Western states Tmobile coverage and satelite experience?

[StuckInTheEast]

As title states, I'm curious about folks real world Tmobile service experience in western states.
Where we live currently its not an issue,pretty much everything works fine but our travels take us west frequently and relocation likely in the works in next year or two.
Just wondering if any folks in WY, MT, ID, CO, UTAH etc have any good, bad or ugly things to report on Tmobile out there.
Also curious about real world experience with satellite text/calling on tmobile over starlink network, I know its new, just wondering if much experience with it around here yet.
Overdue for new phones, have been with Verizon forever, contemplating making a change and figure its worth weighing experiences/coverage with places we frequent given the broad coverage for all the providers around here makes it a mute point for service around home.
Appreciate any constructive input.
Thanks Folks.

 

[fngTony]

Zoom way in on the T-Mobile coverage map, a lot of it out west (Colorado) is still 3g or on a partner network which I’ve found to be useless. Verizon is at least 4g in 95% of its network that’s why I stay with them. Buddy has T-Mobile and it does work better in some select areas. When we travel it’s almost the same until you get off the highway or major roads then Verizon is a clear advantage. No experience with the satellite stuff. Don’t bother with AT&T in Colorado.

 

[IdahoBeav]

It works great for me in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. I'm in the Starlink beta testing group. The only complaint I have is that a SMS is sent every time you leave the coverage zone, letting you know that you are now on satellite.

 

[ODB]

I have Verizon now but bought a mint plan for 3 months to test T-mobile’s service. So far it has been comparable (live in Boise) even with t-mobile getting 4G LTE only (due to it being an older iPhone 8). I am going on a trip this weekend to central Idaho and will take it along with my Verizon phone. We have a good friend who is a travelling rad tech and she has t-mobile and has not had much of an issue going from WA to OR to ID.

 

[Marshfly]

The Starlink service is awesome. I will get replies with the phone in my pocket sometimes. It's pretty seamless and a huge benefit to those of us that recreate in areas with no service but need to be connected to family.

I swapped from ATT to T-Mobile when I moved to Montana so all I know is ATT sucked but have no idea how it compares to Verizon. Doesn't really matter now that I have all the time sat texting though.

 

[Shooter45]

T-Mobile works great for me in NW Wyoming. There are dead zones in areas because there’s not towers. I previously had Verizon and like T-Mobile a lot better. T-Mobile also has a great international coverage for travel and way cheaper than Verizon for my needs.

 

[doc holiday13]

I just went hunting with a buddy and maybe it was just his service or his process so YMMV. He was burning up his battery using the satelite texting because his phone was constantly looking for signal. Maybe he should have put the phone in airplane mode the whole time and wrote his text and then take out of airplane mode to send and as soon as it sends back to airplane mode. By his own admission, my InReach was a better means to communicate.

Do the phones with satelite texting have a 'satelite only' mode so they aren't burning up battery??

 

[jsmac]

You would hope that in the next couple of years the technology will be there and kinks worked out. I know a guy who used the satellite texting last fall, said he had to do lots of pointing his phone at the sky/get correct orientation to the satellite network before the phone would receive texts back. Could have been user error.
But if as @Marshfly said it works in your pocket now that would be sweet.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I know the satellite bit is new and sure to be quirky and glitchy at first...like anything associated with Elon. I really shouldn't factor that in too much I guess. If it takes off, everyone will be doing it soon Im sure.
I'll look a bit closer at the coverage maps and plans.
Verizon been fine for us and I can just buy an in reach, just wondering if much experience with the satellite functions yet.

 

[Marshfly]

You would hope that in the next couple of years the technology will be there and kinks worked out. I know a guy who used the satellite texting last fall, said he had to do lots of pointing his phone at the sky/get correct orientation to the satellite network before the phone would receive texts back. Could have been user error.
But if as @Marshfly said it works in your pocket now that would be sweet.

The original Apple sat texting was like that. I find the newer Starlink specific texting to be much less finicky.

I just went hunting with a buddy and maybe it was just his service or his process so YMMV. He was burning up his battery using the satelite texting because his phone was constantly looking for signal. Maybe he should have put the phone in airplane mode the whole time and wrote his text and then take out of airplane mode to send and as soon as it sends back to airplane mode. By his own admission, my InReach was a better means to communicate.

Do the phones with satelite texting have a 'satelite only' mode so they aren't burning up battery??

Any phone will do if you don't put it in airplane mode and it occasionally is finding one bar as you top ridges. That's not a sat text issue. If you want your battery to last, put it in airplane mode until you need it. Pretty cut and dry.

