Sprint Data Coverage loss Oklahoma and Kansas

Posted this in Chasers Forum and thought I'd post here as well...

Has anyone tried to get out of their Sprint contracts yet? I am going to try soon as chase season is rapidly approaching. My problem is that I have two data cards and several phones with varying contracts. I recieved a text from Sprint with coverage maps yesterday and I am going to have to do something pretty quick...here is the link that I recieved yesterday:

http://support.sprint.com/support/ar...coveragechange

Here are the terms & conditions. I just read it and do not see a way out...

http://shop2.sprint.com/en/legal/leg...cy_popup.shtml
 
Posted this in Chasers Forum and thought I'd post here as well...

Has anyone tried to get out of their Sprint contracts yet? I am going to try soon as chase season is rapidly approaching. My problem is that I have two data cards and several phones with varying contracts. I recieved a text from Sprint with coverage maps yesterday and I am going to have to do something pretty quick...here is the link that I recieved yesterday:

http://support.sprint.com/support/ar...coveragechange

Here are the terms & conditions. I just read it and do not see a way out...

http://shop2.sprint.com/en/legal/leg...cy_popup.shtml

That's a broken link here it is:
Sprint OK/KS change

I guess they feel cutting that area will save the company.
 
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I emailed Sprint ecare the other day and explained I was a storm chaser, I lived near the area and bought the card specifically for storm chasing and their great coverage area, and that they were dropping a large part of my prime usage area for chasing in Western Oklahoma. It took about 3 days and was passed up to an account specialist in New York, but they cancelled it, no further questions asked, and waived the EFT. Didn't require any threatening about contract changes or anything, just some honesty of the situation.
 
Has anyone, by chance, tested their Verizon coverage in the infamous NW OK black hole yet?

The changes were supposed to take effect on 1 March, but a glance at their data coverage map today shows that area still listed as roaming 1X.

I am giving serious thought to switching from Sprint to Verizon coverage this year, and will need to make the decision soon. NW OK coverage (or lack thereof) on each network would be the primary deciding factor.
 
If they have changed the coverage I should be able to connect from where I live, which I haven't been able to do without an amplifier up to this point. The last time I connected was around the third week of February and it said I was roaming. I'll try to connect with just my data card tonight and see what happens.


Update: Checked the Verizon card on its own tonight and was getting one to two bars consistently (still shows 1x roaming), which is better than the zero before. Can't say for sure this would be the case 20-30 miles north.
 
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Basically the Sprint agreement with Pioneer ended March 1. So one solution would be to get a Pioneer card if you are primarily working the NW OK areas.
The roaming charge of .25 per 1MB might rack up on you if you stream.
 
If you are going to switch . Bo with Millenicom advanced plan . Same coverage as signing up direct with Verizon except

20 GB a month instead of 5 GB
No Taxes
No Contract

Has anyone, by chance, tested their Verizon coverage in the infamous NW OK black hole yet?

The changes were supposed to take effect on 1 March, but a glance at their data coverage map today shows that area still listed as roaming 1X.

I am giving serious thought to switching from Sprint to Verizon coverage this year, and will need to make the decision soon. NW OK coverage (or lack thereof) on each network would be the primary deciding factor.
 
If you are going to switch . Bo with Millenicom advanced plan . Same coverage as signing up direct with Verizon except

20 GB a month instead of 5 GB
No Taxes
No Contract
I have been using their Sprint BYOD plan for the past two chase seasons. I was very happy with that setup: I snagged an almost-free modem on eBay and just paid Millenicom $69.99 a month for unlimited data when I needed it (Mar-Jun).

Unfortunately, the loss of Sprint coverage over much of rural OK has made that option a lot less appealing for 2012. What's also unfortunate is that Millenicom does not allow customers to use our own devices for their Verizon plans, so I would be forced to purchase a Verizon U760 for $99.99 (+$15 S/H) in order to use that "Advanced" plan. Altogether, when including the device, shipping, and activation fee, I'd be looking at $164.99 just to start the account up -- an account I plan on using for only three or four months.

For this reason, I'm forced to look into the relative merits of going that route vs. grabbing a used modem on eBay for $20 and signing up directly through Verizon. It's a shame, because I really like Millenicom's service and higher data caps; if they offered Verizon BYOD I wouldn't even have to look elsewhere. I'm sure this is going to be an issue for many other chasers this year, too, given the new Sprint data coverage maps.

