Verizon Coverage

[skibum1321]

Does anyone know if they ended up expanding the Verizon coverage last winter? Specifically, I am looking to know if it works on Bragg Hill. I know it works at South and that's great and all, but I'm up for a contract and will be switching this winter if the coverage hasn't been expanded.

[noski]

PM Treeskier if he doesn't chime in soon. He is a Bragg-Hiller. The locals usually use ATT, since it has the best coverage in most parts of the Valley, however having said that, they leave much to be desired.

[Strat]

I don't believe so - we just had family up from the NYC area who had little to no service throughout the Valley. But I don't know about Bragg Hill specifically.

[notorious]

Over the summer, the ATT (formerly Cingular) signal has markedly deteriorated from its previous strength in the Valley. Areas with good signal now have none. It also seems to be strongly affected by the weather. Does anyone have a clue as to what is going on? Whom to contact?

[Strat]

The Unicel to AT&T switch was aggravating in a lot of ways, but I haven't noticed a deterioration in coverage because of it. There's certainly no one to contact at the corporate monstrosity that is AT&T Wireless, haha...

[noski]

Read this letter to the Valley Reporter addressing this very issue. I would call the number posted in the letter:

Read Here

[skibum1321]

I think I'll wait until these AT&T issues have been resolved to make my decision. Noski, I know that Gregg has AT&T and they always get service at the house (I'm a member of his ski house). I was just wondering whether the switch to AT&T would actually be necessary for this winter (and it appears that it will be).

[TreeBandit]

I have Verizon and it only works at South as well as several spots along the long trail. I wish I still had my AT&T for VT.

[notorious]

Read this letter to the Valley Reporter addressing this very issue. I would call the number posted in the letter:


Read Here

Noski, thank you for the prompt attention to this, and for pointing out the letter which I missed. I called the number given, and was told that "ATT's closest tower was 25 miles from my Valley location." They are opening a case on my complaint, but could neither respond to any of the points made in the letter, nor connect me to anyone with actual knowledge of transmission locations in the Valley. Stay tuned...

I did mention that this is a general issue, not specific to me, and that the CofC and local newspaper are interested (was that ok?)

[noski]

I did mention that this is a general issue, not specific to me, and that the CofC and local newspaper are interested (was that ok?)

Namedropping is good.... Indeed, we are ALL very interested. Run with it!

[notorious]

I did mention that this is a general issue, not specific to me, and that the CofC and local newspaper are interested (was that ok?)

Namedropping is good.... Indeed, we are ALL very interested. Run with it!

As agreed, an ATT tech rep contacted me when I was at my Valley location. He claims my problem is that my iphone is a 3G technology, but there are no 3G transmitters in the Valley. One is to be in place by Nov 30. In the meantime he recommends switching the phone to 2G. (I guess I can figure out how to do it, or I can ask one of the Apple geniuses (that's what they call them). So then, I asked," What would explain the deterioration in my wife's Motorola Razr phone reception? It's a 2G device." Answer: "She needs a new sym card. Get it swapped for free at an ATT store. Her phone is 3 years old" (She doesn't lose phones like I do.)

This is all fine, as far as it goes, and I must say the ATT response was timely and efficient. (But not at all similar to the reasons for poor service given to Darlene McCormack, the VR letter writer, nor those quoted in this week's VR follow-up by the ATT "spokesperson."

Oddly enough, of course, this weekend the service is vastly improved, without switching my iphone to 2G (whatever that is), nor my wife's sym card.

A much larger issue of significant concern comes from this encounter with the telecom monster...i.e., why doesnt the MRV have 3G service generally available? The economic viablity of the Valley depends on state of the art communications capability. For those of us without trust funds, economic survival depends on remaining in contact with the souces of our income. One 3G transmitter (at the top of the Sugarbush Access Rd, I believe I was told --- definitely to be on the west side of the Valley) is not enough.

Noski, may I humbly request that the MRVChamber, in its role of supporting Valley businesses and the needs of those of us whose incomes support these businesses (and Town governments) determine an appropriate campaign to accelerate the tech upgades by this sole supplier monopoly. Does anyone regulate this, state or Fed? Could our Senator or Congressman's staffs help? Can/should those bothered by the signal coverage issues unite through this or the chamber website in order to pool information? Why do I sudenly feel like I'm in an emerging market f.k.a.3rd world country?

Did you know that the most tech advanced place in the world is Bermuda. USA is like 17th, Japan 19th? What place is the MRV in?

