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Stadium cell phone service - Any improvement?

RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove

RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove

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Aug 7, 2001
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Does anybody know if anything has been done to improve the cell phone service in the stadium for this season? I'm in row 14 (lower tier) and in the past it's been horrible. I have Verizon on an iphone.

Here's my dilemma. My wife is due with baby #2 on September 15. Understandably, she's decided that she's going to skip the Howard game. Since I have no idea how many games I'll be able to make this season, I really want to be able to go on the 10th. The wife is concerned about being able to contact me quickly though.
 
LOL
I never had cell issues in the stadium and we go to every single home game.

Surprised you're having issues with VZ... thought verizon was the best and most expensive.

I use shitty Tmobile and it's been perfectly fine, LTE stays blazing
 
My daughter was born on opening day of the 1998 season. It was a night game against Richmond. Luckily I stayed home and ended up listening to the game on the radio in the delivery room. Terrible game - Rutgers won by a 7-6 score.

One think I can tell you is that if you go on the 10th and she goes into labor while your at the game, you certainly will not make any other games that year. Your best strategy might be to miss that one in hope of gaining marital points that can be used for a real game.
 
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BigLou said:
My daughter was born on opening day of the 1998 season. It was a night game against Richmond. Luckily I stayed home and ended up listening to the game on the radio in the delivery room. Terrible game - Rutgers won by a 7-6 score.

One think I can tell you is that if you go on the 10th and she goes into labor while your at the game, you certainly will not make any other games that year. Your best strategy might be to miss that one in hope of gaining marital points that can be used for a real game.
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Solid advice right there. Give a little to get a lot.
My Verizon service was horrible 2 years ago, and I recall it being OK last year. I am in the second to last row in Section 107.
 
Didn't you guys notice the many mini-cell antennas that were added all around the perimeter of the stadium before last season.
There was also a cell tower installed behind the bubble.

Cell service was not a problem last year at all. I had 4G all the time.
 
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RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove said:
Does anybody know if anything has been done to improve the cell phone service in the stadium for this season? I'm in row 14 (lower tier) and in the past it's been horrible. I have Verizon on an iphone.

Here's my dilemma. My wife is due with baby #2 on September 15. Understandably, she's decided that she's going to skip the Howard game. Since I have no idea how many games I'll be able to make this season, I really want to be able to go on the 10th. The wife is concerned about being able to contact me quickly though.
Click to expand...
Are you willing to miss the birth of your child or being there for your wife in case of emergency for a football game against Howard? I love going to games but I would rather be at my wife side in case something happens then watching a rent a victim game that I have seen 100 times. If you got stuck in traffic and was not there would you say seeing a Howard game was worth it. Not only but do you think your wife would let you live it down? Pretty selfish if you ask me.
 
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Thanks for the feedback. I guess it's not surprising that there are different experiences with the service. Curious where the people that get a good signal sit.

As for making games the rest of the season, we've already set up rules. The wife accepts that she's not making any games this year. Oh and we have a one year-old. So if I go to a day game, the one year-old is coming with me. If it's a night game, the one year-old will not be going and I'll go to the game as long as we've got one of the grandmothers in the house. I've already begun negotiating with my mother and mother-in-law for scheduling.
 
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PSU_Nut said:
Are you willing to miss the birth of your child or being there for your wife in case of emergency for a football game against Howard? I love going to games but I would rather be at my wife side in case something happens then watching a rent a victim game that I have seen 100 times. If you got stuck in traffic and was not there would you say seeing a Howard game was worth it. Not only but do you think your wife would let you live it down? Pretty selfish if you ask me.
Click to expand...

See my reply. Who said anything about missing the birth of my child? How many you got?
 
I am a Verizon customer and have never not had issues at Rutgers Stadium. I would not risk it. It's Howard.
 
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First, since it's Howard it might not be a sellout and the crowd will definitely thin out by the second half. That will significantly improve your service.

Second, was your first kid born early, on-time, or late? Is your wife concerned about you missing the birth or just not being available if she needs you? If it's the second, you should probably just stay home. It's not worth it... Especially for Howard.

Third, You couldn't move conception up four weeks? Rookie mistake to have a kid during the season.
 
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Wow! You're thinking of going to the Howard game and risking not being there for your wife if she goes into labor with your second child?

I'm considering skipping the Howard game so I can be home to walk the dog.

It is friggin' Howard. It is a noon start in the early September sun. Other than the fact that it is part of the season ticket package and it is still a football game, there is almost nothing compelling about going to this game.
 
RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove said:
See my reply. Who said anything about missing the birth of my child? How many you got?
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Just because you get the phone call doesn't mean you can be there in time. I have been stuck for hours in traffic after an event due to an accident or just traffic. When you have that many cars in an area for an event it doesn't take a huge accident to back things up. I have also seen the fear in my wife's eyes as we sat and waited for test results after she slipped and fell when she was pregnant. I would not have wanted her to go through that alone because I wanted to attend some game that I could watch on TV and already knew the outcome and a certainly would not have wanted to miss a birth because of it. I didn't go to any games her third trimester simply because I wanted to be with her just incase something happened.
 
@Upstream Well, let's not go crazy either. Seeing friends, tailgating, being out of the house from your 8 month pregnant wife... None of these can be overstated.

Not to mention our first look at the new era of Rutgers Football in person. And maybe the first time seeing them at all with this Pac12 network ridiculousness.
 
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tychicus said:
LOL
I never had cell issues in the stadium and we go to every single home game.

Surprised you're having issues with VZ... thought verizon was the best and most expensive.

I use shitty Tmobile and it's been perfectly fine, LTE stays blazing
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I have Verizon as well and my cell phone is useless in the stadium during games.
 
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Why not skip the Howard game and enjoy one of the last weekends your 1 year old will actually be the center of attention? Enjoy the last opportunity to enjoy your family of 3.
 
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ATIOH said:
First, since it's Howard it might not be a sellout and the crowd will definitely thin out by the second half. That will significantly improve your service.

Second, was your first kid born early, on-time, or late? Is your wife concerned about you missing the birth or just not being available if she needs you? If it's the second, you should probably just stay home. It's not worth it... Especially for Howard.

Third, You couldn't move conception up four weeks? Rookie mistake to have a kid during the season.
Click to expand...

I should clarify a few things. First, the actual due date is Sept. 22. We're scheduled for the 15th because it has to be a cesearean, not that that makes much of a difference. Second, I understand that it's "just Howard," but I'm more likely to make a game/tailgate before the baby than afterwards. My wife will be thrilled to sit at home laying on the couch watching the game if I'm out with baby #1. She just wants access to me should the need arise.

Lastly, for those noticing the timing in terms of the first baby and football season... our first one took years and doctors. This one, well, I pretty much gave my wife a funny look. To say this one wasn't planned is an understatement.
 
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Raritan83 said:
Why not skip the Howard game and enjoy one of the last weekends your 1 year old will actually be the center of attention? Enjoy the last opportunity to enjoy your family of 3.
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The OP already said he will take the 1 year old to day games. IMHO, the kid will get more attention bonding one-on-one with his dad at the game, vs adding a very pregnant wife to the mix and staying home.
 
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RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove said:
I should clarify a few things. First, the actual due date is Sept. 22. We're scheduled for the 15th because it has to be a cesearean, not that that makes much of a difference. Second, I understand that it's "just Howard," but I'm more likely to make a game/tailgate before the baby than afterwards. My wife will be thrilled to sit at home laying on the couch watching the game if I'm out with baby #1. She just wants access to me should the need arise.

Lastly, for those noticing the timing in terms of the first baby and football season... our first one took years and doctors. This one, well, I pretty much gave my wife a funny look. To say this one wasn't planned is an understatement.
Click to expand...
I was going to ask about it being a c-section, but thought it more polite to be vague.

I think most mothers would enjoy and appreciate the occasional "day off" from the one year old. Good job. It's not an easy thing taking your kid to the stadium at that age.

I was in the exact same situation for my first two kids. Number one took a lot of trying and the second one was very unexpected and during the season.
 
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PSU_Nut said:
Just because you get the phone call doesn't mean you can be there in time. I have been stuck for hours in traffic after an event due to an accident or just traffic. When you have that many cars in an area for an event it doesn't take a huge accident to back things up. I have also seen the fear in my wife's eyes as we sat and waited for test results after she slipped and fell when she was pregnant. I would not have wanted her to go through that alone because I wanted to attend some game that I could watch on TV and already knew the outcome and a certainly would not have wanted to miss a birth because of it. I didn't go to any games her third trimester simply because I wanted to be with her just incase something happened.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your experience.

Because it's just Howard, I'm not worried at all about getting in and out of there quickly if necessary. Hell, having my daughter with me will guarantee that I'm not staying for the whole game anyway.

My wife is still commuting into the city through the end of the month. I worry about that constantly, especially in this heat, but I accept that I can't be with her every moment of every day. Frankly, I think she gets a little annoyed with me when I beg her to work from home more. As for Sept. 10, if she were to tell me she wanted me to stay home, I wouldn't hesitate in my decision. As things stand now though, she'll enjoy the peace and quiet and maybe even a nap while my daughter and I are seeing what trouble we can get into. Bottom line is that everybody's circumstances and spousal relationships are different

Peace. If we both manage to make it to Rutgers vs. PSU, you're welcome to stop by my tailgate and we can toast fatherhood.
 
