AT&T Cell Phone Service in Meredith?

[Old Hubbard Rd]

I LOVE MY AT&T SERVICE. I had Verizon and Nextell and nothing compares to my AT&T service. When I had Verizon I never had service nreception at either my Meredith home nor my Massachusetts home. I very rarely have issues since switching 2 years ago.

[ILoveWinnipesaukee]

I have had AT&T for several years, they are always adding new service areas. Everytime I visit the lake, we stop at Hart's Turkey Farm and then drive down to Meredith. I have no issues with my service, even inside the restaurant. I have even been able to talk the whole trip on the Mount on Sunday mornings, from the Weirs down to Alton Bay and back. I have had issues on 104 coming into Meredith, but no issues at the lake or at Christmas Island if we stay there.

[wifi]

If you pop a zip code into AT&T coverage map found here . You can see that outside a few hot areas, such as around the WLNH tower and a few spots coming up 93, all the other coverage is by 'partner' agreements. AT&T and Unicel use GSM, Verizon uses CDMA (Verizon bought Unicel in NH).

Your coverage on AT&T in these partner areas are dependent on being in range of a Unicel(Verizon) tower that still supports GSM.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by wifi

AT&T and Unicel use GSM, Verizon uses CDMA (Verizon bought Unicel in NH).

Your coverage on AT&T in these partner areas are dependent on being in range of a Unicel(Verizon) tower that still supports GSM.

It may be more accurate to state that AT&T supports GSM, the worlds most widely used protocol, while Verizon continues to push their outdated, almost exclusively-US solution.

Standardization can't come soon enough to this market

(and no, I have no connection to any mobile vendor. Just a frustrated international business traveler who constantly has to live with the compromise between Verizon having the best domestic coverage while GSM is best while traveling elsewhere)

[Moss Creek Media]

I heard CDMA was a better network (quality & speed). But GSM is the most used protocol in the world. When the US rushed to rebuild Iraq part of it was to build CDMA cell towers, but Iraq told the US to 'stuffit' and went with GSM so that they could communicate with the surrounding countries.

I've always used GSM based phones, because there are more options. And I can't stand Verizon and their crippling function tactics on their phones (like they did with Bluetooth so you had to send pictures via SMS)

What's most frustrating is that the US is the toilet of cellphone technology. We barely have 3 megapixel cameras in our phones and in South Korea, they get tv reception 10megapixel and incredible high speed data transfers.

Here, we're happy when Apple goes from 2mp to 3mp on the iPhone (such a joke) Oh and the new iPhone 3GS can "do video" (something a jailbroken iPhone 3G could do a year ago)


Kirk

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

It may be more accurate to state that AT&T supports GSM, the worlds most widely used protocol, while Verizon continues to push their outdated, almost exclusively-US solution.

Standardization can't come soon enough to this market

(and no, I have no connection to any mobile vendor. Just a frustrated international business traveler who constantly has to live with the compromise between Verizon having the best domestic coverage while GSM is best while traveling elsewhere)

[Lucky1]

I use it in the North at the lake and in the South in FL. Have had no trouble and I am in a condo here in FL with all kinds of cement etc. Anyone else have trouble with Fair Point?

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

I use it in the North at the lake and in the South in FL. Have had no trouble and I am in a condo here in FL with all kinds of cement etc. Anyone else have trouble with Fair Point?

In my line of work I travel most of the state. Verizon's phone coverage is very good, even up north. When I vacation in Florida Verizon works great there also.

[Lakegeezer]

It would be nice to have AT&T wireless support in the lakes region, only because the iPhone is supported only by them. Verizon coverage is good, but their "smart phones" leave a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to web access and additional apps. Hopefully Verizon will convince Apple to come aboard - or AT&T will invest in NH.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

It would be nice to have AT&T wireless support in the lakes region, only because the iPhone is supported only by them. Verizon coverage is good, but their "smart phones" leave a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to web access and additional apps. Hopefully Verizon will convince Apple to come aboard - or AT&T will invest in NH.

