Showing posts with label Sprint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sprint. Show all posts

Which Carrier Has Fewest Dropped Calls?

person yelling at old flip phone

When choosing a mobile carrier, reliability is a top priority for most users. Dropped calls can disrupt conversations, hinder productivity, and frustrate customers. In this guide, we’ll explore which carrier offers the fewest dropped calls, based on the latest data and industry insights.

Factors Affecting Dropped Call Rates

Dropped call rates depend on several factors:

  1. Network Coverage: A robust network with nationwide coverage reduces the likelihood of dropped calls.
  2. Technology: Carriers with advanced infrastructure, like 5G and enhanced LTE, often experience fewer call interruptions.
  3. Congestion: Overcrowded networks can lead to more dropped calls, especially during peak hours.
  4. Geography: Urban areas typically have better coverage than rural or remote locations.

Comparing Dropped Call Rates Among Major U.S. Carriers

The four leading U.S. carriers—Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and UScellular—consistently compete for the title of the most reliable network. Here’s how they compare:

1. Verizon

  • Strengths: Known for excellent coverage in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
  • Performance: Verizon often ranks as the carrier with the fewest dropped calls, thanks to its extensive network infrastructure and reliability in remote locations.

2. AT&T

  • Strengths: Offers strong coverage, especially in metropolitan areas, with a rapidly expanding 5G network.
  • Performance: AT&T boasts low dropped call rates and is a close competitor to Verizon in terms of reliability.

3. T-Mobile

  • Strengths: Leading in 5G availability and speeds, T-Mobile excels in urban and suburban regions.
  • Performance: While call reliability is strong in cities, rural coverage can sometimes result in higher dropped call rates compared to Verizon or AT&T.

4. UScellular

  • Strengths: Provides localized coverage in specific rural areas where larger carriers may struggle.
  • Performance: Dropped call rates can vary significantly depending on the region.

How to Reduce Dropped Calls

Even with a reliable carrier, occasional dropped calls can occur. Here are tips to minimize interruptions:

  • Switch to Wi-Fi Calling: In areas with weak cellular coverage, Wi-Fi calling can ensure uninterrupted communication.
  • Check Coverage Maps: Review carrier coverage maps to ensure strong service in your area.
  • Upgrade Your Device: Older devices may struggle to connect to newer networks, leading to more dropped calls.
  • Monitor Network Congestion: Avoid making calls during peak hours if possible.

The Verdict: Which Carrier Is Best for Dropped Calls?

Studies and user surveys frequently place Verizon at the top for having the fewest dropped calls. However, AT&T and T-Mobile are strong contenders, particularly in areas where their coverage excels. Your choice should depend on your location, usage habits, and network preferences.

For more detailed insights into coverage and dropped call rates in your area, explore Cell Phone Coverage Maps for a data-driven approach to choosing the best carrier for your needs.

By prioritizing a reliable network, you can stay connected without the frustration of dropped calls. Choose wisely and enjoy seamless communication!

AT&T Home Cell Tower or MicroCell

ATT Microcell

For many households, staying connected through reliable cellular service is essential, but cell reception can sometimes be spotty at home, especially in remote or densely populated urban areas. AT&T’s solution for boosting weak signals in your home is the AT&T MicroCell, sometimes called a home cell tower. By creating a stronger, more stable signal, this device helps you avoid dropped calls and slow data speeds. Here’s what you need to know about AT&T’s home cell tower options, how they work, and if they’re the right choice for your needs.

What Is the AT&T Home Cell Tower (MicroCell)?

What Carriers Have Coverage in Alaska?

Alaska Coverage Map

Yes, major cellular service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (now part of T-Mobile) offer coverage in Alaska, although the extent of coverage can vary depending on the carrier and specific location within the state. Here are some important points to consider regarding cell coverage in Alaska:

How Are Cell Phone Coverage Maps Generated?

