| Author |
Message |
CarlGitchel
Posts: 1
Phone Model:
Samsung x427m
Service Provider:
Cingular |
 
Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:39 am |
I am glad to see this forum. I got a GSM phone from Cingular through LetsTalk.com. I got this phone based on the coverage map which looked really extensive. This map, I learned later, is the GAIT map. At the time I didn't know the difference. I still don't know the functional difference.
Can I switch from GSM to GAIT? GSM in the SW part of Wisconsin (where I work) is almost non-existant. Is it simply a matter of swapping SIM cards? Or do I need a different phone?
Thank you,
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
NDogg78
Posts: 87
Phone Model:
Motorola V600
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Sun Nov 21, 2004 6:24 pm |
i do not believe cingular offers any GAIT plans anymore, basically you're grandfathered if you had it already since Cingular wants every1 on their GSM network. some1 correct me if I am wrong.
the difference between a GAIT plan and a GSM plan is that the coverage of a GAIT plan consists of analog/TDMA/GSM coverage whereas GSM is of course just GSM. you would of course need a GAIT compatible phone in order to take advantage of GAIT coverage. what kind of plan do you have? swapping out SIM cards would not matter if no GSM coverage is available in your area at all.
|
|
finestkind
Posts: 22
Phone Model:
Nokia 6340i
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:23 am |
While Cingular does not have a "GAIT" plan any longer they do allow you to use the GAIT phones on GSM plans.
You can now list a GAIT phone on a GSM plan (GSM/TDMA service), pay the lower GSM rate and still get ALL the benefits/coverage of the old GAIT plan.
Make sure the ESN number of the GAIT phone is on the account.
Once this is done you can move the SIM card between a GSM only phone and a GAIT phone with no problem.
I use my 6340i in Northern parts of Maine and New Hampshire and put the SIM card in my S56 when I am in MA, RI, CT and NY and don't need TDMA service but want to use a smaller phone.
|
|
steve*a
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
Nokia 6340i
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Tue Dec 07, 2004 12:13 am |
|
What will you do if you ever need analog (AMPS) coverage in a rural area of the USA that is only available through a Cingular roaming partner? Analog is not an available option on your GSM phone, and free roaming would not be available on any billing plan other than a GAIT plan, so theoretically you will be billed for the analog roaming calls made on your GAIT handset.
|
|
finestkind
Posts: 22
Phone Model:
Nokia 6340i
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:08 am |
| steve*a wrote: | | What will you do if you ever need analog (AMPS) coverage in a rural area of the USA that is only available through a Cingular roaming partner? Analog is not an available option on your GSM phone, and free roaming would not be available on any billing plan other than a GAIT plan, so theoretically you will be billed for the analog roaming calls made on your GAIT handset. |
I travel in the Northeast, and we have plenty of "rural area" in Northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
I am not sure where in these areas analog (AMPS) coverage is needed or available.
Do you know of any?
Is there a website that shows a AMPS coverage map?
I switched my GAIT phone to a GSM plan last month and seem to be getting the same coverage I had before but at a lower cost.
|
|
NDogg78
Posts: 87
Phone Model:
Motorola V600
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:27 am |
| finestkind wrote: |
I travel in the Northeast, and we have plenty of "rural area" in Northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
I am not sure where in these areas analog (AMPS) coverage is needed or available.
Do you know of any?
Is there a website that shows a AMPS coverage map?
I switched my GAIT phone to a GSM plan last month and seem to be getting the same coverage I had before but at a lower cost. |
if you're getting the same coverage with your GSM phone, then you're not affected. that means you have GSM coverage where you need it. GSM phones are digital service only and don't have the ability to go analog. but if your phone works, then you have GSM coverage and AMPS is not needed
|
|
finestkind
Posts: 22
Phone Model:
Nokia 6340i
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:07 pm |
"if you're getting the same coverage with your GSM phone, then you're not affected. that means you have GSM coverage where you need it. GSM phones are digital service only and don't have the ability to go analog. but if your phone works, then you have GSM coverage and AMPS is not needed"
I am getting coverage with my GAIT phone on a GSM plan.
It is receiving both TDMA and GSM, what I am not sure about is the AMPS service.
|
|
NDogg78
Posts: 87
Phone Model:
Motorola V600
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:01 pm |
| finestkind wrote: | "if you're getting the same coverage with your GSM phone, then you're not affected. that means you have GSM coverage where you need it. GSM phones are digital service only and don't have the ability to go analog. but if your phone works, then you have GSM coverage and AMPS is not needed"
I am getting coverage with my GAIT phone on a GSM plan.
It is receiving both TDMA and GSM, what I am not sure about is the AMPS service. |
sorry, didn't notice you had a gait phone. does your phone have an analog indicator? my old nokia did if i was ever using analog. otherwise you can't really tell unless you have a good ear i guess. only other way i know y ou can tell is if you don't get a lot of battery life since analog sucks battery a lot more than digital.
|
|
baoxq
Posts: 3
Phone Model:
Nokia 6340i
Service Provider:
Cingular |
Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:51 pm |
Are you sure your GAIT phone on GSM plan works like GAIT?
I also have a 6340i on a new Cingular plan and asked Cingular serve to put the ESN in my account. But I could not verify it works. According to the 6340i manual, I can go to Setting>Phone setting>System setting then have options of Automatic/Manual/New search to select the network. However, I could not find the "System setting" under the "Phone setting. I suspect the new sim does not work on GAIT. What happens on your 6340i? Can you select the Network?
Does any body know the real on the GAIT in new Cingular plan?
| finestkind wrote: | While Cingular does not have a "GAIT" plan any longer they do allow you to use the GAIT phones on GSM plans.
You can now list a GAIT phone on a GSM plan (GSM/TDMA service), pay the lower GSM rate and still get ALL the benefits/coverage of the old GAIT plan.
Make sure the ESN number of the GAIT phone is on the account.
Once this is done you can move the SIM card between a GSM only phone and a GAIT phone with no problem.
I use my 6340i in Northern parts of Maine and New Hampshire and put the SIM card in my S56 when I am in MA, RI, CT and NY and don't need TDMA service but want to use a smaller phone. |
|
|
jct21
Posts: 4
Phone Model:
nokia 3595, lg vx3200
Service Provider:
cingular & alltel |
Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:29 pm |
after my 3560 died, i recently bought (ebay) and activated a 6340i on a nation gsm 29.99 plan. i also have the gait coverage also. i gave the csr my esn and can use tdma and analog when i roam on the at&t towers that have not been changed to cingular gsm yet. gait coverage is excellent, i get signal nearly everywhere, but wtih gsm only, coverage is spotty at best.
i have the 64k smartchip sim too. i put the sim in my 3595 and gsm coverage is horrible. with that phone i get 1-2 bars of gsm where my 6340i gets 4-5 bars. i suspect my 3595 has antenna issues, it never worked good.
|
