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NOVA/DC Area - iPhone Users Signal strength

C

CTK2651

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
43
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Deciding on the iPhone, but my real concern is AT&T (currently Verizon). How's the call quality, signal strength, and dropped calls. Are there dead areas around DC and Northern Virginia? Outside of the subway tunnels, is the AT&T signal strength good? Edge speed? Thanks! :apple:
 
CTK2651 said:
Deciding on the iPhone, but my real concern is AT&T (currently Verizon). How the call quality, signal strength, and dropped calls. Are there dead areas around DC and Northern Virginia? Outside of the subway tunnels, is the AT&T signal strength good? Edge speed? Thanks! :apple:
Click to expand...

Similar concerns here - Annapolis/Baltimore, specifically. Verizon is flawless in this area - what about ATT?
 
Switched from Verizon

I live in Northern VA (Reston area), and I made the switch to AT&T with the iPhone. To be completely honest, I am dissapointed with the AT&T service and coverage. I used to have strong coverage both indoors and outdoors with Verizon, and have noticed that AT&T's coverage is much more spotty. Additionally, I don't know if this is just a GSM thing, but the signal seems a lot more fickle, even in areas with strong signals.

Despite all this, I am very happy with the iPhone. The user interface and functionality make up for the lack of coverage (at least in my opinion).

It's a tough decision to make. If possible, find someone who has an iPhone or AT&T service and see if they can spend an hour with you examining the signal in your area. Hell, if you're close to the Reston area, let me know ... I'd be happy to meet with you and check the signal.
 
ErnestS said:
I live in Northern VA (Reston area), and I made the switch to AT&T with the iPhone. To be completely honest, I am dissapointed with the AT&T service and coverage. I used to have strong coverage both indoors and outdoors with Verizon, and have noticed that AT&T's coverage is much more spotty. Additionally, I don't know if this is just a GSM thing, but the signal seems a lot more fickle, even in areas with strong signals.

Despite all this, I am very happy with the iPhone. The user interface and functionality make up for the lack of coverage (at least in my opinion).

It's a tough decision to make. If possible, find someone who has an iPhone or AT&T service and see if they can spend an hour with you examining the signal in your area. Hell, if you're close to the Reston area, let me know ... I'd be happy to meet with you and check the signal.
Click to expand...

That's a little disheartening.

I mainly want the phone for e-mail and Web, but I sure don't want spotty coverage.

Not ready to pay Verizon $175 to slip the noose yet.

Really a shame Verizon couldn't work with Apple or vice-versa. They have such a solid network.
 
Thanks ErnestS...

I know several folks who live in McLean and Alexandria (work in DC) and say they have no coverage / signal problem with AT&T (no iPhone). There is one person who lives in Chantilly and purchased an iPhone and says no issues (coming from T-mobile). Should satisfy my concerns, but hear comments like yours and read other comments 'bout spotty coverage, lost of signal, etc and wonder. Wonder also if it's only an iPhone issue?

Small world...am in Herndon. Thanks for the offer.
 
I live in Bethesda and haven't had any signal problems. I've been around Bethesda and Rockville, and it's been fine.

AT&T seems better than my previous experience with Sprint. Before I couldn't get any signal in my office, which is in the basement. But now I can get 4 bars at work.
 
I am a little bit father down in Fredericksburg. So far my signal strength has been about the same as it was with Sprint. Pretty good around town. Although near Quantico it can get fuzzy. I am supposed to be visiting my parents in VA BCH some time soon, and I will get to test it on the ride home.
 
Hi!

I live in NoVa and have used the iPhone through the DC region with no problems. 4 bars in most places.
 
I've had AT&T, then Cingular, now AT&T for years, primarily because of intl roaming on gsm. My experience has been spotty coverage in herndon and Reston, particularly western parts of Reston. But great coverage in Chantilly, Fairfax, up through merrifield. Coverage in Alexandria is better than verizon. But verizon is better in herndon where I used to live.

Among gsm phones, the iPhone has better signal than my last phone, the blackjack.
 
i live in arlington (clarendon) and have been impressed with the service. i used to have verizon which was equally as strong. i have gone all over arlington county/alexandria and not noticed any weakness in signal. i cant speak for the rest of NOVA. also i have not noticed too many problems in DC, i work downtown/chinatown. i do wish for cell service in the metro, but i hear that plans to get more cell providers service in the metro is in the works (i'm not holding my breathe though)
 
I used to work at Andrews AFB and commute to Alexandria. There's one spot just north of the WW bridge (1/2-1 mile) where I'd drop calls 90% of the time. It was really annoying. Other than that it was usually ok.

Now in Miami though, it's awesome =P
 
Have no problems out in the "open". But in my apartment I found that it was best to use a BT headset and keep the iPhone in certain areas to insure proper signal strength. But with Jawbone headset that has not been an issue.... actually prefer the BT headset....
 
I've been all around NoVA w/ the iPhone in my car w/ BT kit...Arlington, Tysons, Sterling, Leesburg, and I consistently get 4-5 bars.
 
I had verizon and probably the best thing is how well it worked in the DC metro...haven't tried the iphone there but up here in suburban MD it works great.
 
Sobe ..