EDIT: Just realized they do offer a plan where you "rent" the device at no charge, but it has a 5 GB cap, which is iffy for me since I chase ~20-25 days per spring.
 
Just wondering if anyone has heard anything recently about whether there will be Verizon 3G or 4G in NW OK anytime soon, or what the deal is? I had absolutely no data on my chase this past Monday once I got north of Watonga up the Northwest Passage.
 
Not sure when the Verizon deal with Pioneer Cellular in NW OK will be started, however Verizon annouced today some nice additons to chasing areas on April 19,2012.


More Than 2/3 Of U.S. Population Starting April 19



04/17/2012


BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s largest 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, today announced that it will cover more than two-thirds of the U.S. population when it introduces its 4G LTE network in 27 new markets and expands in 44 markets on April 19. With the new and expanded markets, Verizon Wireless continues to lead the industry in 4G LTE deployment, offering network coverage in 230 markets across the United States. By the end of 2012, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network will be available in more than 400 markets, and will be available to more than 260 million people in the United States.With the continued growth of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, people in more areas of the United States will be able to take advantage of the speed and connectivity offered by the nation’s fastest 4G network. Verizon Wireless currently offers more than 20 4G LTE-enabled devices, including the new Lucid™ by LG and the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7.
“Verizon Wireless 4G LTE is the premier wireless data service in the nation, with more than six times the geographic coverage of our nearest competitor’s 4G LTE network and now available to more than two-thirds of the nation’s population,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “We will continue to introduce new markets and expand covered markets to ensure even more wireless users across the United States can take advantage of the benefits that 4G LTE brings to consumers, small businesses and enterprises."
“This year represents a year of growth and investment in our 4G LTE network, which stands out by virtue of its superb combination of coverage, speed and the variety of devices that we offer customers.”
On Thursday, April 19, the company will introduce its 4G LTE network in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Pine Bluff, Siloam Springs and Van Buren, Ark.; Visalia/Porterville, Calif.; Fort Walton Beach and Ocala, Fla.; Brunswick, LaGrange and Macon/Warner Robins, Ga.; Peoria, Ill.; Kokomo/Logansport and Marion, Ind.; Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend and Hays, Kan.; Salisbury, Md.; Cattaraugus/Allegany, N.Y.; Sandusky, Ohio; Ardmore and Ponca City, Okla.; Salem/Albany/Corvallis, Ore.; Pierre, S.D.; and Big Springs and Tyler, Texas.
The company will also expand its 4G LTE network in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Sacramento, Salinas/Monterey, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo and Stockton, Calif.; Colorado Springs and Fort Collins/Loveland, Colo.; Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.; Boise/Nampa, Idaho; Carbondale/Marion and Rockford, Ill.; Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Boston and Worcester, Mass.; Detroit, Mich.; St. Louis, Mo.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Manchester/Nashua, N.H.; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M.; Buffalo/Niagara Falls and New York, N.Y.; Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Providence/Pawtucket, R.I.; Nashville, Tenn.; El Paso, Texas; Provo/Orem and Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah; and Olympia/Centralia and Spokane, Wash.
4G LTE Speed
In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their area or when they travel to areas already covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.
4G LTE Markets
On April 19, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in 230 markets across the United States. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for a full list of 4G LTE markets and additional information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. For a comparison of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network coverage to its competitors, street-level detail of coverage and more, please
 
On Thursday, I had verizon coverage up the NW passage, It was slow, but I did have coverage. Hopefully tomorrow (April 19) they will fully make use of the Pioneer network.
 
Verizons 3G map changed today with a light orange color 1x in NW OK which had been white with no coverage before. Also Ponca City and north I35 have 4G LTE as of today.
 
Yesterday I could get 4G at my apartment for the first time (rural IL side of STL metro). So, something has indeed changed/come online - whether or not that translates out west is a guess. I had virtually zero Verizon data in NW OK on 4/14 and very slow data in SW OK on 4/13.
 
Yesterday I could get 4G at my apartment for the first time (rural IL side of STL metro). So, something has indeed changed/come online - whether or not that translates out west is a guess. I had virtually zero Verizon data in NW OK on 4/14 and very slow data in SW OK on 4/13.

I'm wondering why you had such bad Verizon in SW OK, because we had excellent service, and only lost it for about 10 minutes there in the mountains. I do have a booster though.
 
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