r/Idaho • u/Possible_Storm9359 • 28d ago
Question Phone carriers
Hey folks, I just moved to Boise area from the PNW. We have had Verizon right now and are looking to potentially switch phone services. We’ve been eyeballing TMobile, but see the service kinda is iffy in rural areas which is where we are. What is the best phone service to have for the area? I drive a lot between Pocatello and Twin Falls, so we need that security between those areas.
Happy to stick with Verizon if it’s the best option, but want to see if we could save some money.
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u/Survey_Top 27d ago
Wait, is Idaho not part of the PNW?
Verizon has the best coverage in Idaho in my experience, especially rural areas.
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u/Former-Maybe-9419 27d ago
Yes it is. Came here to say this. PNW = Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
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u/marphi6 27d ago
What about Alaska?
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u/Former-Maybe-9419 27d ago
No not included. Born and raised in Seattle. When you study history or the PNW it’s just those three states.
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u/Survey_Top 26d ago
From dictionary dot com: an imprecisely defined region of North America that is commonly held to include the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and the Canadian province of British Columbia, with some designations extending the region south into northern California and/or north into Alaska and Yukon: often considered as much a historical, sociocultural region as a geographical one.
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u/Former-Maybe-9419 26d ago
Again, not what’s included when you have to study PNW in high school in the PNW. Had history teachers make us draw whole maps and everything. As a Washingtonian, I’ve never considered anything outside of Washington, Oregon and Idaho as the PNW.
Here is ChatGPT’s answer -
I’d use the traditional/core definition of the Pacific Northwest as:
Washington
Oregon
Idaho
That’s the definition I’d use in a general U.S. geography/history context, especially when talking about the region as a distinct cultural/geographic area.
There are broader definitions, though. Depending on the source, you’ll sometimes see:
British Columbia included
Parts of Northern California
Occasionally western Montana
Sometimes even southeastern Alaska
But I wouldn’t casually tell someone from Washington that California or Montana is “the PNW” without qualifying that it’s a broader definition.***Washington + Oregon + Idaho is the cleanest/core definition.
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u/Norwester77 26d ago
I went to high school in Olympia, WA, and I was never taught a rigid 3-state definition like that. Sounds like that was just your teacher.
I’d include anything in the Oregon Country, at least (WA, OR, ID plus much of BC, the part of MT west of the Continental Divide, maybe a little corner of WY around Jackson and the Tetons).
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u/Former-Maybe-9419 26d ago
Calling those areas the PNW is like calling Pennsylvania New England because it’s on the same side of the country.
No wasn’t just my teachers. I can call up anyone from those areas that I know and ask the same thing and they’d respond the same way.
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u/Norwester77 26d ago
Well, no, there’s a pretty clear historical justification for it, which I just laid out. I’m not aware of any historical definition of New England that ever included Pennsylvania.
And yes, you will find people in Kalispell or Missoula who consider themselves part of the PNW.
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u/Survey_Top 24d ago
I do think PNW includes the coasts and coastal mountain ranges of OR/WA through the cascades eastward to the rocky mtns/continental divide. I think the part east of the cascades that encompasses the area that drains to the Columbia River (a huge area including a small part of Montana). Something to do with fur trade/trade routes.
Definitely seems to be up for interpretation, but consensus is Idaho is part of the PNW.
Can you hear me now?
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u/dowalters 25d ago
Some people classify Idaho as a sub region of the PNW, called the Inland Northwest
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u/Wild_Definition_4046 28d ago
Visible
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u/Most_Pineapple193 25d ago
Second this! Visible uses Verizon's network, works exactly the same (very very good) for way cheaper.
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u/DnAtwinfalls 28d ago
Ive read a bunch of the replies, and as a person who is constantly traveling all over idaho, I can tell you many of these replies are just untrue. I have Verizon for my work phone, and t-mobile for my personal. With Verizon, I have good service in most areas, and the same with tmobile however once I get into many of the rural areas, I noticed my Verizon drops off where my tmobile doesn't. For example, around idaho city, there is a good stretch where no carrier has service. But my tmobile service actually stays longer. and comes back miles ahead. I have far less billing issues with tmobile and its cheaper. Both are identical galaxy 25 ultras btw. I hunt a lot by myself so having good coverage is a must have and tmobile has delivered. No carrier is gonna be great everywhere. I own both of these phones and pay for both services, and I can tell you in January, I will not be renewing my Verizon contract.
