18 replies to this topic

[cwdtmmrs]

I have been using the Walmart Family plan for years. It is T-Mobile with unlimited text talk and data for about $40 month. I don't even have internet at home. I just use my phone as a hot spot for my laptop. It isn't the best coverage, but the price more than makes up for that.

[Arctic]

I have had AT&T for over 10 years but have had poor customer service for the last year so I am shopping for a new Carrier.
Thanks for the contributions to this thread.
BTW, what did the OP decide after his research?

[rubberlegs]

We use Verizon which seems to work better in the mountains. I’m surprised at some of the places that work. It’s expensive though. Haven’t compared with ATT but T mobile is considerably worse where we travel (WA and CA mostly). We also have InReach so maybe if we were more willing to forego email and this website, that would be sufficient.

[craig333]

If you're ummm, on the more mature side Verizon has a nice plan with unlimited data. Still not cheap.

[rubberlegs]

I looked up the "mature" Verizon plans, but it seems only three states offer. One is Florida, I forget the others. How ya finding those plans?

[Kolockum]

Verizon is the best that I have found coverage wise in the Pacific Northwest. Customer service has been OK but not great. Honestly I don't think any company has good customer service any more. 

 

If you have some trusted friends or family the overall cost per line starts to go down with 4 lines and a little negotiating. 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

At one time we preferred ATT for their business practices/customer service, but their coverage didn’t work for me.  When Verizon honored my veteran’s discount, we went back, and have had no issues or complaints.

[PackRat]

Cell phone carriers and cell phone charges/plans do differ. I'm in Marin County and most of the ATT guys have had it and moved to Verizon. Its just that dropout coming north on the 101 down the hill out of the rainbow tunnel that gets ya every time. Sometimes going south just before you get OUT of the tunnel to the approach of the GG Bridge you get a dropout.

 

Around Marin and Sonoma counties, Verizon seems a tad better in terms of getting/keeping a signal but as I sit in front of my computer with the modem one foot away, and my Samsung using Comcast, I get dropouts that necessitate me going to the living room to stay online during some longer conversations. 

 

I feel that the choice of a carrier or a plan is not based on which is best, but which is the least troublesome for the majority of the surrounding areas you travel frequently. Hopefully you do get service at least a ways out in the hinterlands, so I call it the "Lesser of Evils" approach....none are perfect, none are the best service vs best pricing either. Like gasoline, there are probably 20 stations within 10 miles of me and they all say they are "the best" with one catch-phrase or another....and usually range about fifty-cents difference in price for 87 octane.

[craig333]

Interesting. I'm in CA and get the senior plan for $60.