| If you live in a rural or mountainous area, often | | | | most happy with. |
| travel outside of the city limits, or perhaps just | | | | Questions are Your Friend |
| live where cell phone reception is inadequate, then | | | | Once you have chosen a service provider, don't |
| there are several things you need to be aware of | | | | be afraid to ask the representative as many |
| before purchasing your new or used cellular phone. | | | | questions as needed to ensure you have chosen |
| Poor reception is one of the most frequent | | | | the right company. For example, if you purchased |
| complaints made by those who live in the country | | | | a refurbished Blackberry and plan on subscribing |
| or adjacent to a body of water, as the natural | | | | to the optional Blackberry services, ask the |
| terrain or lack of cell towers affect reception | | | | representative if they have coverage for that |
| quality. So before you purchase a refurbished cell | | | | service. Just because you can use your |
| phone and sign up with a carrier, here are a few | | | | Blackberry to make phone calls does not mean |
| things to keep in mind to make sure you get the | | | | that all the services are covered. Ask them if |
| most out of your service. | | | | there are any long-term subscribers in your area, |
| Steer Clear Of PCS Service Providers | | | | or what model of cell phone they would |
| Most people don't know it but cell phone service | | | | recommend with excellent reception (usually those |
| providers have two different frequencies to work | | | | with the largest internal or external antennas). |
| on. These are: 800 megahertz (mhz) and 1900 | | | | The person can only be so helpful and it's often |
| megahertz (mhz). The 800 mhz has double the | | | | they may be unable to tell you that where you |
| power and range that the 1900 mhz frequency | | | | live will have excellent reception. After all, the kind |
| has. If you choose to stay in the city, you don't | | | | of house you live in can affect your reception |
| need to worry with this issue. However, the 1900 | | | | quality. The majority of cell phone providers will |
| mhz service (or the PCS service) is less | | | | allow a 30-day trial period so you can use their |
| expensive for people who reside in the city, which | | | | services to determine if they fit your lifestyle. If |
| means they may pay less for the provider they | | | | you find you're unsatisfied with the phone's |
| are currently with. If you need coverage away | | | | reception or the service performance, you can |
| from the city, you'll need a service provider that | | | | return the used cell phone and be released from |
| will run on the 800 mhz frequency rather than the | | | | any contract with no penalties. Some providers will |
| 1900 mhz. | | | | even offer refunds for fees paid. Before signing |
| Ask for Feedback | | | | on the dotted line, ask about this option. You don't |
| No one knows coverage better than the people | | | | want to get stuck in a contract with a phone you |
| who rely on their cell phones in your area every | | | | cannot even use when you need it. |
| day. Talk to professionals in your area about their | | | | Technology and coverage is improving every day. |
| cellular service provider. Ask a handful of people | | | | This means that there are a lot of options |
| who their service provider is. Ask about their | | | | available to you. Do the research, ask the |
| experiences with coverage, customer service and | | | | questions and follow up. Doing your homework |
| reliability. Gather all of the information, and call the | | | | could mean the difference between great |
| service provider that people seem to be the | | | | coverage and dropped calls. |