I have a "smart phone" on Verizon and it works just as good, if not better than offerings from AT&T. Wifi aside, I've put my phone up against the Iphone for a speed test (in downtown Boston, loading websites, youtube clips, etc) and my VZ smartphone outperformed the Iphone by a landslide.

While I agree the Iphone is slick, I would prefer better coverage to be able to make phone calls, since, when you break down all of the apps and stuff, cell phones are made to be used as phones. Everything else is just fluff!!!!

Just my $0.02

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Everything else is just fluff!!!!

Just my $0.02

But that's the POINT of the iPhone, isn't it?

Have your music collection, videos, cell phone, camera, camcorder, gaming device, TV remote, alarm clock, calendar, GPS, text mgs device, email, internet, Bluetooth device, radio, voice recorder, workout coach, open source app device, etc. ALL in ONE place... well... that's just cool. And if it's cool fluff, then I like (and want) fluff. (But then I do a lot of work in multimedia)...

I wish AT&T was better in this area... or I wish the jailbroken iPhones worked with the Verizon network better... either way.... I hope it's a reality sometime soon...

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

But that's the POINT of the iPhone, isn't it?

Have your music collection, videos, cell phone, camera, camcorder, gaming device, TV remote, alarm clock, calendar, GPS, text mgs device, email, internet, Bluetooth device, radio, voice recorder, workout coach, open source app device, etc. ALL in ONE place... well... that's just cool. And if it's cool fluff, then I like (and want) fluff. (But then I do a lot of work in multimedia)...

My Phone also has all of that....including a removable/replaceable battery, expandable memory, appstore....$0.03.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Ryan

My Phone also has all of that....including a removable/replaceable battery, expandable memory, appstore....$0.03.

Free apps, too?

[Ropetow]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Free apps, too?

Yes, I have some free apps on my Verizon Wireless CrackBerry Storm...mostly news and sports and weather apps. Darn little time for gaming. )-: While the iPhone is far slicker, this works for me....and handles e-mail better than the iPhone, which is no surprise since that was CrackBerry's thing for a long long time. And...it works Great on the lake. ATT phone next to useless especially in Alton area....can't be used as a phone and too light for an anchor.

[Lakegeezer]

Motorola is coming out with the Droid today - based on Google's Android operating system. Verizon will be supporting it. Maybe that will be worth a try. The crackberry is not my cup of tea. AT&T could still win my business by putting an high-speed antenna in the lakes region.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Free apps, too?

Free apps too!

[CL 240 LS]

Originally Posted by Ryan

My Phone also has all of that....including a removable/replaceable battery, expandable memory, appstore....$0.03.

Ryan, would you share which phone you have?

I have been thinking of getting one soon. I have Verizon wireless phone service now and it works great all around the lake, have not noticed any dead zones.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by CL 240 LS

Ryan, would you share which phone you have?

I have been thinking of getting one soon. I have Verizon wireless phone service now and it works great all around the lake, have not noticed any dead zones.

I also have the Blackberry Storm. Verizon just released the Storm2 today. While I will say RIM rushed the Storm to the market last November, they have recently upgraded the Operating System, which really improved the phone.

If you do not want a touchscreen phone, the Blackberry Tour is very similar to the Storm and Storm 2.

[VtSteve]

It's all in where you are. I just switched to an iPhone, and AT&T, from Verizon. My Razr was the worst phone I've had in 15 plus years of cell phones, only made worse by having our spotty Verizon service where I am. Verizon chose not to have a strong signal in what is the state's largest population. Not everywhere, but in the bay, North of the city, and in many parts of the interstate. If it were the reverse, I'd have to make the opposite decision for practical reasons.

I used a Storm for a week. No thanks. I'm very happy to be rid of Verizon's voice mail. The best part of it is this. I needed a new iPod, and I was very impressed with the Navionics app with marine GPS software for the lake. It made me a little angry that in many respects, the iPhone app was better than the new Garmin 440 I had just bought.

Vermont has no 3G network as of yet, hopefully by next summer. In spite of that, it's been pretty good on the Edge network, which Blackberry's have used for some time on AT&T.

