/1900
MHz.
> >
> > ATTWS was a big user of the 850 band (No, not the 800 MHz band as some
> > people erroneously say), while Cingular originally exclusively used
1900.
> > Cingular now uses both bands (at least in TX) thanks to the merger.
> >
> > Yes folks, it's true. You get different performance depending on which
band
> > your phone is using. When I place my two Nokia 3100 phones side by
side,
> > the one broadcasting at 900/1800/1900 loses the network, while the one
at
> > 850/1900 holds the network perfectly. Long story short, you get better
> > performance on Cingular (at least in TX) with a dual band 850/1900 phone
> > because Cingular uses both bands. Therefore, when you lose one
frequency,
> > the other holds on to the network.
> >
> > "Scott Moseman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>I was previously an AT&T Wireless customer. I know that I'm now part of
> >>the Cingular "network". My wireless coverage sucks when I'm inside of
my
> >>office or my home, but some other people (other providers) have no
> >>problems. Someone suggested to me that AT&T sucks and Cingular is
better,
> >>and that just because I'm using Cingular's "network" does not mean I'm
> >>getting the same coverage as real Cingular users. Something to do with
> >>using a different frequency? I'm not a wireless guru, so I'm not sure
if
> >>it's true or not. Can anyone shed some light on this? Can I switch to
a
> >>real Cingular plan and get better coverage?
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>Scott
> >
> >
> >
- 08-02-2005, 06:10 AM #14Tropical HavenGuest
Re: Switch from AT&T to Cingular network
> The networks are one in the same, it really does not make a difference if
> you have an ATT SIM or Cingular SIM.
> Cingular will want you to switch to one of their SIM cards, if you want to
> alter your plan in any way, so it will make bookkeeping easier for them to
> have all customers on Cingular SIM cards.
Actually, it depends on the market. In market that had only ATTWS or Cingular,
that is true. However, in market that had both, Cingular is in the process of
moving the ATTWS infrastructure over to the Cingular network. I was just in
Minnesota, and I noticed that Cingular is now broadcasting at 310-410 instead
of 310-380, and native coverage seems to have improved upon the old ATTWS
footprint. It alsmost seemed like Cingular was filling in some GSM dead zones.
TH
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