Name:	spitz -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 9:01:34 AM

Has anyone had any experience with T-Mobile cellular service in the Lake Martin area.  The price looks good but I am wondering about coverage.

Name:	mariah1 -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 6:26:33 PM

I had T-Mobile. Service on the lake is terrible. 

Name:	TotheLake -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 7:54:59 PM

My friend has T Mobile and when she visits us at the lake she doesn't have any cell reception.  We are in the Real Island area.

Name:	Crimson4Lif -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 8:30:43 PM

Anchor bay area it sucks.  Been like that for years. Learned the hard way.  All of them are sketchy on any given day but verizon is pretty good up there.  Depends on the area/slu where ur at as to service.

Name:	Rooster -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 8:54:28 PM

I have bee all over the lake. Verizon works great.  Only dead spot was in a hollow when traveling on hey 49.  I won’t have anything else.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/16/2018 9:52:15 PM

Only good service is Verizon, or one of the independent's who use Verizon towers.  I had Straight Talk w/ Verizon several years ago and it worked well.

Name:	LSUboy -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 10:29:00 AM

Geaux with Verizon.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 11:11:56 AM

We have AT&T and it sucks.  SOme with T-Mobile that visited our house in Sandy Creek got lousy service.  Verizon is the only one that seems to work.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 12:54:19 PM

verizon is by far best in this area

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 2:20:55 PM

Something has changed with Verizon in the Parker Creek region. Our service at our cabin is very spotty these days, yet it is solid on Coosa 20 from the second Bywater intersection all the way to 259. In times past it was just the opposite, with good service at the cabin but not on 20. Anyone else notice a change?  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 3:27:57 PM

My service at our house has always been spotty - and I attributed it to us being "down in the hole".  Sometimes it will only work when I am out on the porch, other days I get good reception in the house.  That is the reason I have kept a land line, which is also provided by Verizon.  And that service is perfect.  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 3:57:38 PM

How much do you pay for the LL?  We will be spending more time at the lake and I may need a reliable phone capability.  Have you ever used Charter for the LL?  I was thinking about having them bundle tv, phone, and internet to get the bundle discount.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 5:44:41 PM

I don't have Charter at the lake, but do have them in Montgomery. For internet, land line, and TV I pay $150.00 a month. Every year I get a letter from them telling me what my new monthly bill is going to be. I threaten to cancel their service and so for have been able to to get by with a modest increase. I use DISH at the lake for TV only. I am mainly at the lake during spring/summer months and can place  my service on "pause" when I leave and only pay for the prorated days I use. Occasionally I might hane to pay a $5.00 reconnect fee. During the late fall/winter months I can keep my service on "pause" and pay $5.00 a month. You should be able to get all three services at the lake with no premium channels from Charter for their introductory price of $99.00.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/17/2018 5:58:57 PM

Hodja, I agree that a change to Verizon seems to have occurred, but some time back.  We have had better Verizon signal at our house in the past.  We did, however, scratch the landline and installed a Booster for Verizon. So far so good, but I do think the booster is dependent on WIFI.

Have been thinking of Googling "Smoke Signals" and see if that will work in the area.

Name:	spitz -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 9:37:46 AM

Thanks for all the feedback - will stay with Verizon.

Name:	George -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 10:11:25 AM

I live in Little Kowaliga area and Verizon has always worked great.  I just dumped Windstream and got a Verizon "land line".  After some up front charges, it's $25/month.  That includes unlimited long distance. It's not really a land line because it does not connect to any wall jacks, therefore you can put it wherever you want.  I think the "box" the phone connects to receives calls like your cell phone does so I don't see how the service can be better than from your cell phone?  anyway, I have one of those wireless phones that has a base and 2 extension phones and everything works great so far.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 10:12:08 AM

Thanks.  I may give them a call, as I now pay$142/month for expanded basic, two HD boxes, and internet.  Sounds like I might be able to throw in a landline phone and pay no more, maybe even a bit less.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 10:15:35 AM

Could be the change happened a while back, as we haven't been there much as of late.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 1:05:50 PM

I don't know how much I pay for the land line because it is billed with my cell service.  But the whole bill is only $100 and that involves to cell phones.  It was much, much cheaper than what I was paying AT&T for a land line.  The only problem I had when I switched was that the alarm system needed some adjustment and that cost a bit. 

the only thing with Charter is that they bring you on with a good rate, but soon that "expires" and you are paying a higher rate.  With internet and TV, and basic + cable, my bill runs around $170 a month.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 1:24:05 PM (updated 1/18/2018 1:25:16 PM)

If you have a good broadband service I would look at Ooma for phone service.  Costs around $5 per month, you get a local line and no charge for long distance.  We have that at our lake house and it works great.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/18/2018 1:44:33 PM

Thanks. Last time I checked internet download speed is north of 30 Mbps. Will look into Ooma.

