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AT&T Switches on 3G in My Area

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Don’t know how far this reaches yet here locally, but by shear sheer accident I discovered that AT&T had switched 3G on in my area of Winchester, VA yesterday. When I left the house in the morning my phone was still showing the big E for EDGE. But later in the day, I had left the theatre and headed into Winchester (about 13 miles away and where I live) for some prop shopping for our production of William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. While on those errands, I was checking something on my phone and just happened to see the little 3G symbol showing. Surprise. Making sure it wasn’t a dream, I checked this morning and it is still showing 3G service.

Now the reason I’m saying this was an accident is that   I normally keep 3G turned off on the phone since there was no 3G coverage here locally. But over the Easter weekend when I visited my mother, I turned 3G on to take advantage of it while I was on the road. Normally I switch it off again when I return home. But it has been a busy week and I didn’t do so. Had I switched it off, I wouldn’t have noticed the change yesterday.

I didn’t notice if this was on or not while I was at the theatre yesterday (again 13 miles away) so it will be interesting to see if it is when I get in this morning after a few more errands.

UPDATE: One block. One lousy block. Coming in to work this morning I noticed that the 3G coverage extended into Middletown, 13 miles away. But not exactly. At the stop light (our only stop light in town) one block away from the theatre the coverage switched to EDGE. Ah, well.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Sumocat

    04/16/2009 at 7:26 am

    Now that you mention it, I noticed the GSM buzz from my iPhone playing to the car stereo didn’t really kick in during my recent trips to the Shenandoah area until we were actually in the mountains. Looks like 3G is slowly creeping outward.

    But why did you keep 3G turned off? 3G only burns extra power when connected, right?

  2. Warner Crocker

    04/16/2009 at 7:42 am

    I’d get better coverage here locally on EDGE with 3G turned off than with it on. It was just smoother that way.

  3. Steve Ingraham

    04/16/2009 at 8:32 am

    I did not know there was a 3G switch until I stumbled over it last week. Turned it on, and, wonder of wonders, here in rural Kennebunk half way between Portsmouth NH and Portland ME I have 3G service. Not only! It is also several bars stronger than E in the same location. Way to go ATT. Not often I get to say anything good about them.

  4. Gavin Miller

    04/16/2009 at 8:46 am

    Warner, a ‘Shear’ accident sounds painful! Maybe you meant sheer. ;-)

  5. Xavier

    04/16/2009 at 9:18 am

    Good to hear 3G is working for you Warner…3G is still spotty here in SF and NY.

  6. Warner Crocker

    04/16/2009 at 9:32 am

    Given how crazy I am these days, ‘shear’ is more appropriate. ;)

  7. Sara Fauzia

    04/16/2009 at 9:38 pm

    I read in Engadget that AT&T is going to give a payout to its customers for not delivering on the 3G promise. And I’m about to begin reading Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, after having just read all of his other comedies :).

  8. Jay

    04/20/2009 at 12:03 pm

    I am so very happy to have 3G here in Winchester, VA… finally! I can only hope that AT&T builds a tower on top of Mount Weather so I keep signal on both sides of the mountain for the morning/afternoon commutes. Just noticed the 3G this morning, and couldn’t believe my eyes. :) No info on the AT&T Coverage map yet.

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