Verizon Coverage Union Station, Chicago, IL

[pLAGUEz]

I have noticed I am unable to get any kind of signal underground in Chicago's Union Station waiting for a Metra train. I sent an email to verizon about this, I did have At&t for about 6 months and never had a problem, I also notice Nextel seems to work very well there. I was wondering how quick Verizon would react to rectify the problem.

[Inundated]

I've had varying success getting the VZW signal deep in the bowels of the station. Sometimes I'd get a 1 bar 1x signal, but most of the time I would not. I'd occasionally pick up an AT&T analog signal (full roam), but not enough to use.

If VZW wanted to change this situation, they'd have to put repeaters inside the station.

[sipples]

AT&T's TDMA service on the Metra platforms at Union Station was always bad (until mid-2003 anyway). If there was an improvement it was recent, I think -- or confined to GSM. And then if you're sitting in a train pulling into the station or waiting at the platform, it's even worse of course.

Union Station is going to be challenging for any carrier, I think, absent some equipment inside the station itself. And that's up to the owners (Amtrak?). I don't think any carrier has coverage yet in the underground sections of Chicago's El (mass transit trains) either.

[sipples]

I thought that Union Station's inner sanctum, especially aboard trains, was the only dead spot there. However, signal is also very weak on the "back side" of Union Station, just to the west, down along Adams, for example (in the 500 block).

That area is going to be challenging for any carrier, especially during rush hour, but it looks like VZW needs some work there. It's an area which could determine whether many people subscribe or not -- a lot of commuters pass through there.

[joshua_msu]

I can occasionally get 1 or 2 bars on my v710 when Im underground waiting for a train. Seems to be hit or miss. Although at Ogilvie, I can get a great signal no matter where I am.

[CkZX2]

expecting signal underground is expecting too much. On a recent trip to london when using the underground there was no service. Couldn't roam on T-Mobile, Orange had nothing, nor did o2. Its just a fact of life thing.

Cheers.

[bigcheez_69]

That area is going to be challenging for any carrier

Any company that truly believes in customer satisfaction would install signal repeaters/boosters in their place of business ... that way we all could have a good signal everywhere

[CkZX2]

Originally posted by bigcheez_69
Any company that truly believes in customer satisfaction would install signal repeaters/boosters in their place of business ... that way we all could have a good signal everywhere

seldom is it that easy. theres 1 the cost issue, 2, the location. Can the structure support it. If so, will the landowner allow it, if so, will it be worth it. A multi level station often times will get good signal at one, but upon going lower those don't get good signal. So more than one repeater would be needed. And even the same level. Due to the large ammounts of concrete and steel absorbing and reflecting the signal. It may not be cost effective to have to put a couple repeaters up, even though the customer base is there to generate revenues.

Cheers.

[bigcheez_69]

Originally posted by CkZX2
seldom is it that easy. theres 1 the cost issue, 2, the location. Can the structure support it. If so, will the landowner allow it, if so, will it be worth it. A multi level station often times will get good signal at one, but upon going lower those don't get good signal. So more than one repeater would be needed. And even the same level. Due to the large ammounts of concrete and steel absorbing and reflecting the signal. It may not be cost effective to have to put a couple repeaters up, even though the customer base is there to generate revenues.

Cheers.

Oh Ya ???

To me, it seems relativley inexpensive and simple for any shopping mall, large retial store, grocery store, underground train hub, etc

http://www.criterioncellular.com/repeaters/

[crquality]

Originally posted by CkZX2
seldom is it that easy. theres 1 the cost issue, 2, the location. Can the structure support it. If so, will the landowner allow it, if so, will it be worth it. A multi level station often times will get good signal at one, but upon going lower those don't get good signal. So more than one repeater would be needed. And even the same level. Due to the large ammounts of concrete and steel absorbing and reflecting the signal. It may not be cost effective to have to put a couple repeaters up, even though the customer base is there to generate revenues.

Cheers.

In the Chicago Union Station, the "basement" is really ground level, level with the river.

I've complained to Verizon as well about the service under the building and have noticed I can get some service on the North side of the building, but not the south and it's bad.

I was really disappointed down there when I wanted to phone home when I arrrived that I got there safe but had no service when people with T-Mobile had signal (but they didn't for half the trip there) and of course stupid NexTel worked- and station police have it. Clearly, there are antennas setup for the various carriers down there but VZW isn't one of them- and there are a LOT of people who use that station for either Amtrak or Metra to warrant its installation.

I just wish they would do it already...VZW advertises down there but that's the only 'signal' of their presence in that place.

-Josh