3G Coverage In Northern Michigan

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

Wow, it sure is good to know that AT&T kept their promise and stood up to their end of the bargain, somewhat. I personally didn't think that they would do anything to enhance the network at all!

[JREwing53]

I had a friend tell me today that our AT&T tower is near Kinross, Michigan.  That makes sense that the signal is not getting here yet.  

[Zigs]

Still AT&T Edge in Gaylord, Otsego County.  

Which means, for data users, smoke signals would be faster.

[octothorpealso]

smoke signals HaHaHa. I here ya, Gaylord here also.

[JREwing53]

So now it's August 10 and no 3g/4g by the end of July.  This is so disgusting that AT&T would tell us all that it's coming and then we are still stuck here with Edge.  "Yep, your tower is due for 3G activation by the end of July" says the AT&T reps.  I think I'll call and see if I can get my $30 refunded that I spend for data each month.  AT&T is making a killing off of us suckers.

[pros3lyte]

Just wanted to update you all. While not located in Northern Lower MI, I'm from dead center in the thumb. Zip code 48453. I have decent edge service (3-4 bars most places in my little town), which was okay when I had my iphone 3G, it worked, but very slowly. Since getting my Iphone 4 almost two years ago most apps will not work, even the native iphone apps such as weather. It always takes ten or so minutes of load time, then says no internet connection, while showing 3-4 bars of Edge service. I can't use data at all in this location, which stinks because this is where I live. I can't send or receive picture or video messages here either. Obviously this is a huge bummer because with this phone I'm forced to pay 30 dollars a month for a data package that I cannot access whatsoever unless I drive 20 miles south. In the meantime, all of my friends on the Verizon  network have full 3G available to them, with iphones and other smartphones, in my livingroom. Some even get 4G. Its extremely annoying. I called ATT's customer service department in the fall of 2011, in September. I complained that Verizon had much better services to offer. They said they could do nothing for me and that my area would have full 3g service by May 2012. That never happened. The data connection since then has gone from extremely slow to not working at all. When I went to an ATT store to talk to them in person, I was told that their computers showed my town had 3G service. Not the case. It seems like ATT is a very dishonest company and is only interested in suckering people into paying for services they cannot offer, instead of offering a quality product. I will be a very happy Verizon customer in a few short months when this contract is finished, and I will take as many of my friends and family as I can with me!

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

I don't blame you for wanting to switch. It truly is unfair. Before switching to 4G network coverage, they should put 3G in every city possible in the country, no matter what it takes.

Meanwhile with my iPhone, coverage is decent in my home, but is terrible in my kitchen. I sometimes have to step outside to make/answer calls. I keep it because of my plan, which no other carrier can beat. I have plans on eventually switching to Verizon, though, despite my overall minimal issues with AT&T.

[Zigs]

Here's the joke of the year, quoted from AT&T's wireless coverage map:

"2G (EDGE): These areas represent AT&T's owned GSM network providing EDGE - Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution coverage. Advanced mobile services like video and music clips, full picture & video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the move are possible. Learn more about our technology."

Whatever happened to truth in advertising?

[RollingRock33]

3G - Still waiting........Nothing in Gaylord yet. Still getting bent over with Data plan fees though. If you do the math, two phones with data plans = $50/mo * 24 months = $1,200 of wasted money down the toilet. That's what irritates me the most.

[JREwing53]

We are serviced by the tower in Rudyard, Michigan.  The tower is the one between Sault Ste Marie and St. Ignace, and it sits right off I75.From what we have heard, they are having troubles with the equipment at this tower.  We were "promised" 3G by the end of July. Sault Ste Marie has had 4G for about two weeks.  

This really sucks that AT&T is taking so long to get this done.  Verizon has had 3G here for the last year, but we can't get very good Verizon coverage in my small town.  

[octothorpealso]

Seen the little construction crane at ATT's storage yard in Gaylord today, could that mean they are going to load components onto the truck for another tower in the area? Can't happen fast enough!! Still too many tower components lying around in the storage area.

[RollingRock33]

I found out today through the grapevine that the hold up appears to be one tower that needed to be redone. Sounds like the Kalkaska area just turned on their 3G late last week?, and now they're saying the Gaylord area by Sept. 1st or sooner?.?.

[octothorpealso]

Any day now. At least that is what I have heard since April!!

[formercanuck]

i drove i-75 on Aug 2, and had 3g (hspa+) on my Samsung SII from Sault through Mackinaw with 6Mbps/2Mbps over thst stretch.  

