Wanted: Cell Phone!

[Punk Kid]

Understanding that lower Alabama is not the technological mecha of the US, I shouldn't have been surprised to find how poor Sprint PCS and T-Mobile work here. My guess is that the area isn't completely up to speed as far as digital coverage is concerned. Can anyone suggest a carrier, digital or otherwise, which actually works continuously?

[WOJGieTOBY]

Two cans and a string work wonders.

[JasonActon]

Try Verizon out, they've given me great coverage wherever I go. They use CDMA while most others use GSM for digital, so it's going to be the service with the most difference in coverage from the others.

[Sparky2]

I use Verizon myself, and I have found that when I visit Lower Alabama that all service goes to shit when you go anywhere near Enterprise.

It's OK in Ozark, Dothan, Daleville, and most of Rucker, but anywhere in or near the city limits of Enterprise is the cellular equivalent of a spectral Black Hole.

My conclusion?
The local goober-like 'economies of scale' have not been realized there in Enterprise, and for some reason the same bunch of corrupt politicians and morally-bankrupt civic leaders who rule the roost in Boll Weevil City, (and who continue to ignore the economic significance of Fort Rucker) are also in bed with some yet-to-be-named Cellular provider, and are holding out for some more profitable situation to arise and fall into their laps.

My recommendation?

Don't live-in, visit, do your shopping, or dine in Enterprise.

Live somewhere else, shop somewhere else, and eat lunch and dinner somewhere else.

Eventually when the Enterprise economy goes in the toilet, they'll get with the program, install a few more towers and begrudgingly enter into the 21st Century.

That's all I've got to say about that.


(Hey, Enterprise. :321: )

[MEAT]

Originally posted by WOJGieTOBY
Two cans and a string work wonders.

He said wireless....
Just two cans now a days.

[NDKW]

Try Alltell if they are still around there. I believe Alltell works around every military installation.

[David W. Barber]

Sparky is once again all over it. I live in Dothan and get great reception everywhere I go EXCEPT Enterprise. I had Sprint PCS for two years and lost almost every call in mid-sentence to poor reception. I've had Verizon for a year and haven't dropped a call yet.

I also agree with the conspiracy theory about why Enterprise is a cellular "black hole" for those who go with major carriers. Anyone who is familiar with the political battle in Dothan when Home Depot tried to come here three years ago would know that the local chiefs use their power to protect the small businesses (localy owned Lowes franchise) from the big corporations (who provide a better service at a better price) and any competition (also helps keep prices down).

End rant.

Go with a smaller local carrier (probably no national plan) or go with Verizon.

[Monkeyman]

Originally posted by NDKW
Try Alltell if they are still around there. I believe Alltell works around every military installation.

Almost every military installation. I brought mine from Savannah and have very poor reception around Polk. So we are in the process of switching to Sprint. But I have family around Rucker that use Verizon with little problem.

[Punk Kid]

Is expecting a phone to work on all areas of Ft. Rucker at lost cause?

[stickbuddy]

My Verizon signal is good just about everywhere I go unless I'm in a draw somewhere in the northern training area hunting the ever elusive North American Spotted Wojg.

[Punk Kid]

Ah, the North American Spotted WOJG. I caught a rare glimpse of a flock of well over 800 of them today doing area beautification in the wake of Ivan. Funny how there weren't any LT's around though.

[Sparky2]

punk kid,

I have noted with great concern your underlying and persistent tone which smacks of contempt for our LT-grade Branch Commissioned Officers.

Please be advised that these college-educated titans/warriors-in-training (and future-General Officers) are not in the habit of ducking out of work, and certainly aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and pitch in when absolutely required.

I can assure you, if those LT's were absent from the formation there were matters of great Tactical and Strategic import that had to be dealt-with somewhere, and it warms my heart to know that we've got the best and brightest that the ROTC has to offer out there dealing with them.

(Let's all try to display a proper measure of respect and gratitude from now on, okay?)

[Punk Kid]

Point taken :thumbsup:

[Sparky2]

You do know I was just kidding, right?
:cool:

[Punk Kid]

I found it a sarcastic way of making a good point. Seems like we may all end up in their shoes eventually anyways if the WO branch keeps heading in this direction. That on the other hand is a subject for a whole different thread entirely.

[shadow_biker02]

Originally posted by Punk Kid
Is expecting a phone to work on all areas of Ft. Rucker at lost cause?

Yep

[stickbuddy]

I know I say this all the time, but the days of police calls, floor cleaning, and all-around grunge work don't end when you see RuckerWorld in the rear view mirror.

I've always had really good LT's who were there to share in the labor. But they don't stay in the company long enough these days to appreciate the fact that we company level minions get to do that silly stuff for the majority of our careers!

Perhaps this stabilization/UA initiative will keep em' with us company level warriors a bit longer to feel our pain, or joy even.

I do believe the LT's here also had cleanup duty, but it was probably somewhere else.... I just don't know where!