SE Oregon Mobile Coverage?

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Scrumhalf - 22 Jun 2004 01:59 GMT

I am looking for information on mobile coverage in SE Oregon,
primarily in Central and Southern Malheur county, specifically in and
around the eastern stretches of Highway 78 and on Highway 95. This is
one of the great black holes on just about every cellular coverage
map, but if anyone has first hand experience driving in these areas, I
would appreciate it.

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Michael - 22 Jun 2004 03:52 GMT

I have no personal experience but your post made me curious, so I went to
the Verizon website and typed in the Portland zip code to bring up the
Oregon local coverage map, which is much more detailed than the AC map . It
looks like there is some sort of coverage all the way from McDermitt (at
Stateline) to Burns Junction. Because Verizon does not offer service
contracts in that area, you will be roaming (if you are on the AC plan).
There is a tiny gap between Burns Junction and Burns itself however, the
biggest hole appears to be east of 95 and south of 20.

, typed in an Oregon zip code

> I am looking for information on mobile coverage in SE Oregon,
> primarily in Central and Southern Malheur county, specifically in and
> around the eastern stretches of Highway 78 and on Highway 95. This is
> one of the great black holes on just about every cellular coverage
> map, but if anyone has first hand experience driving in these areas, I
> would appreciate it.

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Frank Harris - 22 Jun 2004 04:02 GMT

You could try writing directly to the people who maintain these two
websites about Western US and Oregon coverage:

www.mountainwireless.com
cell.uoregon.edu

This website
www.wirelesswavelength.com
shows that the two cellular carriers that hold licenses there are
A-side - Rural Cellular Corporation www.rccwireless.com
B-side - US Cellular www.uscc.com
in case that helps you any - maybe you can see where they claim to offer
coverage.

Signature

Frank Harris in San Francisco

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Scrumhalf - 22 Jun 2004 14:31 GMT

> You could try writing directly to the people who maintain these two
> websites about Western US and Oregon coverage:
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> in case that helps you any - maybe you can see where they claim to offer
> coverage.

Frank, thanks for your message! I will check out
wirelesswavelength.com. I noticed that Dan Albrich posted right below
you - so cell.uoregon.edu is covered. I did post this message on
wirelessadvisor.com and since Bill Radio frequents the Western Region
forum there, I'll see if he has any feedback.

Sam

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Bill Radio - 23 Jun 2004 07:12 GMT

Sam,
Have you looked at this web page? It not only shows very detailed Verizon
coverage, it also shows that of its roaming partners where Verizon coverage
is not available. While some call this map a bit optimistic, it does help
you hold no false hopes.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST

Bill Radio
Click for Western U.S. Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com

> Frank, thanks for your message! I will check out
> wirelesswavelength.com. I noticed that Dan Albrich posted right below
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Sam

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Scrumhalf - 23 Jun 2004 14:51 GMT

> Sam,
> Have you looked at this web page? It not only shows very detailed Verizon
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST

Bill, thanks for your post! No, I was not aware of this site - it
does show Verizon coverage along Highway 395 from Burns to Lakeview
but no coverage further east in the Burns Junction/Jordan Valley area.
However, I did some more exploring and it looks like (at least based
on their website) that Cellular One offers coverage in the Burns
Junction area. I guess only a road test would confirm this for sure.

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Dan Albrich - 23 Jun 2004 17:59 GMT

Hello Bill and all-

If you look carefully at the "Coverage Locator" there's no
coverage east of Lakeview or south of Burns.

In other words, this map, and the "normal" local coverage
map of the area contradict each other. The local covearge map
clearly showing a large island of coverage in far-most SE Oregon
where none has existed previously.

Note that this coverage now shown on the local map was
added less than 2 years ago, and I haven't been in the area
to be able to know which map is accurate.

-Dan

PS: My gut instinct is that the coverage locator is correct
and the local map is showing coverage in error, however,
if you were to add a few towers to some high peaks (Steens)
in the area... Who knows.