From Mackinaw south to mile 173 near Bay City, it was EDFE/GSM that was useless for anything but voice /SMS.  Google Maps wouldn't load, and Exchange sync was useless.

[Dansum]

Gaylord and surounding Friends..... {word filter evasion} everything a rep said at the store What would you all say if i said i have photo proof from AT&T saying 3G service will be availible.  here is a message i got from AT&T Mark this spot app. "AT&T appreciates your Mark the Spot feedback- Data related incident from galyor, MI on 05/24/12 @ 4:11am. We are pleased to inform you that we are expanding 3G coverage into the area near your submission in the next 60-90 days. Thank you, AT&T" [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].

[octothorpealso]

I realize this post is a couple of months old, but if it is true......http://forums.att.com/t5/Network-Coverage/Northeast-Lower-MI-3G/td-p/3021125

[scheerc]

Haven't we all figured out that every Local AT&T Rep is a LIAR!!! I've been told for 4 years that we will have 3G "Sometime this summer" EVERY YEAR! iPhone 5 is coming out soon! I'm seriously thinking of making the big switch to VZW if we don't have 3G in Gaylord by the time iPhone 5 is released.. And So I've heard... The iPhone 5 will be announced Sept 12. Also... Why can't all of the towers that are 3G ready, be flipped on while they continue to upgrade the other towers that aren't ready yet??

[Dansum]

Friday 8/24 is the day the AT&T has stated in writing that 3G will be  available in Gaylord MI. So this is a message to AT&T. I hope you do everything humanly possible make this happen because their are hundreds of people that are under the impression that 3G will be here. If not a large group has come together to watch this carefully and are well prepared to take the next step. 

Thanks "The People".

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

Wow, September 12th is coming up very quickly!

[Zigs]

Sitting in my office here in town (Gaylord), just turned off my iPad's WiFi and turned on cellular.   Two bars and AT&T E is displayed.

September 12 can't come fast enough.   

[RollingRock33]

Sitting in my office as well (Gaylord) staring at the dredded "E". Sigh......

[Tpeltz]

If you haven't seen 3G or "4G" flicker on your phone yet in Gaylord, most likely it won't be turned on by the 24th of August. Usually they do a "soft launch" where they turn on/off the network for a week or two before the 3G or "4G" becomes fully active and operational. 

Anyone who is sticking it out for the iPhone 5 (in a few weeks as mentioned earlier), I would just switch to Verizon Wireless. They already have 3G everywhere and they will have 4G LTE covering all of northern Michigan by next fall. AT&T will not have LTE up in most places in northern MI for at least 2 more years. 

I switched to VZW this spring and I haven't regretted it one bit. 

[Lewyman]

Anyone seeing 3/4G around Gaylord yet? Hope Lewiston is in the mix as well. I wonder if they will light up along M-33 from Gaylord through Joburg and all the way to Alpena because I think there is a fiber line that runs along M33. I also read Sprint might beat AT&T to an LTE deployment in Detroit.

[Lewyman]

Correction: Fiber runs along the M-32 corridore. Not 33!!

[Lewyman]

Something is rotten in Denmark. Just got off the phone with a good friend of mine who is currently up at Lake Superior State University in the Soo moving his brother into his dorm. My friend and his dad both have AT&T smartphones and BOTH phones are on EDGE!!! Someone is blowing smoke signals here!!

[Tpeltz]

AT&T hasn't officially launched HSPA+ in the Sault market. It is still in the "soft" launch phase, which means it can be very flaky and unreliable until the AT&T RAN engineers get the network tuned properly. 

[JREwing53]

I was in the Soo most of the day yesterday and had 4G all the time.  From about 15 mile road north I have been getting excellent 4G coverage.  

My problem is that I'm between the Rudyard tower and the Cedarville tower.  Rudyard is only 3G and Cedarville is Edge.  

[Lewyman]

Just talked to my friend that was in the Soo this past weekend and he verified that AT&T does indeed have 3/4G service there now. Although he said as of Sunday they could only get Edge at the Soo locks and on campus(LSSU) which I imagine they will have up and running soon. So it looks like AT&T is starting to upgrade. Anyone in Gaylord seeing 3/4G yet????

[RollingRock33]

No, nothing in Gaylord yet.... 

[Tpeltz]

It appears now the the 3G/HSPA+ is now "official" in the U.P from St. Ignace to the Sault according to AT&T's coverage map.