Re: Cell Phone
#205509
January 28, 2005 06:12 pm UTC
January 28, 2005 06:12 pm UTC
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,447 Onurmomstitties
Mike Jackson
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,447
Onurmomstitties
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For the current 2.5G digital networks CDMA has better phone quality then GSM/GPRS hands down. The actual phone used certainly will affect this too though so you could still get a bad CDMA phone that sounds worse then a great GSM phone. Each has different coverage in different areas so you should look into where you want to be able to use it and which has the best coverage for you. CDMA phones might be a little more expensive then GSM phones due to the Qualcomm chipset.
iDen is another network that allows for the push to talk feature on top of phone/data.
Bell = CDMA Telus = CDMA (I think) Rogers = GSM/GPRS Mike = iDen (I think) I don't know offhand what Fido is.
I use a BlackBerry on Bell but for consumers the data rates here in Canada and the US are still too expensive for any full blown email sollution in my opinion.
1998 AWD 12.1@122 421whp -SOLD Duck Dodgers = EPIC FAILZ!
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Re: Cell Phone
#205511
January 28, 2005 08:33 pm UTC
January 28, 2005 08:33 pm UTC
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,447 Onurmomstitties
Mike Jackson
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,447
Onurmomstitties
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Also if you get a camera phone and plan to keep it with you at all times you'd better check with your companies policy on cameras in the workplace first.
1998 AWD 12.1@122 421whp -SOLD Duck Dodgers = EPIC FAILZ!
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Re: Cell Phone
#205514
January 30, 2005 09:07 pm UTC
January 30, 2005 09:07 pm UTC
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,575 Mississauga, ON
Rafal Kraskiewicz
Serious Member
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Serious Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,575
Mississauga, ON
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I had FIDO service a few years back. I don't know if it was the phone they provided or the service itself but I was not a fan. I would lose connection constantly, even whnen in downtown Toronto sitting on a patio. Was very frustrating to say the least. The prices were right, but the service was not. I think I would opt for Telus - I have a few buddies on their system and no complaints.
'97 Cherokee '92 Talon TSi AWD
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Re: Cell Phone
#205515
February 01, 2005 04:23 pm UTC
February 01, 2005 04:23 pm UTC
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Just to add on, if you do switch over to Fido, just remember that they were bought out by Rogers, so the plan that you do choose might be changed in a few months. I read in the news that Rogers would be changing plans soon. Just something to keep in mind.
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Re: Cell Phone
#205516
February 01, 2005 08:57 pm UTC
February 01, 2005 08:57 pm UTC
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,958 London, Ontario
Jon Arnett
Serious Member
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Serious Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,958
London, Ontario
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Bell's coverage isn't as great in my experience as everyone seems to say here.
My bell cellphone gets 0 or 1 bars at my house, and sometimes drops calls. My two friend's rogers phones work with max signal. This is the same in many parts of London.
Bell is also terrible customer service. With their useless employees, during the switchover this year, they ended up charging me $470 for once month's service, and are holding me to paying for $370 of it, despite the fact that I shouldn't have to pay that much. There were several newspaper articles also about bell overcharging and autocharging ridiculous amounts to people's direct deposit payment accounts and so on.
The second my bell contract is up (october), I'm going to rogers.
The phones with bell are way more expensive to get any new features. (when I got my colour phone, camera phones were pretty new...the only bell camera phone was $650 and the comparable rogers one was $149.
Bottom line for me...after being a customer with bell since 8 years spending over $50 per month on cell, this year when my bill came a supervisor told me "too bad, we don't need your business". And they shall not get it again.
*2002 Porsche 911 Silver *2006 BMW 325XIT Black *2003 BMW 325i Silver
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Re: Cell Phone
#205520
February 05, 2005 02:21 pm UTC
February 05, 2005 02:21 pm UTC
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,787 Malaysia
Jeremy Chin
Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,787
Malaysia
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I am on the Fido network. Have been for 3 years now since they launched the prepaid plan. I don't use my phone enough to justify a full plan and wont benefit from the discounted/subsidized handsets because I can get unlocked GSM phones for less.