AT&T & Verizon puppet show FCC

Sprint Service Plans and Coverage Review

Sprint Dead Zones USA MapCoverage: Sprint, which is now part of T-Mobile, was a major wireless service provider in the United States. While the Sprint brand has been phased out, customers are now under the T-Mobile network and plans. Here is a review of T-Mobile's service plans and coverage, which now encompass former Sprint customers:

Plans: T-Mobile offers a range of postpaid and prepaid plans to suit different needs. These plans typically include unlimited talk, text, and data, with varying data speeds and data allowances. Customers can choose from different plan options based on their usage requirements and budget.

Coverage: T-Mobile's network coverage has expanded significantly after the merger with Sprint. They provide nationwide coverage across the United States, with improved coverage in rural areas and expanded 5G coverage in select cities. T-Mobile utilizes a combination of low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum to offer wide coverage and fast data speeds.

Unlimited Plans: T-Mobile offers several unlimited plans that provide unlimited talk, text, and data usage. These plans may have different data deprioritization thresholds, meaning that after a certain threshold of data usage, speeds may be temporarily reduced during times of network congestion.

Family Plans: T-Mobile provides family plans that allow multiple lines to share a data pool. This can be a cost-effective option for families or groups with multiple lines.

5G Network: T-Mobile has invested in the deployment of 5G technology and offers 5G coverage in various areas. Their 5G network encompasses both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies, providing improved speed and capacity in supported locations.

Device Selection: T-Mobile offers a wide selection of smartphones and other devices for purchase. Customers can choose from flagship devices, mid-range options, and budget-friendly devices. They also support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, allowing customers to use their own compatible devices on the network.

Customer Service: T-Mobile has customer service channels available, including phone support, online chat, and in-store assistance at T-Mobile retail locations.

It's important to note that the information provided reflects the combined offerings of T-Mobile and Sprint following their merger. It's recommended to visit T-Mobile's official website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information on their current plans, pricing, and coverage in your specific area.

Finding the best cell phone coverage just got easier by comparing cell phone coverage reports from other customers. Which wireless carrier has the worst cell phone coverage?
Other Reviews: 
Feedback is always welcome. Please submit your comments below.

@SprintCare Twitter Chatter

AT&T Service Plans and Coverage Review

AT&T is one of the largest wireless service providers in the United States, offering a variety of service plans and extensive coverage across the country. Here is a review of AT&T's service plans and coverage:

Plans: AT&T offers a range of postpaid (contract) and prepaid plans to suit different needs. These plans typically include unlimited talk and text, with varying data allowances and speeds. Customers can choose from different plan options based on their usage requirements and budget.

Coverage: AT&T provides nationwide coverage across the United States, including both urban and rural areas. Their network covers a significant portion of the country, offering reliable connectivity in many locations.  AT&T operates on a combination of 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks, with 5G being the latest generation of wireless technology. The coverage and speeds offered by AT&T's networks have improved over the years, but they can still vary depending on factors such as signal strength, network congestion, and the type of device you're using.  

5G Network: AT&T has been investing in the deployment of 5G technology. They offer 5G coverage in select cities and continue to expand their network. It's important to note that 5G coverage may vary depending on your location and device compatibility.  AT&T's 5G network utilizes both low-band and high-band frequencies to provide broad coverage and faster speeds. AT&T's low-band 5G, also known as 5G Evolution, operates on sub-6 GHz frequencies, offering enhanced coverage compared to higher-frequency bands. This enables better penetration through buildings and obstacles. However, the speeds of low-band 5G may not be significantly faster than 4G LTE in some cases.

AT&T's network covers about 68% of the United States. This is 2% less than Verizon and 6% more than T-Mobile. AT&T has solid coverage in major cities, but not in rural areas. AT&T has the second-most 4G LTE coverage and the second-most 5G coverage of the major carriers. AT&T has the best latency. 

AT&T also deploys high-band 5G, commonly referred to as mmWave, in select areas. mmWave technology delivers extremely high speeds and low latency but has a shorter range and is more susceptible to obstructions like buildings and trees. Consequently, its coverage is typically limited to densely populated urban areas. In urban and suburban areas, AT&T generally offers good coverage and fast data speeds. 

The 5G network rollout is an ongoing process, and coverage availability and speeds may vary depending on your location. For the most up-to-date information on AT&T's 5G network and its coverage in your area, it is recommended to visit AT&T's official website or contact their customer support.

