George Goble <ghg@en.ecn.purdue.edu> (12/28/89)
There is a comprehensive publication called "Cellmaps", in loose leaf
binder format, updated 4 times/year, published by "Cellular
Directions, Inc". This is pretty much the industry standard I have
heard. Subscription is around $200/year I think. Most cellular
customer service depts subscribe, so you should be able to ask them to
look it up in Cellmaps.
Info included is coverage areas, compiled from all the company
published coverage areas, for USA, & Canada. Also listed are billing
plans, Roaming numbers, emergency, and "trouble" numbers (like *611),
and other carrier info numbers, and "follow me roaming" status.
Reciprocal roaming agreements between companies are listed in detail
as are system configurations (system I.D. #, number of cellsites, mfgr
of their equipment, phone numbers of various directors in the company,
etc, etc).
Chapter on "future service areas", listing RSA (rural service area)
lottery winners, current status of RSA's, when construction permits
were filed, estimated "turn up" date, phone numbers of parties
involved, etc, etc.
Also published, are a nation wide coverage map, wall size for around
$18 or so, and 8-1/2" X 11" for about $3. This is nice to have. They
also publish a paperback (once/year), called "Roamer's handbook"
(around $15), which is a scaled down Cellmaps, but contains the
coverage maps, roamer ports, contact numbers, etc. For $15, no
cellular user should be without the Roamer's Handbook & the nationwide
coverage map.
Above items are available from:
Cellular Directions, Inc
P.O. Box 66843
Saint Petersburg Beach
Florida 33736-6843
(813) 345-6150
They take credit-card phone orders.
George Goble, Engineering Computer Network, Purdue U, W. Lafayette, IN 47907
ph: (317) 494-3545. uucp: {backbone}!pur-ee!ghg internet: ghg@purdue.edu