If you've never used Nextel, try it out

I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them). But
for the last year their service has gone to pits. Dropped calls have
increased 500% or more. Places that never used to drop calls are now
dropping calls like you wouldn't believe, in my home area and traveling
areas that I travel often.

I'm not bashing Sprint... I've had them a LONG time. But I feel lucky if I
don't more than 10 calls in a day. (and it does it with multiple phones).

I got a Nextel to try them out and was amazed. I know Nextel doesn't have
as big of a footprint as Sprint espeically is outlying areas, but service is
WAY better than I ever imagined. Even rural areas that I expected to be
dead have service. One area I go that's really 'country', I have to roam
analog on Sprint, Nextel had full bars. I've never dropped a call in the 2
weeks of trying them out. Their internet rates are competitive and I used
to hate it when I heard people using direct connect but now don't know if I
want to give it up. Even for personal use, keeping in touch with friends
and family with a push of a button makes me feel like I've been behind the
times all these years. Oh, and yes I tried Readylink.... $600 for 2 RL
phones... the service is a joke.

Anyway, I'll still keep Sprint probably for my Treo 600 but I definately
don't sing their praises like I used to.

---

› See More: If you've never used Nextel, try it out

LOL !!!!!!!!!! I just switched from Nextel to Sprint for the same
exact reasons you switched from Sprint to Nextel.

In my case, I started using Nextel about 7 years ago and have suffered
not only thru their dropped calls (I would even lose the connection when
sitting at home and switching the phone from one ear to the other...or
getting up from the chair...or turning around in place) but I also
suffered continuous loss of the call at one end or the other, so that
many phone calls would end with the eternal: "Hello!?! You there!?! I
can't hear you! Hello!?! Hello!!!! Damn!" Then there was the lousy CSR
service from their phone support people...

So far so good for me with Sprint. I got for my family both the Sanyo
MM-7400 and LG PM-325 (for the Bluetooth option with my vehicles -- I
don't use the headsets) and so far I've had no drops like before, which
is a major league improvement when receiving a call inside the house.
In fact, I was even able to go upstairs, or out into the garage, or walk
out to the pool deck, or anywhere I wanted without dropping the call, as
was the case with Nextel. Even the voice clarity is much, much better
with my LG. FWIW, I live in SW Fla.

I'm not a novice with cell phones and know that all have their problems
anywhere in the country. So, we'll just wait and see what the specific
issues I end up having with Sprint...time will tell.



Newsguy wrote:
> I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them). But
> for the last year their service has gone to pits. Dropped calls have
> increased 500% or more. Places that never used to drop calls are now
> dropping calls like you wouldn't believe, in my home area and traveling
> areas that I travel often.
>
> I'm not bashing Sprint... I've had them a LONG time. But I feel lucky if I
> don't more than 10 calls in a day. (and it does it with multiple phones).
>
> I got a Nextel to try them out and was amazed. I know Nextel doesn't have
> as big of a footprint as Sprint espeically is outlying areas, but service is
> WAY better than I ever imagined. Even rural areas that I expected to be
> dead have service. One area I go that's really 'country', I have to roam
> analog on Sprint, Nextel had full bars. I've never dropped a call in the 2
> weeks of trying them out. Their internet rates are competitive and I used
> to hate it when I heard people using direct connect but now don't know if I
> want to give it up. Even for personal use, keeping in touch with friends
> and family with a push of a button makes me feel like I've been behind the
> times all these years. Oh, and yes I tried Readylink.... $600 for 2 RL
> phones... the service is a joke.
>
> Anyway, I'll still keep Sprint probably for my Treo 600 but I definately
> don't sing their praises like I used to.
>
>


--
PRNole
--------------------------------------
For email reply, please remove the 195

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

> I got a Nextel to try them out and was amazed.

my best friend uses Nextel and I HATE it.

I've heard (not sure if this is true) that Nextel prioritizes calls, so
calls from other Nextel customers go first, but calls from other
carriers might go straight to voicemail if the network is overloaded (as
it always seems to be). So when I call my friend, a lot (majority, I'd
say) of the time, the phone doesn't even ring. Then I get the automated
message that says "please wait while the Nextel customer is located"
(then again in spanish), and then it goes to her voicemail.


I gave up trying to call her during the day because I can never get thru.

