Northfield MN

Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on the
best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time in
Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover there
on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to Dobson,
it's all per-minute roaming.
VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but the
AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage outside
of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile web,
etc wouldn't work here?
Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer about
whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able to
add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.

Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too long.

---

› See More: Northfield MN

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 01:09:55 GMT, "Joshua Wyatt"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on the
>best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time in
>Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover there
>on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to Dobson,
>it's all per-minute roaming.
>VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but the
>AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage outside
>of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile web,
>etc wouldn't work here?
>Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer about
>whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able to
>add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
>
>Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too long.
>


It is an affiliate market. Owned by Northern PCS. No you cannot add
F&CA, only the 50 minute bundle. VZW does not offer native coverage.
If you had a MSP address, you would have coverage, but they will not /
are not supposed to activate you with service if you are not in a
licensed area.

n0esc

Last time I was there (early sept.) I went to Eden Valley from the TC. As I
recall I had native VZW through Alexandria (maybe a little beyond) and
extended network most of the way the the lake. Right at the lake it was/is
sketchy lots of roaming but my V60i has been the best performer, in this
circumstance. My LG 510 behaved the worst the Nokia 3285 almost as good as
the V60i. YMMV
Larry
"Joshua Wyatt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on
the
> best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time
in
> Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover
there
> on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to
Dobson,
> it's all per-minute roaming.
> VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but
the
> AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage
outside
> of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile
web,
> etc wouldn't work here?
> Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer
about
> whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able
to
> add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
>
> Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too
long.
>
>

"Joshua Wyatt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on
the
> best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time
in
> Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover
there
> on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to
Dobson,
> it's all per-minute roaming.

I believe Sprint PCS has a presence in Alaska, but I think it is pretty
limitted (via a PCS roaming partner). Verizon is native in the Twin Cities
market and in the Arrowhead region, that is it. The rest is via roaming
partners, the least of which is Sprint PCS!

> VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but
the
> AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage
outside
> of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile
web,
> etc wouldn't work here?

I am told you roam on Midwest Wireless with Verizon. Coverage is good with
Sprint PCS by what I hear (college students in Northfield don't seem to have
issues).

> Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer
about
> whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able
to
> add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.

Sprint is native in Northfield.

>
> Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too
long.
>

Tom Veldhouse

"www.ttdown.com" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 01:09:55 GMT, "Joshua Wyatt"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> It is an affiliate market. Owned by Northern PCS. No you cannot add
> F&CA, only the 50 minute bundle. VZW does not offer native coverage.
> If you had a MSP address, you would have coverage, but they will not /
> are not supposed to activate you with service if you are not in a
> licensed area.
>

I live in the Twin Cities and they added on F&CA for $5/mo. Are you sure
somebody with Sprint PCS service in Northfield could not also add F&CA as an
add-on? Obviously the 50% restriction applies.

Tom Veldhouse

"Joshua Wyatt" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on the
> best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time in
> Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover there
> on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to Dobson,
> it's all per-minute roaming.
> VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but the
> AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage outside
> of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile web,
> etc wouldn't work here?
> Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer about
> whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able to
> add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
>
> Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too long.

Yes, VZW only has coverage in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, but
they also have coverage in Duluth, Fargo, and Moorhead.

Northfield is covered by the Extended Network by either Midwest
Wireless, Sprint, and before too long, probably by Western Wireless.

If Midwest or Western are above Sprint, most of the features will
work, Caller ID, VM, etc, with Sprint, it's a crap shoot.

D

"jdoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<fmrpb.68593$mZ5.430019@attbi_s54>...
> Last time I was there (early sept.) I went to Eden Valley from the TC. As I
> recall I had native VZW through Alexandria (maybe a little beyond) and
> extended network most of the way the the lake. Right at the lake it was/is
> sketchy lots of roaming but my V60i has been the best performer, in this
> circumstance. My LG 510 behaved the worst the Nokia 3285 almost as good as
> the V60i. YMMV
> Larry
> "Joshua Wyatt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on
> the
> > best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time
> in
> > Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover
> there
> > on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to
> Dobson,
> > it's all per-minute roaming.
> > VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but
> the
> > AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage
> outside
> > of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile
> web,
> > etc wouldn't work here?
> > Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer
> about
> > whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able
> to
> > add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
> >
> > Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too
> long.
> >
> >

VZW does NOT have native coverage in Alexandria, MN! It is currently
Sprint and RCC analog, and will soon be RCC digital! Don't expect VZW
to ever buy any of the rural companies out here.

D

Josh,

See the thread dated Aug 11, 2003. I posed this exact same question
to the group. (Search Google Groups for Northfield) From my experence
this area is covered as a part of AC. Not verzion native though.
Midwest wireless in the carrier next in line in the PRL, then followed
by Sprint. While roaming on MWW everything works, TXT, VM notify and
CID. You may experence call delivery problems if you travel north of
Northfield as this community is on the fridge of Verizon's native
coverage area so be sure to test your phone often to assure consistant
call delivery.

