Wind in Toronto?

[tinaa]

My experience in Toronto has been decidedly mixed. I like what I pay and I haven't had much need to use customer service so I can't really comment on that. Data can be excellent, but for me probably 7 out of 10 times I try it ranges from frustratingly to unusably slow. Mostly in the downtown area (seems to work better in North York). Of course others claim excellent speeds downtown, so it does seem to vary a lot by your exact location (and to some extent time of day). I tend to use WiFi most of the time for speed.

In terms of voice service, I find it generally excellent where it works but there have been many situations where the signal is sufficiently week that I cut out to the listener on the other side or lose signal entirely. I don't think there's much of a problem outside but building penetrance combined with insufficient density make indoor signals a problem in many places - basements or interiors of buildings are particularly problematic. I've had many instances where I had no signal at all and my friends on Fido/Rogers/Telus had perfectly usable signals. So this is a real issue. Interestingly, I was just in the states, roaming on Tmobile and found similarly poor coverage at the hotel where I was staying. Then I realized I had set my phone to WCDMA only. When I switched it to automatic, I suddenly got excellent coverage everywhere. So it does seem to be a frequency problem. Of course it's realistically 2 years or so before we see any 700 MHz on Wind so no immediate relief.

In truth, I've found lately often when I need my phone or data to work it hasn't and I'm starting to question how much I'm REALLY saving if what I'm spending is on a semi non-functional network. Nevertheless, I'm loathe to go back to the incumbents so I'm sticking it out for now and hoping that Wind will improve their coverage density over the next year.

Also, while I loathe many of Rogers policies and business decisions, I can't say I've ever had any major issues with their customer service (nor with Fido's). They've always been polite, somewhat competent, and generally helpful. I can't say the same for Bell. Avoid them at all costs. (You'll find horror stories for any of the companies in terms of customer service nightmares, so take them all with a grain of salt. From my own personal experience, and those of my personal circle, I'd say Bell seems to be particularly bad, both at customer service and billing problems.)

So recommending Wind is always a bit of a challenge. Depending on where and how you plan to use it it can be a great deal. But if you really need to be connected in a variety of places as much as possible, it really isn't as good as the other networks.

[rchl]

One more opinion....

I just left Rogers due to very poor data speeds downtown Toronto, and calls going directly to voice mail, even with a good signal primarily at home is Scarborough.

Tried Wind with a Samsung flip phone and found poor signal at home and other areas. Tought it might be the phone so I got a Nokia C7 since Nokias are known for above average reception and the reception did improve very significantly. After trying it for a while I found it to be as unreliable as Rogers with missed calls, and the who called feature only working part of the time, never went all the way with VM and data.

In the end I kept the Wind line on a prepaid basis primarily for travel to the US and switched to Virgin for day to day use even tough I deplore Bell, pricing was very good for my needs, and reception so far has been excellent.

If you find Wind OK then I would recommend using a Nokia or maybe a Blackberry handset for the better reception, you will notice the difference.

[Tendenzi]

Really....I've never had anything but contempt for Rogers network, let alone as a company?

I've heard the same, mainly from people west of Manitoba.

But in my experiences in Ontario with Rogers, I have to stand by what I said. :-/

[ijcy]

So recommending Wind is always a bit of a challenge. Depending on where and how you plan to use it it can be a great deal. But if you really need to be connected in a variety of places as much as possible, it really isn't as good as the other networks.

I guess it does vary as i am in the GTA and am on the road salesman.
I get bills that show 4500-5000 minutes, 1.5-2GB DATA and 2500-3000 texts, So as can be seen by those specs i manage to use my phone a lot and prety much everywhere.
I was previously with Fido and can report no worse issues with Wind, on the contrary i have many places where i could not talk on Fido before due to no signal and am now able to use my phone including elvevators! And i am using a Samsung which is not known to have the best r/f.

[dss]

For personal use, I have Wind.
For business, I have all of them for testing purpose.

The bottom line is everyone have problem areas.
If you do not frequent those areas, you do not have problems.

For price and great service in areas where Wind works, it is the best since slice bread!

You choice, your money. If you feel that Rogers unlimited is great and it is $5 cheaper than Wind, go with rogers and be robbed. Nothing wrong with it.

I vote with dollars and common sense...not just one portion of the plan.

[1Khalid]

I just left wind as i moved to the west-end to Toronto and couldn't get a decent signal in my home. I used the network-builder to let them know but it wasn't worth the wait for them to fix it if that would ever happen. So i went to mobilicity and have great coverage in my new place. Not to hate on wind but in my old home i had no problems and didn't have an intention on leaving them but no signal in my new place means i would be paying them for nothing. As of right now I'm happy with Mobi, no complaint's.
If your friends have wind or mobi as them to come by your house and check out the reception.

[icemasta]

I just left wind as i moved to the west-end to Toronto and couldn't get a decent signal in my home. I used the network-builder to let them know but it wasn't worth the wait for them to fix it if that would ever happen. So i went to mobilicity and have great coverage in my new place. Not to hate on wind but in my old home i had no problems and didn't have an intention on leaving them but no signal in my new place means i would be paying them for nothing. As of right now I'm happy with Mobi, no complaint's.
If your friends have wind or mobi as them to come by your house and check out the reception.

I've found more often than not that Mobi has had better residential reception than Wind. However public places such as malls are much better covered by Wind.