AT&T Cell coverage sucks....recommendation?

[schro]

OK,
I live in a metropolitan area nearing a million people, so we're not in the sticks (though some might call Sacramento a cowtown). My cell phone reception has sucked for a while, and it's gotten worse. Where I live backs up to a very small hill, but that really shouldn't matter. I called AT&T and apparently a cell tower is out of commission. It's been out of commission for a few months, but no timetable can be given for its repair. When I called them a month ago, I asked them to tell me when the tower would be fixed. I then got a text saying "issue resolved, we apologize for any inconvience"......I'm calling bullsh*t! 

So yesterday, I spend an hour on the phone with AT&T. I first tried calling them using my cell and the rep repeated his name 3 times before saying "if you can hear me, please call AT&T at 1-800 whatever". CLASSIC. 

I then use my home phone, explain the problem, and have them call me on my cell phone. Obviously, they can't hear me. I try calling them, same thing. I then have them call the Lovely Mrs. Schro's cell, same thing. I've been with AT&T forever, including when their cell division was Cingular (and I LOVE U-Verse), but there's no way I can continue with AT&T in the current situation. The best thing to come out of the call was that I finally got someone from AT&T to experience first hand what I've been dealing with.

So, I have two realistic options:
1) Find a new provider.
2) Get a signal booster. A good friend of mine has a girlfriend that lives near me. She installed a signal booster and went from maybe one bar to four. If AT&T wants to keep my service, they will need to buy me one, upgrade my phone, and compensate me for the many months of sh*tty reception.

I'm not a big tech guy, however I'd like to get a keyboard phone and get access to my emails on my cellphone.
So, fellow SBG's, what would you do in my situation?

[TheSlyBear]

I was in your situation -- additionally, AT&T kept screwing up my billing -- so I've switched to Verizon. It's only been about a month, so I can't give a long-term report, but I'm much happier with the coverage. And so far, they haven't screwed up my account.

My partner got the Samsung Rogue phone, which is Internet capable, and he's pretty happy with it. (I got a non-Internet phone because I don't really need it.)

[schro]

Thanks BB.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

ATT sucks on its good days!   Atlanta--a home base for that bunch--you can't drive or move while on the phone or it drops the call!  Same in Houston, DC, NO & NYC area.  Totally a bush league operator. 
My solution, ATT is the company provider, so I use Verizon for my personal cell, and it gets used all the time.  It is dependable, doesn't drop in any area of the country I've been in, it worked all the way through Hurricane Gustav when ATT was door nail dead. 
If you want a truly mobile phone service, get Verizon, ATT still has cord memories

But I am very ambivalent on ATT, 

[pdxtodd]

I'm having the same problem with AT&T.   I can stand in one location and go from 5 bars to none - without moving an inch.  They definitely have a service level issue. 

[MikeInPdx]

I don't have those problems with T-mobile, and they're cheaper than AT&T to boot. I get really good coverage everywhere except for Winston, OR.....a little town out in the sticks where no cell phones really work.

[omegapd]

and here I am...out in the sticks of Georgia in a town of about 3,000 people...and have wonderful service with AT&T. No dropped cell calls, excellent Internet service and home phone service. Maybe they're catering to the little crowd over the big cities? I have no idea but have no complaints.  

[Tyler]

Schro, if you have a 3G phone, such as the iPhone, you can get one of these to put into your house - http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

Hopefully you can talk AT&T into paying for it.

[schro]

Schro, if you have a 3G phone, such as the iPhone, you can get one of these to put into your house - http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

Hopefully you can talk AT&T into paying for it.

Well, if I stay with AT&T, they will certainly pay for it, along with a free upgraded phone for me & the Lovely Mrs. Schro.

[Tyler]

Schro, if you have a 3G phone, such as the iPhone, you can get one of these to put into your house - http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

Hopefully you can talk AT&T into paying for it.

Well, if I stay with AT&T, they will certainly pay for it, along with a free upgraded phone for me & the Lovely Mrs. Schro.

Yeah, ask them for a couple of Backflip phones, iPhones, or Blackberry Bold phones and a microcell for your house.  You'll be golden then.  Plus you get unlimited talk time when you are calling from home.

[schro]

Schro, if you have a 3G phone, such as the iPhone, you can get one of these to put into your house - http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

Hopefully you can talk AT&T into paying for it.

Well, if I stay with AT&T, they will certainly pay for it, along with a free upgraded phone for me & the Lovely Mrs. Schro.

Yeah, ask them for a couple of Backflip phones, iPhones, or Blackberry Bold phones and a microcell for your house.  You'll be golden then.  Plus you get unlimited talk time when you are calling from home.

Obviously if they want to keep my business, they'll do something like that. The question is, do you think the would?

[omegapd]

Schro, if you have a 3G phone, such as the iPhone, you can get one of these to put into your house - http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

Hopefully you can talk AT&T into paying for it.

Well, if I stay with AT&T, they will certainly pay for it, along with a free upgraded phone for me & the Lovely Mrs. Schro.

Yeah, ask them for a couple of Backflip phones, iPhones, or Blackberry Bold phones and a microcell for your house.  You'll be golden then.  Plus you get unlimited talk time when you are calling from home.

Obviously if they want to keep my business, they'll do something like that. The question is, do you think the would?

That's my biggest rave with AT&T. They sent me new cordless house phone and a wireless router for the 'Net just by asking...

[warhawk]

hey schro:  sorry 2 hear 'bout that.  i recently switched cell phone carriers.  after being a loyal t-mobile customer for approximately almost 9 years... i had "bad" coverage  here in beautiful pensacola.  i recently (just 1 month) switched to sprint.  i got a gr8 deal for $69.99 per month:  unlimited mobile to mobile calls to any carriers, unlimited texts, unlimited internet, & 450 free minutes (to land lines only)...thankfully 99% of my calls R mobile-to-mobile.

i really hated leaving t-mobile because their customer service was excellent.  however, their coverage here in pensacola was horrible.  so far... i am liking sprint & my new blackberry tour.  i also got an extra 23% discount off my monthly bill 4 working at one of the local hospitals.

WARHAWK

[GASlick]

We've been on Verizon for nearly ten years now.  Never had a problem with service or customer service.
And since we don't have a land line at our house, good coverage is essential. 

[Morthen]

I'm on a family plan with T-Mobile, don't have much coverage problems except when I go on photo trips with my dad.