Unlimited Plans: AT&T offers unlimited data plans that provide unlimited talk, text, and data usage. These plans may have different data deprioritization thresholds, meaning that after a certain threshold of data usage, speeds may be temporarily reduced during times of network congestion.

Shared Data Plans: AT&T provides shared data plans, where multiple lines can share a pool of data. This can be a cost-effective option for families or groups with multiple lines.

Device Selection: AT&T offers a wide selection of smartphones and other devices for purchase. Customers can choose from flagship devices, mid-range options, and budget-friendly devices. They also support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, allowing customers to use their own compatible devices on the network.

Customer Service: AT&T has customer service channels available, including phone support, online chat, and in-store assistance at AT&T retail locations.

How to check your signal strength: You can check your AT&T signal strength by navigating to http://att.manager or http://192.168.1.1 from a connected device. The LTE icon will be displayed in the top right corner of the AT&T manager site when connected to 4G LTE. The Signal Bars display the connection strength. 

AT&T Coverage map
Other Reviews:
Feedback is always welcome. Please submit your comments below.

@ATTCares Twitter Chatter

Verizon Wireless Plans and Coverage Review

Verizon Wireless is one of the largest wireless service providers in the United States, offering a wide range of mobile plans and extensive coverage across the country. Here is a review of Verizon Wireless plans and coverage:

Coverage: Verizon Wireless has a reputation for providing excellent coverage nationwide. Their network coverage extends to both urban areas and rural regions, making it a popular choice for customers who value reliable connectivity in various locations. Verizon operates on a combination of 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks, with 5G being the latest generation of wireless technology. The coverage and speeds offered by Verizon's networks have generally been highly regarded and widely available.

5G Network: Verizon Wireless has been at the forefront of 5G network deployment. They offer 5G coverage in select cities and continue to expand their 5G network across the country. It's important to note that 5G coverage may vary depending on your location and device compatibility.

Verizon 5G Nationwide utilizes low-band frequencies (sub-6 GHz) to provide broader coverage across the country. This type of 5G offers improved speeds and capacity compared to 4G LTE but may not deliver the ultra-fast speeds associated with higher-frequency bands. Verizon's 5G Nationwide network aims to provide a foundation of coverage, particularly in suburban and rural areas.

Verizon's LTE network covers over 99% of the US population. Verizon's 4G LTE network covers 71% of the US, making it the number one carrier in the nation. Verizon offers 5G access in 12.77% of the country. You can find Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network in parts of many major cities, including Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia.

Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, on the other hand, operates on high-frequency mmWave bands. This technology provides extremely high speeds and low latency, making it ideal for densely populated urban areas. However, the mmWave signals have a limited range and can be easily blocked by obstacles like buildings or even foliage.

Verizon has been actively expanding its 5G Ultra Wideband coverage in select cities, focusing on high-traffic areas such as stadiums, airports, and downtown areas. This allows users in these locations to experience the full potential of ultra-fast 5G speeds.

Plan Options: Verizon Wireless offers a diverse selection of plans to suit different needs. They provide both postpaid (contract) and prepaid options. Their plans typically include unlimited talk and text, and data allowances vary depending on the plan. Customers can choose from plans with different data caps or go for unlimited data options.  In rural or remote areas, Verizon's coverage is generally more extensive compared to other carriers. 

Unlimited Plans: Verizon Wireless offers several unlimited plans that provide unlimited data usage. These plans may have different speed tiers, with the highest speeds available on the premium unlimited plan. It's worth noting that after a certain threshold of data usage (usually around 22GB per month), speeds may be temporarily reduced during times of network congestion.

Shared Data Plans: Verizon Wireless also offers shared data plans, where multiple lines share a pool of data. This can be a cost-effective option for families or individuals with multiple devices.

Device Selection: Verizon Wireless provides a wide range of smartphones and other devices for purchase, including popular flagship devices and budget-friendly options. They also support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, allowing customers to use their own compatible devices on the network.

Customer Service: Verizon Wireless has a reputation for good customer service and offers multiple channels for support, including online chat, phone support, and in-store assistance.

