AT&T Coverage in Vermont: It worked last year...

Glenn J · #1 09-03-2008 -

My wife I live in Connecticut where the coverage on our phones (BB Curve 8310 for me, MotoQ9h for her) works just fine. We ski a lot up in VT; mainly at Mt. Snow which is in the Dover/West Dover area.

Last season, we had traditional cell phones...she had a Razr, I had a Moto 550 or something like that. While the signal wasn't the best, we could make calls and text message without an issue.

This past weekend, we headed up to VT. My BlackBerry went into "SOS" mode almost exactly the second we crossed the VT boarder. A similar thing happened to my wife's phone...no data and could not make or receive calls.

A little googling reviels the Edge network leaves a bit to be desired in VT...based on some blogs and forums relating to the iPhone.

Now, I can understand data being an issue because VT is fairly rural compaired to CT. But where any changes made with the voice network? I would think that we would still be able to place calls and possible do text messages...like our old phones. Any ideas?

johnck78 · #2 09-03-2008 -

Heading up to VT tomorrow for the weekend. I'll let you know if I get the same result.

Glenn J · #3 09-03-2008 -

Thanks! I appreciate that. Keep me posted.

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

Glenn J · #4 09-08-2008 -

How was your coverage in VT John? Hope ya had a good trip.

johnck78 · #5 09-08-2008 -

Spotty coverage. When I had coverage I had EDGE.

Rutland - Yes - Strong
Ludlow - Yes - Strong
Killington -Yes - Strong
Plymouth - 2 bars (at most in spots)
Bethel - 2 bars (at most in spots)
Waterberry - 3 bars (at most in spots)
East Middlebery - 3 bars (at most in spots)

Glenn J · #6 09-08-2008 -

Thanks John! I really appreciate it.

Anyone have an idea why my phone and my wife's phone would drop coverage like that? Based on what John posted, there should be coverage in VT. Our coverage went to "SOS" pretty much as we crossed the Mass baorder....
~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

tippmann15 · #7 09-08-2008 -

I dont know if this would help, but you can try pulling battery for 5 min next time you go. Perhaps your two phones were having trouble switching towers for some reason ;-(

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

Glenn J · #8 09-08-2008 -

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

On my BB, I tried shutting of the antena, then turning it on again. I also shut the BB off and on a few times. The only thing that did was wipe out a bunch of stored emails and BB messenger conversatios.

tippmann15 · #9 11-04-2008 -

Any better luck?~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

Glenn J · #10 11-05-2008 -

No dice. I talked to a few people from the Mt. Snow area on a message board and many have the same problem...even someone with Verizon. I guess coverage up there is crappy for a lot of people. Some said it may be because the towers don't have a good digital sigan...but better analog?

Glenn J · #11 12-23-2008 -

I know this thread is old....but......

I got this from a buddy today: http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/12...ermont-iphone/

It's Wikipedia...so take with a grain of salt. But they say AT&T will get all of VT?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicel

I spoke with someone on the AT&T wireless customer message board. He wasn't sure on specifics. So I called AT&T wireless and asked them. They weren't showing any new towers going up...and had no info on the Unicel conversion.

Anyone hear anything on this? It would be really nice to, at the very least, have voice coverage up in VT.

rgleason7 · #12 08-03-2009 -

I heard the unicell tower in hinsdale nh was sold to Verizon. ATT used the unicell tower and was suposed to be able to continue using it until the first of Jan 2010 while they are building their own tower in Winchester,nh. This tower is very near the vt border and I91. I don't know if other unicell towers were involved in this apearent trick by verizon to gather new customers. I usually can not use my att phone anymore at home. I have not been able to find out if getting a att wifi phone would let me use wifi at home (I would want no data plan but am willing to use my minutes. Any info for me on att wifi?

Glenn J · #13 08-03-2009 -

I've found coverage in the Brattleboro area has been pretty good. Its also fairy solid as you head East to Keene. I haven't been to Mt Snow since Memorial day, but coverage in the Mt Snow valley was still good.
BlackBerry8310/4.5.0.110 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102

Barrels41 · #14 02-10-2010 -

I was at Mt. Snow last week February 6, 2010. Service for my Iphone is the same as last year. No service in the base lodge. Good service in the summit restaurant. Weak service on Rt. near the ski area. Good service at the 7-11 in West Dover. In and out service at a house on Smith Rd. above the Sitzmark. A mix of Edge and 3G. If you are skiing with a family buy a $50.00 set of walkie talkies.