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Verizon vs US Cellular

stateofmind

stateofmind

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2007
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Ankeny
I'm going to be switching my 3 phones to one of these two in March. We use a bit of data, under 10 GB most months, but will go over 15 occasionally.

We have had ATT, TMobile, and Sprint years ago, so not interested in anybody other than these two. Cost isn't as big of an issue as the below four requests:
I want the best signal in Ankeny, so I can use my phone in my home off fourmile creek in NE Ankeny specifically, neither TMobile or ATT is worth a **** here, and since I'm 100% remote, this is non-negotiable. Second, I want to use it at ISU events. Thirdly, I want to use it all over Iowa, specifically in Kalona, and on RAGBRAI, (I know, good luck). Fourthly, when I travel, but most of my travel is to my home office in Phoenix.

Are there any little perks that one has over the other? Like with ATT we had the ability to see when one was replying, read, etc on text messages. I lost the ability when I bought an unlocked phone that allows me to switch from GSM to CDMA.

***And we are going to be using Android, I have the S9 and will probably get them two of those, "free" on US Cellular***
TIA
 
I have Verizon and live in NE Ankeny. I never have any problems with service. It's been 15 years since I've had US Cellular, but I've heard that they don't have the best service outside of the midwest. I believe some Cyclone fans were complaining about US Cellular service during or travelling to/from the San Antonio trip. Verizon is better than most for rural Iowa, also. We went to the Jefferson casino with our neighbors and they had Sprint. Our service was spotty, but could occasionally check messages, voicemail, etc. They had no service whatsoever. Service at ISU football games is usually pretty good. I think if Verizon customers are having issues, so is everyone else. I'm not aware of any Verizon "perks".

Verizon costs more, but if you want good coverage, it's the best option.
 
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My family has had US Cellular for a decade or so now. have always had great service for the most part anywhere I go, might not always be 4G LTE but will at least get some sort of signal.
on RAGBRAI we were the only ones to get any signal for the most part up in NE IA a few years ago, don't remember having any issues in southern IA before that either. ISU gamedays data was slow the last game I went to but was able to send and receive texts to meet up with buddies before the game. right now at work have an Iphone 6s through Verizon that has one bar of signal while my Samsung S9 through USC has 3 bars sitting right next to it, we drop calls all the time on the work phones, really only use them for the hotspot capability up tower most of the time.
 
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flynnhicks03 said:
It's been 15 years since I've had US Cellular, but I've heard that they don't have the best service outside of the midwest." "

-Service at ISU football games is usually pretty good. I think if Verizon customers are having issues, so is everyone else. I'm not aware of any Verizon "perks".

Verizon costs more, but if you want good coverage, it's the best option.
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when I was out west I was the only one to have signal a lot of times driving through the mountains/out in desert with USC and this wasn't just along a major interstate this was back country hwys.

-a bunch of people in one area all using the same access points overloads the system no matter who you have.
 
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Does US Cellular offer mobile hotspot so that I can use it to share internet for my computer while out of my house?
 
I haven't lived in Iowa in 15 years and my wife and I laugh every time we hear of US Cellular.

I don't now why, but we find it hilarious that it is still a thing.

Verizon has the best national coverage and it isn't even close. It does cost more though, so there is that...
 
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I find it difficult to believe people still ante up for Verizon or US Cellular, when Straight Talk and other services are 95% of the service for less than half the price.....

Have had Straight Talk the past two years, and havent regretted it a bit....in Oregon, so the Iowa coverage may vary.....
 
We have Verizon and it has usually been good. We do run into a few pockets around Urbandale/Clive/WDM where we almost always get dropped calls though. Otherwise travel to Cedar Rapids and NE Iowa without much issues. Also drove to Florida over Christmas and good coverage for most of it outside of some very rural areas.

Iowa State football games are usually horrible for doing anything. Was recently in Florida's stadium and they have little cell phone boxes all over the stadium to help the towers out, would be nice to have something like that for Verizon in Ames.

We have an old data plan that is pretty cheap compared to anything you would get today, so the cost of Verizon isn't an issue.
 
