Changing from Verizon to Sprint

[Donkeypunch0420]

Hi guys,

I've been with Verizon for several years now. Now it's time for a smart phone and I like the idea of Sprint's unlimited everything plans. I've heard mixed reviews of Sprint. I'm thinking most of the bad reviews are from users that don't live in very populated areas. What's your assessment of Sprint and their services. I live in L.A. County, but work in Orange County.....think I'll have any problems with slow data speeds and dropped calls? Thanks all.

[naeco81]

All other details aside, Verizon is the best network because of their low position on the radio spectrum. Lower frequencies penetrate buildings, elevators, tunnels, and hills better - meaning you have a stronger signal in those situations. Personally I've been very happy with Verizon's data speeds and service. I haven't been a Sprint customer in over 5 years but I used AT&T recently and hated it.

[Moemoe1]

Too late the NSA already has all the files they need from you for using Verizon

[trnorman]

Stay with Verizon. We had Sprint at work and could not wait to get out of that contract. Great prices but poor coverage. Unlimited is only good if you can use it.

[Ryououki]

Your best bet is to sign up for Sprint but do NOT port your number from Verizon to Sprint right away. Sprint gives you a easy return and cancellation option for 15 days so that you can try their service out. It's really important that you take the new Sprint phone everywhere you can that you may possible go, to ensure that you get reliable reception.

As Naeco said, Verizon uses a lower frequency of 850Mhz and Sprint uses 1900Mhz. The higher the frequency, the more power is needed to move the signal. This causes huge issues for buildings with thick or dense walls as the signal has a harder time penetrating to reach you.

Try Sprint for the 15 day return window and if in the 15 days you are sure Sprint will work out for you, call Sprint and ask for the porting department to move your Verizon number over.

[NastyNate]

I work for a wireless giant and have worked on both networks. VZW outperforms Sprint on all accounts. They hold a bigger market share, have more land, labor, capitol and entrepreneurship and a superior LTE offering. Sprint claws for the market scraps of the big boys and as a result of smaller margins has contract their network builds and maintenance to a third party. VZW does it all in house. Both are CDMA carriers but sprints flavor of 4G employs Wi-Max, a substandard flavor of 4G tech that will have to be revamped before they are able to offer a competitive LTE offering. As an end user, this means more service interruptions, outages and lower quality of services.

To test this, you should consult a coverage map of both carriers and run a speed test via speedtest.net using LTE devices from users on both networks. I'd stay with VZW, cheaper isn't always better.

NastyNate

[Brianguy]

Fullerton area gets a couple bars of 4g (wimax) at around 3mbps, south OC doesn't get 4g coverage, east Long Beach has very fast 4g. One of my buddies with a 4g lte sprint phone did not get reception in Fullerton. 3g reception is kinda crappy in south oc and I have bad reception in my house. I had to get an app to force roam onto verizons network to make voice calls at home. data roam on verizon is limited to 64kbps on 3g. i recommend asking people at work if they have Sprint and what speeds they get. I abuse the heck out of the unlimited data at work so it's worth it for me.

[ramathorn]

No reception for Sprint in my area. Tried and had no luck. If it works in your neck of the woods go for it. Virgin and Ting also use Sprints network so you want to check them out too. Ting advertises on Joe Rogan so that's where i know them from, no personal experience.

[den888]

I hear all of the great things about VZ coverage, but never used VZ until 3 months ago, when my company issued me a VZ smartphone. I use T Mobile for my personal smartphone.

After using VZ for 3 months here in the Bay Area, I think that T Mobile's coverage is better and one thing is for sure - the audio quality of T Mobile's calls are much, much better than VZ. They are clearer and crisper. Just my observations.

[BigJ]

I made the switch and yeah, Sprint signal can be hit or miss.

BUT

Sprint and Verizon have a little talked about agreement to share networks. And Sprint lets you use Verizon's network ("roaming") totally free. So, what ends up happening is my smart phone will switch to whichever network is currently strongest. And since I'm also rooted, I can actually use a tool to force the phone onto one network or the other at any time, and stay on that network indefinitely.

Its the best of both worlds; the lower cost of Sprint, the unlimited everything for life of Sprint, the better devices of Sprint, and the superior coverage of Verizon. What's not to like?

[Brianguy]

I made the switch and yeah, Sprint signal can be hit or miss.

BUT

Sprint and Verizon have a little talked about agreement to share networks. And Sprint lets you use Verizon's network ("roaming") totally free. So, what ends up happening is my smart phone will switch to whichever network is currently strongest. And since I'm also rooted, I can actually use a tool to force the phone onto one network or the other at any time, and stay on that network indefinitely.

Its the best of both worlds; the lower cost of Sprint, the unlimited everything for life of Sprint, the better devices of Sprint, and the superior coverage of Verizon. What's not to like?

the lack of data coverage and throttled speed on verizon roaming?

[BumBum]

A good friend of mine is an Apple i-Phone engineer, and he regularly tests the products in the field. Generally speaking, Verizon gets you the best voice coverage and quality by far. AT&T data network is superior, if you can get it, but voice coverage stinks. Sprint is unlimited for a reason, as they have much ground to make up with an antiquated network.

[vintagearms]

Hi guys,

I've been with Verizon for several years now. Now it's time for a smart phone and I like the idea of Sprint's unlimited everything plans. I've heard mixed reviews of Sprint. I'm thinking most of the bad reviews are from users that don't live in very populated areas. What's your assessment of Sprint and their services. I live in L.A. County, but work in Orange County.....think I'll have any problems with slow data speeds and dropped calls? Thanks all.

Verizon has the best voice coverage and Sprint has the best data coverage. We have Sprint phones (Blackberry) and they SUCK! If I had the choice I'd stick with Verizon. This is coverage from Ventura County to Orange County.

[naeco81]

I hear all of the great things about VZ coverage, but never used VZ until 3 months ago, when my company issued me a VZ smartphone. I use T Mobile for my personal smartphone.

After using VZ for 3 months here in the Bay Area, I think that T Mobile's coverage is better and one thing is for sure - the audio quality of T Mobile's calls are much, much better than VZ. They are clearer and crisper. Just my observations.

This is probably related to your phone and not the network. Try a different phone and see if you still have the problem.

[ibanezfoo]

Hi guys,

I've been with Verizon for several years now. Now it's time for a smart phone and I like the idea of Sprint's unlimited everything plans. I've heard mixed reviews of Sprint. I'm thinking most of the bad reviews are from users that don't live in very populated areas. What's your assessment of Sprint and their services. I live in L.A. County, but work in Orange County.....think I'll have any problems with slow data speeds and dropped calls? Thanks all.

Sprint coverage SUCKS BUTT in Orange County.... and most of the country for that matter. Its "unlimited" is worthless when you can't get a connection... and beyond that you get the privilege of paying a $10 a month fee for a smart phone, which basically subsidizes that unlimited cost. I lived in Villa Park and worked in Irvine and Costa Mesa and Sprints coverage the whole way was absolute crap. Sprints speeds even with a good connection are very low, the lowest of all the carriers I believe.

I switched to T-mobile.... its nice actually having a real 4G speed with useful coverage (though I'm in Texas now, I don't know how T-mobiles coverage in OC is)