Cell Phone Plans

Just curious as to what a good outstate MN cell phone provider is for text and voice –

Would like good coverage in Duluth – Grand Rapids, Moose Lake, Ely area

Thanks

Dog

In those areas you are going to want Verizon for sure.

Verizon has given us the best coverage state wide.

VZ

Sprint has worked well for me in these areas.

I don’t think this is as much of an issue as it once was, with consolidation and no roaming agreements, it seems that coverage has become uniform. I’ve never been somewhere where I had a signal on Sprint and nobody else had one on Verizon or vice versa.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve wondered if we aren’t all hitting the same tower regardless of carrier in rural areas?

Grouse

You can view maps on all of the providers websites to see what areas are covered and what are not. You can even zoom in on most of them and see what parts of town are covered.

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Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve wondered if we aren’t all hitting the same tower regardless of carrier in rural areas?

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We have a tower in view from the driveway at our cabin. VZW picks up flawless service, while Sprint is virtually non-existent.

Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular piggyback on CDMA towers
AT&T and T-Mobil piggyback on GSM towers

The smaller stuff.. straighttalk, mindo, etc, use CDMA

Of course, not all of the CDMA broadcast on all CDMA towers, the company has to rent the CDMA tower for its use. Same goes with GSM.

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Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve wondered if we aren’t all hitting the same tower regardless of carrier in rural areas?

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We have a tower in view from the driveway at our cabin. VZW picks up flawless service, while Sprint is virtually non-existent.

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Agreed, there is a reason why Verizon cost more than any other carrier, its because it works!

Is $118 per month reasonable for 1 phone? We dropped one phone (down to 1) and it only dropped it from $130 to $118 with basic text and data plan. I’m ready to shop around.

Ive had Sprint since 1999, been very good to me, even in the sticks, $80 per month unlimited everything.

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Is $118 per month reasonable for 1 phone? We dropped one phone (down to 1) and it only dropped it from $130 to $118 with basic text and data plan. I’m ready to shop around.

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You can get Straight Talk for $45 a month unlimited every thing. They use Verizon towers. You do have to buy a phone but in the long run it’s cheaper.

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Is $118 per month reasonable for 1 phone? We dropped one phone (down to 1) and it only dropped it from $130 to $118 with basic text and data plan. I’m ready to shop around.

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You can get Straight Talk for $45 a month unlimited every thing. They use Verizon towers. You do have to buy a phone but in the long run it’s cheaper.

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I second this.. and if you already have a phone capable of taking a SIM card then you do not even have to buy a phone. http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/shop/sims#.U1_YdvldXSQ

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Is $118 per month reasonable for 1 phone? We dropped one phone (down to 1) and it only dropped it from $130 to $118 with basic text and data plan. I’m ready to shop around.

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$79. a month unlimited voice, txt and data although they throttle me down at 3 gigs of data. T-Mobil

Not as good as Verizon for coverage, but it’s not bad enough for the areas I run in to switch.

Site is a little confusing. I’ll have to wait until my wife gets home with her Iphone to see what we are starting with.
The price sounds great. Thanks for the help!

X3 for straight talk. I haved used mine from the cities to NW MN with no issues.
DT

Verizon is best bet. I lived in Ely and had reception just about everywhere I went, a few spots on vermilion with no reception, but I fished some tournaments around GR and duluth and still had good service. Buddy that I fished with had t mobile and it plan stunk for getting reception

Straight talk is month to month so you are not locked in for 2 years.

We have 2 iphones, unlimited talk, text and 10 GB of broadband for $200. I think it’s a bit steep but I’ve done everything I need and have had no overages. With VZ, about the only place I don’t have service is a small area out west of Phillip, SD jerr

If you are with VZ, ask for their loyalty plan!!!!

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If you are with VZ, ask for their loyalty plan!!!!

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Care to fill us in? I re up in July…if I choose to get a new phone….which I will.

Long time Verizon guy. Just switched to the loyalty program.

$60 a month unlimted talk, text and 2 gigs of data.. And $10 per gig of data if I go over my 2 gigs. You dont have change your plan either its just $10 per gig when going over the 2 gigs

Same deal for any additional lines too.

Its a 1 year contract but your current new phone contract is not effected by the loyalty program. You can switch to it any time contract or not.

You have to ask for the loyalty program they wont tell you about.

Sorry to drag this out and I appreciate all your help. I am all set to sign on to ST tonight. But. Do you think calling ATT would do any good first? Any chance they would drastically drop their price? Forget going to the local store. I dealt with them 2 weeks ago. No thanks.

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Is $118 per month reasonable for 1 phone? We dropped one phone (down to 1) and it only dropped it from $130 to $118 with basic text and data plan. I’m ready to shop around.

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You can get Straight Talk for $45 a month unlimited every thing. They use Verizon towers. You do have to buy a phone but in the long run it’s cheaper.

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I’ve been using ST for the last 2 years and have had no problems. On auto pay. $50 mos. Gotta love that!! But I’m single, too. No other phones. And also have changed different phones. All phones I bought on craigslist.