Verizon Cell Coverage

[dmjr]

Has anyone else experienced very poor cell coverage around the area this summer? Today I was traveling on both route 25 and route 25b in Center Harbor and I was not able to make a call or send a text until I got into Meredith.

[burgerunh]

Verizon Service on the weekends in the summer is terrible in Ossipee at Ossipee Lake.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by dmjr

Has anyone else experienced very poor cell coverage around the area this summer? Today I was traveling on both route 25 and route 25b in Center Harbor and I was not able to make a call or send a text until I got into Meredith.

In Gilford all summer long it was 1-2 bars tops, it has always been 3-4 bars on our phones. My neighbors were all talking about it all summer how bad it was, even during the week days too.

[dickiej]

Would love to get off Verizon…haven’t spent much time researching just how and who is less expensive. Any suggestions?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by dickiej

Would love to get off Verizon…haven’t spent much time researching just how and who is less expensive. Any suggestions?

We had pretty good luck with AT&T before going to Verizon, but I'd probably try TMobile first—I've heard good things about them since merging with Sprint.

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[Newbiesaukee]

Verizon has been much worse on Long Island. In the past AT&T was nonexistent and Verizon seemed the best in our location.

[4 for Boating]

So I'm by no means an expert on this but I think there is a difference between the number of Bars (Signal Strength to tower- not typically impacted by the number of phone connections to the tower) and Congestion (where you may even have 5 bars and you cannot get any thing to go through - texts/internet/ browsing...

I'm not sure having a lot of people in the area (summer rush) would impact the number of bars but most certainly would impact the speed or lack there of a connection.

Reminds me of the old Foxboro stadium - would go to to a game and have 5 bars but could not send a single text the entire day while there = congestion.

Could be wrong...

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

So I'm by no means an expert on this but I think there is a difference between the number of Bars (Signal Strength to tower- not typically impacted by the number of phone connections to the tower) and Congestion (where you may even have 5 bars and you cannot get any thing to go through - texts/internet/ browsing...

I'm not sure having a lot of people in the area (summer rush) would impact the number of bars but most certainly would impact the speed or lack there of a connection.

Reminds me of the old Foxboro stadium - would go to to a game and have 5 bars but could not send a single text the entire day while there = congestion.

Could be wrong...

You are correct—it's called deprioritization. I discovered it a few years back when on prepaid Verizon and couldn't use my phone on weekends or during the day. At that time, carriers were being squirrelly with how they identified the process.

I don't know about other providers, but Verizon identifies this as "premium data." For example, on their top-level plan, customers get unlimited premium data, which means they will never be deprioritized when the network is busy.

The next levels down are up to 50GB of premium data, whereas the base plans have 5 (Start) and 0 (Welcome). Prepaid plans and MVNOs are prioritized below those plans.

This only applies when the network is congested which, in the summer, is almost always.

My experience this summer, though, is that the actual signal strength has been weaker than in the past. Places I would've normally had 2-3 bars were at 1 or no service. People have mentioned that may be a reflection of Verizon moving to 5G, which does not have the same penetration ability.

Does anyone know the best way to report these experiences? I'm guessing the more complaints they get, the more they're likely to address.

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[tis]

I have the unlimited plan and still don't have many bars. I can't download anything unless I am in the house (not sure if that's my phone or the service). But for 151 dollars a month it is frustrating.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

I have the unlimited plan and still don't have many bars. I can't download anything unless I am in the house (not sure if that's my phone or the service). But for 151 dollars a month it is frustrating.

$151 is for how many phones? We pay $150 for 4 phones w/unlimited data.

Remember, though, that "unlimited" may not equal "high-priority."

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[tis]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

$151 is for how many phones? We pay $150 for 4 phones w/unlimited data.

Remember, though, that "unlimited" may not equal "high-priority."

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2 phones. How do you tell unlimited from high priority?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

2 phones. How do you tell unlimited from high priority?

They call it "premium data."

$150 for two phones is wayyyy too high.