Signature

Eugene, Oregon -- Pacific Northwest
http://cell.uoregon.edu

> Sam,
> Have you looked at this web page? It not only shows very detailed Verizon
> coverage, it also shows that of its roaming partners where Verizon coverage
> is not available. While some call this map a bit optimistic, it does help
> you hold no false hopes.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST

> Bill Radio
> Click for Western U.S. Wireless Reviews at:
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> > Sam

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Dan Albrich - 22 Jun 2004 05:21 GMT

Hello Scrumhalf -

Two years ago the answer was no coverage, not by any provider, not even
analog. It did not matter if you tried A or B side, just nada, zippo
nothing.

Verizon's latest local coverage map does show coverage there, and if it
exists it is not Verizon coverage because they are not licensed for any of
the Eastern Oregon counties. The most likely vendor would be US Cellular.

I haven't had the opportunity to verify coverage in your location since
Verizon published maps showing some coverage in the area. Do you know
anyone with a cell phone capable of analog? If so, check to see if it can
find anything- and ask the person who their provider is. If you have a
Verizon phone, try dialing 611 or 711 to reach customer service (and if your
lucky) you'll get the local provider's customer service.

Former tight-head prop for the Gonzaga Bulldogs,

-Dan

Signature

Eugene, Oregon -- Pacific Northwest
http://cell.uoregon.edu

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Scrumhalf - 22 Jun 2004 14:45 GMT

> Hello Scrumhalf -
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> -Dan

Dan, thanks for the post!

The Verizon map is what sparked my interest. I noticed a big blob of
coverage being indicated in what looked like southern Harney county
and maybe extending into southern Malheur county, but I couldn't tell
if that extended further east into say, the eastern reaches of Highway
95 near Jordan Valley.

This is curiosity more than anything else - I *might* be driving
through the area in the fall and if I do, I will verify it first hand.
I do have a TDMA plan - don't plan on getting rid of it until they
shut off the transmitters, so I may be able to verify coverage on amps
if I make it out there.

A couple of years ago, I think Oregon probably ranked #1 in the
country in terms of percent area without *any* cell phone coverage,
based on maps I have seen but as you indicate, it definitely seems
like things are a bit better now.

By the way, nice to talk to another rugger - I played in the backline
a few years ago in various clubs, scrumhalf, center, wing, fullback,
anywhere a small fast guy could play! Haven't played in a few years
because with a young family, I couldn't justify the time commitment of
practice 2 nights a week and games/trips.

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Mark Henderson - 22 Jun 2004 18:18 GMT

>A couple of years ago, I think Oregon probably ranked #1 in the
>country in terms of percent area without *any* cell phone coverage,
>based on maps I have seen but as you indicate, it definitely seems
>like things are a bit better now.

Alaska probably wins that contest.

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Scrumhalf - 22 Jun 2004 22:53 GMT

> >A couple of years ago, I think Oregon probably ranked #1 in the
> >country in terms of percent area without *any* cell phone coverage,
> >based on maps I have seen but as you indicate, it definitely seems
> >like things are a bit better now.
>
> Alaska probably wins that contest.

You're right... I was thinking mostly of the lower 48....

Sam

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XFF - 22 Jun 2004 19:13 GMT

> A couple of years ago, I think Oregon probably ranked #1 in the
> country in terms of percent area without *any* cell phone coverage,
> based on maps I have seen but as you indicate, it definitely seems
> like things are a bit better now.

I believe that honor has always gone (and still goes) to the state of Alaska.

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Dan Albrich - 23 Jun 2004 02:49 GMT

> This is curiosity more than anything else - I *might* be driving
> through the area in the fall and if I do, I will verify it first hand.
> I do have a TDMA plan - don't plan on getting rid of it until they
> shut off the transmitters, so I may be able to verify coverage on amps
> if I make it out there.

--> Yes, please report back to the group on any coverage you notice. I know
AT&T TDMA/analog will roam on US Cellular in eastern oregon in analog mode,
so if there is coverage, you should see it when driving through. I for one
am somewhat skeptical that coverage exists out there (or really anywhere
Harney or Malheur counties.) For the longest time there was just a spur of
coverage out to burns, and then a big gap and some at Ontario, and nothing
else to the south or east inside Oregon.

> By the way, nice to talk to another rugger - I played in the backline
> a few years ago in various clubs, scrumhalf, center, wing, fullback,
> anywhere a small fast guy could play!

--> Yep. Work and family, and don't know if my Rebecca would appreciate
the lyrics to the songs...

-Dan

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