TDMA to GSM... What's the difference?

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Tim - 23 Sep 2003 02:27 GMT

Maybe there is a FAQ somewhere out there that would help me answer several
questions....

But, in the meantime until I find such a document, I thought maybe I'd ask here.

I am with Cingular in the South-Central U.S., and would like to get a new phone.
I've been informed that Cingular has completed the migration to GSM in my area,
and of the three stores I visited, none had anymore TDMA phones and all had GSM
phones.

So obviously, it's covered in my State, but I've heard of limited nationwide
coverage with this. I don't want to go on a cross country trip and enter a
massive dead zone along the way...

Does anyone have any facts regarding this?

Thank you,
Tim

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William Bray - 23 Sep 2003 06:03 GMT

Yes, GSM still has limited national coverage. I have often compared GSM
to a bowl of spilled spaghetti, unfortunately this is still true. GSM
is in major population areas and along several freeways. They will
begin to push into more rural areas but this will cause a lot of
frustration for rural users. For some bizarre reason almost all GSM
towers are set up as inter-city towers and the signal strength is
weakened to prevent conflicts between closely spaced towers. No brains
at work on that notion.
You will continue to get better national coverage with TDMA, for a few
more years- but the new towers do not support TDMA. Where you found no
coverage in the past will remain the same- even if you are staring at a
new tower.
I would suggest looking into getting a GAIT phone. Most likely you will
able to get one over the phone if they do not provide it in the stores.
When the time comes that a GAIT phone no longer goes into TDMA or AMPS
mode than GSM is what they claim it to be- national.
Even with national coverage you will still find dead zones. If Cingular
doesn't have a contract with the provider in that area all you will be
able to do is call for help. If you do travel make sure your account is
set up for national or you'll be disappointed.
CDMA providers might be an alternative. Both Sprint and Verizon claim
to have national coverage.

"Tim" <timakal@hotmail.com> wrote in article
<PjNbb.3812$KJ4.1703@news1.central.cox.net>:

> Maybe there is a FAQ somewhere out there that would help me answer several
> questions....
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Thank you,
> Tim

Reply to this Message

Tim - 23 Sep 2003 07:20 GMT

I was warned to stay away from Sprint, but now I can't remember for what
reasons....

Also, I checked into Verizon Wireless at one point in time and they had no
stores in my state (Oklahoma).... perhaps they've changed that too......

Thanks for the info. I'm almost tempted to just stick with what I have right now
for a while longer.

And about the "few more years" thing you mentioned...... honestly speaking, how
many of you keep a phone for more than 1~2 years? I have replaced my phone once
a year because usually it ends up doing something strange (like this one is
powering itself off and on for no reason... by itself. Yes, it's been sent back
to Motorola to be repaired, and it still does it. All they did was reprogram
it.....:-/)

> Yes, GSM still has limited national coverage. I have often compared GSM
> to a bowl of spilled spaghetti, unfortunately this is still true. GSM
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

Reply to this Message

John Cummings - 23 Sep 2003 08:52 GMT

> I was warned to stay away from Sprint, but now I can't remember for what
> reasons....
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> to Motorola to be repaired, and it still does it. All they did was reprogram
> it.....:-/)

Yes, you might best stay on Cingular TDMA until they make a good offer for
you to switch to GSM. Please look at the maps of GSM coverage:
http://onlinestore.cingular.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/html/Maps/Central_Texa
s/Oklahoma/home_okc.htmj
http://onlinestore.cingular.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/html/Maps/Central_Texa
s/Oklahoma/home_tul.htm

The white areas mark no GSM service. With a GAIT handset (Nokia 6340i, SE
T62u)
and the National plan, those holes get filled in with TDMA from others:
http://onlinestore.cingular.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/html/Maps/Central_Texa
s/nation_GAIT_map_6_30_03.htm

Yes, no Verizon--but there is other cellular competition, depending on where
you are in Oklahoma from ATT, US Cellular Corp, Dobson, Alltel, Western
Wireless and some minor players.

John C.

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About Dakota - 23 Sep 2003 22:23 GMT

Sprints' coverage is much like GSM, in fact, it probably covers less
area than GSM. Most of Sprints' "coast-to-coast" coverages is roaming.
Through most of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana, Sprint (if
service is available) will usually only analog roam.

AD

> Yes, GSM still has limited national coverage. I have often compared GSM
> to a bowl of spilled spaghetti, unfortunately this is still true. GSM
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

Reply to this Message

Group Special Mobile - 23 Sep 2003 15:10 GMT

>I am with Cingular in the South-Central U.S., and would like to get a new phone.
>I've been informed that Cingular has completed the migration to GSM in my area,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>coverage with this. I don't want to go on a cross country trip and enter a
>massive dead zone along the way...

Get a "GAIT" handset. It can do both GSM and TDMA. A Nokia 6340i or
Ericsson T62U.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To send an email reply send to
GSMthemobilestandard (@) yahoo.com

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About Dakota - 23 Sep 2003 22:20 GMT

Stay away from the Midwest, that is a massive dead zone as far as GSM is
concerned. Take a loot at AT&T Next Generation coverage map, Cingular
GSM coverage map, and T-mobile coverage map. Do you notice a large area
without coverage? North Central US of A has terrible coverage with GSM
(at least now).

Okay, let's be realistic now. Where are you traveling and how often do
you expect to travel? And, what state do you live in?

I can help with north central US of A, but not with a whole lot of other
parts of the country.

AD

> Maybe there is a FAQ somewhere out there that would help me answer several
> questions....
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Thank you,
> Tim

Reply to this Message

Tim - 24 Sep 2003 02:24 GMT

> Okay, let's be realistic now. Where are you traveling and how often do
> you expect to travel? And, what state do you live in?

I'm in Oklahoma. I travel throughout Texas about 3 times a year, and I will be
making a trip all the way to Las Vegas and to California once a year (but will
be gone for the longest time during this kind of trip. Texas, I expect to be
there for no more than 4 days at a time).

I did take a look at the GSM Coverage and was quite amazed at the low coverage
between here and California. Local coverage and Texas coverage was adequate for
me, but that would leave me in a bind if I needed it while elsewhere in the
west... I noticed most of I-40 wasn't covered, just in the main big cities
along the way had it.

I assume the USA is being converted to GSM. I remember talking with a Cingular
representative nearly 1 and a half years ago and he told me that cingular
planned on having GSM coverage in Oklahoma by 4th Quarter of 2002 (looks like
they didn't make it obviously until here recently). I just wonder when it'll be
completed and migration from the "old way" will be done.... )

I took a look at the Sony Ericcson T62u and the Nokia 6340i.... I really didn't
like their looks. Although, I know there's a lot more to a phone than their
looks, but with color screens becoming quite popular, I was hoping to get
one....... and as I said in my original post, every Cingular store I've been to
only has GSM phones... otherwise I'd gladly go TDMA again...

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R Moose - 28 Sep 2003 23:50 GMT

AT&T's GSM service sucks in Oklahoma City. Your best bet might be to get on
a one rate type plan and stay on TDMA with AT&T, or Cingular. Sprint has
Free & Clear America which is pretty cheap.

> > Okay, let's be realistic now. Where are you traveling and how often do
> > you expect to travel? And, what state do you live in?
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> one....... and as I said in my original post, every Cingular store I've been to
> only has GSM phones... otherwise I'd gladly go TDMA again...

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