Northern Michigan?

[formercanuck]

Any updates up in Northern MI (or along I-75 to Canada?).

[crescentmage]

My parents live in Cadillac, and were told by a store rep that 3G would come in early 2011, though I don't put a lot of stock in store reps. About a month ago, they had some serious fluctuations in reception, though it seems to be improved since. It's possible that AT&T was doing work on the towers, but perhaps it is part of a 3G upgrade.

I agree that AT&T is focused on Centennial right now, but I was surprised to see the Traverse City area get 3G last year, so Cadillac and other northern cities are not outside the realm of possibility. It is the next largest city in the northern lower peninsula (north of Midland).

[northernmsuguy]

Crossing the Mackinaw Bridge today and low and behold I have 3G! Cool!

[formercanuck]

Crossing the Mackinaw Bridge today and low and behold I have 3G! Cool!

Awesome - how far up/down the I-75 does it go ?

[fraydog]

Former Alltel areas are getting 3G soon too. I do not know the timetable, however.

[formercanuck]

Well, I know that the UP areas and around Mackinaw were former Dobson/AT&T
I used to pick up Dobson / AT&T in the Sault and on St. Joseph's Island (Canada), I'd pick up AT&T/Dobson from Drummond Island.

[TWX]

Update for Northern Michigan: at&t has tuned up 3G in parts of Cheboygan and Mackinaw County. Also, they have added more 3G to I-75 and M-23.

News Article

[formercanuck]

Good to know. Hopefully by the time I make my next trip on the Lake Huron Circle Tour, I'll have 3G on the US side. It's already covered on the Canadian side.

[Polekat]

Must be the Northern tip of Cheboygan and Mackinaw counties. Hopefully they continue moving south down I-75

[TWX]

Yeah just the tip of the mitt. 3G isn't too fast either on the download. Here is what I got earlier today when I crossed the bridge.






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[Polekat]

I just learned that Mackinac Island got 3G last fall when the Governors conference was up there, that's why you get it at the bridge.

[TWX]

Meh. I talked to one of the reps at the at&t store in Alpena and they didn't think 3G would be on the northeast side of the state until mid 2012. I also asked at&t on their facebook page and got a response saying "we do not have any mobile broadband news for your area." Great. We are on the back burner.

I face uncertainty now. I've been with at&t for 5 years, but they are taking their good old time getting 3G up here (its getting annoying). Verizon on the other hand has 3G everywhere up here, most of my friends with smart phones average around 1.8-2.0Mbps. Should I switch to Verizon this summer and enjoy their 3G? Or should I wait until 2012 for at&t's newer, faster 3G/4G (HSPA+)?

[formercanuck]

I would say... Do you want 3G now, or plan to wait for who knows how long. Ask the folks in Kalamazoo.


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[TWX]

I think I'll switch to Verizon in June/July. I like at&t and never had any other problems with them, besides the slow data. I own two online businesses and the need for a faster cellular connection is become more and more important.

[zephxiii]

Yea I wouldn't think Alpena is going to happen until Kalamazoo/Battle Creek and the other acquisition area get completed first.

ON a plus side I saw 3g cells from Coldwater all the way to Battle Creek on I69/94.