 

[mtmontgo]

The Starlink service is awesome. I will get replies with the phone in my pocket sometimes. It's pretty seamless and a huge benefit to those of us that recreate in areas with no service but need to be connected to family.

I swapped from ATT to T-Mobile when I moved to Montana so all I know is ATT sucked but have no idea how it compares to Verizon. Doesn't really matter now that I have all the time sat texting though.

Do you think starlink will completely replace an inreach?

 

[Marshfly]

Do you think starlink will completely replace an inreach?

Most likely. Inreach uses the iridium constellation. If you can use your normal phone to make calls (no doubt on the way) and texts from anywhere in the world who needs a sat phone? When sat phones go away who is going to maintain the iridium and Globalstar constellations? Nobody. That's who.


I have a Starlink Mini mounted to the roof of my Atlas camper on the truck. For $50/month I can check in with work or home anywhere I go. I can do live research while hunting. I can download OnX maps if I move. I can use Google Earth on my computer. My wife can sit in the passenger seat and work while we drive anywhere. I can do whatever I want. This allows me to get out significantly more than I could before. That kind of portable connectivity was unheard of just a few years ago.

 

[mtmontgo]

Thanks, I'm getting into backpack hunting and considered purchasing an inreach. Sounds like starlink is the move.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Funny, we live 25-30 miles SE of Seattle and T-Mobile still does not work at all here. I don't how many times we've had people come to do work at our house who said they would call before arriving to say they couldn't reach us. My first response is "T-Mobile?". The answer is always yes.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Most likely. Inreach uses the iridium constellation. If you can use your normal phone to make calls (no doubt on the way) and texts from anywhere in the world who needs a sat phone? When sat phones go away who is going to maintain the iridium and Globalstar constellations? Nobody. That's who.


I have a Starlink Mini mounted to the roof of my Atlas camper on the truck. For $50/month I can check in with work or home anywhere I go. I can do live research while hunting. I can download OnX maps if I move. I can use Google Earth on my computer. My wife can sit in the passenger seat and work while we drive anywhere. I can do whatever I want. This allows me to get out significantly more than I could before. That kind of portable connectivity was unheard of just a few years ago.

View attachment 880744

I almost pulled the trigger on one of these for the same type of setup last year...I talked myself out of it as id only use it a couple weeks out of the year at most presently. If/when we relocate that would be a different story.
How are you liking the Atlas?
Im leaning hard towards ditching the RTT and Nuthouse rack mainly for weight savings but also to have some usable inside space if crap weather sets in and holes you up for a day or so out in middle of nowhere.
I definitely like the pop up versions over the clam shell...just dont like the price tags at the moment.

 

[Marshfly]

I almost pulled the trigger on one of these for the same type of setup last year...I talked myself out of it as id only use it a couple weeks out of the year at most presently. If/when we relocate that would be a different story.
How are you liking the Atlas?
Im leaning hard towards ditching the RTT and Nuthouse rack mainly for weight savings but also to have some usable inside space if crap weather sets in and holes you up for a day or so out in middle of nowhere.
I definitely like the pop up versions over the clam shell...just dont like the price tags at the moment.

I LOVE my Atlas. I bought mine used a couple of months ago. They are available if you keep an eye on marketplace around the country and are willing to drive. Now that I have this no way in hell would a want a wedge. I’ve only spent a handful of nights in it but for what I need, gear storage and a comfy place to get out of the weather and sleep it’s perfect. I’ll be adding a Propex heater before the fall. I added a lithium battery and 200w of solar also. Powers my 12v fridge perfectly.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Thanks, I'm getting into backpack hunting and considered purchasing an inreach. Sounds like starlink is the move.

There is something to be said for redundancy in emergency situations. Starlink doesn't do you any good if you lose your phone, break your phone, kill the battery in your phone.

 

[Marshfly]

There is something to be said for redundancy in emergency situations. Starlink doesn't do you any good if you lose your phone, break your phone, kill the battery in your phone.

I still have my Inreach clipped to my pack just for this reason. However, now that I really think about it, nobody was carrying dual Inreaches before. Nor an Inreach and a Zoleo. Nobody had a backup before.

 

[Sneaker]

I’m on T-Mobile in northern Arizona and I usually have the best off-road signal. The iPhone 15 starlink texting seems like it works great so far as well, way way better and faster than Inreach messaging. I’ve already cancelled my inreach plan.

 

[Sneaker]

Actually, looking at their online coverage map online, there is NOT any T-mobile Satellite coverage in Alaska, Canada, or Mexico. I guess I should not get ride of the inreach after all...