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  1. #46
    Jerome Zelinske
    Guest

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    If as you say you don't roam much, then the 50% rule should not be
    a problem for you. Yes, their current rule as described does make
    sense! If more than half of your calls are roaming, then either you
    should find a provider with better coverage where you usually call, or
    maybe an additional provider.


    Jack Hamilton wrote:
    > "Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >
    >>"Jack Hamilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >>news:[email protected]...
    >>
    >>>"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >>
    >><snipped>
    >>
    >>>So I'd be better off calling my home phone and just letting the two
    >>>phones stay connected for two hours when I got back, so the denominator
    >>>would be larger. I wouldn't think Sprint would want to encourage that.

    >>
    >>These all sound like hypothetical arguments. First off Jack, let's get
    >>something straight. It sounds like you don't have SPCS coverage with all
    >>this talk of roaming. If you were roaming that much, you should have dumped
    >>SPCS and found another provider. If you do have coverage with SPCS and roam
    >>that much, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, NY I'd like to sell you ...

    >
    >
    > You're right. I'm a former Sprint customer, and I left partly because
    > of the roaming problem and partly because of the customer service
    > problem. I don't roam much, but when I do I want coverage.
    >
    > I didn't leave Sprint vowing I'd never come back, so I want to keep up
    > with what they're doing - it's not impossible for a formerly good
    > carrier to destroy itself, as AT&T Wireless was doing last year, and I
    > might decide to leave VZW someday. Sprint has certainly improved their
    > plans over the past few years, but it sounds like they still have some
    > thinking to do. Can you really say that their current rule as described
    > makes sense?
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > ==
    > Jack Hamilton
    > [email protected]
    >
    > ==
    > In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted comfort and security.
    > And in the end, they lost it all - freedom, comfort and security.
    > Edward Gibbons





    See More: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?




  2. #47
    Robert M.
    Guest

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    In article <[email protected]>,
    Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> wrote:

    > If as you say you don't roam much, then the 50% rule should not be
    > a problem for you. Yes, their current rule as described does make
    > sense! If more than half of your calls are roaming, then either you
    > should find a provider with better coverage where you usually call, or
    > maybe an additional provider.


    And will Sprint realizing that do anything to help you, like waiving
    your ETF so you can easily change?



  3. #48
    Michael L.
    Guest

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    In article <[email protected]>,
    "Eric Rosenberry" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Michael-
    >
    > Do you know if there is a way to force any of your phones to 1900mhz? If
    > so, you may be able to make them lock on to the Sprint signal in your area
    > and verify for you if it is any better in your area. (this is assuming that
    > Verizon themselves does not have 1900mhz gear in your area)


    I was not able to force my phones to 1900mhz, but I did take out a 14
    day trial on Sprint and found that, yes, in fact, Sprint does work in my
    house (not a perfect signal everywhere, but significantly better than
    Verizon). After a week of using Sprint, I took the plunge yesterday and
    switched my family plan of four phones over to Sprint.

    For what it's worth, as a long time, loyal, happy Verizon customer (give
    or take some truly awful customer service experiences just over a year
    ago), this was a tough switch to make, especially given all the bad
    stuff I've heard about Sprint. But in the places where I spend my time,
    I'm finding Sprint's coverage to be as good as or better than Verizon's,
    and so far I haven't noticed the disadvantages of the 1900mhz system.
    Plus, Sprint's phone choices are quite good (the Sanyo RL-4920 I got is
    great), and they currently have a 7PM nights and weekend package...

    So, I wouldn't recommend that anyone leave Verizon (I would have stayed
    if it worked in my house), but I was happy to find an acceptable
    alternative.

    I hope there is a time soon when all the major carriers have good
    signals almost everywhere, so we can make our choices based on customer
    service, price plans, and phone choices. They're all working on that,
    right???

    Thanks to everyone in this group who helped me figure this out!