The cost of Verizon Wireless plans tends to be relatively higher compared to some other wireless service providers. However, the extensive coverage, reliable network, and available plan features make it an attractive option for customers who prioritize connectivity and need reliable service in various locations.

Plans:   Compare Verizon shared data plans

Finding the best cell phone coverage just got easier by comparing cell phone coverage reports from other customers. Which wireless carrier has the worst cell phone coverage?

Other Reviews:
Feedback is always welcome. Please submit your comments below.

@VZWSupport Twitter Chatter

Cell Coverage in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park Sign

Yosemite National Park, located in California, is known for its stunning natural beauty and attracts a large number of visitors each year. However, due to the park's remote and rugged terrain, cellular coverage can be limited or unavailable in certain areas. Here's some information regarding cell coverage in Yosemite National Park:

Cell Coverage in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, located primarily in Wyoming but extending into Montana and Idaho, is a vast and geographically diverse wilderness area known for its natural wonders, geysers, and wildlife. However, due to its remote location and rugged terrain, cellular coverage in Yellowstone National Park can be limited or unreliable. Here's some information regarding cell coverage in Yellowstone National Park:

Why Won't Wireless Carriers Admit Coverage Problems?

head in the sand
Does Admission of Guilt = Class Action Lawsuits?

There can be several reasons why wireless carriers may be hesitant to openly admit problems with their network coverage or services:

Why Does My iPhone 4S Battery Drain Fast?

iphone battery drain

Why Does My iPhone 4S Battery Drain Fast? Troubleshooting Tips and Solutions

The iPhone 4S may be an older model, but it remains popular with users who enjoy its simple design and reliable functionality. However, many iPhone 4S users experience fast battery drain, which can be frustrating. In this article, we’ll look at the most common reasons why the iPhone 4S battery may be draining quickly and offer tips and solutions to help extend battery life.

Common Reasons for iPhone 4S Battery Drain

Why Did Cox Fail at Wireless?

Why Didn't Cox Try Femtocells Inside of DVR's or UMA WiFi Cell Service?

Cable operators can fix indoor wireless service through their own backhaul via femtocells or WiFi through their own networks.  There are a handful of femtocell companies that Cox could have partnered with but the best might have been Kineto which offers UMA WiFi for cell phone calls.  Will Cox change their marketing strategy as a new MVNO partner with Sprint selling Sprint femtocells?  

Cox Communications, a major cable and internet service provider in the United States, entered the wireless market in 2009 with the launch of its own wireless service. However, Cox eventually decided to discontinue its wireless operations and shut down its wireless network. While the exact reasons for Cox's failure in the wireless market may involve a combination of factors, here are a few potential reasons:

Competitive Landscape: The wireless market in the United States is highly competitive, dominated by major nationwide carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (now part of T-Mobile). These carriers have extensive infrastructure, large customer bases, and significant resources to invest in network expansion and marketing. Entering such a competitive market can be challenging for a new player like Cox.

Limited Network Coverage: Building and maintaining a robust wireless network requires significant investment in infrastructure, including cell towers, backhaul connections, and network equipment. Cox's wireless network had limited coverage compared to the nationwide networks of established carriers. Limited coverage can be a disadvantage, especially for customers who prioritize extensive coverage and network reliability.

Lack of Subscriber Base Synergy: Cox primarily focused on providing cable and internet services and did not have an existing subscriber base of wireless customers to leverage. Established carriers often bundle wireless services with other offerings, such as cable TV or home internet, to provide additional value to their customers. Without a substantial customer base in wireless, Cox may have faced challenges in attracting and retaining wireless subscribers.

Evolving Technological Landscape: The wireless industry is constantly evolving, with advancements in network technology and the introduction of new services and features. Keeping up with these advancements requires substantial investment and technical expertise. Cox may have faced difficulties in competing and adapting to the rapidly changing landscape of the wireless industry.

It's important to note that the specific internal factors that led to Cox's decision to exit the wireless market may not be publicly disclosed. The decision to discontinue wireless operations is often based on a combination of financial, strategic, and market considerations specific to the company.

Ultimately, each company's success or failure in the wireless market depends on various factors, including market dynamics, competitive positioning, network coverage, subscriber base, and overall business strategy.

