On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:14:43 -0800, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote in <45d08463$0$27249$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>:

>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.

Not according to Verizon.

>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.

AMPS for the public will almost certainly go away rapidly in a year no
matter what CalTrans (actually Caltrans) does.

>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!

This is, of course, another wishful claim with no real foundation.

>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,

It's actually good all along that section of 280 _if_ you have a decent
phone. You must still be using a very old phone.

>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.

Cingular actually has been well ahead of Verizon in this area for some
time now. I guess the difference has now become so large that you're
finally having to start acknowledging it.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>