Question about 3G service/quality

[westgeauga12]

So here it goes. I live in Northern Ohio, in the suburbs, on our current dumbphones, we get 2 bars usually, maybe 3 on a really good day, but overall we can text fine and calling is ok. According to vzw.com, i am under the Enhanced Services area (the dark green on the coverage map). Do you think I will be able to get reliable 3G when I get the Tour? The reason I ask is because this will be my first BB, but I am wondering (because I have no experience with 3G) if I should wait for a BB with wi-fi because the 3G might not be available or very poor service. I know when I travel into the city I should not have a problem, but plenty of the use will also be at home so I am wondering if I can get a reliable connection. The key here is RELIABLE, I do not care if it is deathly slow, I just need it to be reliable and not loose it's connection etc.. Anyone that has experience with the data that could give me help about service quality is greatly appreciated.

[bigREDrocks]

i live in an area that is considered rural and i have no problem accessing anything that has to do with data. i live 2 miles from the tower but the mountain blocks my view of it and i usually get 2 bars in my room [basement]. i get 3-4-5 upstairs depending on where. ive streamed pandora for hours on 0-1-2 bars and it never skipped. i live in a broadband access area [basically means my tower is fitted for use with data at high speeds on devices and USB/PCIMA cards].. national access is slower connections or ROAMING.

works great here though. at 1 bar the data never drops. on your dumbphone look at the bars labeled "EV" and if you get a good signal with that it should indicated how good of a signal you'll get with the bb data. DATA runs on verizons "EV" network unless only "1X" is available. CALLS/TEXTS run on verizons "1X" network ONLY. so "EV" is DATA only and "1X" is CALLS/TEXTS/DATA(SLOW)

[westgeauga12]

Originally Posted by bigREDrocks

i live in an area that is considered rural and i have no problem accessing anything that has to do with data. i live 2 miles from the tower but the mountain blocks my view of it and i usually get 2 bars in my room [basement]. i get 3-4-5 upstairs depending on where. ive streamed pandora for hours on 0-1-2 bars and it never skipped. i live in a broadband access area [basically means my tower is fitted for use with data at high speeds on devices and USB/PCIMA cards].. national access is slower connections or ROAMING.

works great here though. at 1 bar the data never drops. on your dumbphone look at the bars labeled "EV" and if you get a good signal with that it should indicated how good of a signal you'll get with the bb data. DATA runs on verizons "EV" network unless only "1X" is available. CALLS/TEXTS run on verizons "1X" network ONLY. so "EV" is DATA only and "1X" is CALLS/TEXTS/DATA(SLOW)

Thanks for the insight. This reassures my confidence in buying the Tour. As much as I want to wait for wi-fi, i am ready to throw the dumbphone away so I need the BB NOW!! Thanks for the insight and opinion.

[cheech4]

don't rule out Sprint, i just checked there coverage map for northern Ohio and they have dark green to, And they have been awarded most dependable 3G network by Pcworld. So if coverage is good using sprint its a no brainer Sprint will be much cheaper.