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AT&T in Chicago
- Thread starter spencecb
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Yes, I live in Uptown, but I'm not a she
I live right behind the post office off of Broadway.
I haven't had the time to call AT&T yet, but I am going to do that this weekend.
I'm at my boyfriend's place right now, sitting beside the window of a three story courtyard building, in Andersonville, and have 2 bars.
I was at Clark and Belmont last weekend shopping and had no service, even when I was outside.
I know there are areas where there is good service, because I have experienced those areas too. But you have to aknowledge the fact that there are a multitude of places in the city that receive NO SIGNAL.
Dude - I don't know what else people can tell you. It's YOUR phone, not the signal. I live, shop, go out to bars, etc in all the areas you are talking about (others here are saying the same thing) and we all have 4 or 5 bars at all times. I honestly can't ever remember being outside and having no service at any spot in the entire city of Chicago. Take your phone to the Apple store on Michigan, they will fix/replace it for you....
Now I really think it's you phone. I was in the same area last Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon and had full bars in the following locations:
Belmont CTA Red Line stop
Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe 1114 W Belmont Ave
Schubas 3159 N. Southport
Thai Classic 3332 N Clark
L & L Tavern in Chicago 3207 N Clark
Also had no problems calling/texting on the streets surrounding those locations.
Like another poster said, why don't you try your sim in your boyfriends phone and see how that one does on AT&T.
Well, AT&T can kiss my ass. I put my SIM card in my boyfriend's iPhone and his gets the exact same signal that my iPhone does. So, this makes three iPhones that behave the same exact way on AT&T's network wherever I go. All three iPhone's were bought/replaced at different times, so there is no way there is some way that I have tested three iPhone's that came from a "bad batch" of iPhone's that may have some sort of hardware defect.
I'm getting out of my contract tomorrow.
I'm getting out of my contract tomorrow.
ok I live half a block from the Sheridan stop and constantly am at that stop at least 14-20 times a week. My iphone has never dropped a signal anywhere between Sheridan and Fullerton. (obviously beyond that is underground). I seriously think its the phone. My iphone will get the occasional drop (theres only one place in my apartment that i get drops but its in front of my laptop so i think the airport signal has something to do with it.)
The only bar i had a problem with was at the Central but it was the Cubs opening day so there was a ton of people there.
If anything, this proves that it is your account that is having trouble. I'm telling you, call AT&T and have them reset your account/signal. this has worked for a lot of people! It's obviously not AT&T as evidenced by everyone else saying their phone and network work fine. It sounds like you're looking for a way out of your contract so you can go to tmobile with your boyfriend. If that's the case, hey, good luck.
The problem I have on the redline is between Wilson and Sheridan.
And I called AT&T and spent over an hour with them on the phone yesterday and this morning. They did several things, like telling me the phone routing number was incorrect, so they reset that saying it could improve signal, and it did not. They also told me getting a new SIM card could help, which another AT&T employee said that was misinformation.
Anyway, they are allowing me to get out of the contract without paying, if I take my iPhone to Apple and have them look at it. I'm doing that Thursday.
If there is something truly wrong with my iPhone, I'll stay with AT&T. But, I'll be glad to be done with them if its a problem with their service which I think it is.
I wanted to clear one thing up...
I didn't want this thread to be a thread that seems that I am dogging on Apple. I don't think any of this has been Apple's fault.
I am, however, dogging on AT&T, and think that there are a lot of people out there that would put up with a lot of crap from AT&T just to talk up how awesome the iPhone is.
The iPhone is awesome. I never put the thing down. It just frustrates me when I can't get service to use such a great phone. That is why I am getting out of my contract. That is why I wish more people would tell the truth about the real service they are getting.
I know about 5 other people I have met that all live somewhere in the city of Chicago. They have all said things similar to my experience: that there are times when their service is fine, but there are times when they get little to no service, and its frustrating them.
Luckily for me, AT&T is letting me get out of my contract without paying the cancellation fee. I didn't get mean and ugly with them, just stood firm and didn't let them walk all over me, which is what they wanted to do.
I went through the proper trouble shooting steps, and still have one left to go before they finalize the cancellation of the contract. Like I said above, I have to go to the Apple Store to see if there is anything wrong with my phone, and if there is, have Apple replace it and then see if the new one works better. And, like I said before, if it works, then so be it. I'll stay with AT&T.
I didn't want this thread to be a thread that seems that I am dogging on Apple. I don't think any of this has been Apple's fault.
I am, however, dogging on AT&T, and think that there are a lot of people out there that would put up with a lot of crap from AT&T just to talk up how awesome the iPhone is.
The iPhone is awesome. I never put the thing down. It just frustrates me when I can't get service to use such a great phone. That is why I am getting out of my contract. That is why I wish more people would tell the truth about the real service they are getting.
I know about 5 other people I have met that all live somewhere in the city of Chicago. They have all said things similar to my experience: that there are times when their service is fine, but there are times when they get little to no service, and its frustrating them.
