FYI: Trip Report: Eugene OR to Crater Lake NP Verizon, AT&..

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Just completed the day trip today. Observations:

Both Verizon and AT&T (unless I specify TDMA or GSM, I mean both) have
good/decent digital service from Eugene out hwy 58 to Oakridge. There's a
few weak areas along that stretch, but coverage is basically continuous.

AT&T has long been the sole provider of coverage (a-side analog) out Hwy 58
to just 1/2 mile prior to Willamette pass. They upgraded to digital (both
GSM and TDMA) and it works well in that 20 mile stretch where Verizon has
nothing, and no roaming on AT&T.

At Willamette Pass, Cellular One NW kicks in with both TDMA and GSM digital
service labelled "USA 890" -- very good. US Cellular is *all analog* on the
B-side for hundreds of miles in eastern Oregon. I had assumed this had been
upgraded to digital, but it's analog only, and yes I did try forcing my
Verizon phone to digital-only, to find no service when I did. US Cellular
actually has good analog coverage at Willamette Pass ski area (which is
extended roaming for AC users, but you better have a tri-mode phone to use
it!)

Out to hwy 97, and south towards KFalls, and 138 where you head to Crater
Lake you have Cellular NW GSM, TDMA, and US Cellular analog. All pretty
strong and usable. Each with small weak spots in places, but generally
contunuous covearge.

138 itself, and the road in to the park is weak signal on all three. I give
US Cellular analog the nod, for having continuous coverage although so weak
you'd need an external antenna to use it while driving.

At the rim, US Cellular is strongest through the south entrance of the park
(analog only). When you get to the lodge, none are strong inside, but step
out to the rim and US Cellular is best. I was beginning to think there was
no GSM there until I walked just south of the lodge and had usable USA 890
signal again. Also note my GSM phone (Nokia 6340i) when connected to an
external antenna on my car had signal everywhere in the area of the lodge,
but tended to be the weakest of the bunch without the aid of the car's
antenna.

TDMA/analog generally faired better than GSM along the areas where both were
present, but the difference isn't all that significant.

Verizon is now behind in a huge area of eastern Oregon if you prefer digital
(which most of us do), however, US Cellular need only upgrade that area to
yield the stronger service given their analog network is good, and quite
usable (save battery issues, no data etc.)

Verizon still has the edge in this area if you don't mind analog-only
service.

-Dan

PS and FYI: Phones were Kyocera 7135 (good RF performer on Verizon), Nokia
6160 TDMA/analog, and Nokia 6340i with a GSM-only SIM.

--
Eugene, Oregon -- Pacific Northwest
http://cell.uoregon.edu