Rural area here, area code 53929. Long term Verizon network user, first 3G then 4G LTE, both with Verizon and with Tracfone. In particular two Tracfone LG L125DL phones which have been very reliable for several years now are marginal in this location. The best signal is around -97dBm at home, inside or out, and drops rapidly to -120 dBm a few miles east or south from here This is a good 10 to 15 dBm worse than it was 6 months ago. Both phones have the most recent software and have been "adjusted" by Tracfone. I am 'line of sight' to two cell towers here in town (Elroy, WI), don't know the carrier. Has Verizon recently dropped a tower in this location or de-emphasized the 700c band here?
[SOLVED] Brought up a spare LG L125DL (identical phone) on the ATT (GSMA) network. Carried the two side by side for three weeks work. The ATT one worked everywhere, even in the steepest coulees. The VZN one died in all the usual places. I'll port my number over when the current VZN plan is near expiration. It used to be the other way around here, I don't know what VZN did but it no longer is acceptable for my emergency contact phone here in 53929.
With all carriers shutting down 3G a couple years ago, it's entirely possible that the Verizon towers are no longer providing as much coverage in rural areas. It's a cell phone world now, so you have to go with who works. Can definitely understand your decision.
As an FYI, LG quit making phones some time ago and as carriers upgrade their networks, may cause your phone to stop working. Your Verizon Tracfone may be falling prey to this. There have been a number of threads from Kyocera users in recent months reporting their phones no longer work with Verizon's current technology.
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