Oregon Cell Phone Providers- Central Oregon (Portland, Bend: travel, work, new home)

[NewtoOregon]

Hi, we are looking at getting new cell phone service when we move to Bend next month.

No provider seems to be all that great. My hubby is going to work for the City of Bend so we would like service throughout the city. Additionally, we have family in Portland and in California so it would be nice to have coverage on those routes.

Any suggestions?

I have read that US Cellular is going for backpacking in the area.

Thanks

[Nea1]

When we lived in Bend Everyone we knew had nextel for the two way capability.

[kkclimb]

Originally Posted by NewtoOregon

Hi, we are looking at getting new cell phone service when we move to Bend next month.

No provider seems to be all that great. My hubby is going to work for the City of Bend so we would like service throughout the city. Additionally, we have family in Portland and in California so it would be nice to have coverage on those routes.

Any suggestions?

I have read that US Cellular is going for backpacking in the area.

Thanks

just wondering what you found to be the best service after all. we are also moving to bend. thanks.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by kkclimb

just wondering what you found to be the best service after all. we are also moving to bend. thanks.

I'm not sure what the full options are now, but I had T Mobile near Portland, and thought the service was impeccable, for the areas it reached.

US Cellular is what I have now. In southern Oregon, the coverage is a bit better, but its slightly more than T Mobile here, and will cost me $10 more per month when we move back near Portland to do what T Mobile did there.

I'm skipping switching services when we move, for about a year, just to try out the provider I have now in that north area.

Both providers have been problem free in every way.

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by NewtoOregon

Hi, we are looking at getting new cell phone service when we move to Bend next month.

There are several resources to look at:

First, look at, Cell Info for Oregon & the Northwest,
and, Oregon Cellular Reviews.

Most of that information is pretty general but will give you links and places to look for more information. But here are two tips:

First, start with whatever you have now. Let your current company help you as best they can, incluing a Bend number, if possible.

Then, have your husband contact the city's HR department, there just may be a government discount with one particular carrier which should work well all over the city, or they wouldn't set up a deal. Yes, US Cellular is a good carrier, but you should always get settled in your new home before making a permanent decision. Every carrier has dead spots.

[AnaheimDude07]

TMobile has great service. I highly recommend them.

[BarbTNMUSA]

I was in Bend within the past couple weeks and am return again next week. I use Verizon Wireless and swear by it but when I got to Bend, I found I was having problems so I called support and found that all I needed to do was hit *228 SEND on my phone to update the network software and the signal was crystal clear no matter where I went. I was told that until I did the update my calls were being routed from New Mexico back to Bend and that everytime I go to a new city to spend a few days I should perform the update. Duh, never knew that before (but then I'm blonde to boot). Anyway, when I move up there I will be keeping my Verizon. I travel all over the US to major cities and Verizon has turned out to be the most dependable for me over the years.