How is iPhone reliability in San Diego?

July 4, 2010 7:59 AM

How is iPhone reliability in San Diego?

I'm going to be in San Diego for the first time in a couple of weeks. (During Comic Con, though sadly I am not going to it ...)

I have an iPhone 3G, or maybe a 4 if I break down and go get one today like I think I might. Around these parts (D.C.) I also carry a Verizon phone, because the AT&T service is *so* bad that I can't reliably make and complete a call. (I don't want to be that guy, but for personal reasons I have to be reachable. Please don't judge.)

What say you, San Diego-area iPhone users? Can I get by with only one phone on vacation, or should I bring both just in case?

posted by mccxxiii to Technology (6 answers total)

I am reading this from an iPhone in San Diego. You'll be just fine with the iPhone, especially downtown. Actually hearing the phone ring over the crazy is another story.
posted by changeling at 8:31 AM on July 4, 2010

From my varying experiences at SXSW, I would say it'll depend on whether AT&T deploys extra mobile towers. Our phones worked fine the last time we were in San Diego, but that was without half of humanity also being there with their iPhones and iPads.

I would take both phones.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:41 AM on July 4, 2010

I live downtown and the service is mostly good on my iPhone 3G. ATT does deploy additional capacity when there are bigger shows at the convention center so the it should be mostly good if your downtown near the convention center/Petco/Gaslamp. Having a VZN phone if you're in the area might help because even with additional capacity, there's not infinite capacity.

You mention not going to ComicCon but don't say where you'll be while here. If you're in anywhere the city or suburbs things are fine. However, in remote hiking trails and one time I was below the cliffs on the beach La Jolla the signal does get weak as there's physical natural barriers to getting the signal. The signal also gets weak, obviously, offshore so if you're out on a boat you won't see full bars.
posted by birdherder at 9:55 AM on July 4, 2010

Bf is playing with his iPhone 4 next to me here in La Jolla (well north of downtown) and he says no real problems.

I am with Verizon and I have not experienced a dropped call here in months or maybe over a year. If you absolutely need to be reachable, couldn't hurt to bring your other phone.
posted by slow graffiti at 12:27 PM on July 4, 2010

We spent sprint bareak in Carlsbad and went to site seeing stuff in San Diego March of this year. iPhone & AT&T was fine then until I dropped it.
posted by thilmony at 3:37 PM on July 4, 2010

My iPhone is fine in San Diego, where I live and use it as my sole phone on a daily basis. However, if you're staying anywhere near downtown/Comic Con, I'd still bring your Verizon phone just as a back-up. The network isn't very overloaded here normally, which I think is why I've not had any major problems, but with the huge influx of people I'd anticipate at least a possibility of problems cropping up.
posted by booknerd at 8:56 AM on July 5, 2010