<p>I've got AT&T, and at DotL, I barely had any reception out there. My parents noticed that as well and are debating having me switch to another carrier (Verizon). Do any current students have any problems with AT&T at UVA (it may have been my phone), or is there a clear best in terms of reception out in c-ville?</p>
<p>I have SPRINT and it works great.</p>
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My parents noticed that as well and are debating having me switch to another
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<p>Before I read "carrier" I was almost thinking that you were thinking of switching schools because of poor reception. :p (Sorry for having so little faith...)</p>
<p>go to Cell</a> Phones and cell phone plans - | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular and at the top right, there's a link that says "coverage viewer." Click that and you can see signal strength anywhere (including c-ville.) It looked pretty good when i typed in c-ville.</p>
<p>What's the likelihood that a university's research or engineering infrastructure (I don't suppose UVA has a particle accelerator, but basically any heavy electric equipment) would affect coverage?</p>
<p>Word to the wise....my D's original carrier, at&t phone, had no reception in old dorms and spotty on campus. even those with verizon were not happy...don't know about sprint. we were told to go with alltell and it works great and she gets reception all over c'ville, campus, and everywhere else in US she has taken it.</p>
<p>I have Verizon and have had no trouble with it.</p>
<p>My son has Ntelos and usually has good reception (he's in New Dorms). And his Voice Mail works great; that's what I generally get when I call him!</p>
<p>my brother's there and he's got Sprint...it works everywhere in c'ville and around the US...my parents also have Sprint and they can contact him all the time..and can be contacted all the time when they visit him at c'ville as well.....i like Sprint too :)</p>
<p>This has come up every year, it seems. My AT&T service has never faltered here.</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uva-2011/297674-nextel-sprint-cellular-service-c-ville.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uva-2011/297674-nextel-sprint-cellular-service-c-ville.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/304422-cell-phone-carrier.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/304422-cell-phone-carrier.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/223006-cell-phone-help-clueless.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/223006-cell-phone-help-clueless.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/189709-cell-phone-coverage.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/189709-cell-phone-coverage.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/79788-cell-phone-service.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/79788-cell-phone-service.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/19122-cell-phone-service-new-old-dorms.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/19122-cell-phone-service-new-old-dorms.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/147678-cell-phones-uva.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/147678-cell-phones-uva.html</a></p>
<p>Keep in mind that information in the threads from 2006 might not be accurate today.</p>
<p>We have Verizon. Problems inside the dorm but okay when he is outside.</p>
<p>My D has AT&T and the service is good. As with any provider, service can be spotty sometimes in basements or some spots on the Grounds. So, if you have AT&T now, stick with it -not worth switching at this point.</p>
<p>We have T-mobile. My S had trouble last year inside New Dorms, but outside was fine. He doesn't have any trouble at all this year at Lambeth.</p>
<p>After a week with AT and T and not being able to communicate with my daughter more often than not, we switched to Alltell....in old dorms (the only one i am familiar with) you will be lucky for AT and T to work on a consistent basis, and then only if you go outside or try to find a signal very close to a window and then try not to move....:-)....</p>
<p>Tmobile has the worst coverage I think. Basically at any place that has more than two floors above you or you are not next to a window you don't have signals.</p>
<p>FYI: Most major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Alltell, Sprint, Nextel, etc) all work fine here. Look on their websites for exact coverage (I know Verizon users are on extended network) if you really want to know. I have AT&T and never have had a problem. But, it also depends greatly on a cell phone. Some cell phones have better antennas, some have weaker ones. So, one service, as long as C'ville is in its coverage area, may not be the same for everyone. Most phones have problems in Old Dorms, not the carriers per say.<br>
I can attest because I recently changed from a $200 phone to the iPhone, and the iPhone works amazingly, but my old phone worked perfectly fine too.</p>
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I recently changed from a $200 phone to the iPhone, and the iPhone works amazingly
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<p>I'm jealous. I realy want an iphone but I have verizon, which is the best one for where i live, but even unlocked iphones won't work on the verizon network.</p>
<p>If you are looking to change phones if you find yours does not work as you need it to, I know that most carriers will let you try before you buy...we went back to AT&T to get their very best phone (as far as reception of signal is concerned) and tried it out but it still did not work inside old dorms. So...when we went to Alltell we did the same thing with their best phone and it worked great. (Alltell is a common carrier of choice in areas the size of C'ville) Unfort we are stuck for a time with 2 cellphone contracts (AT&T wouldnt let us out of our contract even though they admitted their reception was spotty). However, I feel better knowing that in an emergency situation my D does not have to leave her dorm or search for a spot where signal can be found. I know old dorms seems to be a problem. (Next year she will be in Lambeth so sounds like there are few issues there) Just be sure to ask a new carrier to let you try it out first, based on where you intend to live.</p>
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However, I feel better knowing that in an emergency situation my D does not have to leave her dorm or search for a spot where signal can be found.
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<p>They do have phones in their rooms, you know. Free local calling, free 911, they can instantly connect with security, and long-distance calling is probably not expensive at all. Plus, in an emergency, a $5 phone bill is nothing. They can also call other rooms with this phone.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the university has negotiated a special rate with any carrier (especially AT&T)? I know that many colleges negotiate special prices for students.</p>