/tommy

I've had the same experience with Sprint as you, Newsguy. I had them for 5
years and they were great but over the last 6 months my dropped calls have
gotten so bad that I can't stay connected for longer than 5 or 10 minutes at
a time, nights and weekends are ridiculous. The numerous trouble tickets
that I have made have gone unanswered. I can drive 1.5 miles from my house
and stay connected for as long as I want. I think I will be looking at
Cingular because of their rate plans.

"Newsguy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them). But
for the last year their service has gone to pits. Dropped calls have
increased 500% or more. Places that never used to drop calls are now
dropping calls like you wouldn't believe, in my home area and traveling
areas that I travel often.

I'm not bashing Sprint... I've had them a LONG time. But I feel lucky if I
don't more than 10 calls in a day. (and it does it with multiple phones).

I got a Nextel to try them out and was amazed. I know Nextel doesn't have
as big of a footprint as Sprint espeically is outlying areas, but service is
WAY better than I ever imagined. Even rural areas that I expected to be
dead have service. One area I go that's really 'country', I have to roam
analog on Sprint, Nextel had full bars. I've never dropped a call in the 2
weeks of trying them out. Their internet rates are competitive and I used
to hate it when I heard people using direct connect but now don't know if I
want to give it up. Even for personal use, keeping in touch with friends
and family with a push of a button makes me feel like I've been behind the
times all these years. Oh, and yes I tried Readylink.... $600 for 2 RL
phones... the service is a joke.

Anyway, I'll still keep Sprint probably for my Treo 600 but I definately
don't sing their praises like I used to.

PRNole wrote:
> LOL !!!!!!!!!! I just switched from Nextel to Sprint for the same
> exact reasons you switched from Sprint to Nextel.


Same here, though this was a few years back. In '99 I switch from
Sprint to Nextel (because at the time Sprint didn't have coverage in the
area I had moved to), and suffered through dropped calls and horribel
sound quality. Finally Sprint covered my area and I was SO happy to go
back.

Nextel has been notorious for having a limited amount of bandwidth, not
really having a way to expand its network, and yet lots of people are
still signing up. Those of you switching to Nextel DO realize that the
whole idea behind the Sprint-Nextel merger was so that Sprint could get
the customers, and Nextel could get bailed out of its capacity issues,
right?

I'm also curious as to whether quality will suffer when the rebanding
phase goes into effect, and Nextel is forced to swap channels with
public safety agencies that have complained about interference from
Nextel phones.


--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Nextel has more square mile coverage than Sprint does right now. iPCS has talked about comeing to my hometown Chariton, IA once, so no Sprint yet. Nextel has been off and on since 99 on building a tower in the area. Nextel has land to build a tower when they wish to. I would like to see someone to build so there will be 3 providers and breakup some of US Cellular's monopoly power in Southern Iowa.

agentHibby wrote:
> Nextel has more square mile coverage than Sprint does right now.

Are you trying to convey that Nextel has better coverage across the
nation than SPCS? Is so, you're a bit confused. If you only meant in
BFE... err "BFI," I have no idea (but it sounds like no one has cared
since the '90s).


--
Mike

Nextel is in more markets and has a larger network Sprint.
Now in the markets were both Sprint and Nextel operate (like 90% of them), Sprint probably does have a better network in some areas. In some areas Nextel has a better network.

Just becuase you have the largest network or towers in an area does not mean you have the best network. It could be the worst.

Hope this helps.

Newsguy wrote:
> I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them). But
> for the last year their service has gone to pits.

Where?

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

BR549 wrote:
> I've had the same experience with Sprint as you, Newsguy. I had them for 5
> years and they were great but over the last 6 months my dropped calls have
> gotten so bad that I can't stay connected for longer than 5 or 10 minutes at
> a time, nights and weekends are ridiculous. The numerous trouble tickets
> that I have made have gone unanswered. I can drive 1.5 miles from my house
> and stay connected for as long as I want. I think I will be looking at
> Cingular because of their rate plans.

Where?

It would be very useful for the rest of us to know where people having problems
are located.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Tampa, Fl 33615


"Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
BR549 wrote:
> I've had the same experience with Sprint as you, Newsguy. I had them for
> 5
> years and they were great but over the last 6 months my dropped calls have
> gotten so bad that I can't stay connected for longer than 5 or 10 minutes
> at
> a time, nights and weekends are ridiculous. The numerous trouble tickets
> that I have made have gone unanswered. I can drive 1.5 miles from my
> house
> and stay connected for as long as I want. I think I will be looking at
> Cingular because of their rate plans.

Where?

It would be very useful for the rest of us to know where people having
problems
are located.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

"Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Newsguy wrote:
>> I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them). But
>> for the last year their service has gone to pits.
>
> Where?

