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

I had my phone set to Roam Option Automatic-B, but was told it should be on
Automatic-A in CT, where I am. Everything seemed to work ok before. Now that
I switched it to Auto-A, it still seems to work ok. Since both work ok, just
whats the difference between these two settings.?

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

There are areas in the country where Auto-B works better, and areas in the
country where Auto-A works better. I forget the exact criteria, but I think
that it has something to do with the varieties of land-line service that are
prevalant in these areas.

Contact a VZW customer service rep for more detailed info, but don't expect
the first one that you speak with to know the specific areas involved.

smackedass


"Frank" <duzenski@snet.net> wrote in message
news:aNWEe.107$ho.41@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com...
>I had my phone set to Roam Option Automatic-B, but was told it should be on
>Automatic-A in CT, where I am. Everything seemed to work ok before. Now
>that I switched it to Auto-A, it still seems to work ok. Since both work
>ok, just whats the difference between these two settings.?
>

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

Frank,
In areas where the phone cannot find and entry in its Preferred Roaming
List, it 'settles' on channel A or B and either waits for a signal to
appear, or accesses the carrier on that channel, that otherwise, it would
not 'see.' As long as it sees an entry in the PRL, it ignores Auto A/B.

If you have a plan that includes no roaming charges on any network, or any
network within a certain area (SingleRate, OneRate, Verizon Local, Total
Freedom), set your phone to the OPPOSITE network as your home carrier. i.e.
if your home carrier is on "B", set your phone's network menu to "Auto A".
If you have an "on-network" plan (America's Choice, National Freedom), set
your phone to the SAME network as your home carrier. This allows your phone
to access a foreign network with an 'all-inclusive' plan, and stay with your
home network with a 'network-only' plan.

I will assume you're on America's Choice in CT and would recommend that you
set it to "Auto A"


Bill Radio
Click for Western U.S. Wireless Reviews at:.
http://www.mountainwireless.com


"Frank" <duzenski@snet.net> wrote in message
news:aNWEe.107$ho.41@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com...
> I had my phone set to Roam Option Automatic-B, but was told it should be
on
> Automatic-A in CT, where I am. Everything seemed to work ok before. Now
that
> I switched it to Auto-A, it still seems to work ok. Since both work ok,
just
> whats the difference between these two settings.?
>
>

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

Frank wrote:
> I had my phone set to Roam Option Automatic-B, but was told it should be on
> Automatic-A in CT, where I am. Everything seemed to work ok before. Now that
> I switched it to Auto-A, it still seems to work ok. Since both work ok, just
> whats the difference between these two settings.?


Auto A vs Auto B determines which network channel the phone will search
on if it can't find a Verizon signal or a pre-programmed roaming
partner signal. Most places have a Verizon or roaming partner signal,
so the backup setting of Auto A vs B makes no difference.

There are only 2 cellular channels per area. (later the government also
licensed lots of PCS channels). Channel A was given to an independent
competitor, and B was given to the local land-line phone company. In
connecticut, SBC (Cingular) is the local landline company, and Verizon
is the independent competitor so it is on channel A.

Verizon prefers you set the phone to Verizon's network, so in case the
phone's pre-programming is wrong, Auto A will still look for Verizon's
signal.

Assuming a properly programmed phone, the only use of Auto A / B is to
tell the phone which network to use when no Verizon or partner signal
is present (usually in rural areas). In cases where this backup
network is available, it is almost always considered "roaming". If you
have a free roaming plan (Singlerate, Americas Choice 2), then set Auto
A/B to the non-verizon area like Bill said as you'll get a chance at a
larger network. If you don't have free roaming (Americas Choice 1)
then set it to Verizon's signal so you don't roam accidentally.

-MVL

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

Frank wrote:
> I had my phone set to Roam Option Automatic-B, but was told it should be on
> Automatic-A in CT, where I am. Everything seemed to work ok before. Now that
> I switched it to Auto-A, it still seems to work ok. Since both work ok, just
> whats the difference between these two settings.?

If you are on a current plan (America Choice 2, no Roaming Charge), then
it makes absolutely no difference, since Auto A/B only comes into play
if the phone cannot find a system in the PRL, and AC-2 sets a flag which
tells the phone to NOT look outside the PRL (except for 911). In fact,
the software in many phones realizes this, and doesn't even offer
Auto-A/Auto-B, just Auto, in this situation. And it doesn't even matter
for 911 calls, since for that the phone searches everywhere for a usable
signal, regardless of the PRL or Auto settings.