Category: at&t

AT&T recently added a new cell site near the intersection of Vista Boulevard and Interstate 80 in east Sparks. Since the nearest T-Mobile cell site covering this area is over 2 miles away, it was previously reported that this cell site was a T-Mobile site. However it has now been discovered that it is an AT&T site – just 6/10 of a mile southeast of another AT&T cell site also in Sparks’ industrial area.

The Reno Gazette-Journal posted an article recently that lists the current roll-out schedule for the wireless carrier’s 4th generation data network in the Reno area. Bottom line: T-Mobile’s is already active, the other 3 major carriers had no specific timetable.

T-Mobile: Now
AT&T: By 2013, but nothing more specific
Verizon: No estimated date
Sprint: No estimated date Washoe County

Read the article for more information.

AT&T has recently turned on 2 new cell sites in Sparks, and will be turning on a third soon.

The first cell site went active on approximately September 1 near the northwest corner of McCarran and Prater way. The cell site’s antennas are disguised in a fake pine tree. CID 6117x

The following week another site went active in Spanish Springs, with antennas located in a flagpole at Vista Blvd and Los Altos Parkway. CID 6105x.

A third site is still under construction above the Summit Church at 7075 Pyramid Lake Highway and Golden View Drive. The antennas are disguised behind a fake rock wall.

AT&T recently turned on a new cell site covering the Somersett area of Northwest Reno. AT&T is the last wireless carrier to provide coverage to the area from a co-location facility off of Chalk Ridge Court. The cell site is only a 2G/EDGE site at this time. CID 6131x

Many people complain about indoor cell phone reception – particularly in their home or office. The major wireless providers have addressed this problem by providing miniature cell sites or “femtocells” to enhance coverage in areas up to approximately 5000 square feet. A recent article on PC World goes in-depth about how to get the best cell phone reception possible with personal femtocells and other devices.

Edit 4/4/10: The AT&T 3G MicroCell will be available for sale in Reno on April 5. See their website for more info.

AT&T is expected to make their 3G MicroCell available this month to customers in the Reno area. The device is a femtocell – a small device that connects to a broadband internet connection and improves cell phone reception to a limited area, such as a home. Brian Klug has posted a very detailed article on Anandtech about femtocell’s that are now available through all 4 U.S. major cell carriers. Read the full article here.

2009 was an uneventful year for new cell sites in the Reno area. T-Mobile was most active adding the most new cell sites and turning on their 3G voice & data network in 2009. Cricket added coverage in the Spanish Springs area. Otherwise, all other carriers did not add coverage via new cell sites this year according to our sources.

For 2010 Verizon Wireless has a new cell site planned for southwest Reno near the Washoe Golf Course. AT&T has a cell site planned to improve coverage in the Somersett area of northwest Reno.

In the new year posts to this website will occur as new cell sites are known, and other major carrier news is announced. For more frequent updates, check out our Twitter MicroBlog Updates in the left column of this website, or follow us from your Twitter account @RenoWireless.

I received this review by Kyle, who lives in the South Meadows/Damonte Ranch area. He was an AT&T wireless customer for quite a while, but got fed up with the unreliable coverage at his home. A few months ago he switched to T-Mobile. Below is his experience:

Coverage is MUCH better in South Meadows.  It is also better in south Reno going up Mount Rose HWY around the Chevron station, Monte Rosa Estates, etc.  Also better going up HWY 395 North of North McCarran.

Other than that the coverage isn’t any better than ATT.  Inside large buildings like Atlantis Casino and the Eldorado Casino, T-Mobile is worse than ATT.  T-Mobile has no service at times, whereas ATT had low signal (1-2 bars) but did not drop to no service.  With only 5 fewer sites than T-Mo and 850 Mhz, ATT has Reno covered quite well overall as you well know.  T-Mobile is also worse between Gold Ranch and Truckee– drops a call where ATT does not.

What I have found is that quality of service has been noticeably better.  I drop fewer calls overall (not just in South Reno) and have not had any calls where only one party can hear the other talking and the other party hears silence (happened occasionally on ATT).  Calls on T-Mo’s GSM sound better than on ATT GSM (maybe AMR HR vs. AMR FR?).  ATT’s 3G sounds great but it kicks you back down to GSM so often that it seems many calls would end up there.  I have not had delayed voicemail messages like I would sometimes get with ATT.  Fewer “Call Failed” messages, etc.  Overall, T-Mobiles network seems to provide a better quality of service, with the only noticeable weakness being the In-building coverage in certain large buildings.

Spanish Springs – We have a business account out there and we are out in Spanish Springs 3 days a week.  T-Mobile has much better coverage in the South end of Spanish Springs, especially in the new Spanish Springs Town Centre shopping center with the Costco, Home Depot, etc.  AT&T has 1 bar or “no service” in some of these businesses while T-Mobile has a strong signal.

AT&T has recently added a cell site in Floriston, California, filling a coverage gap that previously existed along Interstate 80 between Reno and Truckee. CID 1308.

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AT&T Wireless has announced that they have launched a new Mobile TV service in 58 markets nationwide, including Reno. The new service requires a new exclusive handset.