Verizon 4G not coming to Ames

**dundermifflin** · 10-10-2011, 09:57 AM

Unless I am reading this article incorrectly, Verizon 4G will not be coming to Ames at the same time it is up in Des Moines / Ankeny.

Des Moines area to get Verizon’s 4G network Nov. 17 | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

**keepngoal** · 10-10-2011, 10:09 AM

Verizon store manger in CR says by years end for CR.

**BigJCy** · 10-10-2011, 10:10 AM

Appears that way, which stinks.

**3TrueFans** · 10-10-2011, 10:13 AM

I'm probably in the minority but I'm going to say that I can get by without 4G.

**RyCy04** · 10-10-2011, 10:17 AM

4G doesn't reach very far. I have coverage here in Omaha but if I go to my friend's house in Gretna (8 miles away) I can barely get 3G coverage.
And I didn't think 4G would be very impressive. I was wrong. I downloaded a program of just under 1 GB in just over 10 minutes using 4G.

**HiltonMagic** · 10-10-2011, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

I'm probably in the minority but I'm going to say that I can get by without 4G.

I thought this too, until we got 4G here. Now I hate it when I can only get 3G. 4G is amazing.

**M6WS6** · 10-10-2011, 10:26 AM

My phone got 4g in traveling through and stopping to eat at Iowa City this weekend. Faster than hell, really makes me want 4g in Ames/Des Moines sooner than later..

**Let's Go State** · 10-10-2011, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by RyCy04

4G doesn't reach very far. I have coverage here in Omaha but if I go to my friend's house in Gretna (8 miles away) I can barely get 3G coverage.
And I didn't think 4G would be very impressive. I was wrong. I downloaded a program of just under 1 GB in just over 10 minutes using 4G.

Does it show 4G on your phone? I have a blackberry and have only seen 3G on it when in omaha. I live in Glenwood, so I'm stuck with 1X most of the time.

**RyCy04** · 10-10-2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Let's Go State

Does it show 4G on your phone? I have a blackberry and have only seen 3G on it when in omaha. I live in Glenwood, so I'm stuck with 1X most of the time.

Yes it does but you have to have a 4G capable phone. Blackberry doesn't make a 4G phone.

**alarson** · 10-10-2011, 11:10 AM

I would bet Ames isnt far behind. Verizon's rolling this out quickly, id bet they'll flip ames 4g on sometime early next year. Maybe while theyre at it they can add some capacity so their network doesnt completely collapse whenever there's a football game.

**CompCy** · 10-10-2011, 11:12 AM

I have been hearing 2012 for Ames for quite a while. Not really surprising with all the fiber that is currently being run in Ames to the cell towers. Even over the weekend I saw spools of conduit and fiber sitting at one of the Verizon cell towers waiting to be deployed.

**ribsnwhiskey** · 10-10-2011, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by CompCy

I have been hearing 2012 for Ames for quite a while. Not really surprising with all the fiber that is currently being run in Ames to the cell towers. Even over the weekend I saw spools of conduit and fiber sitting at one of the Verizon cell towers waiting to be deployed.

I was at the verizon store last month. The guy I talked to basically confirmed all this. Des Moines/Ankeny by the end of 2011. Ames next spring/summer hopefully. I'd like to know why the biggest metro area in the state isn't the priorty for a company like verizon. IC/CR before DSM/Ames seems backwards.

**cytech** · 10-10-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by HiltonMagic

I thought this too, until we got 4G here. Now I hate it when I can only get 3G. 4G is amazing.

I got to use Sprints 4G while traveling last year and I can say I really miss it. And now Sprint is going to ditch Wimax and build a LTE network so that means my wait could get even longer. They are claiming to be done with the LTE network by the end of 2013 but I have a hard time believing that knowing their past history. My only hope is maybe Iowa will be one of the ones getting it next year since we don't have much WiMax yet.

**Trice** · 10-10-2011, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by alarson

I would bet Ames isnt far behind. Verizon's rolling this out quickly, id bet they'll flip ames 4g on sometime early next year. Maybe while theyre at it they can add some capacity so their network doesnt completely collapse whenever there's a football game.

THIS, THIS, THIS, and THIS. Verizon service at ISU games this year has been awful. My phone's battery plunges dramatically just trying to do something simple like use the ESPN app to pull up other scores.