Is 5G Just a Bunch of Marketing Hype?

5G hype
By Dave Burstein
On the effects of 4-3 The best research is from Pal Zarandy at Rewheel, who just did a major study. He found prices were 40%-50% higher in Germany and Austria (4-3) than in six others, including France. Gigabyte price development in 4 to 3 consolidated versus 4-MNO European markets – September 2013 to March 2018. Because France has so dramatically cut prices, my figure would be lower, "10%-20%, sometimes more." Canada & France went from 3 to 4 with large price drops, which are now happening in Italy. 
On whether 5G will come faster "Do it all so much faster than either company could on its own,” Legere said in the release. T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray told MWCT-Mobile Building Out 5G in 30 Cities This Year ...and That’s Just the Start. He also committed to the entire country by 2020. My comment, admittedly snarky, is, "The only way the new T-Mobile could bring 5G faster is to build it in 2017." That would be difficult at this point. It's also unlikely to cover the whole country any earlier than 2020. Tmo VP Technology Karri Kuoppamaki last week emphasized how their 600 MHz spectrum will let them reach the whole country by 2020.  
"Combining is the only way they can fight back against the two industry leaders." Quote from times.We all know how effectively T-Mobile has been competing. CEO Legere: "The T-Mobile team just keeps kicking the competition’s butt and bringing even more choices to consumers."   "T-Mobile will be a bigger wireless company than AT&T in 5 years."
On whether Sprint could survive without the merger Many, many statements by the top executives of Sprint on financial calls. If they were lying to Wall Street, they could be prosecuted. A close look at Sprint's finances and networks would make clear that Sprint has deep problems but also plausible ways to fix them. (Craig Moffett, an analyst I learn from, disagrees.) "Sprint has posted ten consecutive quarters of postpaid net customer additions. It has also reversed its fortunes in the prepaid space, adding 63,000 in the third quarter."
On whether the T-Mobile 5G is a "seismic shift" “Going from 4G to 5G is like going from black and white to color TV. ... It’s a seismic shift — one that only the combined company can unlock nationwide to fuel the next wave of mobile innovation.” (Claure in the press release.) T-Mobile 4G in part of Manhattan is 500 megabits today. They have said they will roll that technology to 15,000 small cells. (LAA, 3-4 CA, 4x4 MIMO.) Is going from 500 megabit download to 600 megabit download going to change your experience that profoundly? That's the difference between T-Mobile's 4G LTE and "5G" NR.
This week, T-Mobile Technology VP Karri Kuoppamaki said the 5G improvements would be much less than "seismic," something like 25%. That's less than the improvement when LTE added Carrier Aggregation four years ago, 4x4 MIMO in 2016, or 256 QAM in 2017. No one called them a new generation, In addition, the industry consensus is the advanced uses are far away. "The enhanced mobile broadband use case will be driving more than 99 percent of the 5G investments over the next five years." Stefan Pongratz. In other words, for at least five years, 5G will provide more network capacity but will be used in the same way as LTE.
"5G" is not "5G." Much will not be the truly high speeds of millimeter waves. Much of what is now called "5G" is a marketing invention in the last year, including T-Mobile's 600 MHz "5G." Low & mid-band "5G" is the same as 4G LTE with a software tweak (NR - New radio.) Only a millimeter wave is much faster than 4G from 2018 equipment. mmWave can be 2-3 times faster than the LTE at 500 meg T-Mobile is rolling out. Verizon and AT&T are using millimeter waves, 28 & 39 GHz. T-Mobile is using 600 MHz & a pr campaign. A year ago, millimeter waves and perhaps Massive MIMO were considered 5G. (See IMT-2020 in standards.) In 2017, lobbyists and marketing people extended the definition of "5G" to anything with a software improvement that does little for speed or capacity. (NR) Corporate-run 3GPP expanded the standard. Amazingly few reporters realized that meant most 5G deployments were nothing special. AT&T & Verizon are doing millimeter waves but low and mid-band will be 80% to 90% for at least several years.
Is even the real 5G millimeter wave, revolutionary? I have quotes rejecting the 5G hype from CEO, CTOs,, or other senior technical people at AT&T, Verizon, British Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, Orange and Telefonica. D.C. has fallen for spin. So have too many reporters. Professor Gerhard Fettweis, the leading expert, told a conference last week. "Autonomous cars will not use 5G because they have to work on all roads. They use radar and LIDAR instead." (Story to come.) VR, AR, and telemedicine are working well today without 5G. Remote surgery only needs 5G if doctors intend to work from the beach. (Ask me if you don't see that.) Nearly all independent technical people see more and faster broadband as the primary use for 5G for years. That makes 5G important for the industry but definitely not world-changing.
"5G offers more reliability than 4G or LTE" Washington Post. Reliability is planned for 5G URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications.) The full standard for that isn't expected until late 2019 and wide deployment mostly long after. T-Mobile's nationwide "5G" network does not support URLLC and may never do so, Some engineers are dubious about whether the reliability will be achieved, so firm statements are probably dubious. While 5G may offer more reliability one day, using the present tense is an actual error.
Is 5g required for autonomous cars? The very respected Professor Gerhard Fettweis from Dresden last week at a conference said, "Autonomous cars do not need 5G." They work on LIDAR and radar. 5G mmWave will not cover most roads for a decade or more. There will always be places not covered. Autonomous cars have to be able to work without 5G. IEEE has a video of the session; I haven't written it up yet. At least one on the panel disagreed. I would recommend checking with an engineer currently active in the field before publishing on the topic. Many policy people are giving false information, mostly because they don't understand.
Is 5G needed for telemedicine or IoT?  The answer is probably not, but I don't have time to research and write it right now. Again, much of what's said is simply inaccurate; a newspaper we all respect made an error here. 

