Author Topic: Phone coverage in Montana  (Read 3988 times)

misslaing

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Phone coverage in Montana
« on: January 16, 2015, 05:41:01 PM »
I'm thinking about switching my cell phone service from AT&T to Airvoice--does anyone know how good Airvoice coverage is in NW Montana? I've checked maps for the services and it looks like I should expect the same coverage as I get now with AT&T, but since it's Montana I'd love to hear that from some one using it. Thanks!

neo von retorch

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2015, 06:04:52 PM »
Yes - Airvoice uses AT&T to provide coverage. It's identical (except for whatever restrictions they put in place, i.e. data limits and/or throttling, if any.)

Fuzz

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2015, 04:19:07 PM »
I've got Airvoice in Wyoming. Yes, Airvoice uses AT&T but don't assume it will work everywhere ATT works.

My gf has real AT&T and she gets service in most of Wyoming. I think AT&T has contracts with the local tower operators, and will route your calls on their towers. However, if you have Airvoice, you only get access to AT&T's towers. You won't switch over to Silver Star if the AT&T tower is far away, for example.

With Airvoice, I do not get service in most of Wyoming--there is service in Casper, but not in Pinedale or Rock Springs for example. On my drive through MT, I've gotten service in Missoula and Gardiner, but not in Dillon. I'd experiment with it. But if you live somewhere remote, or absolutely must have service everywhere, Airvoice may not work for you.


Daley

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2015, 08:20:03 PM »
Fuzz, I certainly know coverage maps lie, but I do want to ask you a question. How old is your phone, and is it an AT&T branded or T-Mobile branded handset? Montana is one of those areas that heavily relies on using a 3G handset even for voice service, and if you've got an older 2G GSM handset, that might impact service coverage as well. If you have a 3G handset, then reception probably just stinks and you can safely ignore this. However, if you don't... might be worth investigating.

misslaing

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2015, 03:47:20 PM »
Thanks for the input, everyone. I'm planning to continue to use my AT&T-branded, 3G handset if I switch to Airvoice, so it sounds like I'd be doing everything I can on my end. I'm in the Flathead Valley in NW Montana, and with AT&T I get good reception everywhere I would expect to and no to bad reception everywhere I would expect to--part of the MT package, so to speak. But I'll keep digging to see if I can find out anything more before I make the switch.

hyla

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2015, 05:40:10 PM »
Also, if you find out that airvoice might not work, you might check out PagePlus, a prepaid that runs on Verizon's network.  I have them in SW Montana and the coverage is great where I live and quite good most places nearby I've travelled.  Don't know if verizon has equally good coverage up where you are though. 

capital

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2015, 05:43:31 PM »
Remember that, if it's a concern, a cell phone can place a 911 call on any network it's technically capable of connecting to, even if it can't place a normal call due to roaming.

Verizon in my bike touring experience has pretty good service in Montana, although there are still places (like Lake Koocanusa) that it doesn't reach.

Fuzz

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2015, 05:59:20 PM »
Fuzz, I certainly know coverage maps lie, but I do want to ask you a question. How old is your phone, and is it an AT&T branded or T-Mobile branded handset? Montana is one of those areas that heavily relies on using a 3G handset even for voice service, and if you've got an older 2G GSM handset, that might impact service coverage as well. If you have a 3G handset, then reception probably just stinks and you can safely ignore this. However, if you don't... might be worth investigating.

My work bought me an unlocked iPhone 5c, so I don't think it's a hardware problem. I'd love a solution though. Thanks.

Daley

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Re: Phone coverage in Montana
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2015, 08:10:48 PM »
My work bought me an unlocked iPhone 5c, so I don't think it's a hardware problem. I'd love a solution though. Thanks.

I reckon you can only chalk it up to poor coverage and the Apple antenna, then. It was worth asking all the same.