Best Cellular Provider?

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Oct 13, 2015
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I apologize in advance if the question I'm about to ask doesn't belong in this thread, but what cell phone provider has the best data coverage at USNA? I currently have AT&T and my family is planning to switch to Sprint if Sprint is okay at USNA. Should we or should we not make the switch? Thank you!!
 
I am sure you will get good input from current mids and recent grads. Most of the USNA mids we have sponsored have either AT&T or Verizon.

You will also want to factor in who has the best general coverage, as during the summers you will likely be traveling to East or West Coast Navy or Marine bases, or out of the country and may want to buy an international roaming short-term package. Depending on what you do for sports and ECAs, you might be traveling during the ac year as well, or go on a movement order (MO) to an away sports event.
 
Standby in this topic. Cell service at Bancroft is undergoing improvement again next week. On the 27th, we'll have a better idea.
 
Standby in this topic. Cell service at Bancroft is undergoing improvement again next week. On the 27th, we'll have a better idea.

Good. Because the so-called previous improvements were not noticeable!

To answer the original question: Right now, they all stink! :)
 
We went with Verizon. DS attended a Navy prep school in an Eastern state; the school recommended Verizon. Verizon offers a military discount when the mid produces their military ID. Our previous carrier did not have coverage in that Eastern state. Currently. the best reception at USNA is to be outside Bancroft when making calls. DS usually calls us from outdoors, weather permitting.
 
I apologize in advance if the question I'm about to ask doesn't belong in this thread, but what cell phone provider has the best data coverage at USNA? I currently have AT&T and my family is planning to switch to Sprint if Sprint is okay at USNA. Should we or should we not make the switch? Thank you!!

This was asked in Brigade Feedback this past week:

2. MISLO- Is there any update on the sprint cell phone repeaters in bancroft?

"There is no set date for when Sprint is supposed to have functionality inside of Bancroft unfortunately. Sorry I don't have better news." - 1/C XXXXXX, Brigade MISLO

So Sprint might not be the best option to to go with if you have any say in the matter. You may get some service in the Hall, particularly if you're on the top deck, but you won't get a lot of use out of the cell repeaters. It looks like this update is aimed at improving the service of existing carriers and not adding new ones.

I've got AT&T. After they put the repeaters in last year, it works well enough. Not spectacularly. I can make calls from my room. From what I heard Verizon is pretty good at USNA. Not sure about T-mobile.

Good. Because the so-called previous improvements were not noticeable!

To answer the original question: Right now, they all stink! :)

At least there is SOME service. When I was a plebe (before they put the repeaters in) there was literally no service in Bancroft for the vast majority of people. Unless you lived on the 4th deck or happened to be in a "lucky" room, you were pretty much SOL.

I'm sure many years from now when I'm an old fart visiting the Yard on a reunion weekend I'll quip that I had the last real plebe year because mine was the last one before they put the cell repeaters in (jokingly of course). The newer classes won't know the struggle of having to stand on your windowsill with your phone held up to the class trying to send a text, or periodically having to go outside to make sure you hadn't received any texts because you didn't trust the service in your room, or having to go outside to make phone calls.
 
I lived in Naptown for 15 years. Had ATT the entire time and did not have any issues.
 
Our family uses Sprint, so that's what my plebe DS has at USNA. His Sprint service has never been an issue -- he can call us from his room with no quality problems or dropped calls. He's in a second-floor room on the landward side of Bancroft.
 
T

I'm sure many years from now when I'm an old fart visiting the Yard on a reunion weekend I'll quip that I had the last real plebe year because mine was the last one before they put the cell repeaters in (jokingly of course). The newer classes won't know the struggle of having to stand on your windowsill with your phone held up to the class trying to send a text, or periodically having to go outside to make sure you hadn't received any texts because you didn't trust the service in your room, or having to go outside to make phone calls.

LOL -- this is a modern problem.. I am sure any cell service beats the block of hot phone booths in 7th Wing of the past. On a serious note, the best bet is to find out which service already has repeaters in the Yard. Bancroft is built like a fortress, so service is always going to be problematic.
 
Plebe here.

Sprint service is horrible in Mother B. Nothing is gonna get through the three-feet thick steel-reinforced concrete fallout shelter that this is place has been made to be.

Go with Verizon. AT&T is installing signal boosters here very soon, but they can't beat Verizon Unlimited Data with military discount (which is what I have).
 
After they installed the repeaters I had great service with Verizon.
 
Assuming wi-fi calling isn't possible because you can't connect a phone anywhere but ward rooms?
 
Assuming wi-fi calling isn't possible because you can't connect a phone anywhere but ward rooms?

No, I wouldn't count on this being an option plebe year. Some plebes might be in rooms close enough to the wardroom to pick up the wifi. But even if they are, the wifi is password protected and there'll be no way of telling if a given company will give out the password to the 4/C.
 
Our whole family uses Cricket. I believe it rides on the AT&T network. I'll have to look at that closer.
 
No, I wouldn't count on this being an option plebe year. Some plebes might be in rooms close enough to the wardroom to pick up the wifi. But even if they are, the wifi is password protected and there'll be no way of telling if a given company will give out the password to the 4/C.
Just trying to think outside the box ;)
 
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