Digital only phones

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

In article <zJKdnRwp0cn62FzdRVn-jw@comcast.com>,
Steve <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>Anyone have an opinion on whether it is a good idea to get an all digital
>only phone versus a tri-mode phone?

In my opinion, the question should turned around and be "Are there
cases where a digital-only phone would be acceptable?". If you are
going to use the phone only in places with very good digital coverage,
then the digital-only phone may be acceptable. While Verizon may be
digital in all of its own areas, they still use LOTS of roaming partners,
many of whom are analog-only, or analog/TDMA.

Note the marketing spin: "all digital" sounds good (you don't have any
of that "bad" analog stuff), whereas "digital only" sounds limiting.

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

"Steve" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:zJKdnRwp0cn62FzdRVn-jw@comcast.com...
> Anyone have an opinion on whether it is a good idea to get an all digital
> only phone versus a tri-mode phone?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve
>
Low powered hand held phones don't work very well on analog. Analog systems
were designed in the days when everyone had 3w car phones with outside
antennas and bag phones. You may see a few bars but the cell site has more
power and a better antenna than you so often it cannot "hear" you.

I sometimes go mountain biking in a nearby area that is analog extended
network. There is probably a 10% chance that I can make a call. And battery
life is really short when on an analog system.

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

I take exactly an opposite view from George. Here in the west, analog was
all we had in most areas of the mountains until last year, and we still have
quite a bit. We used small phones just fine on analog, and had no more
problems connecting than in digital.

If you don't plan to travel in areas where only Verizon analog, or analog
from roaming partners is available, you will be fine. But if you plan to
use your phone in any rural areas, having analog will make you feel a bit
more confident, even if you never use it. I used it today. The farther
east you go, the less the concern, but I use analog in (SE) Ohio as well.

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


"George" <George@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:abednaqHjN7gUVzdRVn-jg@adelphia.com...
>
> "Steve" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:zJKdnRwp0cn62FzdRVn-jw@comcast.com...
> > Anyone have an opinion on whether it is a good idea to get an all
digital
> > only phone versus a tri-mode phone?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> Low powered hand held phones don't work very well on analog. Analog
systems
> were designed in the days when everyone had 3w car phones with outside
> antennas and bag phones. You may see a few bars but the cell site has more
> power and a better antenna than you so often it cannot "hear" you.
>
> I sometimes go mountain biking in a nearby area that is analog extended
> network. There is probably a 10% chance that I can make a call. And
battery
> life is really short when on an analog system.
>
>
>
>

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

Exactly. *Always* go for the tri-mode phone unless there is
some compelling feature of the digital-only phone that you
must have. Why limit the areas that you can make a phone
call from?

I live in the Bay Area. We don't travel much out of town but
on the 4 or 5 times a year we do drive out of town we encounter
analog. On the way to Tahoe and areas up there, San Louis
Obispo(sp?), on the way to Fresno, etc.

Also, I have yet to hear of a phone with a huge digital reception
advantage because it's digital-only. The digital sections in
digital-only and tri-modes are the same. It seems that, so far,
VZW has always offered 1 or two very solid tri-mode phones.
The LG VX4400 is/was an example of an excellent performer.

-Quick

CharlesH wrote:
> In article <zJKdnRwp0cn62FzdRVn-jw@comcast.com>,
> Steve <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>> Anyone have an opinion on whether it is a good idea to get an all
>> digital only phone versus a tri-mode phone?
>
> In my opinion, the question should turned around and be "Are there
> cases where a digital-only phone would be acceptable?". If you are
> going to use the phone only in places with very good digital coverage,
> then the digital-only phone may be acceptable. While Verizon may be
> digital in all of its own areas, they still use LOTS of roaming
> partners, many of whom are analog-only, or analog/TDMA.
>
> Note the marketing spin: "all digital" sounds good (you don't have any
> of that "bad" analog stuff), whereas "digital only" sounds limiting.

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

I don't know if there's a difference in an all-digital phone's ability
to hold a signal compared to a tri-mode phone. I will say, though,
that the tri-mode will go to an analog signal if it's preferred in the
PRL, even if a digital signal is available. Without the analog
capability, you'd still be able to make a call, but you might be
roaming.

With an old v60i, it would switch to analog west of Statesville, NC on
US 421. I made the same trip after getting a Samsung A530s and it
kept a strong digital signal all the way inot N. Wilkesboro. The
difference was the analog signal with the V60i was a VZW analog
signal. The digital signal the A530 picked up was US Cellular, which
was indicated as roaming.