Can you get cellphone coverage in Forestville?

Several months back a bunch of us Forestvillians started griping about cellphone service in Forestville. No one in our small group had a good thing to say about any of the cellphone service providers. I'd like to know others' experiences.

I've had Verizon for nearly a decade and their call reception has never been good here, at least at my home. The other day I called one of their service techs. He did some research and told me there are two cell towers that "serve" Forestville. The closest is two miles to the north, which I guess is on the hills

across the river. The second is four miles to the southeast. They don't work real well: sometimes I get service on the second floor of my house, but not downstairs.

Vesta reports that AT&T's calling area is much improved. She was shocked to actually complete a call in her car while driving from Forestville to Guerneville. My son, who lives near Hacienda, has no such luck; he can't get AT&T service anywhere on River Road until he's well east of Forestville.

T-Mobile assured me that their service would indeed include my house. They even showed me remarkably detailed lot-specific maps. So I bought T-Mobile. The maps were a laugh. I couldn't get a T-Mobile signal anywhere in Forestville.

So, got a cellphone story? Found a good carrier? Want to rag on the existing carriers? Click "comment" and leave a message or email me.

Comments

[Vesta Copestakes]

Gary Duignan, our beloved Forestville Fire Chief, has asked, for years!, to have a cell tower put on the top of the Forestville firehouse. It's an ideal location. We once had an address to write to of a company who just needed prodding. I published it on the front page of the Gazette and STILL there were not enough letters to make it happen. That company is no longer the one in charge. Does anyone know who is? Gary's still very willing!

[Vesta Copestakes]

I recently read in the newspaper of a town that got cell towers that are attractive. I think it was Reno, Nevada. There was no indication in the article which company was installing them or how to get in contact with the manufacturers of the attrative towers, but it's a light on the horizon that we can not only have reception. etc, but do it in an aesthetic way!

[Don Jackson]

Hi Vesta

Cell phone coverage with AT&T Wireless has been changing as they recently (starting a few months ago) started rolling out their new GSM service. This service is not compatible with most of their prior digital cell phones (TDMA) with exception of the Seimens S46, which is not a common phone) so they had to choose which service to offer in each locale (cell site). They have been converting some of the older TDMA sites to GMS, thus reducing the coverage fo those with older phones and increasing the coverage area for the newer service. The new service provides more data and gaming functions (gee, just what I really wanted -- how about just better coverage!!!) but has less coverage overall than the older technology (TDMA) until they roll out more of the sites.

I am a (fairly inactive at this point) AT&T Wireless dealer, and am willing to help make the contact between Gary and the Fire Dept and AT&T if that is still in play.

Cheers,
Don

[michelle]

Hi there! We have AT@T wireless service and get great service. I think it has improved since they went over to Cingular.

[Josh Roberts]

I have nextel and it seems to work fine. I am going to be the property manager for the new storage facility on Forestville street. It is called Empire Mini Storage. I have walked around the property and have not had a problem, but once I turn onto Guerneville Rd. and head towards Santa Rosa I lose it tell I get alomst to Fulton Rd.

[Dave Zappa]

I have had Sprint since December 2000, and have often found that it is the only service that works in much of "Forestville".

It works on 116 from Graton to Martinelli Road, from 116 to River Road on Mirabel. It works at El Mo and Forestville School. The actual phone you own makes a difference. My kids have Cingular/ATT and they work in the same areas.

It works on “ROAMING” on River road west to Guerneville. Cingular and ATT also get good reception in PARTS of Guerneville, clear to Armstrong Woods.

The antennas on the POST OFFICE are Sprint. Have been there for years. When you get out of line sight from the antennas, you will lose the signal.

The White pole at the apple processing plant at 116 and Occidental Road has both Sprint and Cingular/ATT Antennas on it.

They all fail as you turn east on Guerneville Road or Occidental Road and it comes back when you get to the Laguna.

The Perfect Place for a multiple set of new antennas would be on one (or more) of the new Light Standards at the El Molino High School football field.

In my travels to many other Schools throughout Northern California, I have found these antennas on the schools athletic fields light standards.

I have asked, and these schools invited the companies to use their poles and are paid well to lease them. The companies install the equipment, and lease the space, with most schools designating the money for field maintenance.Every penny counts.

Try and find the Cell Phone Site Tree on the East Side of 101 South of Petaluma. Funny, but it could be made to work, with a little help from someone who knows landscaping (Hi Vesta!)

[Carol Giovanetti]

My son lives in Newark Valley, NY and has now cell phone coverage. He has 10+ acres at the top of a mountain that he would like to lease to a company for a cell tower. If you have contacts please provide them to me as soon as possible.

[dawnya kilner]

I grew up in Forestville, and have been living in southern california for the past 9 years. Every time I come back to visit my dad at his house on Old River Road, I'm disappointed at the lack of cell phone service in his area. At the rate people use cell phones today, you would think that Forestville would get with the program. Don't get me wrong, even with all the city people moving in, I still love my home town.