How to Tether an iPad to any 3G, 4G & 5G Phone



Since the iPad was first released, sophisticated users have been getting smart to avoid unnecessary additional data costs by tethering 3G phones to the iPad when a Wi-Fi signal is NOT available.  Android smartphone users have it easiest tethering ipad to a 4G phone, especially on T-Mobile. Not a surprise to see that AT&T has not been very consumer-friendly to iPhone users and has made it very difficult for their data subscribers on the iPhone to tether any devices to their 3G service.  However, the Wi-Fi-only iPad oan be used on the 3G network of any carrier to avoid purchasing another expensive data plan if they are already on Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile or a smaller regional carrier. So here is a great option especially if your carrier never intends to cap your data plan.  Android users will likely be the heaviest adopters of this since most are already on other networks.

How to Prevent Spam Phone Calls

Turn on Do Not Disturb

Turn on "Do Not Disturb" and then "Allow Call From" everyone, favorites on no one.  Hopefully, this will prevent unwanted phone calls.  Hope this helps.

We tried blocking calls for a while but this didn't seem to help.  

Are Spam Phone Calls Driving You Insane?

Scam Likely Phone Calls
Have you noticed a significant increase in "Scam Likely" phone calls in the last year?  What is causing this to happen?  Is there anyway to stop it?  I have tried blocking phone numbers but apparently these companies keep getting new phone numbers. 

I think we are getting to the point where fines and regulations need to crack down on these companies.  They are a menace to society and waste valuable time and energy for people.

As a result of these phone calls I don't answer the phone anymore unless I recognize the number in my contacts.  This is unfortunate because I actually might be missing phone calls that I would have wanted to take.

Can't the carrier prevent spam calls similar to how email companies prevent spam? 

Someone in congress or Trump needs to fix this business disgrace!! 

How To Find Cell Phone Towers Near Oil & Gas Fields


Today, we launched a new map of cell phone towers vs oil & gas fields map.  Easily search and find the nearest cell phone tower near oil & gas drilling operations.

Oil & gas rig monitoring relies on remote wireless sensors and device that need to connect to wireless networks.  AT&T, Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile call remote monitoring sensors the IOT (Internet of Things) revolution.  Remote monitoring saves oil & gas companies lots of money vs having someone physically drive out to the site.

Click on the cell phone tower pins (black) to locate the contact information of the wireless tower operator.  

Popular Posts