No cellular carriers should work inside Metro except Verizon, since they wired the system many years ago. That may change down the road, but for now if you're underground it's Verizon or nothing.
 
CTK2651 said:
Deciding on the iPhone, but my real concern is AT&T (currently Verizon). How's the call quality, signal strength, and dropped calls. Are there dead areas around DC and Northern Virginia? Outside of the subway tunnels, is the AT&T signal strength good? Edge speed? Thanks! :apple:
Click to expand...
You shouldn't have any reception issues talking outside (or in your car on major highways, interstates) with any provider in DC Metro. You can use your iPhone outside just about anywhere and expect 3-4 bars. What differentiates the providers is reception and service in stores, shopping malls, underground parking lots, and on the metro.

Unfortunately, in my experience, Sprint and Verizon are the only providers that provide consistent coverage and service across the DC and N. VA area in those areas. Verizon and Sprint were about the same for me, probably because they roam on each others' networks, but AT&T and TMobile were both substantial drop off.

As others have noted, you won't get reliable underground metro reception throughout much of the area unless you're on Verizon or Sprint. Since both agreed to EVDO roaming last fall, you are pretty much guaranteed fast, reliable coverage with high-speed data on Sprint and Verizon, assuming your phone or pda has a recent PRL.

As always, service quality will vary depending on where you use your phone most and the proximity of those locations to the nearest cell tower. If you live or work across the street from an AT&T tower, then obviously your reception in that location is going to be good.
 
KenF said:
You shouldn't have any reception issues talking outside (or in your car on major highways, interstates) with any provider in DC Metro. You can use your iPhone outside just about anywhere and expect 3-4 bars. What differentiates the providers is reception and service in stores, shopping malls, underground parking lots, and on the metro.
Click to expand...

If it was just me switching, I might take a chance, but to switch 4 of us to a service provider who may or may not provide consistent reception inside ... which is where my teens will be ... malls, starbucks, etc. I dunno... :confused:
 
The AT&T service works great at my house, near Bailey's Crossroads. Verizon has a dead spot in my neighborhood, but all other carriers work well there.

I'm getting four bars on the iPhone at my office in Rosslyn, so that's good.

I was in Rock Creek Park yesterday, at Pierce Mill, and got "No Service". That's disappointing, but the park is notorious for poor signal.

I imagine the AT&T coverage will be poor out in the country, where I go bicycling on the weekends -- areas outside of Leesburg, Middleburg, Warrenton, and so forth. T-Mobile is very weak out there, so I'm expecting the same from AT&T. I always carry my Verizon phone when I'm out in those parts. It's the only service that has coverage "out in the sticks."
 
I've used AT&T/Cingular up here in nova for the past three years and never had a problem with coverage. I switched to the iphone last friday and so far see no problems.

I have only found two completly dead spots: 1 in Vienna near Laywers and Gunnell Farms Rd and the other in Annandale on Guinea Rd between Little River and Braddock Rd. (Only drops for a minute or so).

The Vienna dead spot is due to a lack of a tower and neighbors not wanting to allow access to get to the spot where one can be put up (My Aunt who lives there is livid since Sprint doesn't work there either)

You should also note there is no service on the subway like with verizon but that has never been a big deal for me. I've essentially never had a reason to switch to something else these past three years and have been in most part happy.
 
CTK2651 said:
No cellular carriers should work inside Metro except Verizon, since they wired the system many years ago. That may change down the road, but for now if you're underground it's Verizon or nothing.
Click to expand...

Or Sprint with Roaming turned on.
 
Diode said:
I've used AT&T/Cingular up here in nova for the past three years and never had a problem with coverage. I switched to the iphone last friday and so far see no problems.
Click to expand...

It's funny, if you talk to Verizon users 'bout coverage and service in the greater DC (including NOVA) it's generally positive (signal/service). But w/ ATT I generally get mixed results between forum chatter, consumer reports, and other folks around the office.

Just talked to another girl in my office who has ATT for 2+ years and has no complaints. Lives in Vienna, travels the area and east coast and would never switch. She lives on her phone and in her recollection has only had 1 dropped call and never noticed a "no service" except w/i Metro.
 
CTK2651 said:
Just talked to another girl in my office who has ATT for 2+ years and has no complaints. Lives in Vienna, travels the area and east coast and would never switch. She lives on her phone and in her recollection has only had 1 dropped call and never noticed a "no service" except w/i Metro.
Click to expand...
Did you ask her about reception in shopping centers, grocery stores, underground parking garages, the metro, etc?

I've met people that for some reason or another, seem to believe that reception should be limited or non-existent when in the subway, in Costco, or in some underground parking lot. They don't realize that the lack of reception in these areas is often the fault of their carrier, or in some cases, even their phone.

I am a bit frustrated because I can't get AT&T reception in my office. I switched from Verizon to AT&T so I could get the Blackberry Curve, only to find I had to switch back because there was no signal.
 
I live in Vienna, VA and commute to Andrews AFB (upper Marlboro, MD). I have good signal all over the place.

I've had Cingular (now AT&T) for 5 years (4 phones family plan) and I'm happy overall.

One thing I do notice against the iphone is that my RAZR that I passed along to my daughter picked up signals better in my basement
 
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