    Michael



  4. #49
    Thomas T. Veldhouse
    Guest

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
    Hash: SHA1

    In alt.cellular.sprintpcs Michael L. <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > For what it's worth, as a long time, loyal, happy Verizon customer (give
    > or take some truly awful customer service experiences just over a year
    > ago), this was a tough switch to make, especially given all the bad
    > stuff I've heard about Sprint. But in the places where I spend my time,
    > I'm finding Sprint's coverage to be as good as or better than Verizon's,
    > and so far I haven't noticed the disadvantages of the 1900mhz system.
    > Plus, Sprint's phone choices are quite good (the Sanyo RL-4920 I got is
    > great), and they currently have a 7PM nights and weekend package...
    >


    I was in the exact boat your are in. I used Verizon for about three
    years or so in the late 90s into 2000. I had a stint with
    Aerial/Voicestream and then moved on too Sprint. I gave Verizon another
    chance this last April and found that they have not upgraded a single
    tower in my area in 4 years! So much for all the billboards claiming,
    "We Check It". Not in Minnesota they don't (but the billboards are
    everywhere)!!!

    - --

    Thomas T. Veldhouse
    Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

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  5. #50
    Rřbert M.
    Guest

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    In article <[email protected]>,
    "Michael L." <[email protected]> wrote:

    > I hope there is a time soon when all the major carriers have good
    > signals almost everywhere, so we can make our choices based on customer
    > service, price plans, and phone choices. They're all working on that,
    > right???


    Dream on. As soon as you're under contract, you're a piece of cash flow.



  6. #51

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 18:37:48 -0700, "Michael L."
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >My Verizon contract is up, and I went to Radio Shack today to compare
    >phones. I'm very happy with Verizon, except, and this is important, I
    >can only get a Verizon signal in one room of my house, and even that is
    >a bit spotty. My daughter tells me that one of her friends has Sprint,
    >and she gets reception everywhere in my house. My daughter also can't
    >get Verizon reception in her dorm room back in Massachusets, and she
    >says her friends with Sprint phones can.


    I have the opposite experience, although I can receive a signal in my
    home, I cannot receive a signal in my son's home (or within a mile of
    his home, just outside Downtown Disney in Orlando). I also cannot
    receive a signal in many areas of my home calling area in
    Jacksonville, FL. In the case of one client, I was standing outside
    in their parking lot, immediately next to I95 in the middle of
    Jacksonville, and could not get a signal, other than roaming.

    >The sales rep at Radio Shack pointed out that Sprint, like Verizon, is a
    >CDMA system and that many Sprint phones are tri-mode. I've read that
    >1900 MHZ systems are not as good as 800 Mhz, but he pointed out that the
    >tri-mode Sprint phones are 1900, 800, and analogue, and he said that
    >with Sprint's Expanded Voice Coverage, a Sprint phone can roam nearly
    >everywhere in the US.


    And, roaming is the key word. I travel across the country, and
    frequently wind up with roaming vs. PCS network in cities where you
    would expect to have good PCS coverage. I have had to "add on" a
    feature, with extra monthly charges, to get "free roaming".

    >I have a few technical questions about that: does that mean that a
    >tri-mode Sprint phone would pick up the SAME analogue signal as my
    >Verizon phone in the outer reaches of Marin, where I sometimes rely on
    >an analogue signal? Does that mean that when a 1900 MHZ Sprint signal
    >is not reaching my phone when I travel, it will pick up the same 800 MHZ
    >signal that my Verizon phone would? I understand that, all other things
    >being equal, the Sprint phone will default to a 1900 MHZ Sprint signal;
    >I'm just not clear what happens when roaming on Sprint and, more
    >importantly, how it would compare with Verizon.


    Anytime you drop off the PCS network to an analogue signal, you are
    roaming, and roaming charges (in my case, 41 cents a minute) apply.

