Re: AT&T service on 3/8/2010 chase...

[Jeff Snyder]

This can go in several forums (a DISC thread, here, etc.), but since it's primarily about service, I'll put it here...

Did anyone else have severe problems with AT&T while chasing in western Oklahoma on 3/8/10? Once I got west of El Reno, I could not make any voice calls or get any data on my WinMo Blackjack II. I had 2-4 bars in most places (though I did have some "no service" areas -- including on I40!), but any attempt to make a voice call just yielded a "This action could not be completed" message. I was able to get through a couple of times near Clinton and Elk City, but the calls dropped in <1 min. I power cycled my phone, rebooted several times, remove/reinserted the SIM card, etc., but nothing really fixed it. The attempts to get data resulted in the same... Heck, I couldn't even make a 911 call to report the tornado (which was unwarned at the time AFAIK). The latter makes me think that there may be something going on with my phone, but I know my wife has been dropping a lot of calls lately in central Oklahoma (she has AT&T as well). I was as frustrated as I could be with AT&T and my phone today...

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Check the www.wirelessadvisor.com forums and www.howardforums.com .Maybe some other users have issued complaints as well from that area.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Thanks, Gordon. I have an old Cingular/HTC 2125 that I used to carry with me in my backpack as a "backup", but I couldn't find it yesterday. I was going to try to move the SIM card from the Blackjack to the 2125 to help troubleshoot whether it's a phone issue or a service issue (much more likely if I couldn't make voice/data calls on either/both phones). I know there were a considerably number of STers out there yesterday, so I figured I'd see if my inability to make or receive calls outside of the OKC area yesterday was isolated. Thanks!

 

[Jay Bell]

Jeff,

I too used the Blackjack II for a couple of years, just recently switching to iPhone. The Blackjack II had worked well as long as I had 3 or more bars, but when it was less, was really hit and miss. It also will show bars when you don't have a signal...not sure why. My wife's "shine" phone does MUCH better than the Blackjack II and the iPhone (so far) is better than either one. As far as being in western OK, my Blackjack was pretty worthless other than in more populated areas.

Hope that helps

Jay

 

[Jesse Risley]

I use Verizon, and both Verizon and Sprint were horrid in that area last year (April 26, 2009). However, the two chasers that I was networking with that day that had AT&T were both more than satisfied with their voice and data service from that area and points NNW. In fact, they were the only ones that had data for extended periods of time.

 

[David Goines]

This makes me wonder if it would be of benefit to carry pre-paid "go phones" of various wireless carriers. I know that the area in question and farther north into NW OK is terrible for ANY wireless carrier but it might be a situation where one carrier has service and the other one doesn't.
Seems like a little overkill but it might end up being worth it?

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I've used AT&T for data for the past 5 years, and never had a big problem near I40 in western Oklahoma before yesterday. Looking at the online coverage maps, it looks like the areas where I couldn't use the service were the non-3G areas [though still native AT&T (i.e. non-roaming) service by the looks of it]. I wish I had my 2125 so I could have swapped the SIM card, since I don't want to drive back out there today to troubleshoot whether the problem is the phone or the service. Except for some holes in NW OK, I haven't had much of an issue with AT&T mobile service in this area until yesterday. However, when there's a tornado on the ground, and no warning out, there are few things more frustrating than being unable to call anyone (or get online to use SpotterNet, etc.).

 

[Tony Laubach]

As they like to say, AT&T, no bars in more places.

 

[Scott Olson]

I've experienced this problem quite often on Alltel when there is a convergence of chasers. Perhaps in this case it's not directly related but the wireless companies build to their expected capacity. For a relatively rural area that may be as little as 40 people on the network at once. May 22/23 2008 come to mind as making my Alltel data connection absolutely worthless.

 

[Steve Bottkol]

I think Scott has hit the nail on the head. The number of people that are equipped with data cards have out-grown the carrier's capacity especially when you are in BFE. I've always used alltel, now verizon or a cingular, now at&t datacard with a external 5dB antenna, and have noticed other than the normal areas that I know drop out, much slower to non-exsistant service when their are a number of people covering a event.

I'm afraid the situation won't get an better anytime real soon since the wireless carriers are probably sitting on the fence waiting to see what's going to happen with the rural boadband plans that are being planned.

Another good point that Scott brings up is daily traffic. Why upgrade infastruture and spend a bunch of money when 1 day out of 30, or only for a couple of hours you max out your resources. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense, they would much rather throw money and equipment in a metro area where a majority of their customers are. Is it right no, but it's reality.

Steve