- MW



> Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide on the
> best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend time in
> Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover there
> on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to Dobson,
> it's all per-minute roaming.
> VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip); but the
> AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage outside
> of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id, mobile web,
> etc wouldn't work here?
> Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer about
> whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be able to
> add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
>
> Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too long.

On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 08:29:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"www.ttdown.com" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 01:09:55 GMT, "Joshua Wyatt"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> It is an affiliate market. Owned by Northern PCS. No you cannot add
>> F&CA, only the 50 minute bundle. VZW does not offer native coverage.
>> If you had a MSP address, you would have coverage, but they will not /
>> are not supposed to activate you with service if you are not in a
>> licensed area.
>>
>
>I live in the Twin Cities and they added on F&CA for $5/mo. Are you sure
>somebody with Sprint PCS service in Northfield could not also add F&CA as an
>add-on? Obviously the 50% restriction applies.
>
>Tom Veldhouse
>

Yes I am quite positive on this issue. Northfield / Dundas area is
served by Northern PCS with thier corporate headquarters in Waite Park
/ St Cloud... hmmm... wonder why they chose there and offices in
Mankato and Rochester MN. The dividing line for the SPCS corporate
market is roughly Lakeville

Sorry I'm the dummy I meant Annandale. The wife's old man has a lake place
out Eden Valley way and as I recall I was quite amazed at how far out on 55
I kept VZW native almost all the way to watkins as I recall. Extended covg
beyond but his place is like 2 miles or so n of 55 and it drops to crap
there.
Larry
"D - Z" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "jdoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<fmrpb.68593$mZ5.430019@attbi_s54>...
> > Last time I was there (early sept.) I went to Eden Valley from the TC.
As I
> > recall I had native VZW through Alexandria (maybe a little beyond) and
> > extended network most of the way the the lake. Right at the lake it
was/is
> > sketchy lots of roaming but my V60i has been the best performer, in this
> > circumstance. My LG 510 behaved the worst the Nokia 3285 almost as good
as
> > the V60i. YMMV
> > Larry
> > "Joshua Wyatt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Anyone use a phone in or around Northfield, MN? I'm trying to decide
on
> > the
> > > best route to go since I'm here for much of the year, but also spend
time
> > in
> > > Illinois and Alaska. Alaska being the big problem; AT&T used to cover
> > there
> > > on the nationwide plans, but since they sold the whole AK market to
> > Dobson,
> > > it's all per-minute roaming.
> > > VZW doesn't claim to have service in Northfield (type in 55057 zip);
but
> > the
> > > AC map shows it covered. I'm told VZW doesn't have native coverage
> > outside
> > > of Minneapolis, does that mean things like voicemail, caller id,
mobile
> > web,
> > > etc wouldn't work here?
> > > Sprint has good coverage here, but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer
> > about
> > > whether it's an affiliate market or not, thus whether or not I'd be
able
> > to
> > > add the F&CA option for the months when I know I'd be roaming.
> > >
> > > Any real users out there? I've been staring at coverage maps far too
> > long.
> > >
> > >
>
> VZW does NOT have native coverage in Alexandria, MN! It is currently
> Sprint and RCC analog, and will soon be RCC digital! Don't expect VZW
> to ever buy any of the rural companies out here.
>
> D

"www.ttdown.com" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 08:29:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
>
> Yes I am quite positive on this issue. Northfield / Dundas area is
> served by Northern PCS with thier corporate headquarters in Waite Park
> / St Cloud... hmmm... wonder why they chose there and offices in
> Mankato and Rochester MN. The dividing line for the SPCS corporate
> market is roughly Lakeville
>
>

Sprint has native coverage there as well:

http://tinyurl.com/tlg8

Tom Veldhouse

"jdoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:SqLpb.102772$Tr4.278650@attbi_s03...
> Sorry I'm the dummy I meant Annandale. The wife's old man has a lake place
> out Eden Valley way and as I recall I was quite amazed at how far out on
55
> I kept VZW native almost all the way to watkins as I recall. Extended covg
> beyond but his place is like 2 miles or so n of 55 and it drops to crap
> there.
> Larry


VZW just added a new site behind Lakedale telephone back in May. That is
why coverage finally extends to the edge of Wright county, but now the
service works like crap in Kimball where there used to be a solid Sprint
signal, but now that there is a VZW signal, the phone keeps searching.

Too bad the network people can't or won't adjust the signal strength
tolerances before searching begins or signal is acquired by the phone.

D

On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 08:59:32 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Thomas T. Veldhouse" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> >
>>
>> Sprint has native coverage there as well:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/tlg8
>>
>> Tom Veldhouse
>>
>>
>
>Ah ... I see it is session based. So, at the link above, enter the zip code
>for Northfield. 55057
>
>Tom Veldhouse
>


Tom:

Native yes, but it is NOT owned by Sprint PCS Corp. It is owned and
operated by an affiliate partner Northern PCS. You'll have coverage,
all your acess, and can activate local numbers, but affiliate markets
do NOT particiapte in F&CA