    >I must say I haven't heard much good about Sprint in the past, but these
    >companies change all the time. Any opinions? I remember in particular
    >that Sprint had weak coverage in the Los Angeles area. Has that
    >changed?


    I do not have a good opinion of Sprint. Every time I see their ads
    where they talk about "nationwide coverage with no roaming" it just
    infuriates me.

    I am changing at the end of this billing cycle.


    Deb



  7. #52

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 02:40:49 GMT, "Bob Smith"
    <[email protected]> wrote:


    >
    >I've noticed you've brought back that 1,400,000 number in the past two days.
    >So Phillipe, just where is that simple copy and paste, along with a page
    >number out of the 10Q. After 20 plus requests from quite a few people here,
    >including yours truly, you still haven't backed up your statement.


    I can't speak about the number of customers who have left, but
    according to the FCC 2003 posting of complaint statistics, Sprint PCS
    was second only to AT&T in the number of complaints per 10K users.

    http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/05...laintsAll3.pdf
    is the link to the graphic.

    AT&T wireless had 3.39 per 10K, Sprint had 2.25 per 10K with the other
    providers listed all having 1.6 or less.

    >
    >> I'd say borrow your daughter's friends Sprint phone this weekend.

    >
    >That would be a good idea, as long as she didn't need it and had the N & W
    >option on here account.
    >>
    >>
    >> >
    >> > I like Verizon very much-- had customer service issues with them in the
    >> > past, but they've been better this past year, and they work well for me
    >> > when I travel in Los Angeles, where I spend a lot of time, and in the
    >> > East Coast, where I often do work as well. Reception in my home is a
    >> > significant issue, however, and I'd like to have it.
    >> >
    >> > The sales rep at Radio Shack pointed out that Sprint, like Verizon, is a
    >> > CDMA system and that many Sprint phones are tri-mode. I've read that
    >> > 1900 MHZ systems are not as good as 800 Mhz, but he pointed out that the
    >> > tri-mode Sprint phones are 1900, 800, and analogue, and he said that
    >> > with Sprint's Expanded Voice Coverage, a Sprint phone can roam nearly
    >> > everywhere in the US.

    >>
    >> Sprint natively uses only 1900 MHz. You can only roam where SprintPCS
    >> allows you to roam, not just anywhere.
    >>
    >>
    >> >
    >> > I have a few technical questions about that: does that mean that a
    >> > tri-mode Sprint phone would pick up the SAME analogue signal as my
    >> > Verizon phone in the outer reaches of Marin, where I sometimes rely on
    >> > an analogue signal? Does that mean that when a 1900 MHZ Sprint signal
    >> > is not reaching my phone when I travel, it will pick up the same 800 MHZ
    >> > signal that my Verizon phone would?

    >
    >Actually, with SPCS's newly issued PRL, if you were out of SPCS's coverage,
    >you could be roaming on 800 CDMA before 800 Analog. It all depends on who
    >the agreement is with.
    >>
    >> If SprintPCS has a roaming agreement with the same analog provider, then
    >> yes.
    >>
    >> > I understand that, all other things
    >> > being equal, the Sprint phone will default to a 1900 MHZ Sprint signal;
    >> > I'm just not clear what happens when roaming on Sprint and, more
    >> > importantly, how it would compare with Verizon.

    >>
    >> Everyplace is different depending on each companies roaming agreements.
    >>
    >> >
    >> > Obviously, the easy answer to this would be to try Sprint for 14 days
    >> > and see how I like it. Unfortunately, I'm on a family plan with 4
    >> > phones, so it would be a huge pain to try it, not like it, and go back
    >> > to Verizon.

