Carrier / Rating

Location / Comment

Date

good coverage around this area, friends with Verizon used my phone all weekend

Reception stinks with Alltel in this area. When I signed up they told me that I would be covered for this area. They ensured me that they had good rural coverage. I was left with the impression that I would be covered well in this part of Michigan. What a joke! Tried calling from my home in the Presque Isle (Presque Isle Heights Subdivision) and I could not even maintain a connection outside of the house let alone in. Even driving a mile or two down Route 638 didn't help much. Only one or two bars or a "no service" indicator. Seems that Alltell misrepresents their coverage of Michigan. They need to get off the dime and put up more cell towers in this area. I even went to the Alltel store in Alpena (about 25 - 30 miles south, good coverage in Alpena by the way) and the person who worked there told me that both Presque Isle and Rogers City had major problems with adequate coverage. They said Alltel needed to put up more towers in that area. Seems like Alltel better do something about this issue or stop selling people a "bill of goods" for this area of Michigan. Fortunately I am still in my trial period so I may very well cancel unless I get something in writing from them stating that they will fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time.

Verizon has poor to no coverage on Grand Lake and Long lake in Alpena and Presque Isle county's. When you call to complain they try to say it is your phone that is the problem. They had me re-program my phone over the air about six times, that actually caused my phone to not recognize my network extender once. Then they had me go to a Verizon store to have my software updated on the phone, that actually made it worse. The real reason is they do not have cell site coverage. That is what I hope they would realize, but to no avail.

We were sold a total bill of goods. Alltell indicates good coverage on their lying maps, the agent in Alpena (25 miles away) said she has three bars in our neighborhood, but admitted on the second visit that she has to use an outdoor repeater / amplifier and tried to sell us that. OK coverage in town, but what good is that? The phones go back before the trial period is up - I can't wait for the foot-dragging and BS to start... . BTW, the next ploy was that Alltell is putting up a new tower soon - near the Walmart in town! That will do a lot of good out here.

While in the campground, there is no service at all due to being in a valley and surrounded by trees, but when we leave the campground looking for a cell to appear, we have to be almost in Alpena before there are enough bars to use it. The only ones that do work are the analog's. If I didn't have family to check on while away, it wouldn't be so troubling. Something needs to be done to improve the cell service.