4 ms·

Is Verizon’s network better, or is it simply untested?

15 points by mwsherman 17y ago

jsz0 17y ago
The other concern I have for Verizon is the lack of EV-DO Rev B handsets. Do they offer _any_ Rev B capable devices yet? I'm having trouble finding any on their website. The spec sheet for the Moto Droid handset also does not include Rev B support. Have they abandoned it for LTE? Either way it seems AT&T might have a future advantage with millions of 7.2Mbit HSDPA iPhone 3GS units ready for network upgrades while Verizon is stuck with EV-DO Rev 0 & A for the foreseeable future.
- evgen 17y ago
  Verizon has decided upon LTE for its 4G network.
hiroaki 17y ago
Verizon's network is better than AT&T's for two fundamental reasons: - It operates mostly on the 850MHz band whereas AT&T operates on both 850Mhz and 1900Mhz band. Lower frequencies penetrate buildings better than higher frequencies. Lower frequencies also have less interference with other electrical devices. - Verizon uses CDMA technology which intrinsically makes more efficient use of the wireless spectrum than the GSM technology that AT&T uses. Consequently, AT&T needs to expend more resources on constructing cell towers to achieve the same level of coverage as Verizon.
- chrisbolt 17y ago
  AT&T's 3G uses UMTS, which is based on CDMA.
- jsz0 17y ago
  Wouldn't less towers equate to less potential channels of data? I'm not too familiar with how mobile broadband works but I'm thinking if you have one tower utilizing a X Mhz band covering 50 square miles that would be less bandwidth than 5 towers, overlapping X Mhz bands out of range of each other, each covering only 10 square miles. Could be totally wrong though.
lloydarmbrust 17y ago
Verizon's network is larger. I have an BlackBerry with AT&T and a Verizon Mifi that provides 3G internet to my laptop. When traveling, the BlackBerry is pretty much useless here in Texas because there seems to be a lot of holes in their network--but I can drive from Austin to Dallas connected to the web with the Verizon mifi the whole way.
jsares 17y ago
I just got a BlackBerry on Verizon and so far the reception has been very poor. Yesterday I was on Caltrain and wasn't able to use data at all and when I got a voice call the sound was horrible. I ended up pulling the battery and that seemed to help so maybe it's the BlackBerry and not the network but so far I'm unimpressed. BTW I work in Santa Clara and live in the city.
- lloydarmbrust 17y ago
  I'd put money on it being RIM's fault. Ever since they switched to the "bold" OS I've really lost my taste for the brand. I have a 9000 and have to constantly swap both the SIM and battery to make the thing dial. RIM = Fail. I'm switching to Android.

15 points by mwsherman 17y ago

jsz0 17y ago

The other concern I have for Verizon is the lack of EV-DO Rev B handsets. Do they offer _any_ Rev B capable devices yet? I'm having trouble finding any on their website. The spec sheet for the Moto Droid handset also does not include Rev B support. Have they abandoned it for LTE? Either way it seems AT&T might have a future advantage with millions of 7.2Mbit HSDPA iPhone 3GS units ready for network upgrades while Verizon is stuck with EV-DO Rev 0 & A for the foreseeable future.

evgen 17y ago
Verizon has decided upon LTE for its 4G network.

hiroaki 17y ago

Verizon's network is better than AT&T's for two fundamental reasons: - It operates mostly on the 850MHz band whereas AT&T operates on both 850Mhz and 1900Mhz band. Lower frequencies penetrate buildings better than higher frequencies. Lower frequencies also have less interference with other electrical devices. - Verizon uses CDMA technology which intrinsically makes more efficient use of the wireless spectrum than the GSM technology that AT&T uses. Consequently, AT&T needs to expend more resources on constructing cell towers to achieve the same level of coverage as Verizon.

chrisbolt 17y ago
AT&T's 3G uses UMTS, which is based on CDMA.
jsz0 17y ago
Wouldn't less towers equate to less potential channels of data? I'm not too familiar with how mobile broadband works but I'm thinking if you have one tower utilizing a X Mhz band covering 50 square miles that would be less bandwidth than 5 towers, overlapping X Mhz bands out of range of each other, each covering only 10 square miles. Could be totally wrong though.

lloydarmbrust 17y ago

Verizon's network is larger. I have an BlackBerry with AT&T and a Verizon Mifi that provides 3G internet to my laptop. When traveling, the BlackBerry is pretty much useless here in Texas because there seems to be a lot of holes in their network--but I can drive from Austin to Dallas connected to the web with the Verizon mifi the whole way.

jsares 17y ago

I just got a BlackBerry on Verizon and so far the reception has been very poor. Yesterday I was on Caltrain and wasn't able to use data at all and when I got a voice call the sound was horrible. I ended up pulling the battery and that seemed to help so maybe it's the BlackBerry and not the network but so far I'm unimpressed. BTW I work in Santa Clara and live in the city.

lloydarmbrust 17y ago
I'd put money on it being RIM's fault. Ever since they switched to the "bold" OS I've really lost my taste for the brand. I have a 9000 and have to constantly swap both the SIM and battery to make the thing dial. RIM = Fail. I'm switching to Android.