Where in Oakmont can you find Cell Phone Service? A study by the Oakmont Technology Forum And the Oakmont PC Users Group

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Where in Oakmont can you find Cell Phone Service? A study by the Oakmont Technology Forum And the Oakmont PC Users Group"

Angelica Harvey
8 years ago
Views:

1 Where in Oakmont can you find Cell Phone Service? A study by the Oakmont Technology Forum And the Oakmont PC Users Group

3 Today s Discussion How cell phone reception works Cell service providers and networks Reception in Oakmont for the primary cell service networks What you can do to improve poor service What to do if you are looking for a new cell service provider

primary cell service networks What you can do to improve poor

4 Analysis Today s focus: a survey of 170 residents (online and direct) Carrier Type of phone used Quality of service October 21 focus: Cellmapper to give service quality for the primary networks throughout Oakmont Results agree, but Cellmapper gives more detail Focus in October will be on how to pick your cell phone provider

service quality for the primary networks throughout Oakmont Results agree, but

5 Major Networks Verizon (largest) AT&T (almost as large) Sprint T-Mobile

6 Cell Phone Service Providers Network Providers Verizon Service Providers using this network Verizon AT&T AT&T, Cricket Sprint Sprint, Virgin Mobile, Credo, Boost T-Mobile T-Mobile, Metro PCS TracFone, Straight Talk, and Net 10 use several providers and are not particularly reliable for an area like Oakmont

Credo, Boost T-Mobile T-Mobile, Metro PCS TracFone, Straight Talk, and Net

7 2G, 3G, and 4G Each generation of cell phone has brought more capabilities The second generation (2G 1990+) brought good quality voice (and text) The third generation (3G 2000+) brought reasonable data service as well , internet browsing The fourth generation (4G 2010+) has brought high quality video Cell networks default to the best service they can find (2G, 3G, 4G) You may have a 4G phone, but if the service available is 2G, you get 2G

Email, internet browsing The fourth generation (4G 2010+) has brought high quality video Cell networks default

8 Santa Rosa Oakmont Map Stone Bridge West Rec Route 12 Berger Golf Course Kenwood Oakmont Drive East Rec

9 Here s Verizon s advertised coverage

10 Oakmont Reception for all Networks Green: 4-5 bars Yellow: 3 bars Red: 1-2 bars

11 Here s the real coverage for Verizon Santa Rosa Kenwood

12 Cell Phone Reception depends on a Network of Cell Towers

13 Reception depends on line-of-sight connection

14 Terrain Around Oakmont Oakmont

16 AT&T at Oakmont

17 Sprint at Oakmont

18 T-Mobile at Oakmont

19 What Have we Learned? Network Maps are not accurate for Oakmont Verizon and AT&T networks work well for the middle of Oakmont West golf course area West of Oakmont Drive up to West Rec Center South of Oakmont Drive up to Pythian (including Starry Knolls) Sprint network seems okay, but primarily with voice, not data The T-Mobile network doesn t seem to work well anywhere The Eastern end of Oakmont and much of the Western end have no reliable cell network There is little correlation with the type of phone

West of Oakmont Drive up to West Rec Center South of Oakmont Drive up to Pythian (including Starry Knolls) Sprint network

20 So How do YOU get Good Cell Phone Service?

21 How do you Use Cell Phones in Oakmont? Is your cell phone used in Oakmont? No, it s primarily for when I m outside of Oakmont or traveling Yes, but just to receive voice calls Yes, and I also use it for data ( , internet, etc.) Is there a family member who regularly needs to use cell service in your Oakmont home?

22 Three Concepts for a Better Cell Phone Experience Use your cell phone, but off the Network Forward cell phone calls to your home phone for voice Connect the cell phone to your WiFi for data (can be cheaper, too) Use a micro-cell Test other networks and phones Borrow from neighbors, friends, Oakmont NextDoor and test in your house Change when you find a combination that works If you sign a contract, you have 14 days to cancel it and return the phone ($35)

23 Microcell Connecting your cell phone via the internet Concept: A microcell is a device that connects to an internet Router It creates a small cell tower inside your house Your cell phone connects to this tower You make and receive calls on your cell phone Using the internet! (For the techies this is also known as a femtocell) (It is not what is called a booster, that s very different)

24 Microcells AT&T calls theirs a Micro-cell ($350 on Amazon) Verizon calls theirs a Network Extender ($380 on Amazon) Sprint calls theirs an AIRAVE ($75 on Amazon) T-Mobile does not offer a Micro-cell But your service probably will provide a free microcell if you qualify If your existing service is poor, call their service department If you are looking at new service, focus the salesperson on reception at your address Your family can use the same microcell if they are on the same network May require pre-registering their phone number with the carrier If you use a microcell, your provider charges for data usage (not like WiFi) NOTE: Today s microcells provide 3G service, not 4G 4G may be coming

25 Come to the October 21 OPCUG Meeting (2 PM, East Rec Center) The Oakmont Technology Forum s objective is to give a broad view The Oakmont PC Users Group s objective is to give more detail How to pick your cell phone service Copies of cell mapping results will be made available How to pick the right cell phone And how to save money Cell service when you re traveling Particularly outside the US

26 Today Cell Phones Next Time Shall we discuss Internet, Cable, or Landlines?

How to Pick Best Cell Phone Company in Oakmont. A study by Oakmont PC Users Group and Oakmont Technology Forum John Hamilton & George McKinney

How to Pick Best Cell Phone Company in Oakmont A study by Oakmont PC Users Group and Oakmont Technology Forum John Hamilton & George McKinney A Common Problem In Oakmont! Solutions: informed choice of