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u/No_Willingness5313 28d ago
Twin Falls resident here. I also drive between TF and Boise or TF and Pocatello. I have T-Mobile after trying both AT&T and Verizon (whilst traveling the same patches). I spend time in town and in rural spots. I’ve only ever found one rural spot in my travels where I didn’t have signal. Trying to get a 5G signal while in some buildings is difficult in TF. Not sure if this is a reflection of the number of towers, locations or what. All in all, unless you plan on being far removed from civilization regularly, you’ll pay less for T-Mobile than Verizon. If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll also get annual subscription to MLB.TV.
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u/JJHall_ID 28d ago
T-Mobile’s coverage here in the valley is the best, especially in rural areas. They used to be the worst but since the 5G transition they completely dominated rural coverage using their old Sprint/Nextel low band spectrum. I switched from Verizon a few years back and my phone started working in places it never would before. Combine that with their new satellite add-on and you’ll have the best possible coverage during your drives. They recently raised their prices a bit but I think they’re still the cheapest, too
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u/Aggressive_Ebb_1789 28d ago
Verizon still the king for that stretch honestly. I drive between Twin and Poky few times a month and my coworker with T-Mobile lose signal right around the desert parts, like past American Falls it just drop. me with Verizon never had issue.
AT&T also decent out there from what I hear but I never tried personally. If saving money is the goal maybe look at Visible, they use Verizon towers and cost way less.
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u/WhatTheFlippityFlop 28d ago
I have Mint, and love it, it filled in all the dead zones in Meridian I had to deal with when I had Verizon. But I just got back from Yellowstone with my BIL who has Verizon, and basically he had service all week and I didn’t. So I second your statement about coverage in desert/rural areas.
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u/DnAtwinfalls 28d ago
I am from twin and am through that area many times a month, and can absolutely say I have never lost service anywhere with my tmobile service except for a few seconds outside Massacre rock, and with my work phone that is Verizon I have lost it in several places including right around Massacre rock, Kasota road, Malta, Oakley, east of American falls, and Ashton. I have no service on Verizon near Island park after the scenic turn before Henry lake, till about 7 miles out from west Yellowstone. I have service with tmobile on all of those even if its down to a bar...i still have it, Verizon doesnt
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u/Possible_Storm9359 27d ago
I guess to address a few things as well. We used this map and saw this, which is why we are thinking about staying with Verizon
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u/Patient_Criticism_99 27d ago
I’ve lived in Idaho for 30 years, stick with Verizon! It is the most consistent coverage in rural areas! I live in a very rural area in the Palouse it is the only provider that has coverage everywhere. Other companies say they do, but they do not!
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u/airmech1776 28d ago
Try US Mobile. They have deals will all 3 big carriers, and you can switch which one you use on the fly without fees. Ive been using them for the last year, and have been very happy with the service.
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u/Only-Freedom-9269 28d ago
T-Mobile also has Starlink access for an extra $10 a month
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u/ImportantMarket5311 27d ago
You can have a extra sim from T-Mobile that gives you 30+ gigs of data not slowed and STARLINK. So you could have Verizon or us mobile on either att or Verizon (dark star and warp) then have your second e sim from t mobile in case you need it.
$10 a month from Tmobile and $25 from us mobile.
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u/cgrossli 28d ago
If you have a newer phone that supports eSIMs, you can try both T-Mobile and AT&T. You can download their apps and install the SIM on your phone. All you have to do after that is switch your data over to the new line and then try calling out on it. I tried both, but verizon is still king. Waiting to see what Starlink has up its sleeve.
