Hi,
I've recently switched to my work-provided VZW account. I've been in two phones (because I'm ridiculous) - the Droid Razr and now the Galaxy Nexus. Oh, any by the way, I definitely recommend the Nexus. It's a super smooth device. Anyways...
I've noticed that ironically, Verizon's signal strength and reliability isn't nearly as solid as AT&T's. Before switching, I had been on AT&T for years. I stuck it out through AT&T, Cingular and then AT&T again. In the past couple of years, I could go anywhere and get full bars of 3G except in very rural areas. Now, it's like it's all spread out in comparison. So, 3G is everywhere, sorta, but not very consistent or reliable. I can drive around the 465 loop and not get anywhere above 3 bars. Same thing with 4G when I use it. BUT! That's not the real issue. Bars are a non-issue if I can get what I need done. Sometimes I'll be out and n-isot be able to send a message through Google Voice or refresh a web page even on 3G with the blue highlight symbolizing that I'm actually receiving data.
It's even worse down south-ish. Indoors, I can't get anything. If I do, it's blue but unresponsive. Outside in my yard, down the block or wherever, same thing almost. I'll get bars but I won't be able to do anything. Yet if I go down the street, I can get to 4G with 40Mbps down and 15 up.
This all sounds like obstructions are in the way. Houses, trees, etc. However, no other carrier has this issue. I don't know what the problem is, but my mother has been using the service for quite some time. She's been on a Chocolate, some other feature phone, OG Droid, Droid 2 and now the Droid 3. Her husband can attest to the same things on his phone with no data connectivity. Calls are rarely clear and signal is spotty.
To wrap this up, I have called into support several times and they've escalated the problem to their networking team every time. I've gotten responses ranging from "4G service is restored, we were having a network outage." to "There doesn't seem to be an issue." to "I can tell by testing the phone on my end that signal is fluctuating a lot between your phone and the closest tower." Yet NO ONE is able to or will do anything about it.
What needs to be done to correct this kind of network behavior for potentially a few thousand, paying customers?
Thanks and sorry for the long post. It's been a long, drawn out problem.
Jack