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[TiltonBB]

I am in Gilford and the Verizon service has been very good all summer. It does tighten up a little on concert days but it is certainly acceptable all the time.

I am on this plan:

Verizon Prepaid: 5GB plan for $40-25/month
The cheapest Verizon prepaid option is the 5GB plan, which starts at $40 but over time drops to as low as $25 per month. This plan will get you full 5G access but only a small allowance, which makes it preferable for light-users only. If you're mostly Wi-Fi bound, then this might be a good option for you. This also includes the use of your device as a mobile hotspot to share that data with other devices.
Intro price: $40/mo | After 4-mo: $35/mo | After 10-mo: $25/mo

I prefer the laptop and rarely use the phone for internet access, and when I do it is usually on wifi.

My recollection is that when I signed up it was for seniors only. (Unfortunately, I am over qualified for this discount)

The other thing I remember is it is prepaid. They get their money at the beginning of the month instead of the end of the month. Who cares? The net annual cost is still the same.

[BroadHopper]

In my neck of the woods, I can only get 3G coverage. Been like that for a few years. I had LTE coverage and I don't know what happen. Neighbors and colleagues notice the same thing. Called Verizon a few times and had no luck. They would send a "truck to the nearest corner and check the signal strength" which was the standard reply. Also 'turn on wifi VOIP coverage'.

A number of folks with AT&T are having 5G coverage in the area, but with only 2 bars on average, better than what I have now.

Once I lose 3G and have no luck with Verizon, AT&T is the way to go. I thought they use the same towers.

[codeman671]

We had Verizon for years, the service got went downhill year after year and the pricing just kept climbing.

We switched to T-mobile last year and it has been much better, and is $150 less per month. A few dead spots to deal with but all carriers have that. There is a 5 minute dead zone on route 11 starting around the Hogs Pen heading north (although some days its perfectly fine?) and I usually drop out around West Alton Marina for a minute.

The worst dead spot is right at my house in Dover (wifi calling only) which has been frustrating, but in a week I will be a Gilford resident so it won't matter!

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

$151 is for how many phones? We pay $150 for 4 phones w/unlimited data.

Remember, though, that "unlimited" may not equal "high-priority."

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Not sure of you are aware/take advantage of it, but as an educator I get a small discount ($25/month? - can't remember exactly). I don't remember seeing it advertised; they brought it to my attention after I complained about the cost of my bill a couple years ago. I've been getting it ever since.

At the time, the discount was available to first responders as well.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Garcia

Not sure of you are aware/take advantage of it, but as an educator I get a small discount ($25/month? - can't remember exactly). I don't remember seeing it advertised; they brought it to my attention after I complained about the cost of my bill a couple years ago. I've been getting it ever since.

At the time, the discount was available to first responders as well.

I am and get it.
Our plans are $45/$35/$35/$35 and ~$15 in taxes, so the $20 teacher's discount makes it $145.xx.

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[Heaven]

Originally Posted by Garcia

Not sure of you are aware/take advantage of it, but as an educator I get a small discount ($25/month? - can't remember exactly). I don't remember seeing it advertised; they brought it to my attention after I complained about the cost of my bill a couple years ago. I've been getting it ever since.

At the time, the discount was available to first responders as well.

I get that discount also, used to have 5 phones on my plan now i have only two, and I don't get that discount if I add another line. I can't recall why I get it. . . .

[Fastfury]

Check your Verizon bill
They are charging more for 3g
They want you to convert to 5G and it's less $/ Mo they are starting to
discontinue the old network
They want you to upgrade to 5G



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[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by dmjr

Has anyone else experienced very poor cell coverage around the area this summer? Today I was traveling on both route 25 and route 25b in Center Harbor and I was not able to make a call or send a text until I got into Meredith.

Donny, It is absolutely terrible! I cant do audio only zoom or teams calls all along 104 so sometimes have to stop at 93 for an hour to finish a call. I just upgraded to 5G iphone and no improvement.