Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[fp26]

Hi all
I live on Ingleside and am thinking of changing my cell phone provider. The problem (that I'm sure many of you know about) is reception. Namely, for some reason (hills is what Verizon always tells me, though this seems silly), we don't get good reception in parts of Mt. Pleasant. Anyway, what are people's experiences with cell phone service from Sprint and AT&T? I have Verizon and barely get reception inside my place on Ingleside.

[micmac]

It seems that no one gets great reception in brick houses. My T mobile is better inside than it used to be.

[RckCrk]

AT&T cell phone reception was non-existent in our home near Rock Creek Park until we got a micro cell tower from the AT&T store. I think it was about $150, but it solved the problem.

Curiously, we had no problems with Verizon before switching to get iPhones a few years ago. I guess it's hit or miss from house to house.

Good luck.

[jack]

I recall a discussion some time ago that the cellphone reception on Ingleside got bad when the trees leafed out in the spring, and better when the trees dropped their leaves in the fall. Yes, that makes sense, because wet leaves can work as a shield against high-frequency radio waves.

The Verizon cellphone tower serving Ingleside could be the one located at the maintenance center off Glover Drive in Rock Creek Park. You might check what's in the line of sight to that location.

-- Jack

[MPDC]

I live on Monroe St and have great reception with T-Mobile.

A friend who has ATT has to go outside to make phone calls

[kelly5612]

I'm on the odd side of Ingleside and have crappy service with AT&T. My iPhone works only on the 2nd floor (3 bars at best) but on the first floor I have nothing, one bar or it's "Searching..." or "No Service." I get calls but the phone doesn't ring and they go right to voicemail. I resort to texting while at home, but sometimes that's sketchy too.

[RckCrk]

[rwchambe]

There are a few products on the market from cell providers that can help with cell phone reception. They plug into your internet router and act as a mini cell tower. I have heard online that if you call and complain to your cell provider a few times ( and probably threaten to switch companies) they they will often provide these at a discount or for free.

I have never personally used one of these. Here is an example of the one that Verizon offers.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=gotoFemtocell

[naturebabe]

Not that I want AT&T to lose customers but their phone service sucks. My mom had to go outside or in the veranda to make phone calls and it was torture whenever I had to call her. It's expensive, customer service sucks and she's not very happy about it.

[pdmarquardt]

I'm on Adams Mill and only get T-Mobile reception in certain parts of the house.

[francmulloy]