Who does US Cellular use for roaming towers?

**Jasonuncloned** · 02-23-2011, 07:46 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about switching over to US Cellular, but the catch is I travel to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan several times a year to see family, so I'd really like to make sure that I can use my phone up there and in North Eastern WI. The only carriers that have actual stores up there and an established network are AT&T and Verizon. Looking at US Cellular's coverage map, it looks like they have a similar map to Version.

Can anyone tell me if they use Verizon for out of network towers on their National Plans?

If it's Verizon then I'd have no problem with joining US Cellular since I'm familiar with that network. Verizon completely destroyed the GREAT service I had with Alltel so continuing to use them is kind of sleeping with the enemy in my book.

**nachoman69** · 02-23-2011, 07:53 PM

Yes they have signed a 3g tower agreement with Verizon for roaming so you should be set. Just to double check you can use the coverage map on uscc.com and enter the zip code.

**Starblazer** · 02-24-2011, 02:46 AM

USCC roams on VZW everywhere except Chicago, where it roams on Sprint first. Up north coverage is good. I don't know if 3g roaming works up north though.

**WI4Fan** · 02-24-2011, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Starblazer

USCC roams on VZW everywhere except Chicago, where it roams on Sprint first. Up north coverage is good. I don't know if 3g roaming works up north though.

I can attest that when you are in the U.P., data coverage is spotty and it will drop down to 1X speeds and not EVDO.

**kb7qdi** · 02-24-2011, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by WI4Fan

I can attest that when you are in the U.P., data coverage is spotty and it will drop down to 1X speeds and not EVDO.

Confirmed. 1X and very spotty, even on main roads.

**ilvla2** · 02-24-2011, 09:24 PM

I get great service on the UP here, the Union Pacific RR that is

http://www.up.com

**tritium_man** · 04-02-2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Starblazer

USCC roams on VZW everywhere except Chicago, where it roams on Sprint first. Up north coverage is good. I don't know if 3g roaming works up north though.

Are you 100% sure us cellular roams on Verizon everywhere? except Chicago.. Where did you get this information?

Thank you in advance

**crimpshrine** · 04-02-2012, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by tritium_man

Are you 100% sure us cellular roams on Verizon everywhere? except Chicago.. Where did you get this information?

Thank you in advance

You are quoting something from over a year ago. I think US Cellular mainly roams off Sprint now, unless Sprint doesn't have coverage in that area, then they use Verizon.

**USCguy686** · 04-02-2012, 09:18 PM

They recently changed primary roaming carrier to Sprint at the end of 3rd quarter 2011. (Cheaper roaming rate) So if Sprint has coverage there it will be them otherwise Verizon.

**ilvla2** · 04-03-2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by crimpshrine

You are quoting something from over a year ago. I think US Cellular mainly roams off Sprint now, unless Sprint doesn't have coverage in that area, then they use Verizon.

Which would be our area (Mendocino and Lake Counties, RSA 344 in NW CA), where VZ and USCC have service, but Sprint does not. In fact, they both roam in-market onto each other in dead spots, both 1X and EVDO.