Anon E. Muss wrote:

> As of 02/2007, AMPS coverage is a superset of digital cellular/PCS
> coverage. IOW, there are no places that have digital cellular/PCS
> voice but no AMPS service.
>
> Sorry, that's just the facts.

I think that is probably where Navas is confused. They will always show
digital, if it exists. However a large number of the digital towers also
have AMPS coverage, which will get you coverage for quite a ways into
the surrounding open space. In fact they have to keeep AMPS on for now,
since the emergency call boxes are still AMPS, despite plans by
CalTrans to change them to CDMA.

Also, Verizon has been reassuring corporate customers with field
operations in the Bay Area that they won't reduce coverage, even when
they are permitted to turn off AMPS. Either all the areas will be
covered by digital, or they'll keep AMPS on until they are.
Unfortunately this policy only applies to roads, not trails!

I have to remember to turn off my phone when hiking in the Santa Cruz
mountains, Mount Tam, and the east bay parks, as it will go to AMPS, and
drain the battery in just a few hours.

What is unclear is if the reason that Verizon consistently is rated by
independent organizations as having far better coverage than Cingular is
due to AMPS or not. Other than stretches of 280 in San Mateo County,
Cingular's GSM coverage has been improving. My benchmark location out in
east Pleasanton, east of Santa Rita Road, finally got a tower a few
months ago, and now has coverage. Cingular issues non-stop press
releases about new towers they're installing, so they definitely are
working on catching up with Verizon in terms of digital coverage.