I've been with US Cellular for a long time and I'm happy with their service. FB games used to suck but the last few years it's been pretty good. I drove down to San Antonio for the bowl game and had great service all the time. In the past 3 years I've been in NY, TX, CO, WY and CA and don't remember an issue in any of them places plus I travel all over the state and have had good service. Only time I've had bad service is when we go up in the mountains in WY to go 4 wheeling and you get above a certain altitude and service dissapears but that happens with all carriers. Always heard Verizon was quite a bit more expensive so haven't looked at them at all because I've been happy where I am at.
 
stateofmind said:
Does US Cellular offer mobile hotspot so that I can use it to share internet for my computer while out of my house?
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Yes, I have "unlimited" data plan and I think 10GB hotspot is free a month and 22GB of data, after that they slow down your data to something less than 4G LTE, but I never come close to that and I watch games and Netflix when not at home a few times a month. If you don't have a phone payment it is about $55 a month for unlimited call/text/data, but we have 6 lines so that might make it a little cheaper.

Verizon is worse in NE Iowa.

There is a dead spot off 330 on whatever that road is to Ankeny to the northeast of Bondurant by that bridge for US Cellular, but that's the only dead spot I'm aware of spending a lot of time in Ankeny, Altoona, Pleasant Hill and West Des Moines.
 
I jumped the family over from US Cellular to Verizon three years or so ago. At that time I was saving $50+ a month over five phones (3 with data usage) so it was an easy call. I found Verizon's coverage to actually be a little bit better in more areas than family members who continued to use US Cellular, but overall was very comparable. It's important to remember that all devices are not created equal when picking up weak signal and holding it.

Remember that both companies use different networks, one is CDMA and the other GSM, so it is likely you would not be able to take your device with you. If that matters.
 
Die4Cy said:
I jumped the family over from US Cellular to Verizon three years or so ago. At that time I was saving $50+ a month over five phones (3 with data usage) so it was an easy call. I found Verizon's coverage to actually be a little bit better in more areas than family members who continued to use US Cellular, but overall was very comparable. It's important to remember that all devices are not created equal when picking up weak signal and holding it.

Remember that both companies use different networks, one is CDMA and the other GSM, so it is likely you would not be able to take your device with you. If that matters.
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I love android but my Nexus was breaking non stop, was forced to go apple. The portability is why I buy our phones unlocked from the apple store. Don't feel forced servitude to one company.
 
BCClone said:
I love android but my Nexus was breaking non stop, was forced to go apple. The portability is why I buy our phones unlocked from the apple store. Don't feel forced servitude to one company.
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I've been doing this with Android devices for years. Unlocked phones are the way to go.
 
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Die4Cy said:
I jumped the family over from US Cellular to Verizon three years or so ago. At that time I was saving $50+ a month over five phones (3 with data usage) so it was an easy call. I found Verizon's coverage to actually be a little bit better in more areas than family members who continued to use US Cellular, but overall was very comparable. It's important to remember that all devices are not created equal when picking up weak signal and holding it.

Remember that both companies use different networks, one is CDMA and the other GSM, so it is likely you would not be able to take your device with you. If that matters.
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US Cell and Verizon (and Sprint) are CDMA. ATT and Tmo are GSM.
 
Cyclonepride said:
Our business went from US Cellular to Verizon and then back because we had way more dropped/missed calls (Indianola to Ankeny area is where we operate most). Seems like the call dropping was quite a bit worse Des Moines and south.
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I’ve had the exact same experience re USC and Verizon but nobody believes me. Way spottier service with Verizon and probably 4 times as many dropped calls. Yet everyone says Verizon is better.
 
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Acylum said:
I’ve had the exact same experience re USC and Verizon but nobody believes me. Way spottier service with Verizon and probably 4 times as many dropped calls. Yet everyone says Verizon is better.
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Yeah, 9 out of 10 calls that I'd get at home in Indianola would go straight to voicemail (which will drive you crazy with a teenage son who stays out late), and it's not like I live in a hole or anything.
 
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