Ultimately it depends on the cell phone you are using, and which company you are with. For GSM carriers, Rogers seem to be the better choice.
I am currently using a Motorolla V60 and a SonyEricsson T600. The motorola has about a 15% better reception than the Sony maybe due to the external antenna (the ultra small T600 is built in).
If you are just playing around, just buy an Unlocked GSM phone from ebay and try out either Rogers or Fido on thier prepaid plans and see which you would like better in your area.
300hp Talon to a 50hp Citroen. Lovely ain't it? Back to another Mits. A Mirage Cyborg as a future 4G63T candidate.
"I've had more Mitsu's than you can imagine"
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Re: Cell Phone
#205521
February 05, 2005 07:30 pm UTC
February 05, 2005 07:30 pm UTC
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,787 Pickering, ON
Nick Boers
Insane Member
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Insane Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,787
Pickering, ON
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I've been using FIDO for about 7-8 years. The service area has griwn considerably. It used to drop out in some places, but it doesn't happen much anymore. EVERY provider has it's bad spots. They don't all work in everyones basement. I've gotten decent customer service from them, and the rates are pretty good. I lose service when i go up north for the weekend, but hey, i don't want people calling me then anyways Now that Rogers has bought them, they offer the option to connect to the Rogers network as well for an extra $5/month. That makes the service area just as large as Rogers. I know people who've used Rogers, Bell, and Telus. Rogers and Bell have caused them nothing but problems. Overbilling, poor customer service etc. Telus wasn't as bad, but after many years of switching services they all came back to Fido.
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Re: Cell Phone
#205522
February 06, 2005 12:09 am UTC
February 06, 2005 12:09 am UTC
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 348 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Ryan C Gallant
Member
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Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 348
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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all i can say is DON'T use Telus...i have been with those losers since they were Clearnet and they have gotten terrible over the past year or so. the phones are garbage and the reception is rediculous. i have a $350 camera phone and i can send picture messages nor recieve them and the web doesnt work on it either....after 6 months of being jerked around they tell me i have to send the phone to the manufacturer for a software upgrade?? anyway, long story short....stay away from Telus...
peace
Ryan Gallant 97 Talon ESi - Demoted to "Winter Beater" 89 Porsche 944S2 - Summer ride
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Re: Cell Phone
#205524
February 06, 2005 03:38 pm UTC
February 06, 2005 03:38 pm UTC
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,263 Niagara Falls, Ontario
Ziggy Dietrich
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,263
Niagara Falls, Ontario
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Telus is not that great. I have also been a customer since the clearnet days. Reception is fair only. They convinced me it would be so much better with a newer tri-mode phone, so I signed a contract in order to get one at a decent price, but it hasn't made much difference. I can be 5 minutes away from my shop and get no service! Also, everything that used to be standard in the Clearnet days now costs extra. I can't change my plan at all, because I would lose a lot of benefits.....free voice mail, billing by the second, free call display, whatever else....they charge extra for everything now....
"bluebird" worlds fastest scooter ridden by me "Whitebird" RIP
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Re: Cell Phone
#205525
February 06, 2005 04:06 pm UTC
February 06, 2005 04:06 pm UTC
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,787 Pickering, ON
Nick Boers
Insane Member
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Insane Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,787
Pickering, ON
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In order:
Nokia 5190 worked fine, but was big, lasted 2 years
Nokia 3390 worked very well, got 4-5 years out of it before i finally destroyed it. It's gotten soaked, dropped a ton of times, and it kept on going.
Nokia 7210 I got used from a friend when my 3390 died. Worked greatl, but the case was extremely fragile. Nice and small though.
Sony T610 got in january. Took some getting used to the Sony menus. Nokia menus are superior, but they didn't have any Nokias that i was interested in, and hte T610 was recommended by some friends who seem to know about these things. Camera is useful as visual reminders only. Picture quality kinda blows. Reception is marginally worse than the 7210 in my basement.
