Good cell coverage in Harrisburg (Allentown, Carlisle: how much, live, moving to)

[Studio23!]

Hello forum members, I am moving to Harrisburg in the coming month. Which cell carrier has a good data and voice coverage in the Harrisburg area.

I am using a 3G phone and like to stay in Paxton/Lingsletown while working in downtown.

Appreciate your insights.

[truserenity]

While I was in Harrisburg I had a verizon phone. Never had any problems with dropped calls or poor reception. I traveled to different areas but didn't travel as far as Linglestown. I have been as far out as Carlisle and the reception was fine.

[Studio23!]

Thank you truserenity. 1 vote for Verizon.

[ki0eh]

Verizon is usually better in rural central PA, not sure if it would make much difference that close to town though.

[1timbo1]

I agree, probably wouldn't make too much difference, but I've personally never had an issue with Verizon. I travel occasionally throughout rural parts of the mid-state but not Linglestown specifically, you're probably okay with VZ though.

[ADSTEIN]

I lived In Harrisburg for a long time and never had an issue with At&t. I lived in the City and I lived in Susquehanna Twp. I worked all over Dauphin County, so I spent lots of hours traveling using my phone and never had any major issues.

Harrisburg and the surrounding suburbs are not one horse towns, so any carrier including Verizon and sprint should work fine.

[Studio23!]

Thanks guys

[DowntownHarrisburg]

I'm on Verizon right now, and the coverage is bulletproof. Works like a champ in my building's basement and elevator! Both 3G and 4G are readily available in the city and surrounding areas. I use my Thunderbolt's built-in hotspot (4G) on a daily basis and the speed is amazing. It's faster than my cable modem!

I've also had T-Mobile, which has quite a few coverage drops around the area. One particularly bad one is coming across the Harvey Taylor bridge, and another is near the Paxtonia exit on I-83. Reeser's Summit (peak on I-83 just south of the Turnpike) is another.

I've found that AT&T is about on par with T-Mobile. For all their advertising, their 3G speed wasn't very fast. My big turnoff on them was that as soon as you get 10 miles out of the city, you lose 3G and fall back to GPRS (2G).

Sprint's coverage is pretty decent. I haven't used them in about three years. I left because I was hitting regular coverage holes along I-78 between Harrisburg & Allentown.

[EnolaEagle]

Originally Posted by DowntownHarrisburg

I'm on Verizon right now, and the coverage is bulletproof. Works like a champ in my building's basement and elevator! Both 3G and 4G are readily available in the city and surrounding areas. I use my Thunderbolt's built-in hotspot (4G) on a daily basis and the speed is amazing. It's faster than my cable modem!

I've also had T-Mobile, which has quite a few coverage drops around the area. One particularly bad one is coming across the Harvey Taylor bridge, and another is near the Paxtonia exit on I-83. Reeser's Summit (peak on I-83 just south of the Turnpike) is another.

I've found that AT&T is about on par with T-Mobile. For all their advertising, their 3G speed wasn't very fast. My big turnoff on them was that as soon as you get 10 miles out of the city, you lose 3G and fall back to GPRS (2G).

Sprint's coverage is pretty decent. I haven't used them in about three years. I left because I was hitting regular coverage holes along I-78 between Harrisburg & Allentown.

I have TMobile and I hate the drops at Reesers Summit... (either way, I probably shouldn't be talking while driving)
Todd Stull
Enola, PA

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Originally Posted by EnolaEagle

I have TMobile and I hate the drops at Reesers Summit... (either way, I probably shouldn't be talking while driving)

True story: I used to work for PCS One, who was the predecessor to T-Mobile in Central PA. January 1998 - August 2004. It's amazing how much coverage has improved since then ... and how some of the same coverage holes still exist 14 years later.