[Scan-DC] Analog Cellular

[Steve Rigby]

On Feb 18, 2008, at 10:02 AM, Rick Hansen wrote:


> Weren't the local providers going to halt analog cellular at  
> midnight last
> night? I forced analog on an old phone and it still has a signal.
>
> And, as usual, the analog signal is better in most places than the  
> digital
> (which is why I always got an analog capable phone for my vehicle -  
> better
> coverage in the boonies).
>

   There were big arguments against this switchover from cell phone  
users who are really out in the boonies, like on farms in North  
Dakota, Montana, etc., who could not even receive any digital signals  
at all in many areas in which they could receive analog signals.   
Cell phone companies would not locate sufficient antennas for their  
digital systems in those areas because they said it cost too much for  
the relatively few customers they would be serving.  Those customers  
were demanding to be able to continue with analog service, but I do  
not know what the outcome of that dispute was.

   Steve