Coverage comments are submitted voluntarily by visitors around the Chicago, IL area.
Comments are sorted by date. However, users can sort by Carrier, City, Zip Code, Reception Rating,
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Alltel doesn't offer local numbers in Chicago yet, but I kept them because their plan features are very competetive and I've been a happy customer for more than 5 years. Punching in *228 yields a "Welcome to Verizon Wireless" greeting, indicating that I'm using Verizon towers. Because I have a national plan, however, I never get any roaming charges. My phone is a tri-mode and gets reception pretty much anywhere you would expect it. For example, I have perfect reception in my high rise building and in Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but will drop calls in the elevators of either building. I lose calls in the El and in some of the bigger malls / department stores (the Nordstrom downtown and Target in Lincoln park come to mind). I hope that Alltel eventually gets rights to local numbers here because I've been very happy with them. For people that have been unhappy with Verizon service, I would recommend taking a look at your phone. Make sure it receives at least two digital frequencies---but three are even better (e.g. two digital / 1 analog mode)!
AT&T really stinks in Chicago. There is no signal at Broadway and Hollywood (right off Lake Shore Drive). What is with AT&T's crappy service? Verizon has it right!
I have lived in my apartment for a year and the entire time I've lived there I've rarely had a phone conversation that did not drop the call at some point. It's incredibly frustrating. I have to sit next to a kitchen window for reception and if I move, consider the call dropped.
While AT&T struggles to bring solid 3G coverage in Chicago, Sprint launches 4G and now reports show that T-Mobile is rolling out their 7.2 Mbps HSPA network in Chicago. Come on AT&T.
It's amazing as Sprint launches 4G in Chicago... AT&T continues to struggle with 3G in the city. I guess what they say... don't trust a wireless provider with Telegraph still in their name. ;-)
Reception is awful - calls frequently drop and even the ones that stay connected sound as though I am sitting inside a tin can with cotton stuffed in my mouth. And forget about high speed data transfer!
I often have dropped calls and my phone even loses coverage entirely with a "Searching... " message. AT&T says several towers in my area are "degraded" and will be fixed soon, but this has been the story for over a year.
i am thinking of taking the hit for exiting out of my contract early. terrible reception. from 2 bars to 0 by the time I press talk. good news is that I am able to live a cell phone free life.
