AboutDebiN Expertise I can answer questions on cellular phones, the physical device, the network, contracts, billing, ordering, porting and what to look for when purchasing cell phones. I am located in the United States. I am an expert on BlackBerrys, Treos, HTC devices and iPhones as well as cellphones and aircards. I have over 15 years of experience in both the wireless and wireline world with the carriers. I have a lot of knowledge regarding the wireless providers - their services, prices and policies, both GSM (AT&T (formerly Cingular) and T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel (iDEN)). I am very familiar with the individual devices and their specifications. I can also answer questions regarding BlackBerrys, iPhones and other PDAs, both Palm-based and Windows-based. I can troubleshoot most any problem someone is having with their cellular device or with the provider.
Experience Over 15 years in the Telecom industry working for the carriers with individuals, small business, medium business and large corporations(Fortune 500)
Education/Credentials Master's in Telecommunications
Question Have there been any accurate tests/studies done to see which
carrier has the least dropped calls nation wide and by
state. I've seen surveys online where they ask people the
percentage of dropped calls and record it as fact, but I
don't see that being very accurate. Is there anywhere I can
go to find out who has the least dropped calls.
Also could a carrier have a "stronger" coverage than
another. Meaning they both work in "X" city, but only one
will work if you go in a basement of a school because the
signal is stronger. How can I get more unbiased information
on this?
Answer Every carrier has information on dropped calls, but you will not be able to get this information as it is proprietary. Keep a couple of things in mind, however. A dropped call can happen with one phone, but not another on the same network. It's not just about the carrier's network, it's about their network and the phone itself. As far as signal strength goes, once again, it's about the carrier and the phone itself. It's also about the band that is being used to transmit the signal. For example, the 850 band can penetrate buildings better whereas the 1900 band has a longer range. If a carrier has strong (meaning close proximity) 850 in your area, it will be better.
But here's what I would recommend you do. Try out phones from different carriers and see what works best where you want it to and choose that carrier. There won't be any way for you to put your hands on the information you want, so your best bet is to try each one of the carriers who you think you might want to use. They all allow you to try their service typically for 30 days without commitment. I hope this helps. Thanks. debiN