    >
    >Well, you can try one phone on their new F & F plan, within the 14 day trial
    >period. If you find that it works for you, then you can decide whether you
    >want to port all your numbers off to SPCS.
    >> >
    >> > I must say I haven't heard much good about Sprint in the past, but these
    >> > companies change all the time. Any opinions? I remember in particular
    >> > that Sprint had weak coverage in the Los Angeles area. Has that
    >> > changed?
    >> >

    >Yes, it has. SPCS has added a lot of towers in the LA, SF & SD metro areas.
    >We have a few folks who post here from the LA & SF areas, and all find
    >satisfactory coverage.
    >
    >> > Does anyone have any comments comparing the 1900 MHZ CDMA Sprint quality
    >> > with Verizon's 800 MHZ CDMA quality?

    >>
    >> All things being equal (and they never are), 800 MHz would be better;
    >> but you've already indicated you think SprintPCS has better coverage in
    >> your area.
    >> Your best bet is to borrow your daughter's friends' Sprint phone
    >> this weekend. Pay her $20 for the insult, it's a bargain to get good
    >> hands-on knowledge of how good SprintPCS would be for you.
    >>
    >> >
    >> > Thanks in advance,
    >> > Michael

    >
    >Anytime ...
    >
    >Bob
    >


    Deb



  8. #53

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 03:13:49 GMT, O/Siris <0siris@sprîntpcs.com>
    wrote:

    >> Sprint natively uses only 1900 MHz. You can only roam where SprintPCS
    >> allows you to roam, not just anywhere.
    >>
    >>

    >
    >???
    >
    >Aside from some really small regional carriers, we've got roaming
    >agreements that cover 97% of the entire land area of the country.


    Other than many 'dead' areas, I have to say that if there is a signal
    at all, I can get roaming service when not on the PCS network.
    However, that also means I pay roaming charges, and that happens in
    far too many metropolitan areas for a "nationwide, no roaming
    network".


    Deb



  9. #54

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 09:23:30 GMT, "Robert M." <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >> Verizon phone uses. But it will cost 69 cents/min, unless you have a
    >> Free & Clear America Plan for $5 extra per month (then no extra cost).

    >
    >ONLY if total roaming minutes are less than half of the total minutes
    >used that month.


    Which is another of my problems, since the cell phone is primarily
    used when I am out of town. So far, it has stayed under the 50%
    roaming, but there have been one or two months where it really
    "teetered" on the edge.


    Deb



  10. #55

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 03:27:11 GMT, O/Siris <0siris@sprîntpcs.com>
    wrote:

    >> ONLY if total roaming minutes are less than half of the total minutes
    >> used that month.
    >>
    >>

    >
    >Actually, no. If you exceed that 50% limit, you're still covered.
    >We send you a friendly reminder of the 50% limit, but cover you
    >unless you exceed it twice within a 3-month period.


    Which can really suck if you are a frequent traveller, and get stuck
    in areas where PCS just can't be found. (On retrospect, in the larger
    metro areas, I just realized it is in the industrial areas or "just
    outside city limits".)


    Deb



  11. #56

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

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    On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 16:36:50 -0500, "Ernest D. Stalnaker"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >I'm thinking about switching from Verizon to Sprint, but I keep hearing
    >stuff that scares me away. And I can't find anyone who can tell me if the
    >service will work well in an area that's about 2 miles from the Interstate
    >but kind of in the country (Verizon works well there).


    Not sure where in the country, or on which interstate you are on,
    but.....

    In Jacksonville, FL. Immediately next to I95 and 1/2 mile from Butler
    Blvd., outside in a parking lot, I can't get a PCS signal and am
    roaming. By the way, Jax is my home service area.

    Within 1/4 mile south of the I95/I295 merger on the south end of Jax,
    roaming about 25% of the time, no signal at all the rest of the time.
    No signal or in roaming mode almost to St. Augustine.

    On I10, west of Jacksonville, between Jax and Lake City, frequent
    "dead zones" with no signal at all. (I don't count the area in the
    Chaffee Road area, since I suspect the Navy has something in that area
    that blocks the signal, I don't know of any carrier with a signal in
    that 1 mile area). The dead zones are most frequent west of the
    Sanderson exit and on to Lake City.

