I know I should STFF but things change.

I don't understand anything about mobil phones. Only that I have two different providers (Nextel & T-Mobile) and at various time both suck.

Is the phone the determining factor in reception, I thought it was the network. Can phones be upgraded to improve reception in a @#$%& (mountainous are) network?

Would a new improved (hate that phrase) phone be an option. What actually determines the quality of the service, the signal or the phone?

And last, can a (super)phone -if such a thing exists - move a network from marginal to acceptible service?

The questions leave little out, I live in the mountains surrounding the San Fernando Valley, depend on my cell phones and have been let down with reception.

Suggestions?

---

"Who's more foolish - the fool or the fool that follows him?" - Obi Wan Kenobi

why is he bending his left fingers like that? Who grabs things by their very end fingertips?

---

******************************

******************************

Those things weighed about six pounds and didn't bounce all that well. ;)

---

"Who's more foolish - the fool or the fool that follows him?" - Obi Wan Kenobi

See if you can find a dealer who will let you take some loaner phones home and test the signals. Other than a neighbor who has already tried out the different carriers & phones, that's probably the best way.

When I was getting rid of Sprint (the Devil IMHO), I went to a Suncom (AT&T's southern branch, now Cingular) store and asked them if they has coverage at the lake. They offered me a loaner phone (before I signed any contracts) to go test it out. Most other dealers would just say "Sure!" to get you into their 20-year contract.

In a given area, like T-mobiles, they have their street level coverage maps, if you are in what should be a good reception area, then it's the phone.

Alot of phones unfortunatly have very bad reception.

Unfortunatly, doing some places, where they do not have cell towers put up, then you would get less than desirable reception in general.

If you are looking for a new service, try Cingular out, if your often in rural areas they will probably have decent coverage there provided you have a decent phone(Like a nokia).

---

_______________________________________________________________
Security is just a word. The act of being secure is entirely different.
"...but I think that to make your dream a reality, having a dream itself is a mandatory prerequisite"
From A Book: Walking Through The Impossible

Just because it has two clutches, shifts faster, uses a torque converter or has near-infinite gear ratios, requires less driver intervention and is more efficient doesn't make it better in my opinion.
Save The Manual Transmission

exactly my point, if he grasped it better, it would not drop.

I was not affluent enough to have that model, I had a bag phone. I many ways superior to today's crappy phones, IMO.

---

******************************

******************************

It's both the phone and the network, but the network is usually the biggest problem.

If you like in a mountainous area, there aren't going to be any phones that give you perfect service.

SteveJobs Says.:
I had a bag phone. I many ways superior to today's crappy phones, IMO.

Damn straight!
Those things put out Five watts!
Todays phones put out milliwatts.

I disagree with your network assertion MGS, Nokia phones will have rock steady reception where other phones get a "No Network" indication.

BGnR

We have Tmobile; our house is on the edge of a tower signal, so your question is one I've wondered about as well.

FWIW, last year we had 3 different phones at one time on our family plan (Moto V300, Samsung E105, Nokia brick ?). The Moto and Nokia had a much better signal than the Samsung; as I recall, there wasn't any substantial difference between them.

brnr -

I am probably going to acquire me THREE WATTS with one of these...

[www.wilsoncellular.us]

up to 60 miles distance connection to a cell!

---

******************************

******************************

I've got a phone like that, too! Just not in my car, though.

---

******************************

******************************

I've always wondered why they just don't make a phone shaped like a do not disturb door handle hook.

---

******************************

******************************

SteveJobs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> brnr -
>
> I am probably going to acquire me THREE WATTS with
> one of these...
>
>
>
> up to 60 miles distance connection to a cell!
>
> **************************************************
> ****
> PM me if you need to say something directly to me.

Don't expect double the distance everywhere.
There are too many other variables involved.
Don't expect analogue performance with a amplifier nor wireless repeater/amplifier.
Most of the towers have removed the big tall (presence) analogue antennas. Not even the few analogue phones left on Cingulars network are performing like days of old.

I get great reception even when my cell tower is 400 miles away....

a little Cell-agra will get that thing all they way up, man.

---

******************************

******************************