What's the best way to determine what cellular service is best in your area?

[notfred]

Are there any maps showing coverage? Websites with customer reviews? Anything better than just asking your friends?

I want to know who has the best coverage in Northern California, from Monterey up through the bay area and over to Sacramento.

 

[fs5]

Verizon has the best northern california coverage.

and I recall there's a cell phone database somewhere,, it was posted here.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

HowardForums.com? Phonescoop.com?

 

[fs5]

here is it, doesn't seem very useful though
http://www.cellreception.com/california/page1.html

 

[EagleKeeper]

Best thing you can do is to find people that use different services.

Find out there satisfaction and also check to see how good the service is in the area that you need to worry about.

Verizon tries to sell my a package for an area that the coverage was lousy at best.

Tested out a Verizon phone of a co-worker and said no-way.
Preformed same tests with T-Mobile and Nextel.
No service is stable at the apartment, so why should I pay for something that will not work.

 

[brtspears2]

Just ask people with a cell with different services to see what works where and try them out where you are.

I'm just lucky all the major services work with full reception at my place.