    In Orlando, one mile away from Downtown Disney, about 1 - 2 miles off
    I4, no signal. On Disney itself, no signal.

    Down the I75 corridor between Ocala and Tampa, large dead zones.

    Down I95 between Daytona and Cocoa Beach, large dead zones.

    I4 between Daytona and Sanderson, a number of dead zones.

    In Oveido, FL, a suburb on the north side of Orlando within a few
    miles of the University of Central Florida, in my sister's front yard,
    no signal.


    Deb



  12. #57

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 22:37:29 GMT, "Bob Smith"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >If you expect to be roaming that much, even with SPCS's F&CA deal, SPCS is
    >not for you. Why would you go to a carrier where you expect to make so many
    >off network calls?


    Perhaps he, as I was, has been taken in by the ads that state "true
    nationwide coverage with no roaming" that don't mention that only
    applies on a PCS network that does not really have true nationwide
    capability?

    I travel all over the country. They said nationwide coverage, and
    silly me, I believed them. For some funny reason, their ads never
    quite mention that little "only when on the PCS network" exception.

    My bad, I did not research thoroughly enough before going to Sprint.
    This time, I know better and am doing my homework.

    Deb



  13. #58

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 03:12:07 GMT, "O/Siris" <0siris@sprîntpcs.cŘm>
    wrote:
    >
    >The 50% limit only applies to total usage. If more than 50% of your total
    >usage in a month is roaming, then we cover you and send you a reminder about
    >the 50% limit. Do it again within 3 months, and we still cover you, but we
    >remove the Free&Clear America option.
    >
    >Do you really think you'll use that many roaming minutes more than once
    >within a 3-month period?


    I came very close on at least two occasions during my business travel.
    The phone is primarily used for business when I am at a client's, and
    that is usually out of my home area.

    When I can't get a PCS signal, I'm forced to roam.

    Deb



  14. #59

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 19:23:54 GMT, "Bob Smith"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >These all sound like hypothetical arguments. First off Jack, let's get
    >something straight. It sounds like you don't have SPCS coverage with all
    >this talk of roaming. If you were roaming that much, you should have dumped
    >SPCS and found another provider. If you do have coverage with SPCS and roam
    >that much, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, NY I'd like to sell you ...


    I have Sprint PCS. I wind up on roaming at least 25% of the calls I
    make on a regular basis. I find it irritating that I have to pay a
    montly service fee to get the "true nationwide network with no
    roaming" that the ads promised.

    My contract is up, and yes, I am changing providers. The plan I have
    found is $20.00 per month cheaper, has TRUE no roaming anywhere in the
    US, regardless of what network I am currently connected to, and has
    more minutes per month. My sister has the same provider, and I have
    done side by side tests with her phone and mine in all the areas of
    Orlando that I can't get a signal. I'm at "searching for signal" and
    she's at 4 or 5 bars in every location.

    >notification of having too many roaming minutes. It's probably the best $5
    >monthly investment offered by SPCS for those that do find they roam
    >occasionally, either off network or in a dead spot.


    $5.00 per month to get a true national plan without roaming charges.
    It just torques me.


    Deb



  15. #60

    Re: Switching to Sprint? Opinions?

    On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 17:50:05 GMT, Jerome Zelinske
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    > If as you say you don't roam much, then the 50% rule should not be
    >a problem for you. Yes, their current rule as described does make
    >sense! If more than half of your calls are roaming, then either you
    >should find a provider with better coverage where you usually call, or
    >maybe an additional provider.


    Well, I really thought when I went to Sprint in the first place, that
    they would have good coverage in cities such as Orlando, Tampa,
    Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Diego, Minneapolis, Detroit, Greensboro,
    Columbus, San Francisco, Jacksonville (my home area), Tallahassee,
    Houston, etc.

    When I get hit for roaming in my home town.......


    Deb



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