Not to butt in, but in more and more spots on I-75 between Cincinnati, Ohio
and Detroit, Michigan. The Sprint service I once praised is now the worst I
have ever experienced. Dropping calls now in areas that I didn't drop five
and six years ago. My one year retention agreement is up March 31 and it
will be time to look else where. I currently have 1000 a/t with unlimited
n/w that start at 8pm for $50. If I cannot sell my 7400 I'll use it for
target practice with my glock 23.

Did you get a new phone recently? I make that run (from Detroit all the way
down to Miami Lakes, FL) regularly and have had no problems with my Nokia
3588i.

Chris

"thunder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Newsguy wrote:
>>> I've used SprintPCS for the last 8 straight years (still have them).
>>> But for the last year their service has gone to pits.
>>
>> Where?
>
> Not to butt in, but in more and more spots on I-75 between Cincinnati,
> Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. The Sprint service I once praised is now the
> worst I have ever experienced. Dropping calls now in areas that I didn't
> drop five and six years ago. My one year retention agreement is up March
> 31 and it will be time to look else where. I currently have 1000 a/t with
> unlimited n/w that start at 8pm for $50. If I cannot sell my 7400 I'll use
> it for target practice with my glock 23.
>

I live in SW Fla (2 hrs south of Tampa, on the Gulf) and just
transferred over to SprintPCS after 6 years w/Nextel. My secretary told
me she had used Sprint about 5 years ago and found it lousy, in terms of
dropped calls. During my Nextel days, I used to drop about 8 out of 10
calls. I often found them dropped merely by switching the phone from one
ear to the other, while sitting in my living room. I could not get up
and walk around the house with the phone in use because I'd run the risk
of dropping the call. Forget my pool deck, where it's all aluminum and
mosquito netting -- could not make Nextel work there. Away from home,
most calls worked OK except for a frequent loss of conversation on the
other side (they stopped hearing me but I could hear them) regardless of
whether they were using a landline or cell. Last, voice clarity was
inconsistent, often clipped and at times cracking. During my time with
Nextel I used their 1000plus, 730i, and 88-SR phones.

I switched to Sprint merely 5 days ago and use their LG PM-325 (my son
has a Sanyo MM-7400, my wife and daughter the LG 325). So far the
difference in all areas mentioned above are significant and an
improvement. The voice clarity couldn't be better, regardless of whether
I'm on a call with my son and his Sanyo or some landline. Crystal
clear, no clipping or cracking. As far as drops, none so far. I can
safely switch the phone from one ear to the other, walk all around the
house, upstairs or downstairs, no problems talking within the pool deck
or garage. In sum, all calls so far made from within the house have
worked 100%. Then, calls I make through my car's bluetooth system are
also clear with no cracks or clips.

To make this shorter, I've experienced none of the problems my secretary
complained of when she had Sprint or that I have read in this nsg.
Again, as mentioned in another thread, I'm not a novice user when it
comes to cells. I started in 1989 with GTE Mobilnet and have been thru
most all of them since, except Cingular and T-Mobile (which came out
while I was using Nextel). I am aware the industry has significant
problems across the spectrum of services, much of it depending on phone
type, location, cell carrier, etc. So, I do expect problems with my
Sprint service in the future....it's just that no problems have occurred
so far and the difference in overall quality vs. Nextel has been
remarkable. Lastly, I have no desire to bash Nextel either. It just
didn't work for me.


BR549 wrote:
> Tampa, Fl 33615
>
>
> "Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> BR549 wrote:
>
>>I've had the same experience with Sprint as you, Newsguy. I had them for
>>5
>>years and they were great but over the last 6 months my dropped calls have
>>gotten so bad that I can't stay connected for longer than 5 or 10 minutes
>>at
>>a time, nights and weekends are ridiculous. The numerous trouble tickets
>>that I have made have gone unanswered. I can drive 1.5 miles from my
>>house
>>and stay connected for as long as I want. I think I will be looking at
>>Cingular because of their rate plans.
>
>
> Where?
>
> It would be very useful for the rest of us to know where people having
> problems
> are located.
>


--
PRNole
--------------------------------------
For email reply, please remove the 195

"Chris Russell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Did you get a new phone recently? I make that run (from Detroit all the
> way down to Miami Lakes, FL) regularly and have had no problems with my
> Nokia 3588i.


Yes I did, I had a new Sanyo 7300 that I used for six months, then I
switched to a new Sanyo 7400 and still dropping calls.