[Examinus]

I may be going to NY sometime in January and this time I have a triband phone. If anybody knows what the coverage is like in buildings, streets and lifts is like any info would great. Is the call quality lower and coverage more variable than here?

I have posted on American forums but nobody has responded. I have got coverage prediction maps from the net but as we all know these dont tend to give details on call quality and coverage changes in buildings etc.

Any info would be great.

(I'm on o2 here if that makes a difference??)

Thanks /

[steve007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by examinus

I may be going to NY sometime in January and this time I have a triband phone. If anybody knows what the coverage is like in buildings, streets and lifts is like any info would great. Is the call quality lower and coverage more variable than here?

I have posted on American forums but nobody has responded. I have got coverage prediction maps from the net but as we all know these dont tend to give details on call quality and coverage changes in buildings etc.

Any info would be great.

(I'm on o2 here if that makes a difference??)

Thanks /

New York is fine. I was out there in June and phone worked everywhere (took my orange contract 6600). There were spots in a basement I was working in that had intermittent coverage, but that was to be expected and I just diverted my phone to the landline in the basement.

[RRLiam]

I am on O2 Online Postpay and I took my Nokia 6600 over there in Feb. Worked really well, the GSM1900 frequency tends to offer better voice quality and if you have it set up right on your phone, it will even ask you to update the date and time when you arrive.

I had no problems with coverage, both AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile US were available for me and my phone gently slipped between the two where there were minor outages. I even had coverage at many of the metro underground stations.

[BexTech]

As you are an O2 user you will along with Vodafone users notice a huge difference in sound quality, much improved, just like a landline.

To Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin users it will be the same sound quality.

[brundles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRLiam

I had no problems with coverage, both AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile US were available for me and my phone gently slipped between the two where there were minor outages.

Remember the AT&T Wireless has merged with Cingular now. I'm not sure what changes have been made as a result of this but you might find you're limited to T-Mobile US now.

Scratch that - I've just double checked the GSM World Roaming website - it's got Cingular listed as a roaming partner with O2 so you should be OK.

[steve007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BexTech

As you are an O2 user you will along with Vodafone users notice a huge difference in sound quality, much improved, just like a landline.

To Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin users it will be the same sound quality.

Yep, True Digital, The reason I use Orange and Virgin

[Redcoat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BexTech

As you are an O2 user you will along with Vodafone users notice a huge difference in sound quality, much improved, just like a landline.

To Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin users it will be the same sound quality.

It will only be "clearer" if the network(s) in the United States uses EFR.

In the UK Vodafone and O2 don't use EFR, Orange and T-Mobile do though. There is a noticable difference in call quality, but it's never bothered me that much.

[DevoidDroid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redcoat

In the UK Vodafone and O2 don't use EFR, Orange and T-Mobile do though. There is a noticable difference in call quality, but it's never bothered me that much.

Are you sure about that? I believe that they all support EFR although there's some speculation as to which networks switch to HR at peak times.

[Redcoat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevoidDroid

Are you sure about that? I believe that they all support EFR although there's some speculation as to which networks switch to HR at peak times.

Yep, I stand corrected. All four operators now support EFR though Vodafone and O2 were the last to roll them out.

As to HR, Vodafone have been speculated to use it as you say.

EDIT: I made those presumptions based on past experience and a google gave me the answers. Nevertheless I have all four operators' PAYG Sim Cards and made calls to all their automated lines to draw comparisons they all sound clear enough,.On a basic ear judgement, Orange comes out on top, followed by Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile last. However none of them match the quality of a landline.

There are also other factors to consider on sound quality e.g. same or cross network connections.

[Dr.Phlox]

Having been to NY recently (and going back in March) I can categorically say you will have no problems whatsoever using your O2 phone over there providing you have roaming enabled. My little T-Mobile one worked a treat - although T-Mobile US coverage was patchy in the bit of Staten Island I went to.

My advice is to check which US network is O2's preferred roaming partner for the cheapest service and set the network manually. The poster above says it's Cingular so I'd go with that! Cingular is the better network for coverage in the NY/NJ area anyway as it is the most prevalent.

Also remember that the same rules apply as here (more or less) when driving. Some areas have local laws that even outlaw the use of hands-free, and the NYPD whilst loving us tourists, can be extremely strict.

Also - a word of advice if you are going on one of the ferries - stand in the middle! When they bump into the harbor, if you are on the phone, and you don't have a very tight grip on it, it WILL end up at the bottom of the Hudson

One final note - US networks are now starting to show lots and lots of ringtone ads like here, although I've yet to see one with that bloody frog on it.

DP

[Examinus]

Thanks for all your info. Its been really helpful.