[Move] Back to T-Mobile from Verizon - is reception better? - T-Mobile (2024)

nycityny

Premium Member

2018-Mar-6 11:42 pm

I had T-Mobile for 10 years but was ultimately disappointed that I didn't have service in certain locations. Specifically, inside buildings, on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, on Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, among other places. I switched to Verizon in 2014 out of frustration and service with them has been pretty good.

I've read a lot about new spectrum purchases that have vastly improved T-Mobile service. Has that been the case? Would the "dark" areas I mentioned above have improved since 2014?

T-Mobile's plan for those over 55 is pretty enticing to me. The unlimited data, inclusion of all taxes, Gogo Internet, "free" international texting and especially the free overseas data would be very useful to me. I know that data is only 128kbps overseas (upgradeable to 256kbps for $10 more) and am wondering if that is workable for checking email and apps like maps and translation.

I spoke to a T-Mobile rep about bringing my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S7 phone to T-Mobile. He punched my IMEI into his computer and it came back saying "Not Affected." He said that means my phone is unaffected by upgrades T-Mobile is making to their network and that my phone would work fine. I'm dubious of that. I don't think my phone uses all the right bands necessary for good service on T-Mobile.

Any comments or suggestions about all of this? I left T-Mobile because of the network and would hate to switch back to find it still lacking.

· actions · 2018-Mar-6 11:42 pm ·

Guy Waters

Member

2018-Mar-19 12:20 pm

I can't address their network in the areas you mentioned, but in the SF Bay I regularly see 100+Mbps down and 30+Mbps up.

If you were trying to get in on their 55+ $60 for two lines the price increased on March 15. Two lines are now $70 and one line remained at $50. Even with the price increase TMO has the most perks for the price IMO.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 12:20 pm ·

Boricua

Premium Member

2018-Mar-19 4:36 pm

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 4:36 pm ·

nycityny

Premium Member

2018-Mar-19 4:52 pm

Guy Waters is right. The price is now $70 with autopay for new subscribers. Boricua - you got in before the price increase.

»www.t-mobile.com/offers/ ··· 0248,s:g

It's good to hear that calls work well for Boricua and Guy Waters has high speeds. When I had T-Mobile years ago it worked very well when it worked, but it's when it didn't work that was the problem. I'm generally in large cities and that wasn't a problem, except in buildings sometimes. On the outskirts of big cities I had problems - usually no Internet at all even while calling was OK.

The price increase already makes them look less attractive. But I'd like to hear more on this board from folks about their experiences, particularly any bad ones.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 4:52 pm ·

cb14

Member

2018-Mar-19 8:59 pm

I am not sure which bands the verizon samsung galaxy S & has but make sure that it has all the bands needed for 4G LTE, but also for T mobile's 3 G and 2 G both with US and international GSM frequencies .
As a matter of fact, that;s what i am getting on info:
LTE (Global) B3, B7, B20; GSM Quad B5, B8, B3, B2 (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) UMTS Quad B5, B8, B2, B1 (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); TDS CDMA 34, 39 TDD LTE 38, 39, 40, CAT 4 / CAT 6 / (CAT 9 capable)

This is not suitable for t mobile.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 8:59 pm ·

travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy to nycityny

Member

2018-Mar-19 9:22 pm

I can't speak to coverage in the area you mentioned, but I can speak to the international and GoGo use. I'm on the grandfathered 55+ plan.

- If you have the right phone, Tmo's band 12 upgrades are great. VoLTE and VoWiFi are really nice.
- Free 1 hour of GoGo only works on AA and Delta domestic flights. Although United uses GoGo on some aircraft, they do not honor TMo logins, nor the free texting / IM deal. International airplane wifi is not covered at all.
- Non North American international data is painful. Yes, email works if the messages aren't more than a few k, but other than that, forget it. The good news is that you can buy the unlimited international data package for $25 a month and be selective about the months you want it. I'm in China right now and it works much better.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 9:22 pm ·

nycityny

Premium Member

2018-Mar-19 11:16 pm

Interesting about the GoGo Internet. I fly United almost exclusively and I know that most flights don't use GoGo. I fly the route that does have GoGo but now learn from you that it won't work on TMobile. Thanks for the heads up.

What is their $25/month unlimited international (high speed?) data? I can't find that anywhere. What is see is a 10-day pass giving 100MB for $15, 200MB for $25, etc. That's far from unlimited.

If I did go with T-Mobile I would buy a universally unlocked phone that works with all US carriers. I'm done being locked into a specific one. Samsung phones have that as well as several Moto phones. Best Buy sells them all.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 11:16 pm ·

travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy

Member

2018-Mar-19 11:28 pm

Not a pass - from the Tmo web site: T-Mobile ONE Plus and ONE Plus International may be added to any postpaid T-Mobile ONE line, including business customers.

»support.t-mobile.com/doc ··· OC-36092

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 11:28 pm ·

travelguy to nycityny

Member

2018-Mar-19 11:31 pm

I am extremely happy with my OnePlus 5T (no confusion there). Works very well with Tmo in the US, as well as all around the world, and supports dual active SIMs.

· actions · 2018-Mar-19 11:31 pm ·

nycityny to travelguy

Premium Member

2018-Mar-20 12:21 am

Oh, I'm familiar with that add-on. But that just increases the international data speed from 128kbps to 256kbps, which is still very slow. You're saying that the bump in speed makes a big difference for you?

The $25 is composed of $10 for the data speed bump and $15 for the international calling. From what I see on their website the $15 is for making international calls from the USA to other countries. What does it get you while you're traveling? Does it also get you free calling to other countries while traveling so you don't have to pay the $.20/minute?

· actions · 2018-Mar-20 12:21 am ·

travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy

Member

2018-Mar-20 12:29 am

Data speed increase makes a difference to me. Unfortunately, there is still a .20/min charge for calls back to US.

· actions · 2018-Mar-20 12:29 am ·

nycityny

Premium Member

2018-Mar-20 1:07 am

Right. So the $15 international plan does get you free calling to foreign countries while traveling, right? If you're in London and call a British number or a French number then there would be no charge? If you call a US number it's $.20/minute.

But the $.20/minute for calls to US numbers can be avoided by making wifi calls while traveling.

· actions · 2018-Mar-20 1:07 am ·

travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy

Member

2018-Mar-20 1:12 am

· actions · 2018-Mar-20 1:12 am ·

Guy Waters to nycityny

Member

2018-Mar-21 5:40 am

International calls covered by the plan are only free if placed from Canada, Mexico or US. Outside the US/Canada/Mexico calls are 20¢/minute. i.e. London to London, London to Paris, or someone calls your mobile number while you're in London it's all 20¢/minute.

If your phone supports TMO wi-fi calling, calls to/from the US when you are connected to wi-fi are free. For me it's less of a hassle to use Google Voice/Hangouts and it works fine use 256k cell data.

One plus intl also includes unlimited gogo instead of 1 hour, unlimited LTE data instead of 5GB in Canada/Mexici and unlimited hotspot at LTE speeds instead of 10GB.

· actions · 2018-Mar-21 5:40 am ·

travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy to nycityny

Member

2018-Mar-25 6:58 am

· actions · 2018-Mar-25 6:58 am ·