Can someone help me with this network question?

tama2112 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 7

I live in North-Western North Carolina. I believe that Carolina West owns the towers in my area. I currently use Verizon Wireless, and have great 1X service in my area. Apparently Verizon has roaming agreements with Carolina West.

My brother in law came over the other day (Sprint user) and had the same serice, but EVDO. So apparently Sprint also has towers here?!

Alltel also works in my area, but again must be roaming..

I dont want to switch from Verizon, but it looks like i will never get EVDO if i stay.. Can someone please explain the roaming agreements between Sprint, Verizon & Carolina West?

dario · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Roaming Agreements are made by carriers where carriers do not have a presence and wish to offer their customers the convenience to use their phone with another provider.

Now when it comes to roaming agreements while verizon wireless has EVDO across the USA, that does not mean their roaming partner offers EVDO so you will be able to pick up 1XRTT only if thats what the other provider provides or if your just to far away from the cell tower.

Also if memory serves me correct verizon wireless and sprint do not have roaming agreements anymore. So if your friend is picking up EVDO with sprint then you are going to need to sign up for sprint.

Give 3gstore a call have them research for you if you live in a sprint coverage area. Toll Free: (866) 347-8673 Open Mon-Fri: 9AM-7PM Central

I also understand the need for not wanting to leave a provider but if its between EVDO and 1XRTT I don't care how long I have been with a provider I am out!

Hope this helps Smile

tama2112 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 7

Your reply was very helpful. It sounds like Sprint does have towers in my area, while Verizon (and even Alltel) do not.

Question: When i travel to my 2nd office, I know for 100% certain that only one carrier has towers there: Carolina West. Which means that my sprint phone would be "Roaming". My Verizon phones says "Extended Network".

Is this the same thing? No triangle on the Verizon phone.. But i know its "roaming" on the Carolina West tower.. Just like the Sprint phone. Would my sprint phone that is roaming use more battery than the Verizon phone that is on "extended network"?

You help is greatly appreciated!!!

unc417 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 1

What area specifically are you in?

Verizon does not have native coverage in wilkes county, but I think they are starting to build out there now. Where vz does not have coverage, they roam on carolina west, which does not have evdo. That's why you don't have it. Though carolina west is in the process of installing evdo, it should be up and running soon. Your phone should pick up on the carolina west evdo for a year or so, sometime you should notice your phone picks up on native coverage instead of extended network.

Roaming should not affect battery life.

Sprint does have native coverage in wilkes (the major areas anyway), that's why the sprint phone has evdo.

hope this helps

waynefoutz · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 309

Spyra · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 2

Research carefully about Sprint Roaming. 300MB a month for Sprint data roaming is not very much. Check the Sprint Terms and Conditions Forum to read about people who are being dropped by Sprint because they have gone over the roaming limit and how Sprint is treating them.