Verizon, T-Mobile US or AT&T

All wireless carriers may look the same, but there is a difference. In fact, over the years I have made many mistakes in choosing the best carrier and plan. So, let me share with you what I’ve learned so you can find the best wireless service and plan for you.

Carriers use colorful cards with dots or colors in their marketing to try to prove that they are worthy of your business. This sounds good, but it often creates more confusion. Trust me, it takes more than that to find the best service for you.

Finding the right carrier for you, your family or your company is key. Although this is not an easy task, the truth of the matter is that all services are not the same. So, trust me, it’s worth it.

First, let me say congratulations to both Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile US, who said earlier this year that one of their goals for 2022 was to reach 300 million users with their 5G signal. The good news is both have announced that they have achieved this goal. AT&T is also following in their footsteps.

However, this does not mean that all these carriers are doing strong business. That said, to stay competitive, they all need to keep up with each other with 5G signal, and they do.

Choosing the best wireless service provider comes down to customer experience

Choosing the right carrier for you is still key. This means that you have to find the best one for you.

After all the talk, advertising, public relations and chatter, it all comes down to the customer experience. Many times customers choose a service provider because of advertisements or these colorful cards, only to find that their own personal reality does not match the hype.

Many times customers choose a wireless carrier because the card has a dot where they live or work. However, that dot does not always mean that there is actually service there.

Let me explain. I’m sure you’ve noticed the same thing I have. You often get either strong or weak, even no service with voice or data when you are in areas that the carrier says are covered.

However, depending on where you make a call, there can be a big difference. Sometimes there is a difference when you are inside a house or building compared to outside. Or stronger on one side of the house or building than the other.

Wireless smartphone signal strength meter cheat

The smartphone screen shows a general indication of signal strength, but this is deceptive. Does it show voice strength or data strength? There is no way for the user to know.

Plus, it doesn’t tell if that cell site is exhausted with users or has room for you.

Often I have found that one carrier has the strongest signal strength according to the map, but in reality another carrier is the real winner.

These are some of the items we need to understand to win.

Wireless data network is often blocked with too many users

Another problem is that the data network is often overused, so when too many users try at once, many are blocked. There is no way to tell if you will be blocked or not until you try.

Typically, direct customers of wireless carriers get preferential treatment. They get first dibs on wireless data availability.

Next come the MVNO resellers such as Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Optimum, Cricket, TracFone and numerous others.

And depending on the contract the MVNO has with the wireless carrier, some may have a higher priority access level than others.

This means that MVNO users are often blocked during the day at busy times or when there is a crowd or event.

Direct wireless customers with Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T do pay more than reseller users, but one of the benefits for the extra cost is that they get higher access availability.

Using a map to determine wireless coverage is not always accurate

The problem with using a map to determine coverage area is that it is confusing for users and it is not always accurate. It has to do with the way the mobile phone network is set up. A cell site has the strongest signal near the tower without any obstructions.

However, the further we get away from the cell tower, or the more obstructions we have in any particular location, the weaker the wireless signal strength becomes.

It’s expected when you’re in the middle of nowhere, but when you’re in the middle of a city? Yet that is exactly what happens.

Often signal strength inside a busy city is worse than outdoors where there is nothing to block the signal.

Burst the bubble wireless service cards are trying to create

Over time I have tested and used many different wireless carriers and resellers and compared them all. I learned many important lessons that most users don’t know.

What I learned is bursting the bubble of the service claims service providers make, both in their advertisements and on their coverage cards.

These claims are all great in general terms, but very different for each individual user.

For example, in my house we are near a mountain that has towers from all wireless carriers. So, you’d think signal strength should be the same for everyone, right?

However, the signal strength varies between all networks. Strange, but true.

You see, every wireless cell phone site is not designed or engineered the same. They are all different, programmed with different levels of service and availability depending on usage in the area.

Too often one has no connectivity while others have full signal.

In fact, there are different signal strengths in different places in the house or on the property around the house.

Choose the best wireless network by testing service where you spend time

There are many different reasons, but one thing is clear, you should never decide to do business with a company just because they have the most dots on a map.

Instead, you should test the network and make sure you have a signal where you spend time. This means where you live, work, shop and play. This is the only way to choose the best carrier for your needs.

This is where you need to spend time verifying that the provider will meet your needs.

And note the signal strength indicator. If you have three or four bars of signal, you should be fine. If you have zero, one or two bars, don’t count on service you can count on, because often it just won’t be there.

Choose the best wireless carrier for business, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T

When it comes to choosing the best wireless service provider for your business, it gets even more complicated.

Since you are juggling many smartphones and devices among all the workers, and each has their own set of needs, it is difficult if not impossible to choose the best service provider based on service.

Plus, if your people are always on the go, they need the best quality everywhere they go.

So, if you’re lucky, and if all your workers are in one area, it’s easier. If they are spread out, it is more difficult.

If that’s the case, you might as well rely on the cards that show the best general coverage. While not perfect, it can be the best way to determine the best service provider for your business needs.

In short, all wireless networks, including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile US and AT&T Mobility, all offer similar coverage across the country. However, similar is not identical. There are real strengths and weaknesses between competitors that don’t show up on a map.

So, as they say in Mission Impossible, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find the best carrier that offers the best coverage where you spend most of your time. Period. It takes time and work, but it’s worth it, trust me on this.