verizon vs. att for ipad

[Bucksmom]

Looking for some practical advice...I am really close to pulling the trigger on getting an ipad. I am going over my old data plan to get an idea of how much I actually use the mobile data on my phone.

So who has the best nationwide coverage in the opinion of you experienced RVers? I know this is probably going to be a Chevy vs Ford kinda debate, but I appreciate any wisdom you can share. Thanks!

[wildtoad]

I am currently and habe been an ATT customer. But when the last of the contract preiods run out I may very well change to Verizon. VZ has much better coverage. But then again if the att / tmobile deal goes through perhaps it will improve. I've been many places where I get zero coverage but see folks talking on their phones. Those I've asked said they had Verizon.

[GG1]

We have had verizon for almost 10 yrs I can count the times on one hand we have not had service from Canada to Florida, we also have their wireless hot spot (MI FI) customer service is also very good.

[JohnH59]

I have both and my Verizon is MUCH better as far as 3G coverage goes. There's very few highways that AT&T has 3G coverage. They mostly are concentrated in cities. Verizon's 3G coverage is along virtually all major interstates and highways.

[Bucksmom]

this is good to hear....I have t mobile for a smart phone, and not only is it not great for the internet, I couldn't get any service at all when camping last weekend, when there were plenty of folks around us talking on their cell phones!

[Ann n Gene]

I have at&t and it is MUCH better than just a couple of years ago. On our current trip we left Oklahoma, through New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Neveda, Oregon, Washington and now in Couer d' Alene, ID and have had coverage the vast majority of the time, a GREAT improvement in most of these areas in the last couple of years. Having said that, I think it is common knowledge that in the western part of the country at least, Verizon has better coverage. The iPhone has overloaded the AT&T system and that slows it down some even in good coverage areas. Verizon has apparently not sold enough smart phones, especially iPhones, to see that effect. All just my experience and opinion

[tbfirm]

I have Verizon and DW has ATT. On our trek west and back this spring there were several times when she had little or no srevice and I had 3G full bars.

[doc]

We had AT&T for years and was very satisfied until we began doing the summers in SD. There was little ATT coverage in western SD and then only in the populated areas - however Verizon had great coverage. We traded off for that reason. Now I find that I have no rollover minutes with Verizon and I get charged for all call minutes unlike ATT who did not charge for mobile to mobile calls. Since we have backed out somewhat on full summer trips I am thinking of going back to ATT. My granddaughter keeps telling me I need an I-phone, but I can't really figure out why. I have a Verizon air card that let's us have pretty fast internet while traveling with the laptop.

[rlawson]

We have had Verizon for over 15 year (repeatedly check plans and with friends with other companies). All of our travels across the country and we only failed to get coverage very few times, probably less than half a dozen. In fact we just signed up for a Verizon 4G Internet hub to use in our home and it is portable to our RV. If you have a Land Line they also have a new service called "Home Phone Connect" which is totally portable, uses a standard home phone and can be put on like your coverage like an additional cell phone for $9.99 per month (and you keep your land line phone number. It is portable also and can go with you in the RV if you wish. Unlimited calling, voice mail, call forwarding, etc. We have all three: Cell, Internet Hub and Home phone direct.