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Interesting how our experiences conflict.
I've got Verizon and I'm lucky to get my texts, have constant "call failed" and rarely am I able to pull up an out of town score.
 
zappaa said:
Interesting how our experiences conflict.
I've got Verizon and I'm lucky to get my texts, have constant "call failed" and rarely am I able to pull up an out of town score.
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I'm with you Zappa. Verizon also and I can rarely get online as well. Or it's extremely slow. I think texting was better last year for me.
 
zappaa said:
Interesting how our experiences conflict.
I've got Verizon and I'm lucky to get my texts, have constant "call failed" and rarely am I able to pull up an out of town score.
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I'm really surprised to hear this as there were at least 20 Cellular antennas spaced around the stadium beginning last season. They are easy to see on the roofs of bathrooms and concessions in the South end zone, for example.
 
Scarlet16E said:
I'm really surprised to hear this as there were at least 20 Cellular antennas spaced around the stadium beginning last season. They are easy to see on the roofs of bathrooms and concessions in the South end zone, for example.
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Distribute antenna systems provide coverage but not necessarily capacity. They do a great job in the dead spots in a stadium but there still a choke point where they connect back.
 
Message Board Guy: My wife is pregnant and I have questions about cell phone service.
The Internet: You're a lousy parent and should kill yourself.

Interwebz are srs bizness.
 
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Better but still unreliable for "the call". Coverage varies throughout the stadium and even section. You might be able to find a good spot if coverage is poor in your seat. I was amazed how bad Verizon coverage was where we sat for the spring game. Still, its Howard. Let it go.

My nephews wife was due around now and I am looking at a picture of their 1 week old.
 
miketd1 said:
I would actually be double-checking the internet service/streaming options at the hospital, LOL
Click to expand...

I have Verizon and cell service is awful when there is close to full house and big games. They've brought in supplemental service trucks but those haven't really improved things.

I'm pretty sure they added Wi-Fi recently but for some reason I think you had to pay. If your wife has Apple also, message would go over data service / network rather than cell.
 
Verizon does tend to be poor and I suspect if you are lower to the field the temporary towers may not be the much help. It's much easier to send signal up rather than down. I think there is Wi-Fi in the stadium. I think you have to pay for it. Likely to have the same challenge. Another idea you might consider is trading with someone who has tickets further up for this reason. Capacity issues likely won't come into play since there isn't likely to be huge crowd or lots of usage that sometimes happens when there is exciting stuff happening or homecoming, etc.

Congrats. #2 means you will actually have to start chipping in
 
Wow, great to see people jumping all over the OP for his choice instead of helping to answer his questions. Quintessential NJ Eat Your Own behavior!
RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove said:
As for making games the rest of the season, we've already set up rules. The wife accepts that she's not making any games this year. Oh and we have a one year-old. So if I go to a day game, the one year-old is coming with me. If it's a night game, the one year-old will not be going and I'll go to the game as long as we've got one of the grandmothers in the house. I've already begun negotiating with my mother and mother-in-law for scheduling.
Click to expand...
So will you be at Howard with your 1yo? That could be a brutal game heat-wise so be ready to make a quick exit if you have to.

By the way, love the planning, and I'm sure the grandmothers will be thrilled to have a toddler grandchild to spoil outrageously, er, I mean, look after.
 
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DJ Spanky said:
Wow, great to see people jumping all over the OP for his choice instead of helping to answer his questions. Quintessential NJ Eat Your Own behavior!

So will you be at Howard with your 1yo? That could be a brutal game heat-wise so be ready to make a quick exit if you have to.

By the way, love the planning, and I'm sure the grandmothers will be thrilled to have a toddler grandchild to spoil outrageously, er, I mean, look after.
Click to expand...

Spank, weather will definitely be a factor for bring the one year-old to any games. I'm surprised I haven't been call into question for that one yet. I'd probably put the chances of me actually making it on Sept. 10 at 50/50. I'm just taking everything into consideration including being able to get a cell phone call.

Oh, and I'm not twisting arms when it comes to the grandmothers. I'm pretty confident I'll make night games this year.
 
Back in 1973 when my son was born, I drove my wife to the hospital around 8pm and didn't see her again until 9am after my son was born.
I spent those 13 hours in the 'Father's Waiting Room'. I could have taken in a basketball triple header and returned in plenty of time to get a good
nights sleep before my son was born. Times sure have changed.
 
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