Luckily for me, AT&T is letting me get out of my contract without paying the cancellation fee. I didn't get mean and ugly with them, just stood firm and didn't let them walk all over me, which is what they wanted to do.
I went through the proper trouble shooting steps, and still have one left to go before they finalize the cancellation of the contract. Like I said above, I have to go to the Apple Store to see if there is anything wrong with my phone, and if there is, have Apple replace it and then see if the new one works better. And, like I said before, if it works, then so be it. I'll stay with AT&T.
It is your call, but I live in the loop and go north often. I rarely have problems, except when I'm in old buildings. i wouldn't say 5 bars 90% of the time, but I think that 99% of the time I have 2 bars or better, which is enough i think to make and receive calls and get data.
I live in Wicker Park, and I frequent areas all along the red line heading north of the loop and I cannot remember a time where I wasn't at 3 bars or higher, indoors or out (except the subway). All around great service for me.
Not to hijack, but any idea if AT&T will ever offer service in the subway?
Not to hijack, but any idea if AT&T will ever offer service in the subway?
place your sim card in his phone and from that you will know immediately if it is your phone or not.
EDIT: Errr, just read all of the posts and saw you did that already: Bad sim card.
AT&T spotty service
I live in Lakeview, tall building on the corner of LSD and Waveland. On my iPhone 3G I get full bars then no service all day long. I can't make a call without having to redial at some point. Very frustrating. Didn't have this problem with tmobile. Regrets...
I live in Lakeview, tall building on the corner of LSD and Waveland. On my iPhone 3G I get full bars then no service all day long. I can't make a call without having to redial at some point. Very frustrating. Didn't have this problem with tmobile. Regrets...
Work in the Loop, go to DePaul, no signal problems whatsoever for me in either location. Same goes for other parts of town, be it River North, Uptown by you, or out northwest.
What firmware are you running? Try 2.1 as it should improve your reception.
What firmware are you running? Try 2.1 as it should improve your reception.
it's not just you...
I just moved to Chicago last month and I have terrible reception in my apartment (on the 14th floor). I NEVER have 3G reception in my apartment, and my iPhone drops calls all the time, even if I'm standing still. I'm a student at Loyola Law, and I get decent reception there, but I have been incredibly disappointed with the 3G reception overall in the city- its really spotty. I'm hoping that this new update really does help with the dropped calls, because it is really annoying.
And it is not a problem with my iPhone because I bought it this summer and used it in Saint Louis for weeks without any issues.
I just moved to Chicago last month and I have terrible reception in my apartment (on the 14th floor). I NEVER have 3G reception in my apartment, and my iPhone drops calls all the time, even if I'm standing still. I'm a student at Loyola Law, and I get decent reception there, but I have been incredibly disappointed with the 3G reception overall in the city- its really spotty. I'm hoping that this new update really does help with the dropped calls, because it is really annoying.
And it is not a problem with my iPhone because I bought it this summer and used it in Saint Louis for weeks without any issues.
I just got an iphone this afternoon and I live in the city on the northside, near Wrigley. So far the reception has been absolutely horrific. I either have no bars or 1 or 2. I use my phone for everything.
I'm wondering if people have had success calling AT&T and having them reset different settings and such. Is it worth my time or should I look into voiding the contract?
I'm wondering if people have had success calling AT&T and having them reset different settings and such. Is it worth my time or should I look into voiding the contract?
I live in the burbs, but won't comment on reception there (since you asked for city experiences), There is only one place that I goto in the city where I don't get very good reception, and that's a friend's condo right next to the lake on the 20-something floor (building right next to The W). I get little to no service in their place, but other than that, bars, restaurants, other peoples condos (not in high rises) I have no problem with service. I have a 2G iPhone 8gb.
And of course in the burbs I have no problems.
And of course in the burbs I have no problems.
I had the same problem (near Southport and Addison) but i live on the 1st floor. My phone was unusable in my apartment.
I called and complained to AT&T several times and they said they reset something or another on a tower. Sure enough, the next day I had 5 bars and full signal ever since.
note: i running a 2G phone.
OK, I haven't read the entire thread, but here's my experience:
I live in Atlanta. I have good service almost everywhere. When I visit family in Memphis, I have service almost everywhere.
When I went to Chicago last week for work, my hotel was just north of the river on Dearborn. Very much the middle of the city, downtown area. I couldn't even use my phone, whether i was in my room, down at breakfast, sitting next to a window...nothing. Half a bar maybe, and "No Service" popped up numerous times. This is with a first-gen Edge iPhone.
Got back home to Atlanta, and things are fine, so it's not my phone.
So yes, Chicago has issues.
I live in Atlanta. I have good service almost everywhere. When I visit family in Memphis, I have service almost everywhere.
When I went to Chicago last week for work, my hotel was just north of the river on Dearborn. Very much the middle of the city, downtown area. I couldn't even use my phone, whether i was in my room, down at breakfast, sitting next to a window...nothing. Half a bar maybe, and "No Service" popped up numerous times. This is with a first-gen Edge iPhone.
Got back home to Atlanta, and things are fine, so it's not my phone.
So yes, Chicago has issues.