should i get a sprint dual band or single band phone?

[slikmunks]

I'm getting a new sprint pcs cell to replace my stupid cingular network busy phone, but was wondering what the difference is between single band and dual band, and wondering which one i should get.

thanks in advance

~Jeremy

 

[Sluggo]

You need dual band if you wander/roam from metro areas that have all digital service. The dual band allows it to pick up analog signals that some rural areas have.

BTW, if you need a Sprint phone, I have an awesome deal for you PM if you need to buy a phone.

 

[Nemesis77]

If you get to choose, get the dual-band.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< If you get to choose, get the dual-band. >>


Dual band. Shouldn't even be a choice.

It works on 1900 MHz CDMA digital (AKA PCS), and 800 MHz AMPS. The AMPS standard has been around since 1983 and now covers most of the land in the USA. Sprint PCS doesn't cover very much yet and it will be a long time before they do. You should have a dual band if for no other reason other than to be able to call 911 if you're out of a Sprint PCS area.

 

[QTPie]

For now, you should at least get a dual-band phone if not tri-band

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I had Sprint for about a year and would encourage you to look at Verizon as well - they offer plans that allow you to use their network, plus the Sprint PCS network, with no roam charges. Their customer service is night-and-day better than Sprint PCS.

 

[Liviathan]

I've had SprintPCS for over two years. Not the greatest customer service around.
I have a single band phone, because:
A) I wanted the Motorola V8162, very small.
B) If you switch of their network you are roaming....do you really want to pay for roaming.....

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< I've had SprintPCS for over two years. Not the greatest customer service around.
I have a single band phone, because:
A) I wanted the Motorola V8162, very small.
B) If you switch of their network you are roaming....do you really want to pay for roaming..... >>



I don't really want to pay for roaming to chat with a friend about yesterday's football game, but if I break down in a remote location and need help then yes, I wany to pay for roaming. To me there is no sense in having a cell phone that is not useful for a remote emergency call.

 

[MichaelD]

<< I don't really want to pay for roaming to chat with a friend about yesterday's football game, but if I break down in a remote location and need help then yes, I wany to pay for roaming. To me there is no sense in having a cell phone that is not useful for a remote emergency call. >>



^True dat. Get the dual band. I have the Sprint Touchpoint and it's great. I have it set TO NOT go into roam automatically; I have to set it to analog if need be.

While it's true Sprint PCS isn't everywhere yet, they are getting there...slowly, but getting there. Also, you need to look carefully at a coverage map of your area. Is the coverage in the areas you are usually in? My coverage covers me 99% of the time. If need be, I incur roaming charges and make the call as brief as possible. Get the dual band.

 

[slikmunks]

ok, so i'm pretty sure i'm going to get a dual band then... the only reason why i'm not thinking about verizon is at home, my friend got verizon, and his reception sucks really bad... and my friend who lives down the street has sprint pcs, and everywhere we go, he has reception, except for this one hill (on amar, between grand and nogales in walnut, in case u wanted to kno), but everywhere else, his phone always has reception... any opinions on dual band phones for sprint? which one's good/bad, features and price range?

thanks

~Jeremy

 

[slikmunks]

anybody here use the sanyo scp-6000? is the phone any good? on the sprint site, it says single band , but on cnet reviews, it shows both analog and digital on the specs....

 

[cressida]

The Sanyo 6000, it's a very thin phone but does not have good battery life, it does come with two batteries though. It is a single band as well.

As for single or dual band, I agree with Garfang. You don't need dual band imo. Dual band allows you to safetly roam when you are off the sprint network, but you can roam with a single band too, but it's just not as secure.

Not sure if you are planning to roam, but there is a fee 39 cents a minute (I think that's the price).

 

[ILikeSprite]

if you plan to travel any get dual band. if not single band is probably ok......

 

[foolanger]

get AT&T or verizon or voicestream or anything other then sprint.. sprint sucks..

 

[slikmunks]

foolanger, thanks for the help (noting that i stated why i'm not getting verizon earlier... such a constructive comment.... "sprint sucks") I've had att before, and it's not always working in all the areas that I go arounnd in. However, sprint does. Wow, i feel like i've said this before... but to everyone else, thanks for your advice and comments.... i will be doing a little bit of travelling, so i'm prob'ly gonna go dual band, i like the sanyo 5150.... it's kinda pricey, but but.... yeah, i can't think of any reasons other than it looks cool and it has a lcd.

 

[Thegonagle]

Check out the Touch Point 5200 and 5250. LG makes a tough phone, and the Touch Point UI is pretty good. I have the LG-TM510 (similar to Touchpoint 5200) with Verizon and I think the phone is great for the price.

I used to use Sprint. Their CS is always cranky because they deal with people who are cranky all day from waiting on hold for 30 + minutes. No, I'm not kidding. I was on hold for 50 minutes once. Usually it's only about 20. Verizon's CS people are always friendly and I've waited on hold only once for less than 2 minutes. There is a night and day difference, but hey, if Verizon doesn't have a good network in your town and Sprint does, what are you going to do? All I can say is good luck.

 

[Thegonagle]

I just remembered that someone posted about America's Choice from Verizon, mentioned in this thread that allows free roaming on the Sprint PCS network.

Keystroker says ?Why get SPCS when you can get it on Verizon??

Good question. Wait a day or two before you head for the Sprint store and stop by the Verizon Wireless store first to ask if this plan might be right for you. (Don?t order online from either company. You want to be able to make some test calls and try out the phones before you buy. You also want to be able to veto a really stupid phone number, like 752-9463, or something similarly difficult to remember.)

SPCS has horrid CS, while Verizon?s rocks. The only things SPCS have over Verizon (differences in their network not withstanding) is that your usage information updates within a few minutes of hanging up while Verizon?s usage info is a few days behind, and Verizon?s paper bill looks more confusing than SPCS?s. That last point is moot though, because Verizon?s CSR is one quick call away if you have a question.

 

[cappsa]

If I could get anything, it would be Sprint. But I live in an area with poor coverage, and I don't want to ever pay roaming charges. My wife did the 10 state regional deal with Verizon. If Sprint ever gets their network built up better, there won't be a question who I'll go with. My wife hasn't been too impressed with Verizon's customer service. But it's light years better than Cingular's. Hell, if you called them up and they sent someone to beat you with a stick it would still be better than Cingular's CS. Sounds like you've got your mind made up. I'd definitely go with a dual or tri band phone just to be safe.

 

[Thegonagle]

Hmmn, how long do you prefer wait on hold when you call a customer service representative, 15-50 minutes, or 0-2 minutes? I've got personal experience with both companies. I know which one no longer has my business.

They all suck (money out of the wallet), so the question becomes which one strokes you the most gently for your money?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< Hmmn, how long do you prefer wait on hold when you call a customer service representative, 15-50 minutes, or 0-2 minutes? I've got personal experience with both companies. I know which one no longer has my business.

They all suck (money out of the wallet), so the question becomes which one strokes you the most gently for your money? >>



Same exact experience here, except that I have waited on hold for Sprint for more than an hour at a time. Verizon's customer service has never been anything but friendly and helpful, and I have never waited more than 2 minutes.