One thing for folks to remember, if it is an emergency, even if you don't have service, still try to dial 911. Once you dial 911, it opens up ALL providers towers and ingores any hard distance limits a tower has.
As long as the phone has the matching frequencies and bands of the towers in reach.
I think 911 calls work for phones even without active service. I believe they show Emergency Calls only even if you aren't paying for service.
Thanks FCC!
Not sure how much has changed. I was in the wireless industry for many many moons.
All the way back to the red logo springs days. Nextel with their iDen tech and Cingular before they got eated by AT&T.
Sold and worked for almost all of them. I always find myself back at Verizon when I have to pay for my own service.
Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T/Cingular and Nextel were always on demo lines.
I do find Verizon service to be superior.
CDMA would give better coverage. GSM would provide better reception penetration.
This has been my experience where I am.
I know this stuff changes dependent on location.
Overall, CDMA was always more reliable for me. I do notice that GSM does slightly better in some areas when inside older buildings.
Now with Verizon phones taking sim cards and stuff, I don't know how the types of service work together or separate.
I'm still on Verizon.
I know other carriers contract with each other for coverage. But also carriers will allow their own subscribers to take precedence over out of carrier subscribers that are from other carriers. They used to run off a queue.
So I'd say Verizon is best. AT&T close. I'd go either route or whatever offered a better deal.
Worth checking into other carriers who run off their towers.
Also have been considering GoogleFi. But haven't looked into it much. Just a big Google fan.
For frequencies and bands, I believe it was higher frequency was better distance. Lower frequency was penetration.
Higher = faster. Lower = slower.
Take into account interference of other products used in the area. Building material throughout the time. Density of surroundings.
Just sharing what I've picked up or have explained to people. Give a general idea if you're not familiar.
Maybe things have changed since back when I was into it. Technology my guys. Oof.