Cell/Wireless Service Moultonborough Neck and the Lake

Loony Singer · 02-09-2015, 07:36 PM

We live at the end of the Neck. We initially switched to Tracfone using a GSM phone, which simply didn't work. It took a LOT of time with customer support to convince them that we needed to use a CDMA phone (I.e. Verizon), but in the end it all worked out.

That was about 6 years ago. Then about a year ago, Tracfone started a "bring your own phone" program, which let you use certain older smartphones on Tracfone, including some iPhones. My wife and I both found iPhone 4s phones thru Amazon. Again, Tracfone customer support was a terrible pain to deal with. But in the end, we are happy campers. And I doubt that we spend more than $20 per month for the both of us.

catdon · 02-09-2015, 08:46 PM

We live down the neck road off of Winaukee. We all have iPhones with AT&T and we all have excellent service at the house. In fact, never had a problem. The only place I lose my reception on the drive up from Massachusetts is sometimes when I get off 93 onto 104 and always from about Canoe to the bagel place. Other than that, works like a champ.

Loony Singer · 02-10-2015, 07:14 AM

Catdon, we must practically be neighbors. Our sons have AT&T iPhones and complained for years about being unable to use their phones successfully at our house. They finally bought a "microcell" gizmo from AT&T that connects through the Internet, and it solved the problem. Cost around $150, I think.

Goes to show that you really can't guarantee cell phone service in rural areas from looking at some map...you just have to try it at the exact location where you live.

rander7823 · 02-10-2015, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loony Singer

Catdon, we must practically be neighbors. Our sons have AT&T iPhones and complained for years about being unable to use their phones successfully at our house. They finally bought a "microcell" gizmo from AT&T that connects through the Internet, and it solved the problem. Cost around $150, I think.

Goes to show that you really can't guarantee cell phone service in rural areas from looking at some map...you just have to try it at the exact location where you live.

Anyone interested in a micro-cell should push their carrier. They say they charge for it but as soon as you start complaining they cave and send it to you for nothing. At least that was my experience with AT&T

Pineedles · 02-10-2015, 01:00 PM

T-Mobile service in Center Harbor bay is passable if you stand in the right place. Like about 20' further than my dock stretches out. Great in the winter, but I haven't been able to walk out that far, after ICE-OUT.

VitaBene · 02-10-2015, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

T-Mobile service in Center Harbor bay is passable if you stand in the right place. Like about 20' further than my dock stretches out. Great in the winter, but I haven't been able to walk out that far, after ICE-OUT.

And if you stand on your head!

jetlag100 · 02-10-2015, 06:09 PM

I love down the Kona area off the Neck Rd...Verizon, hands down..even out on the boat, I've never had a dropped call, never!

webmaster · 02-10-2015, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rander7823

Anyone interested in a micro-cell should push their carrier.

Some new phones like the iPhone 6 can make calls using Wifi, making the Micro-cells unneeded. T-Mobile already supports it and the other carriers are projecting support sometime this year.

I assume that in the future all new phones will have this capability.

ApS · 02-10-2015, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaster

Some new phones like the iPhone 6 can make calls using Wifi, making the Micro-cells unneeded. T-Mobile already supports it and the other carriers are projecting support sometime this year.
I assume that in the future all new phones will have this capability.

Check into "Republic" (new to me). I'm hearing great things like the above—and it may be more reasonable. It searches for Wi-Fi and cells, and provides their service by using which ever gives the better signal.

mhtranger · 02-11-2015, 10:54 AM

We have a place in Balmoral and I have Sprint and can't use my phone except for texting.

mneck1814 · 02-11-2015, 12:52 PM

We are on the Neck near Far Echo, Verizon is not only your best bet, its basically the only option. Guests with anything other than Verizon are usually out of luck.

02-09-2015, 07:36 PM	#1
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 34 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Tracfone We live at the end of the Neck. We initially switched to Tracfone using a GSM phone, which simply didn't work. It took a LOT of time with customer support to convince them that we needed to use a CDMA phone (I.e. Verizon), but in the end it all worked out. That was about 6 years ago. Then about a year ago, Tracfone started a "bring your own phone" program, which let you use certain older smartphones on Tracfone, including some iPhones. My wife and I both found iPhone 4s phones thru Amazon. Again, Tracfone customer support was a terrible pain to deal with. But in the end, we are happy campers. And I doubt that we spend more than $20 per month for the both of us.

02-10-2015, 07:14 AM	#3
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 34 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Interesting!... Catdon, we must practically be neighbors. Our sons have AT&T iPhones and complained for years about being unable to use their phones successfully at our house. They finally bought a "microcell" gizmo from AT&T that connects through the Internet, and it solved the problem. Cost around $150, I think. Goes to show that you really can't guarantee cell phone service in rural areas from looking at some map...you just have to try it at the exact location where you live.

02-10-2015, 06:09 PM	#7
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	Verizon I love down the Kona area off the Neck Rd...Verizon, hands down..even out on the boat, I've never had a dropped call, never!

02-11-2015, 12:52 PM	#11
mneck1814 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hartford, VT/Moultonborough Posts: 95 Thanks: 25 Thanked 60 Times in 22 Posts	Verizon We are on the Neck near Far Echo, Verizon is not only your best bet, its basically the only option. Guests with anything other than Verizon are usually out of luck.

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02-09-2015, 08:46 PM	#2
catdon Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 7 Thanks: 20 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	We live down the neck road off of Winaukee. We all have iPhones with AT&T and we all have excellent service at the house. In fact, never had a problem. The only place I lose my reception on the drive up from Massachusetts is sometimes when I get off 93 onto 104 and always from about Canoe to the bagel place. Other than that, works like a champ.

The Following User Says Thank You to Loony Singer For This Useful Post:
WakeboardMom (02-10-2015)

02-10-2015, 01:00 PM	#5
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,548 Thanks: 1,073 Thanked 669 Times in 368 Posts	T-Mobile service in Center Harbor bay is passable if you stand in the right place. Like about 20' further than my dock stretches out. Great in the winter, but I haven't been able to walk out that far, after ICE-OUT.

The Following User Says Thank You to webmaster For This Useful Post:
rander7823 (02-10-2015)

02-11-2015, 10:54 AM	#10
mhtranger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 130 Thanks: 322 Thanked 69 Times in 40 Posts	We have a place in Balmoral and I have Sprint and can't use my phone except for texting.