Name:	Moldyoldy -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/19/2018 10:50:43 AM

The cheapest plan ive found that provides decent reception at the lake is total wireless. It is sold through walmart. It costs, with taxes and fees, $40 a month. You get unlimited talk and text, and 5 gigs a month of data. If you want unlimited fata you can get walmarts straight talk plan, which costs about $55 a month.

The walmart in millbrook has a good pjone center with techs who can fet you set up with a phone that suits you. The most important thing is to make sure you get a phone that uses the verizon network.

TotaL wireless and straight talk are part of the tracfone company. Michael, the supergeek at millbrook walmart, tells me that all phones sold through tracfone companies use the verizon, but you might want to confirm that before you buy. Also, you can bring your own phone if you want to. I think it costs you $10 or 15 to buy a new sim card that will work.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/19/2018 12:40:02 PM

Problem is that Verizon service at my place in Parker Creek has taken a nosedive and I can't depend on a solution that uses Verizon.  Thus my interest in something like Ooma that uses that uses my (fairly dependable) Charter internet service. 

Name:	LeisureGuy -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/19/2018 1:25:56 PM

Just read all posts and I wish someone had told me a couple years ago what I'm about to tell you !

I've had tmobile 4 years now at lake and it has been terrible, BUT, about a year ago I called to say I was going to switch to verizon unless tmobile was planning a tower upgrade. Lady asked for my address, I told her at best I get signal E and on my dock held in the air got 1 bar LTE, she asked if I would like her to send me their 4G lte booster>?  It was only a $25 deposit and free to use. I gotta tell you I was skeptical getting something free but later I found it is to keep rural customers and be competitive and thats smart.

I have consistenly gotten 3 to 4 bars LTE since and my data rate far exceeds My wifes Verizon phone. Same exact Iphone by the way and ran speed tests.  I use this as our internet and can stream movies ect.

I can tell you that what I found was that all the other carriers have a signal booster that uses your existing wifi ( if you had one) and verizon wanted to charge me big $ for it.  This actually boosts the signal from tmobile tower, which agreed, is crap without it !

I would say all these carriers are crooks, but when I find something good I like to share, so I hope this helps someone. Here's a link to the site.

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-14947

p.s. I do not work for them and if another carrier ever comes out with this I may switch. Good luck all and Happy new Year!

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/20/2018 8:58:56 AM

So you're saying T-Mobile works better at home.  How about everywhere else around the lake.  It is a MOBILE phone.

Name:	LeisureGuy -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/21/2018 10:52:12 AM

Around lake many trees and valleys diminish signal, 280 thru dadeville 4 bars LTE On boat 3 to 4 bars LTE

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Interesting responses
Date:	1/21/2018 10:45:45 PM

And many of the responses are probably based old experinece. Over the last 15+ years I've had Verizon, ATT, Sprint, and I just canged to T-mobile 4 months ago. Verizon is the best for reception without booster or wifi help, but their customer service is average at best. ATT is second in reception and also has average or below customer service. T-Mobile has great customer service and average reception. As mentioned above, T-Mobile provides a free booster for my home and it works great. T-Mobile also has very good wifi calling if you can get a wifi signal. T-Mobile works well on the lake in the Kowlaiga area....it's a little spotty on some of the back roads aroung the lake. T-Mobile can't be beat on price, their unlimited plan, and customer service. Period. If you work with their system and understand the weaknesses, they are great. Their network is also improving rapidly. All things considered, T-Mobile has won me over and I think I'll be a long time customer. BTW, I am a full time lake resident and travel quite frequently.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Interesting responses
Date:	1/21/2018 10:45:46 PM

And many of the responses are probably based old experinece. Over the last 15+ years I've had Verizon, ATT, Sprint, and I just canged to T-mobile 4 months ago. Verizon is the best for reception without booster or wifi help, but their customer service is average at best. ATT is second in reception and also has average or below customer service. T-Mobile has great customer service and average reception. As mentioned above, T-Mobile provides a free booster for my home and it works great. T-Mobile also has very good wifi calling if you can get a wifi signal. T-Mobile works well on the lake in the Kowlaiga area....it's a little spotty on some of the back roads aroung the lake. T-Mobile can't be beat on price, their unlimited plan, and customer service. Period. If you work with their system and understand the weaknesses, they are great. Their network is also improving rapidly. All things considered, T-Mobile has won me over and I think I'll be a long time customer. BTW, I am a full time lake resident and travel quite frequently.

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	Cellular Service
Date:	1/22/2018 10:39:46 AM

The best for me is PagePlus running on Verizon towers. Cost is very low and you get the same great Verizon coverage. I have had this service for several years without any problem. Plans cost between $12 and $60 depending on your needs.