I like my EVO. 4G coverage in Houston is GREAT. 4G coverage in the So Bay section of Los Angeles is iffy outside and touch and go inside.
I am in town on business in South Orange County. I sit next to the window on the 1st floor of a 4 story building. My 3G coverage is bad to unusable. My voicemail is timestamped CSt despite being in PSt and the settings on use cell cite/time zome (whatever it is called). My text messages are delayed as well. When I travel 50 feet from my desk, my calls will go straight to VM, then the notification lags. I find myself rebooting/restarting my phone twice a day and I get missing messages and alerts.
I have called and keep being told that coverage is excellent in my area. I was refused an Airave. Plus, even if they did alow one, they want to charge a monthly fee. Why would anyone pay for a family or individual plan with certain features, then pay another $10 a month to use those features/ heck, i could simply pay the fees to another carrier and accomplish the same thing.
I will be back in my home coverage area (soon I hope), but if this persists I may have to change. I understand no provider is perfect.
I would simply caution the OP to test the other provider carefully and adhere to their return policy if not happy. Still, as you have mentioned, coverage was "good", but has changed, so that is always going to be an issue.
Here in Los Angeles, many of my family have ATT. My sister went to an ATT store 2 weeks ago and was GIVEN a 3G Microcell. It appear ATT is handing them out in great numbers and not charging an activation or monthly fee. I installed it at my parents home and the numbers registered to the device are getting better coverage inside and outside my parents house. I would love to try the Airave at work (and have received It approval), but Sprint shot me down on that request. Paying that $10 data surcharge when I can't get 3G data is starting to get a bit old. Fortunatelty it is only 9 hours a day.