David Sellars interviewed the owner of Small Dog on WMRV this am. The point was made that it is common for Valley homes to have 3-4 computers. This would not be necessary if the wireless signals were updated.

I believe this to be an issue of urgency. There can be no economic survivability in the MRV without full, state of the art, connectivity.

One thing is for certain, the sqeaky wheel gets the grease. The VR reports in this week's edition that issues raised by VR compainants and VG owner Troy Kingsbury were resolved. Now my service is better, too. Further calls to ATT at the 800# in the McCormack letter linked in by Noski by any more unsatisfied customers should produce beneficial results. Thanks to Noski for her help.

[Strat]

I wonder if AT&T is actually planning on bringing 3G to Vermont in general. At least at the time of the Unicel changeover, there was absolutely no 3G service in the state, which many a corporate salesman neglected to tell the throngs of people buying iPhones earlier this year. Their coverage map still shows none: http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/

[HowieT2]

I did mention that this is a general issue, not specific to me, and that the CofC and local newspaper are interested (was that ok?)

Namedropping is good.... Indeed, we are ALL very interested. Run with it!

As agreed, an ATT tech rep contacted me when I was at my Valley location. He claims my problem is that my iphone is a 3G technology, but there are no 3G transmitters in the Valley. One is to be in place by Nov 30. In the meantime he recommends switching the phone to 2G. (I guess I can figure out how to do it, or I can ask one of the Apple geniuses (that's what they call them). So then, I asked," What would explain the deterioration in my wife's Motorola Razr phone reception? It's a 2G device." Answer: "She needs a new sym card. Get it swapped for free at an ATT store. Her phone is 3 years old" (She doesn't lose phones like I do.)

This is all fine, as far as it goes, and I must say the ATT response was timely and efficient. (But not at all similar to the reasons for poor service given to Darlene McCormack, the VR letter writer, nor those quoted in this week's VR follow-up by the ATT "spokesperson."

Oddly enough, of course, this weekend the service is vastly improved, without switching my iphone to 2G (whatever that is), nor my wife's sym card.

A much larger issue of significant concern comes from this encounter with the telecom monster...i.e., why doesnt the MRV have 3G service generally available? The economic viablity of the Valley depends on state of the art communications capability. For those of us without trust funds, economic survival depends on remaining in contact with the souces of our income. One 3G transmitter (at the top of the Sugarbush Access Rd, I believe I was told --- definitely to be on the west side of the Valley) is not enough.

Noski, may I humbly request that the MRVChamber, in its role of supporting Valley businesses and the needs of those of us whose incomes support these businesses (and Town governments) determine an appropriate campaign to accelerate the tech upgades by this sole supplier monopoly. Does anyone regulate this, state or Fed? Could our Senator or Congressman's staffs help? Can/should those bothered by the signal coverage issues unite through this or the chamber website in order to pool information? Why do I sudenly feel like I'm in an emerging market f.k.a.3rd world country?

Did you know that the most tech advanced place in the world is Bermuda. USA is like 17th, Japan 19th? What place is the MRV in?

David Sellars interviewed the owner of Small Dog on WMRV this am. The point was made that it is common for Valley homes to have 3-4 computers. This would not be necessary if the wireless signals were updated.

I believe this to be an issue of urgency. There can be no economic survivability in the MRV without full, state of the art, connectivity.

One thing is for certain, the sqeaky wheel gets the grease. The VR reports in this week's edition that issues raised by VR compainants and VG owner Troy Kingsbury were resolved. Now my service is better, too. Further calls to ATT at the 800# in the McCormack letter linked in by Noski by any more unsatisfied customers should produce beneficial results. Thanks to Noski for her help.

If it makes you feel any better, I live about 30 miles north of NYC in westchester county and ATT 3G coverage is spotty at best. I think ATT is acutely aware of the limitations of their network. My understanding is that they have committed 20 billion to upgrading the network.
In their defense, it is only in the last year or so that 3G devices have been available and I would guess most of the devices on the network or only 2G

Disabling 3G on your Iphone shouldn't change your 2G reception but it will save battery power.

[Yard Sale]

We have no problems w/ ATT Iphone on the Mtn or in the valley.

[castlerock]

We have no problems w/ ATT Iphone on the Mtn or in the valley.

Coverage is fine but data is only at EDGE speeds. 3G is supposed to come to VT in 2010, but I doubt the valley is on any priority list. OTOH, there are plenty of places with open Wifi.