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Re: Cell Phone
#205526
February 06, 2005 04:50 pm UTC
February 06, 2005 04:50 pm UTC
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 348 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Ryan C Gallant
Member
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Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 348
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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well adam regardless of what you have heard Telus has been terrible lately. I never said they have always sucked but lately they have. I had a phone with Fido for awhile too and every month or os they would call me and tell me that they noticed some changes in my usage and wanted to know if they could help me decide if a different plan would better suit my needs. Telus doesnt even send "perks" to me anymore and i am never a payment behind. my brother is with Rogers and i can use his phone in a basment or elevator and it works, my phone....as soon as i step into an elevator it cuts out and if im in a basments the service is terrible and it cuts in and out. my parent like 45 mins outside of the city and i get no reception at all out there but Bell, Fido and Rogers phones all get service out there. Its not the phone its self its the service areas that make Telus crap. As well as the fact they lock all their phones so you can not use a data cable to take pictures from and put pictures on your phone. They are the only company to do that. Sorry for burstin your bubble adam Telus is not a good company. I know of many people that all feel the same way, maybe you should ask around before you make a purchase a little more. As far as recommendations I would say a good Nokia phone with a Fido or Rogers plan or just wait til the Motorola Razor 3 comes to Canada.
Good luck!
Ryan Gallant 97 Talon ESi - Demoted to "Winter Beater" 89 Porsche 944S2 - Summer ride
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Re: Cell Phone
#205527
February 06, 2005 11:21 pm UTC
February 06, 2005 11:21 pm UTC
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 428 Mississauga, ON, Canada
Scott Cumming
Serious Member
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Serious Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 428
Mississauga, ON, Canada
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I have to agree with nick on the Nokias, I also had a 3390 on Rogers and this thing was industructable, dropped, kicked, thrown, stepped on worked prefect and that phone could get signal anywhere.
I currently have a Nokia 8390 on Rogers which has been abused and beaten on and it's working awesome still. The faceplate is a little thin and has a small crack in it. For signal in the City it's really good I get signal in places where my buddy with telus does not. but in some places up north I had trouble with no reception as it's only GRPS.. no dual/tri mode.
'90 Laser RS N/A-->turbo (finally!) "Laserburn" (ouch) '95 Eagle talon (dads ride)
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Re: Cell Phone
#205528
February 08, 2005 01:07 pm UTC
February 08, 2005 01:07 pm UTC
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 258 Kitchener Ontario
Rob Spreitzer
Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 258
Kitchener Ontario
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Bought a Telus Kyocera colour phone on boxing day for $75 including $50 of airtime + $25 additional for signing up online. No contract. So basically I got a brand new no contract colour phone for free, but I had to pay for $75 of airtime.
I didn't plan on using it much, just evenings and weekends pretty much. I pay $5 a month for $0.05 evenings (after 8) and weekends. $0.29 at other times. I have to buy a minimum $10 phone card every month and it includes call display, voicemail and some internet access is free.
It's a great phone for someone on a budget. I'm not paying $20 a month + $7 for the system access fee!!! $10/month gets me by just great.
2002 Chrysler Intrepid R/T 4-speed autostick, 85,000km 1991 Plymouth Laser RS Turbo 5-speed manual, 220,000km
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Re: Cell Phone
#205529
February 09, 2005 06:05 am UTC
February 09, 2005 06:05 am UTC
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 396 to, on
Jonathan Largon
aka Michael Druciarek
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aka Michael Druciarek
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 396
to, on
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I've been Fido i think ever sine they opened a few years ago.. dont have anything I can complain about really. Like others said, the coverage area has grown considerably, and now when I loose signal, my phone auto-switches to the rogers network and I get the best of both worlds.
As for phones, I have a nokia, always had one and always will have one, it has been through water, scraped against objects, dropped, punted across the room and absolutely no problems with it.
6bolt, FP GT30R, 272/272 HKS, Forged Wiseco 9:1, Forged Eagle Rods, Metal HG, ARP Studs, Fidanza Flywheel, Tial 40mm, ACT 2600, 3" Turbo-Back, 850cc Injectors, Aeromotive FPR, Walbro 255, Huge FMIC, Greddy Type-S, Tein Adjustable Coilovers
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