I noticed that when I drive on the GCP heading East that for a stretch of about a mile or so before the Hillside Ave. exit, it is a dead area for Nextel reception. It starts right about where that gas station is in the middle of the parkway and lasts until about 1/4 mile after the Hillside Ave. exit.I have had at least 25 calls "dropped" when driving thru this area until I realized that this is a dead area for Nextel. Funny thing is, I don't recall it ever happening when I am traveling on the other side of the pkwy.(westbound) of the same area, or maybe I just have never been on the phone when heading that way but I am certain that this exact area is a "dead zone" when traveling Eastbound.

I use the phone throughout Queens and Long Island Direct connect works well, phone signal strenght is strong. Every now & then direct connect gets garbled. I use it in the Poconos also - Blakeslee, Pa. Work pretty good there too.