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Cell coverage??

(@Ewilliams804)
Posts: 16
Active Member
Topic starter
 

I currently have Verizon and am wondering if I will need to change carriers once on the island. Some other forums have said Verizon service is spotty and usually roaming but those forums were a few years old. Does Verizon work?
Thanks.

 
Posted : July 9, 2015 7:18 pm
(@TommySTX)
Posts: 220
Estimable Member
 

Yes. AT&T or Sprint are your best bet. Verizon is ALL roaming down here.

 
Posted : July 9, 2015 7:39 pm
(@SausageInTheCan)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

Forget about Verizon. They're so wonderful they don't provide service in the VI. Your best bet is AT&T.

 
Posted : July 9, 2015 8:46 pm
(@Daval)
Posts: 54
Trusted Member
 

I just saw this and posted about the same question in another feed about Sprint. So sprint will work without roaming?

 
Posted : July 9, 2015 9:28 pm
(@SausageInTheCan)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

I don't know anyone who had any success using Sprint here.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 12:47 pm
 lc98
(@lc98)
Posts: 1250
Noble Member
 

When people say "roaming", we're talking about charges of at least $1/minute, $2.50 per text message, and a dollar or two per MB of data.

Many unwary tourists with Verizon plans have found themselves with a thousand-dollar phone bill after a week's vacation.

To live here, you definitely need another carrier. If you are on STJ, AT&T usually works better than Sprint. For STT, either will work. Don't know about STX.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 3:32 pm
(@jandb15)
Posts: 17
Active Member
 

I called Verizon because I'm visiting next week and was concerned about roaming. I was told that if you talk on the phone, you'll be charged roaming fees. If you're texting or using data within your plan limits, you will NOT be charged any additional fees. Was I told wrong?

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 3:45 pm
(@klpmtm)
Posts: 239
Estimable Member
 

Go to Cricket. They are on the At&T network and have service in STX. We have them and have never had a problem with them.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 3:56 pm
 lc98
(@lc98)
Posts: 1250
Noble Member
 

jandb15, I would call back and double-check. Maybe you have a different plan than most, or maybe they have recently changed their rules. I know many people have gotten charged ridiculous rates for data and text from Verizon in the past; any one one of the visitor forums will have a thread on this.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 4:14 pm
(@Ewilliams804)
Posts: 16
Active Member
Topic starter
 

I just got off the phone with Verizon and they said calls made in VI cost $1.79/min. There are no charges for text or data as long as you stay within your plan allowance. However, texts with a picture or video attachment will cost $0.50. He checked the coverage map and said most areas in STT are covered with either 4G or 3G. Hopefully this helps. The main thing I want my phone for is GPS until I get to know the island.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 4:33 pm
(@alana33)
Posts: 12365
Illustrious Member
 

I wouldn't necessarily depend on your GPS in our islands.
I've had vacation guests get completely lost doing so.
Maybe others can comment on their experiences using GPS.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 4:55 pm
(@SausageInTheCan)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

Forget about GPS here.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 5:31 pm
(@jim_dandy)
Posts: 1057
Noble Member
 

I have a Garmin GPS and always programmed key locations for our guests. It worked well for them and then they could concentrate on driving on the left.

If you are using a not so smart phone that depends on WiFi and or cell tower locations to calculate your position you might have a problem in areas with poor service or no service but I never had a problem with satellite GPS even in the rain forest.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 6:31 pm
(@SausageInTheCan)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

They don't have a Garmin. They want to use their phone.

 
Posted : July 10, 2015 7:52 pm
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