The problem with Verizon getting the iPhone is many. One, Verizon needs to switch from CDMA. Verizon has adopted GSM for their 4G buildout, which is underway, and won't be completed for some time. Possibly next year, but not everywhere. One of the major stumbling blocks for all phone makers with Verizon is their inherent crippling of the headsets. I have used Vcast service, something I never want to deal with again. Their network is not setup for visual voicemail, a capability which AT&T added specifically for the iPhone.

My bill is now $30 a month higher than it was with my Verizon plan, but I had no data plan with Verizon. My AT&T plan is also 250 minutes more, and has rollover minutes, which Verizon does not have. So all in all, it's actually cheaper. Had I not purchased the Garmin unit, I would have a new phone, GPS, compass, mini computer, camera, and phone plus iPod in one item. Very satisfied customer

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

But that's the POINT of the iPhone, isn't it?

Have your music collection, videos, cell phone, camera, camcorder, gaming device, TV remote, alarm clock, calendar, GPS, text mgs device, email, internet, Bluetooth device, radio, voice recorder, workout coach, open source app device, etc. ALL in ONE place... well... that's just cool. And if it's cool fluff, then I like (and want) fluff. (But then I do a lot of work in multimedia)...

I wish AT&T was better in this area... or I wish the jailbroken iPhones worked with the Verizon network better... either way.... I hope it's a reality sometime soon...

EXACTLY! That is why I personally just dumped my archaic blackberry pearl for the IPhone. I have never been happier with a purchase in my whole life. I have had it for a week and the difference is incredible. The phone, the apps, the texting the GPS, I could go on. I can't believe I waited this long. I have 32 gigs worth of storage and I am loading it up with all my music. Not to mention the web browsing. So slick and so fast!!! I can not say enough about this phone.

[BroadHopper]

I had AT&T and my gf had Sprint when we move up here several years ago. We had terrible coverage North of Concord, NH. Since we have switched to Verizon wireless we had wonderful service. If you purchase a phone that has dual coverage analog/digital, it is handy in the White Mountains and in Maine.

As for service, I have better luck calling the 800 number than going to an independent Verizon retailer. There is a big retail outlet owned by verizon in Nashua. It has fantastic service and sales. All mobile devices are on display. You can bring your laptop in to see if the wireless modem will work.

If you call by phone and request an account manager for whatever large corporation you work for, you can get a 15% Discount on service and 25% discount on phone and accessories.

The only complaint I have with Verizon are the constant changes in wireless packages. I usually lock in to a 2 year plan to get a free phone and the 'New every Two' plan. When I find they have a new plan that gives better coverage and or better price, I make a phone call. They will switch to the new plan at no extra cost.

[John A. Birdsall]

I was headed to the lake up rt 125 when I read a billboard, Welcome, you are now in AT&T Wireless Country. At that spot I lost my at&t coveraage.

However, my sister has Verison and cannot always get coverage at the lake.

Thus At& T should put a tower up on top of MT Major and have it look like a pine tree. there is a pine tree that sticks up on the south ridge of Mt. Major.
With one up there I should be able to get Florida without any problems.

[jetskier]

Verizon coverage is very good around the lake. I have Verizon and no issues with coverage around the lake. The coverage maps from Verizon Wireless show digital coverage throughout the lakes region. AT&T Wireless is the pits. I used to work for Alcatel and AT&T Wireless was a large customer. As such, all the corporate cell phones were AT&T Wireless. I used to lose coverage at the intersection of route 3 and route 495 in Chelmsford.

AT&T Wireless has some cool handsets, but their network is poor both in coverage and speed. AT&T Wireless is spending on implementing HSPA as an interim play. They will not be doing LTE for quite a while, so their network will continue to lag Verizon Wireless.

If I had to have AT&T Wireless, I would put a femto cell in my house for coverage.

Jetskier

[gf2020]

The original message was from 6 months ago so I suppose the vacationer has already come and gone. I have AT&T for cellular and I have noticed a few dead spots while looking at property in the Meredith area in the late summer; including a lack of coverage on Meredith Neck.

AT&T has a huge dead zone in the area to the south of the lake; from Alton down to Epsom there is basically no AT&T cellular coverage.

You can look more closely here: http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/