So how is Sprints coverage / service

[drfundy]

That is good information. I will have to try and see if there is a way to disable 3g on my incredible and try the music streaming thing.

Since a good chunk of Sprints map is roaming coverage I want to be sure it will do the things I do on a daily basis.

 

[Nitrousoxide]

drfundy, your chances of streaming over 2g speeds are unlikely... At the maximum, 2g speeds can run at 153kbps, but in a real world scenario, you'd be at about 60-100kbps which is barely enough bandwidth to keep a stream going.

Pandora just streams in a lower quality if you're in a 2g area, at least on the iPhone.

 

[drfundy]

So basically I would only have 3g service anywhere on the map that is dark orange. Anywhere else I will have 2g unless it was an Alltel area.

I wonder why they say location basesd services may not work in roaming areas. That makes me think I won't be able to use google navigator in those areas. Could it be because most of the phones are using agps which relies on information from the cell towers?

 

[alvarezjpr]

I have been with Sprint for 10 years now and I have never had any problems with Sprint (well actually once over an over-charge in the bill). I have been very happy with their service and their overall coverage. Actually, I'm happier now because about a year and a half ago the put up a tower like a mile away so the signal is very strong now. So it kinda bothers me when someone that has never experienced Sprint starts trashing them with no evidence, just from hearsay. BTW, I live in northeast CT.

 

[Mitalis]

So basically I would only have 3g service anywhere on the map that is dark orange. Anywhere else I will have 2g unless it was an Alltel area.

I wonder why they say location basesd services may not work in roaming areas. That makes me think I won't be able to use google navigator in those areas. Could it be because most of the phones are using agps which relies on information from the cell towers?

Verizon's own customers using the Palm Pre Plus were having trouble getting their phones to work with Google Maps and the only way to get GPS working properly was to launch the VZ Navigator program which has access to use AGPS. Verizon has very strict regulations as to what users can or cannot utilize when accessing their towers. It's very unlikely that Verizon or Alltel would allow Sprint users to access AGPS on their towers. That's why Sprint says Location based services may not work when Roaming.

 

[bubbatex]

I was with Sprint for about 8 years and then left last year for the iPhone 3GS because ATT had upgraded our area. Mistake. I rarely had problems with Sprint's service where ever I went - dead spots for sure in the boonies, but for the most part, when they signed the roaming agreement with VZW back in 2007, my problems went away. I am seriously thinking of moving back to Sprint for the EVO (and I also have a new job that requires national travel) - or to VZW for the Incredible - but the EVO's screen and 4g capability are really what I want (I am in a 4g area already).

 

[drfundy]

I have been with Sprint for 10 years now and I have never had any problems with Sprint (well actually once over an over-charge in the bill). I have been very happy with their service and their overall coverage. Actually, I'm happier now because about a year and a half ago the put up a tower like a mile away so the signal is very strong now. So it kinda bothers me when someone that has never experienced Sprint starts trashing them with no evidence, just from hearsay. BTW, I live in northeast CT.

I have two points to make about this post.

1) I was a sprint customer in the early 2000's and they were horrible (as was alot of the competition)

AND

2) I'm not trashing them I'm asking about them.

 

[Jesse]

I used to have a BlackBerry Pearl on Sprint back in 2008. I live in Maine, and VZW is hands down the top dog up here, but they're too expensive, and LOVE hidden fees. Sprint's service (even though I was roaming the entire time) is just fine. A tad on the slow side, but, I'm fine with that. I rarely use data heavy applications, and I'm sick of my Droid. The EVO is just too good looking. So today I decided I'm finished with VZW. Although I'll be roaming almost the entire time, I'm fine with that. I want the EVO, cheaper service, and to not give VZW anymore of my money.

June 4th baby.

 

[drfundy]

Verizon's own customers using the Palm Pre Plus were having trouble getting their phones to work with Google Maps and the only way to get GPS working properly was to launch the VZ Navigator program which has access to use AGPS. Verizon has very strict regulations as to what users can or cannot utilize when accessing their towers. It's very unlikely that Verizon or Alltel would allow Sprint users to access AGPS on their towers. That's why Sprint says Location based services may not work when Roaming.

Verizon is no longer strict about the gps info. I currently use google maps with my DI.

 

[anish3232]

Sprint service is great in the Nashville area cant wait for 4G to be up and running

 

[drfundy]

I was with Sprint for about 8 years and then left last year for the iPhone 3GS because ATT had upgraded our area. Mistake. I rarely had problems with Sprint's service where ever I went - dead spots for sure in the boonies, but for the most part, when they signed the roaming agreement with VZW back in 2007, my problems went away. I am seriously thinking of moving back to Sprint for the EVO (and I also have a new job that requires national travel) - or to VZW for the Incredible - but the EVO's screen and 4g capability are really what I want (I am in a 4g area already).

The larger (and hopefully clearer in daylight) screen and also the 720p out via hdmi is what has me wanting this phone. I do want to see the device first. If it is about the size as the hd2 I could probably manage that but wouldn't want to go much bigger.

 

[6tr6tr]

No idea on the roaming but my Sprint service has been incredibly good. My friend has AT&T and has crappy service that goes out all the time. I get a dropped call literally 2-3 times a year (about 3 years ago it was 2-3 times every few months and a few years before that it was 2-3 times every two weeks). So they've gotten MUCH better.

I will say it depends on where you are. Sprint is better near cities for sure.

 

[BigRick10]

Coverage is great here in Orange County California

 

[drfundy]

From the sprint map it looks like I would have pretty good 4g coverage in my home area.

I hope this will be available for purchase with a one year contract.

 

[JERAVICIOUS]

Sprint has been my phone provider for eight years and I have not had any major problems with signal until now. I used to live in San Diego, CA and now I live in Santa Cruz, CA. When living in San Diego I had no problem using my phone. I got service just about everywhere except in the boonies in the far east counties which is expected. Also, when I traveled to L.A., San Francisco, San Jose, and Las Vegas, the service was perfect.

The only time I am having problems with service is when I moved to Santa Cruz. In Santa Cruz there are many dead spots with phone reception. The sprint map shows that the city is covered but do not believe in the hype. I am not bashing sprint, but Santa Cruz is such an odd city that everything is out of wack. Just look up Mystery Spot and you will know what I mean. But all jokes aside, major areas in Santa Cruz that did not get reception were at UC Santa Cruz and Western dr. Not ever Verizon got service on Western DR. Other than that I can get good service in other parts of town.

Overall sprint service and reception is really good, even when roaming to verizon towers. I think it is just the small cities and rural areas where it may suffer.

 

[dontspamtheman]

I live in South Florida and although I think most service is pretty good here I never have problems with Sprint. I find it better than At&T and when you consider the cost compared to other companies and good customer service, I will stick with Sprint unless they give me a reason to switch.

 

[bouche123]

I have been a Sprint customer for 10 years now and I have been pretty happy with their service. I have never had a billing problem yet. The quality of their voice service is pretty good, but it really depends on the quality of your phone. I have an Lg phone right not and I cannot wait to get rid of it. My 2 previous phones were sanyos and they worked perfectly. Was even able to make a call on a cruise ship off the Hawaiian coast with no problems.

 

[drfundy]

I guess I need to decide whether I want 4g sometimes and 3g usually with 2g the rest of the time or 3g all of the time.

I wish I had more time to decide.