Best wireless coverage in PNW?

Is there a consensus for which wireless carrier offers the best coverage in the PNW?

Or which one goes farthest into remote areas?

Currently on sprint network, and it's not allowing me to work as remotely as I would like.
I'm not expecting miracles, but would like to get a bit further out and still have a good enough connection that I can get some work done.

 

I use Verizon happy with it except for the price but I guess you get what you pay for

 

I can’t speak to Washington, but I can tell you that AT&T is non-existent in much of the Siskiyous from the Oregon border throughout the Trinity Alps and south into Mendocino NF. I can go days without sniffing a signal.

 

T-Mobile here. It pretty much sucks for coverage and strength of signal, even here in downtown Seattle. But hey, it was way cheaper than my old AT&T plan. When my buddies and I are road tripping, my T-Mobile is the first to lose signal and last to get it back.

 

Rural/remote coverage is my biggest priority for my line, not price or features.

Pricing/features will dictate whether I also switch my wife and kids lines.

 

A couple of years ago, I had a personal AT&T phone and a work Verizon phone. In urban areas, it was a toss-up: AT&T would have service, Verizon wouldn't, and vice versa. In more remote areas, generally speaking, Verizon had much better coverage. I only have AT&T phones now, so I can't directly compare any more, but lately I have had service on AT&T in those areas where I didn't before and Verizon did.

But overall, I'd rate every wireless carrier as "shitty" quite frankly.....

 

Honestly it depends on how much you want to spend. Generally speaking Verizon seems to be the best in remote areas, but ya know... Cost. I have Tmobile and have had service where Verizon buddies haven't, and they've had it where I haven't more often than not. My wife is on Google Fi phone service which is a hybrid of Tmobile, Sprint and US Cellular (uses all networks) and I will say it has service more often than not, even compared to Verizon and AT&T friends phones. I would take a look at it, if you're not a heavy data user it's a really solid deal.

 

Verizon/AT&T have the better coverages. I had AT&T but switched to T-mobile when they offered 50% to military/vets; no complaints.

 

Hey thanks! Google Fi looks pretty interesting. Contract free, and really cheap on months when I'm not camping and mostly sitting on wifi at home. I like that flexibility.
Definitely going to consider it, even though it looks like my Samsung S9 won't work.

 

That's the only issue, but it's because they phones that are compatible with all the networks so it's a bit limited. I'll say the Google Pixel Devices are fantastic though. I am guessing you could probably sell your S9 for close to what one would cost you through Google Fi. The good news with the google phones is if you don't like Fi phone service you can use them with just about every other carrier.

 

Good point, I've only heard good things about the pixels.

The no-contract aspect makes it pretty compelling too.

 

VZW post-paid.

That said, for emergency comms in the boonies, an Inreach can't be beat.

 

Do you have a newer phone? Tmobile is pretty good for me, especially at 1/2 the price of verizon

 

I have an iPhone 8. Given the cost savings and the fact that I'm not on the phone all that much the relatively weaker signal is not that big of a deal for me. The relatively poorer performance compared to my friends' phones was interesting to me, not a source of frustration.

 

Definitely Verizon over here, up and around Mt Hood and surrounding areas.

 

I went to badger lake this weekend and my verizon service worked most of the way there. There is NO cell service of any kind at the lake so I would say verizon is a pretty solid choice.

 

Verizon.... TMobile is good near cities but trash on the long interstate rides between them

 

I dunno who you have for internet but I switched from Verizon to the xfinity mobile and the only difference I’ve seen so far is my bill is about half what it used to be. Basically uses the same cell towers as Verizon and all the public wifi spots to help fill in the gaps.

 

Firstnet looks pretty cool.

 

I've been happy with T Mobile, seems to work just fine most places my Verizon used to work, without the terrible customer service.