Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (
More info?)
Actually the AC map only has Verizon's native coverage as something you can
presume to be stable. Roaming agreements can and do change. Given that much
of the AC map is actually roaming coverage here's what I recommend folks do:
- Take a careful look at the national enhanced services map. If everything
you really require is covered, then AC is an excellent plan given that
everything else is effectively bonus.
- If, on the other hand, much of your required coverage area is roaming,
then you need to be somewhat cautious. For example, here in Oregon there's
more coverage (in a geographic sense) provided by roaming partners than by
Verizon itself. In particular, almost all rural coverage is provided by US
Cellular. All of the US Cellular SID's were marked as friendly roam last
June, making them part of the AC coverage area, then in September all were
removed, dramatically changing the coverage area for the AC plan in my home
state, in Northen California, Washington and West Virginia. See:
http://www.meetmyattorney.com/cellular/archives/000347.html Since that
time, the "missing" coverage has been added back (at least for my area).
- I had intended to be a "whistle blower" with regard to this issue, but the
dramatic coverage loss in my area was fixed again with a new PRL and
coverage map adding back the roaming coverage. As it stands, AC is a good
plan in Oregon today. (Perhaps removing that coverage was a simple
mistake?)
Anyway, the experience taught me a valuable lesson about any so called
"network" or "on-network" plan- If your needs are not served by their native
coverage, don't get too dependent on their currently included roaming
coverage because that can change. i.e. I traded a regional 12 state plan
(older single-rate west) for AC, and generally regret that decision. I
can't go back now, but luckily AC includes US Cellular (which is my required
coverage) at least at the moment.
Also keep in mind that there are large swaths of Oregon with coverage
provided by folks who are or were not in the PRL at all, yet a Verizon phone
can make calls on these carriers. With a single-rate type plan, even these
non-PRL carriers are included for free. With AC, you can still make calls
but you do pay the roaming rate. I also realize much of this has to do with
where you use your phone. The two carriers I refer to in this area are
Cellular One NW, and Ramcell. Note that Ramcell has been added to the PRL in
recent time, and even as friendly roam for AC users which pretty much
completely addresses my concerns. So, ultimately, at least for now, AC is a
good plan provided we don't lose those roaming partners.
For those that care, Verizon bought PCS licenses for southern oregon in 2000
which have yet to go live. If they do build out their own PCS in southern
Oregon, I wonder if we'll lose the roaming partners from that area (who
cover a much wider area than Verizon's own PCS licenses). In other words,
there is some cause for concern (at least in my neck of the woods) that AC
may lose US Cellular coverage again. With fingers crossed that coverage
stays good,
-Dan
"Brian" <no@spam.com> wrote in message
news:IkMvc.288681$M3.51696@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> I was looking at the "National Enhanced Services Map" by mistake. I looked
> at the other and it looks much better!
>
>
> "_KC_" <kc@kc.com> wrote in message
> news:msLvc.10666$Yd3.9915@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> >
> > "Brian" <no@spam.com> wrote in message
> > news:7yKvc.287736$M3.147573@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> > > I saw an AT&T wireless commercial, and for kicks went to their
website.
> > > Their coverage map looks much more impressive than when I got my
> cellphone
> > > last august. I went to verizon's AC coverage map and their map looks
> like
> > it
> > > has been GREATLY decreased since the time I bought my 1 year plan with
> > them
> > > in August.
> > >
> > > Did something happen in the recent past? If I recall correctly, when I
> got
> > > the plan, verizon's coverage was much greater than what it is now; now
> it
> > > looks very barron. Did I miss out on something?
> >
> >
> > AC map isn't less. Shows alot more that what it did a year ago.
> >
> >
> > KC
> >
> >
>
>
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram