Sprint is good for major cities and Interstate Highways. Since SE NM has neither, and Sprint puts in one tower in a town and expects it to cover everything, I am moving to Alltel. I wish I could get Verizon. But Alltel has a strong network here because they absorbed the former Cellular One network and merged all of that into their own. Regarding you folks who are complaining about Santa Fe, my sister-in-laws Alltel phone works in her home in the hills just outside downtown and my stupid Sprint phone is marginal if it works at all... ditto other family members T-Mobile and other carriers. I am trying to get rid of my employer-provided Sprint phone and already cancelled my wife's Sprint phone and am moving to Alltel. Hey, it works well all over here. Different strokes...

Might as well use the cell phone as a paper weight

Alltel says they have an "Angel Fire" cell phone tower -- which does not exist. Alltel will not let me out of my contract even though I have moved into the area. Buyer beware of Alltel.

The Los Ranchos de Albuquerque village has a one square mile dead hole for cellular service at the intersection. Do not get T-Mobile as a provider if you live in Los Ranchos! Los Ranchos is attenpting to contract with cell providers to put in a tower but selfish homeowners nearby are trying to block it 08 / 06

I've built out most of the major wireless networks in this state. Alltel has invested the most $$ early on, so they have the superior network, besides the Socorro area, they do not own the NM3 frequency. Analog is going away in late 06', but the majority of the analog sites have been upgraded to digital. T-mobile, Sprint / Nextel and Verizon are close seconds. Verizon and T-Mobile have kept upgrading their networks slowly over the years, which has improved their networks. Sprint / Nextel had a big push two years ago, but slowing down now. I'm currently working on the Cingular network. They have turned on 100 new sites in the last year, another 100 in development currently. Stay tuned, they will be competing soon. They roam with Platue and Commnet in the N. and SE. part of the state. These roaming partners have mediocre networks, we hope they will reclaim these areas and install their own network, about 100 sites. The only complaint I have in this state is Santa Fe! What are you guys smoking over there? It's almost impossible to develop anything, people think we are trying to implant micro chips and broadcast conservative brain washing. My solution is for all the wireless carries just cut you off. How do you like the reception now! This area is growing very fast and is supported by a sub-par network due to ignorance of its residents. You cant talk on you cell driving unless its hands free, so I have a docking station for my PDA, now I can surf the net while driving, good thing I'm looking down and not holding the phone up to my ear and looking forward. You people really frustrate me! I won't even start with Taos and Madrid, they should go back to smoke signals... .. Next time you see someone apposing a new cell site, please give your support to the cell phone company. Were trying to give you reception, but the hypocrisy is the only thing expanding, or is it ignorance? Each of these carriers has spent over $200 - $300 million in this state, they bring a lot of $$ into the state but the opposition is tremendous. I don't see anyone apposing the Labs and the weapons / hazards they develop. Out... ... ...

No reception in angel fire. Didn't renew my contract with them.

I have several different phones and none of them work in this area. It shows complete digital service and full bars but a call will not go out. Also shows roaming when the map shows home area! I am very very unhappy with the service. My sister in law has Sprint and my brother in law has plateau. His works every where and hers works most the time.

Like a previous poster has said: reception in Nob Hill on T-Mobile has been getting steadily worse. I can no longer use my cell phone in my home and am currently attempting to get out of my contract. Something has definitely changed, but T-Mobile doesn't seem to know it and keeps telling me, and my friends, that we are in a good coverage area. Bizarre.

Just commenting that their coverage drops out completely while ascending or decending the hill just north of Santa Fe on US 84 / 285. It goes from very strong to zero and my calls are almost always dropped.

No reception 2 nights and 3 days.