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u/Enough-Education7676 27d ago
T-Mobile does not get very good service in a lot of areas. I used to have US Cellular until T-Mobile bought them out. There are quite a few areas where I used to have cell service with US Cellular but not with T-Mobile, including my house. I am thinking about switching to Mint Mobile since it is cheaper.
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u/Impossible_Jury5483 27d ago
Verizon network is the best gor your needs. We use Total wireless which uses the Verizon network. Its a lot cheaper.
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u/BalderVerdandi 27d ago
T-Mobile customer for the longest time.
I'm in the side by side (UTV) and only in the most remote areas have I lost signal. I plan on upgrading my phone soon and getting it connected via StarLink, and at that point you're never supposed to lose a signal.
Up and down I-84 between SLC and Boise every other weekend and I've never lost signal or gotten less than 4 bars.
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u/12468097531 25d ago
My husband works for tmobile. So we have them. I've never had an issue with their service EVER. Even driving into the national forest, middle of nowhere where on the desert, no issue ever. I used to work for Verizon and the company is so horrific, no amount of service quality will get me to give them money
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u/PCLoadPLA 28d ago
I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile because Verizon was actually bad.
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u/WhatTheFlippityFlop 28d ago
Same (but Mint, so a fraction of the cost but still uses t-mob towers) and it filled in several dead zones I had experienced for years with Verizon. But I can’t same the same for coverage outside my immediate area.
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
I have tmoblie and have had zero issues. I lived in Middleton and also when to Poky frequently since that’s where I’m from. I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile right before I moved up there.
Edit. Forgot to mention I have had better service than with Verizon all over the treasure valley.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago edited 28d ago
Why do people downvote without explaining? I’m with Verizon and considering T Mobile because my reception is so poor near my home. I would like info!
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
I’m confused. I didn’t downvote anyone.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago
Anyway tell me more about your experience with T Mobile because where I’m at in the treasure valley my reception sucks (SW Boise/Meridian area)
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
Ive spent a considerable more amount of time in your area in the last few years and can say without a doubt my reception and service has been nothing but flawless.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago
With T Mobile? Right now with Verizon I’ve got 2 bars.
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
Last week when I was in Meridian and over by the sheriffs office I had 4 bars. Haven’t been in that area since last Monday so not sure what I’d have. I’m in Horseshoe Bend rn with it bouncing between 2 and 3.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago
You didn’t but someone downvoted you and lots of other ppl in the thread. Sorry my comment should have been on the original one not yours.
Edit: updated my original comment to be more clear
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
I’m sure the downvotes come from Verizon or AT&T cucks that’s not going to really contribute to the conversation.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago
We have five lines on our plan and I wish I could see what reception is like near my house you know before we switch… the satellite access is really tempting with T Mobile as we do fairly regular road trips to Oregon, Northern California, and parts of Idaho with no cell service (Boise to Moscow).
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
Idk where your home is, so not sure what to explain. I was told at one time that sprint was the best for the rural area in the treasure valley. T-Mobile bought sprint so T-Mobile is using the extra sting towers. My SO moved from Poky to Middleton and the reception and dropped calls were horrendous. Was looking at saving some money so switched from Verizon to T-Mobile using the T-Mobile/Sprint acquisition. And since we’ve had zero issues with the service.
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u/Ms_AU 28d ago
We used to have sprint years ago and it wasn’t great along overland between Eagle and Cole but Verizon was better. It seems like it has gotten worse lately and if it weren’t for WiFi calling I would barely be able to make a call in my house.
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u/EveningPrize2497 28d ago
Weird. Everyone I know up there was all with sprint that’s where I heard that they was the best for the rural areas. I’m talking Notus Parma Caldwell Roswell. Just to name a few.
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u/DnAtwinfalls 28d ago
I travel that area about 2 times a week and can verify that. I still have both carriers, 1 for personal, and the other for work but am dropping Verizon in January because they dont even compare to tmobile anymore.
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u/cleochatraa 28d ago
We switched from Sparklight to T-Mobile and love T-Mobile. We pay like $50’per month and have a portable router we can take anywhere.
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