How accurate are coverage maps?

[whitenack]

I have T-mobile. I have had T-mobile since the beginning, so I'm not sure what the coverage areas are for other carriers.

What I CAN tell you is the coverage map that T-mobile has on their website is inaccurate. I live in a rural area, so I don't expect coverage everywhere. However, what I do expect is a somewhat-accurate map. And I am not talking about not getting coverage in my basement. I am talking about not getting coverage out in a wide open park, with no trees, no buildings, etc.. There is wide areas in my town where there is no coverage, but the map shows a solid section of voice and data coverage. I have called T-mobile several times and they don't offer much solution.

Is this the same for other carriers?

 

[Duvi]

IMO, yes, it is the same for all carriers. A
lot may say "No, xyz is accurate", but to
me, real live experience is the only one
I find to me accurate. I've seen where it
says Verizon was covered and found out
they really didn't have good coverage or
coverage at all.

 

[TvTechGuru]

My personal opinion is that T-Mobile and Sprint's maps are not accurate. Verizon's is very accurate and I can't speak for AT&T.

 

[d3xn2o]

I have T-mobile. I have had T-mobile since the beginning, so I'm not sure what the coverage areas are for other carriers.

What I CAN tell you is the coverage map that T-mobile has on their website is inaccurate. I live in a rural area, so I don't expect coverage everywhere. However, what I do expect is a somewhat-accurate map. And I am not talking about not getting coverage in my basement. I am talking about not getting coverage out in a wide open park, with no trees, no buildings, etc.. There is wide areas in my town where there is no coverage, but the map shows a solid section of voice and data coverage. I have called T-mobile several times and they don't offer much solution.

Is this the same for other carriers?

They also dont offer to do anything about it... they just say "a service call was placed and returned an answer stating future tower installments will correct this issue" My response this doesnt help me know I would like to cancel please Wave the fee...

They state no and i get pissed... 5 days in a row now today will be 6

 

[takeshi]

Is this the same for other carriers?

Yes. Always test real world coverage during the first 30 days (or whatever the carrier offers). The coverage maps can't account for a number of factors that affect coverage.

 

[whitenack]

Yes. Always test real world coverage during the first 30 days (or whatever the carrier offers). The coverage maps can't account for a number of factors that affect coverage.

The frustrating "gotcha" in all of this, though, is that even though they give you 30 days to back out, they still hit you with a restocking fee, per phone that you return. If you have multiple lines, this could be a $70-$100 expense due to false advertising.

 

[Menno]

One thing to remember is that coverage maps assume PERFECT conditions.

Aka,
-there is plenty of bandwidth on the tower, (not a lot of users)
-The weather is perfect (Not a lot of humidity, cloud cover, wind, etc)
-You're outside (NO coverage map promises indoor coverage)
-That towers will not have unforseen obsticles blocking signal (such as a neighbor who has a high powered ham radio)

I can't speak for GSM, but I know CDMA towers "breathe" what I mean is that the more users on a tower, the smaller it's effective range is (so if there is a spike in usage and you live on a fringe, you'll suddenly have a lot less coverage.

The best way to get coverage ideas is to try the phones out yourself though. Most companies offer a test drive in some form.

 

[schizrade]

All of their maps are crap. If they were truly honest, they would offer their maps with gradations.

 

[whitenack]

The best way to get coverage ideas is to try the phones out yourself though. Most companies offer a test drive in some form.

The problem with this idea, though, is that they charge you a restocking/return fee. When you have multiple lines, this can be a pricey experiment.

 

[milominderbinde]

It does not matter what the carrier says, it only matter what coverage real users are seeing.

Sensorly is the only third-party coverage testing app I know of. It maps readings while you drive. Then anyone can see the maps for T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, etc. It shows where the deadzones really are.

 

[efn77mx]

Definitely not accurate at all. One of the main reasons i didn't last very long with them. For example, i was at a fairly popular lake a couple months ago for a family camping trip. All weekend my t-mobile blackberry showed SOS while the AT&T and Verizon users had adequate coverage. I called tmo when i got back to ask them about their alleged roaming agreement with at&t in arts where they don't have service. I gave them the location of where i was. I was told there was no roaming agreement there, because they showed coverage in that area. I said "no you don't....and there was 2 very different t-mo devices that say i was right". There was in fact, no coverage anywhere near that place. Even the coverage maps of where i lived couldn't be anymore inaccurate. They showed a strong 3G signal, and even outdoors it wouldn't hold the signal more than a few minutes. I wouldn't trust ANY carriers maps really, but i am now with VZ because their coverage hasn't failed me yet.