From: snoelc@condor.unx.sas.com (Eric L. Coates)
Subject: Re: Best cellular company in triangle?
Originator: snoelc@condor.unx.sas.com
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 20:13:17 GMT
Distribution: triangle
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.


In article <1993Jan20.023829.4165@ncsu.edu>, fireman@garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (Tracy L. Brooks) writes:
|> Hi Triangle,
|>
|>      It seems my girlfriend wants to get a cellular phone an I told
|> her I would find out the best place to buy along with the best carrier
|> to go with, so would anyone in netland care to help?
|>
|>      She lives in Chapel Hill but visits Raleigh often, so a carrier
|> that covers both areas would be nice.
|>
|> The questions I'm asking are:
|>
|> 1.)  The best carrier for the triangle.  (Lowest monthly rates, hidden
|>      charges, customer service, best reception, etc.)

I add my vote for for Centel.  We have had Cellular One for about 1.5
years.  We live in the Fuquay-Varina area and in downtown Fuquay, we are
out of our home cell.  Actually, we are roaming onto a Centel cell.  I
recently purchased a second phone that is with Centel.  I have no 
problems in Fuquay.  I have carried both phones on trips to Greenwood,
SC and through my "non-sceientic" survey feel that Centel covers that
area better.  I know that Centel does not charge any roaming charges and
I believe that Cellular One does. 

|>
|> 2.)  The best place to buy.  (Lowest price, etc)

I mentioned above that I recently bought a second phone.  I got it from
Ed Kelly's in Raleigh.  It was a special sell;  $27 for the phone (a
GE portable) and it required a 6 month contract with Centel.  The phone
I got currently sells for $69 plus the 6 month contract.  The next 
"step" up (another GE transportable) sells for $99 with the contract.

|>
|> 3.)  The best type of phone.  (Motorola, GE, etc.)

Both of ours are GE transportables, and I am happy with both.  I 
recommend getting a bag phone so you can move it from car to car.  A 
bag phone typically comes with a small antenna, and works well.  
However, an outside mounted antenna works much better.  

We had a bag
phone get stolen.  Keep that in mind.  Check with your insurance co.
Our stolen bag phone was not covered by the car insurance because it
was not permanently mounted to the car.  It was not covered by our
homeowners because it received power from the car (plugged into 
cigarette lighter).  A rider policy to cover the phone costs $50/year.
I decided against that because you can by a phone for under $100.
|>
|> 4.)  Anything else you can think of.

We had a bag phone get stolen.  Keep that in mind.  Check with your 
insurance co.  Our stolen bag phone was not covered by the car 
insurance because it was not permanently mounted to the car.  It was 
not covered by our homeowners because it received power from the car 
(plugged into cigarette lighter).  A rider policy to cover the phone 
costs $50/year.  I decided against that because you can by a phone for 
under $100.

|>
|>
|> Thanks for the help!
|>
|> Tracy Brooks
|>
|> /---------------------------------------------------------------------\
|> |     Tracy Lee Brooks                     fireman@catt.ncsu.edu      |
|> |     FF/1st Responder                     tlbrook@eos.ncsu.edu       |
|> |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
-- 



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Eric Coates              snoelc@unx.sas.com
Data Center Operations   (919)677-8000 x6670
SAS Institue Inc
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Newsgroups: triangle.general