Cell Phone Service in Chicago + Burbs (Hinsdale: relocating, apartment, travel)

[tfaw]

What is real life experience on cell phone quality in the western burbs, north shore and downtown.

I'm relocating, and I currently use Verizon in Los Angeles, as it seems to have the best. Cingular is touch and go in various parts.

I know there either service won't be perfect, so I was just looking for a generalized answer for two scenarios:

Scenario A - Living in the North Shore, working downtown

Scenario B - Living in Hinsdale are, working downtown.

Thanks.

[jessiegirl_98]

Are you asking which scenario is better for cell phone service?!?!? Or just a general commute?

[chet everett]

The entire Chicago region has about equal coverage in all the burbs from most the carriers. With US Cell headquartered here and Motorola as well there are lots of connected people that do a lot to drive service. Downtown gets five bars from pretty much all carriers. That said there are lots of areas in the nice burbs that could use more towers -- residents hate the sight of them. If enough folks complain about service the carriers will install towers in out of sight places, but these don't work as well the the big towers.

Overall ATT/ Cingular has more subscribers and is a bit more likely to add towers than Verizon.

There are small but notorious cellular "black holes" from just about every carrier in every town.

The best advice is to see how your exact house is for coverage directly or at least ask the neighbors before switching.


Downtown is about as saturated as can be.

[cubssoxfan]

US Cellular has excellent service and customer service. They don't always have the latest hand-sets, but traveling all around Illinois & N. Indiana there are very few dead zones. I almost never experience dead zones or dropped calls in Chi-land area.
Service worked well in TX and Canada as well. E-mail service is reliable as well on the crackberry.

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

US Cellular has excellent service and customer service. They don't always have the latest hand-sets, but traveling all around Illinois & N. Indiana there are very few dead zones. I almost never experience dead zones or dropped calls in Chi-land area.
Service worked well in TX and Canada as well. E-mail service is reliable as well on the crackberry.

I agree. I'm on the North Shore. In the past several years I've had Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. US Cellular has been the best for me, T Mobile was the worst (in terms of dropped calls). I also like US Cellular because its WI coverage is good.

[Careless]

ATT's 3/3.5g coverage is pretty good in the region now, from what I've observed. Verizon (isn't it?) has exclusive coverage in the subways

[jpghinsdale]

Drive through town and you will see people on their porches and in their driveways trying to get a signal. We have Cingular ATT and cannot use our phones in the house.

[long101]

I live in the city now and use to live in the burbs and Ive had the best luck with Sprint. My girlfirend has at&t and she can not get service in our apartment and I can. Just my .02 Alot of carriers offer a 30 day "trial"

[ahava]

I've never had a problem with Verizon here, and I often get a signal in places people on other carriers don't (basements, etc.).

[FB1977]

I vouch for Verizon. I've only used Verizon for as long as I've had a cell phone, and never had any real problems with service. I've been all over the Chicagoland area, and most places I can use my phone.