[buzzy]

Is there any reason to suspect that close proximity to a wireless modem (DSL, not cable) is a factor? The phone seems to drop the most calls when I am sitting by the computer, with the modem on the desk.

[billethkid]

I can appreciate there are areas of weak(er) coverage. Call customer support and have them check the cell tower availability in your specific area.

It accomplishes a couple of things. One they can tell if you have not the best coverage or not. Secondly ask them to note the new area and the unsatisfactory service and ask what their plan is to remedy the poor service.

When they get repeated calls for the same issue they will eventually remedy the problem by increasing tower coverage. Sometimes new towers are required and other times they can lease from other tower owners.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by billethkid

I can appreciate there are areas of weak(er) coverage. Call customer support and have them check the cell tower availability in your specific area.

It accomplishes a couple of things. One they can tell if you have not the best coverage or not. Secondly ask them to note the new area and the unsatisfactory service and ask what their plan is to remedy the poor service.

When they get repeated calls for the same issue they will eventually remedy the problem by increasing tower coverage. Sometimes new towers are required and other times they can lease from other tower owners.

This is what I did and they came to check and confirmed I had weak coverage in Hadley. He also explained that everytime a person places a call the signal at that tower drops a tiny bit - now imagine with the influx of new residents, snowbirds, renters and guests currently in The Villages it explains why things have gotten worse in the last months. They did send me a booster which is helping some. You have to be aggressive to get them to provide this because they obviously want you to buy it. I used the argument that I shouldn't have to incur a charge to make the service I pay them for work correctly. The booster came the next day - no cost.

[Spectreron]

VRZN tech support told me when a smart phone is rebooted it syncs with the nearest towers and does whatever it does to keep your system running at optimum. I reboot our phones every week or so and have never had any problems in TV.

[JB in TV]

Originally Posted by Spectreron

VRZN tech support told me when a smart phone is rebooted it syncs with the nearest towers and does whatever it does to keep your system running at optimum. I reboot our phones every week or so and have never had any problems in TV.

The signal strength varies alot in TV. My home in Charlotte has poor signal, but a few blocks away, in both Gilchrist and also in Pinellas, i have no problems at our friends homes.

[Bay Kid]

Originally Posted by Sable99

Thanks! I did try *228 before I saw your response and got an error message.

I just got a new 2 year plan when I bought the phone in the fall, so I will have to wait a while to change to Verizon. I can't figure out why I don't get good reception in Michigan as we are just outside the city limits.

Sorry. My kids tell me I have the dumb phone. I am starting my search today for a smart phone!

[PPLEPEU]

We're in Lake Deaton and both our phones are having difficulty with dropped calls, overall poor call quality, and extremely poor battery life. We've learned that if we want to make a phone call, we have to step outdoors.

I've contacted Verizon twice regarding the problems. They acknowledged that our home is on "the fringe of their coverage and the nearest tower is 3 miles away". My guess is their antenna array is on the water tower over by Eisenhower Rec Center. Verizon offered to sell us a device that converts the cellular communication to data that can be fed down a high-speed internet connection -- basically a VOIP connection. We'd have 5 bars of coverage for both our 3G and 4G phones, according to their Help Desk.

Since we don't yet have a high-speed cable connection (waiting for Bright House to finish their work in Lake Deaton), that wasn't an option for us. BTW, they wanted $99 for a reconditioned VOIP device that "normally retails for $299".

We're snowbirds, so we'll put up with the issues through May 1 and hope the situation improves when we return at the end of September. I'm hoping that as Lake Deaton fills in, they will have additional complaints and in response place a tower closer to that Village. If there's no improvement this fall, I'll investigate AT&T's coverage.

[dpingram]

I live in Buttonwood and constantly have dropped calls. Yesterday, 4 times in one call! I have talked to Verizon many times and their answer has been "there must be some interference in your home". Ok... so what's the excuse when I stand outside, have only 1 bar and still drop calls?

[TNLAKEPANDA]

If you have a Android Smart Phone there are apps that you can download to check your signal strength and even find different towers. One is called OpenSignal and the other is FreshNetwork. I am sure that there are others available. I think that Verizon's problems is there are too many users for the towers to handle. Any volunteers willing to switch to AT&T or T-Moble or Sprint ???

[sharoni]

Originally Posted by PPLEPEU

We're in Lake Deaton and both our phones are having difficulty with dropped calls, overall poor call quality, and extremely poor battery life. We've learned that if we want to make a phone call, we have to step outdoors.

I've contacted Verizon twice regarding the problems. They acknowledged that our home is on "the fringe of their coverage and the nearest tower is 3 miles away". My guess is their antenna array is on the water tower over by Eisenhower Rec Center. Verizon offered to sell us a device that converts the cellular communication to data that can be fed down a high-speed internet connection -- basically a VOIP connection. We'd have 5 bars of coverage for both our 3G and 4G phones, according to their Help Desk.

Since we don't yet have a high-speed cable connection (waiting for Bright House to finish their work in Lake Deaton), that wasn't an option for us. BTW, they wanted $99 for a reconditioned VOIP device that "normally retails for $299".

We're snowbirds, so we'll put up with the issues through May 1 and hope the situation improves when we return at the end of September. I'm hoping that as Lake Deaton fills in, they will have additional complaints and in response place a tower closer to that Village. If there's no improvement this fall, I'll investigate AT&T's coverage.

Don't bother investigating AT&T, as we are in Charlotte and are having the same problems. 99.9% of the time we have to be outside to talk and sometimes that doesn't even work. Here's hoping they will put a new tower closer to this end of TV as most of the new homes are being built...

[blueeagle65]

In the ten years we have been here we have had ZERO problems with our Verizon Wireless service. I hear bad things about AT&T coverage, but VZ has been excellent.

[JB in TV]

Originally Posted by blueeagle65

In the ten years we have been here we have had ZERO problems with our Verizon Wireless service. I hear bad things about AT&T coverage, but VZ has been excellent.

It seems that the most problems with Verizon are south of 466A. Where do you live?

EDIT: I guess I didn't need to ask if you have been here ten years.

[Steve & Deanna]

We've had no problems with Verizon coverage. Perhaps you should check your battery.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Steve & Deanna

We've had no problems with Verizon coverage. Perhaps you should check your battery.

It's not a battery issue - it's location, location, location.

[Golfingnut]

I have done many motorcycle tours and Verizon has proved to be most reliable of all the carriers to date. No matter how far off the beaten path, Verizon is there more often than any other service.