Best cell service provider in Portland? (Sunnyside, Clackamas: insurance, houses, living in)

[OmShanti]

So, as we are getting closer and closer to moving (2 weeks!), my phone decides to die on me and Sprint is not willing to replace it (even with insurance! due to corrosion in my motherboard). So, goodbye Sprint (hopefully). I want to get a number with a Portland area code regardless, so will start service with another company. Hpwever, I will need to do that ASAP once I get up there, because I don't have a phone until then!

What service gets the best reception in the greater Portland area? We are looking into moving to Clackamas because we found some horse property that we like out there, but that's still not 100% so we are also looking in the SE districts - Hawthorne, Mt Tabor, Sunnyside, etc.

Are there any smaller cell phone companies that I should check out, besides that massive providers? I really want an iphone, but those are so expensive (phones and plans). We would have a family plan, also - 3 people.

Thanks!

[Nell Plotts]

I have had Verizon cellular for many years and have been very happy with their service, call quality, and coverage. Several years ago a relative had AT&T here and found them unsatisfactory. Although AT&T claims to have resolved their issues he says that he has heard that before..

Apple's IPhone is new to the Verizon cellular so they may still be adapting their network.

Whatever provider you choose make sure that they agree to let you cancel the contract and return the phone if coverage on your property isn't acceptable. Were I you I would seek out users of the network you like, ask them to come to your place and see if they can send and receive calls - look at the # of bars on their signal icon. You are in a rural area where cell tower shadows are a possibility.

[OmShanti]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Several years ago a relative had AT&T here and found them unsatisfactory. Although AT&T claims to have resolved their issues he says that he has heard that before..

In San Diego, service from AT&T is TERRIBLE. You don't get service except for in a block in downtown.

I'll talk to our friends that live up there and their family memebers and see if they'll travel to the boonies and check out cell service (and maybe some houses) for us!

I like Verizon, but they are going to start charging full prices for their phones.

[khyron]

Originally Posted by OmShanti

I like Verizon, but they are going to start charging full prices for their phones.

Do you have a source for this? I'm just curious because I've been doing a lot of research into cell phones in Portland over the past few months (which I can't link to because CD is weirdly jealous of the rest of the internet's forums) and I've heard nothing of the sort. For example they currently charge the standard with-a-contract price for the iPhone that the Apple Store or AT&T does and I haven't heard anything yet saying that's going to change?

[suncat]

I work all over town, and have had the best coverage with Verizon. I used to have AT&T.

[Minervah]

I have had the same Verizon phone since 2002. It doesn't take pictures or wash my clothes. It just makes calls and can text (I don't) and get on the Internet (I don't either). No apps, no cameras no G's.

My service with Verizon has been great. I have coverage everywhere I go.

[Daisy32673]

Cell Phone Coverage Map in Portland, OR - Page 1 of 0 - CellReception.com

[HonuMan]

I have AT&T because it was the only option when I bought my iPhone. My service has been mediocre, but not terrible. My stepson has T-Mobile, which he loves, but they've just been purchased by another carrier, I believe (AT&T)? I hear good things about Verizon, so I may switch when I feel a need to upgrade to a new iPhone.

[Katyblue]

Anyone use Cricket? I was wondering how good the reception is. I know their customer service isn't the greatest.

Any of the popular carriers get good reception in the Gorge?

[hamellr]

Within Portland City limits they're all pretty much the same. If you're going to be living in the suburbs or traveling Oregon you'll need to be more picky. This is why I actually carry two different cells when I'm out and about. An AT&T one, and a pre-paid T-Mobile phone for when I'm outside of AT&T's service.

Between the two I get coverage over about 60% of Oregon. It's still easy to find dead spots for both phones - behind mountains, up rivers, in the woods. Places like the Gorge are going to be spotty no matter what, there are so few places to put service towers due to it's status as a National Scenic Area that there are always going to be holes without a major shift in technology such as stationary orbital satellites.

Another thing to keep in mind is that in many rural areas, cell phone towers are shared between all the providers. Or at least the major ones, so it doesn't really matter what service you have.