OT - Cell Phone Coverage

I'm fortunate(?) to live in a part of the U.S. where, no matter what brand of cell phone service you subscribe to, you can get at least a few bars of reception.

Unfortunately, I like to drive around the western U.S. in some of the more remote areas (is Moab remote?) where I find my AT&T service is a big fat zero. I'm looking to switch services, but I have no idea which companies provide halfway decent cell service in the Mountain States regions.

Any suggestions or insights from those who live out there would be greatly appreciated.

Verizon covers the Colorado Plateau better than any other service I know of, Howard. And it can still be spotty in places.
Each wireless service has coverage maps on their website that may help you

Howard, I also chose Verizon for that reason. But in places like Bluff, there is (or was, don't know the current situation) no tower, so you have to rely on wi-fi. But I've gotten good Verizon signals in Monument Valley & up on top of the Moki Dugway.

I use the cheap pay as you go phones for about $20 or $30 each and on my last trip to the SW I took two different phones, one Verizon and one AT&T. I had coverage almost all of the time on at least one of the phones.

Howard, I am in agreement about Verizon in the southwest. Have you considered a cell phone booster like from Wilson for your vehicle?

Doug, cell phone booster? Tell me more. I know zip about this.

Stay away from Sprint & Virgin (who uses the same Sprint network) I have trouble getting reception even in areas of Phoenix!

Here's the booster, I just picked one up myself, they boost the signal by 10x http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011GI95A/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought a signal booster a couple years ago and it does help extend the range noticeably. I bought it originally because there was a dead zone in my neighborhood in Colorado Springs and after getting the booster installed the dead zone disappeared. I've also tested it out in southern Utah, switching it on and off checking for signal/signal strength and it does work pretty well. It's not going to give you an extra 100 miles but it does give you some, it's hard to say how much as it depends so much on terrain, tower location, phone, etc.

I also recommend a cel phone booster - the Wilson Amps work very well. If your vehicle has the size, I also use a Wilson RV Antenna for added gain. Remember, you got to hear it too! Typically 3 db of gain is a doubling of your signal strength. That is theoretical though, as cable, connections, ground plane can subtract from that.

My own setup is more about data than voice - I use a wired Wilson Cel amp + RV Antenna connected directly to my Verizon MiFi JetPack card. From there, I fill my cabin with good wifi for Internet access and video streaming. Heh, sometimes my convoy partners in other vehicles can get Internet off my MiFi. Many of the storm chasers (see chaserTV.com) use this type of kit along with a webcam to send live video from their chases.

My personal measured best was about 40 miles with a directional (Turquoise Peak to Ibex in the Mojave near Baker). Keep in mind cel phone boosting when you are near many antennas may cause unnecessary signal/tower jumping.

de KF6VOM (yeah, I also do Ham Radio)

This thread gets me to wonderin'...how did we cope before cell phones became ubiquitous?
Rhetorical ramblings is all.

Indeed, John. And I'm reminded that the miles of files in the government was only made possible by copy machines. Before that, 6 carbons of any document was about the practical limit. But let's shut down this mental exploration before some film buff decides to riff on digital cameras.

>> But let's shut down this mental exploration before some film buff decides to riff on digital cameras. <<

Daguerreotypes Rock!

"But let's shut down this mental exploration before some film buff decides to riff on digital cameras."

Touché, Howard!

Thanks to one and all for the heads up on Verizon, and to David for the light bulb moment on cell phone boosters. Ya learn somethin' new every day.

dunno bout the rockies, but verizon is the way to go in da plains for storm chasing. and im with John--which is why i vow to be the last man on earth without a cell...

In White Pocket, I had 4g on ATT, but Verizon was bupkiss, nothing. I travel a lot all over the southwest with my buddy, he has Verizon. It seems like when he has service in remote areas, I do not. When I do, he does not. ATT 4g also worked at the Racetrack in Death Valley, but not in Beatty, NV. Go figure!

Another (belated) vote for Verizon...
But to answer Johns question, way back when cell phones were almost a small piece of luggage I had a ham radio license and could link up with repeaters all around the country. Many had a phone "patch" that allowed you to make a call from your radio and usually for free! But I digress... Now, where did I put that glass plate?