[villagetinker]

Wow, Thank all of you for your replies. Both my wife and I have 2 year old Samsung S3, which we love, looking forward to the S5 shortly when contract is up.

[Avista]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

Just checked their website as our Verizon contract is up soon also. Trying to to find good coverage at our Villages home in Sabal Chase and our Worthington (Columbus), Ohio condo. Sprint seems to be ok in north part of Villages (north of 466) but not where we are. Also bad reception in our condo (could be interference from elevator shafts as it is fine 200-300 ft away.

Think we are going to try AT&T or Consumer Cellular thru AARP (it's my understanding they use AT&T towers). We have heard it has improved since 2006-2009 when I used to have AT&T and got poor reception in Sabal Chase. Going to check out a friend's phone in our villa before we take the plunge.

We had consumer cellular. it worked fine with a regular phone. When I got my smart phone switched to Cricketwireless. Both worked well but Cricket works with smart phones. Both are no contract and use ATT towers.

[Ohiogirl]

Problem is we both need new smartphones. This will be the first time we will have a data plan (tired of being dinosaurs). Appears that to get a GOOD free phone with any carrier (Apple or Samsung) that we will have to sign a 2 yr contract. I still need to do the math, but at first glance seems like will be cheaper - to get 2 new phones - to go with a new 2 yr plan, probably with AT & T.

Now if the Villages would just get some competition for wifi service in our home . . .

[mgcsooner]

Sitting in my loving room, with 4 bars on my iPhone, in Vil of Dunedin, off Hillsborough.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Avista

Be sure to consider www.Cricketwireless.com They are owned by ATT and use ATT towers. I pay $45/month with auto pay unlimited everything and great coverage. Also, NO CONTRACT

Does that include unlimited internet? Does it work outside of this area? If I go up north to visit my relatives, will it work?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I have Verizon and it has great coverage. The only place that I have a problem is in my house. More specifically at the desk at which I am sitting while typing this.
Sometime when I'm on a call, I have to go into my kitchen.

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I have Verizon and it has great coverage. The only place that I have a problem is in my house. More specifically at the desk at which I am sitting while typing this.
Sometime when I'm on a call, I have to go into my kitchen.

Interesting. Also have Verizon. We get the most dropped calls in the den with the desktop computer and the wi-fi router. Only get 1-2 bars (dots on the iPhone) of signal strength in the house. A little better out on the lanai. Miss a lot of incoming calls when the phone is in the den or kitchen. Later on we discover the voice mail in the queue.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by tippyclubb

I had the same problem with AT&T and when I called them they said I needed a micro cell for $199. The cost will be reimbursed through the cell phone bills. I have heard they work great. You might want to call Verizon and inquire if they have a micro cell booster plan.

I too have Verizon and have had some dropped calls. Went to Verizon store and was told we have inadequate cell towers and their working on it. I was told the best solution is to buy a signal booster for $300. For 300 bucks I will deal with a couple of dropped calls.

[Cobh521]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I too have Verizon and have had some dropped calls. Went to Verizon store and was told we have inadequate cell towers and their working on it. I was told the best solution is to buy a signal booster for $300. For 300 bucks I will deal with a couple of dropped calls.

We were told the same thing. When we moved into the new area south of 466a, phone reception was fine until they started building the houses. Once the houses were built we had numerous dropped calls while in the house. Verizon suggested additional boosting equipment for around $200. I told them that I may enough for service. I also told them that when they advertise on TV our service area is covered by Verizon. They then advised a rebuilt booster and sent it to me free of charge. No problems since. It is like I have my own mini tower. You can even program your phone numbers to take priority as others can pick up the signal.

[Cedwards38]

Originally Posted by tippyclubb

I had the same problem with AT&T and when I called them they said I needed a micro cell for $199. The cost will be reimbursed through the cell phone bills. I have heard they work great. You might want to call Verizon and inquire if they have a micro cell booster plan.

I have ATT and bought a micro cell used on eBay and it made a huge difference for me. I am south of 466A and before the micro cell the service was inconsistent. Now it's stable.

[Vladimir]

All of the carriers have cell coverage issues in TV especially south of 466 and spotty in various Florida spots. I have AT&T and had to get a microcell just so my phone could work properly in my house - the microcell really does work well.

[princesspat]

We are south of 466A and have ATT. Terrible. One bar. Got the total run around as far as getting a free or reimbursed micro cell. One person said we would get it, but the higher up said no. Same thing the second time we tried. I thought we would switch to Verizon when our contract is up, but now I'm not sure what to do.

[simpkinp]

I had the same problem when I first moved her, but that was back in 2008. I thought they corrected it by now with a new tower. When I talked to them they admitted they knew the reception was bad and stopped hassling me and gave me a refund. Guess they changed their attitude.

[villagetinker]

As a follow-up, we complained to Verizon, and they claimed that they were installing a new cell tower, well maybe they actually are. A new tower was install on Micro Racetrack road, but no equipment has been installed yet.

Complain some more, maybe they will get the message and finish it.

[Big47moe]

I have Verizon without any problem. You can update your roaming by calling Verizon at #228 option then number 2 and wait about 30 seconds and your there. Works every time and you can do this any time you travel to a new area.
If your phone works in other areas this should be the fix!
I am located south of 466A