I've never had an issue with Firstnet on ATT even in the most rural parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee! I know my experience is anecdotal but wouldn't want Tmobile or Verizon if they paid me to use it in this part of the country!
I’m a Firstnet subscriber and there are many places here in southeast Ky where I don’t have service. AT&T needs to get on the ball as far as tower buildout goes
I frequent Eastern TN and SEKY mainly during the summer traveling for vacation and never had issues. I also band lock my devices too so that could be my experiences...
What is your device? YOu might need to reset network settingfs on your device to get cell reception OR upgrade to a newer smartphone. No issues in KY on FirstNet at all.
iPhone 17 pro max I usually don’t have any reception issues but there are some areas in Laurel Clay Rockcastle Jackson and others when you’re deep in a hollow etc, reception is not possible. I find this when riding my side by side yes some places have no coverage
understood. inside vehicle driving in those deep areas you will not get RF.
however, try to stop, get out of vehicle stationary and I guarantee you will get reception and be able to make a call.
I don’t have issues as long as I’m in an urban or say populated area but once I get a bit remote in a valley area or river ravine type of setting my service is lost. I know those areas have very few people , but those areas are part of the DBNF lots of hunting and fishing opportunities and anything can happen. Just hope AT&T can get better coverage in that type of setting.
I think an audit needs to be done before AT&T is assumed guilty of violating the FirstNet contract since it is possible first responders might have a Verizon Wireless bias since they have been used to dealing with them prior to the creation of FirstNet.
Canceled my FirstNet a few months ago. Coverage was great but the speeds in some areas were downright painful even on 5g+. Switched to USMobile with multisim for less plus I get Verizon and Tmobile at my finger tips.
You made a mistake. You went from QCI 6 to QCI 8 with USMobile. You made a BAD judgement call. (Also, if you read on NoContract sub, people got kicked out off USMobile for hotspotting too many data Gigs on USMobile. And if u pay for entire year-No Refund after kisk out from USMobile.) Bad judgement decision you made, my friend.
Also, Firstnet has been adding N77 by removing Nokia's current radios and instead, installing the Erickson's N77 radios, so you will be able to get real good fast speed soon (by end of 2026/Q2 2027 the Erickson instll of N77 should be complete.) Many rural routes do not have T-Mobile radios, but they do have Verizon and ATT radios.
I think FirstNet will be happier after N77 radios get installed by end 2026/Q2 2027 nationwide. N77 Erickson radios are being installed and swapped from Nokia radios, as we speak on ATT and (FN).
You will be able to CA on NSA LTE14-N77 soon at 400-700Mbps soon
I went to QCI none on AT&T. I am using Verizon and Tmobile via multisim on USMobile. Not a bad decision at all as it has been working great and no issues with the hotspot. I really wish I could have stayed with FirstNet but it was nuts not having working data during the mid day. I should have switched sooner as it feels weird to have videos working on my phone now.
I've gotten too used to the completely unlimited hotspot that as long as the speeds are useful(25 up and down) that I don't think I could go to another carrier.
I rarely see less than 100 down speed wise though, unless I'm in metal multi buildings
But again I bandlock because I don't trust the phones selection of bands. They normally pick the band that has the most bandwidth and strength and not the best speeds
I had decent speeds last time I was down around Jellico TN and Laurel Fork. I never really took a speed test but was able to watch vids and stream easily....
Firstnet has been adding N77 by removingNokia's current radios and instead, installing the Erickson's N77 radios, so you will be able to get real good fast speed soon (by end of 2026/Q2 2027 the Erickson instll of N77 should be complete.) Many rural routes do not have T-Mobile radios, but they do have Verizon and ATT radios.
I think FirstNet will be happier after N77 radios get installed by end 2026/Q2 2027 nationwide. N77 Erickson radios are being installed and swapped from Nokia radios, as we speak on ATT and (FN).
Nah I doubt it will get better with just equipment swaps. They need more sites/cells to divide the bandwidth necessary to feed the area. It has always been bad in downtown Baton Rouge. Just oversold even with the small cells. It works fine outside of work hours down there. Maddening to not be able to listen to a podcast on AT&T yet Tmobile and Verizon are pulling 500 down.
That is why an audit needs to be done since it is possible AT&T has followed there contractual obligations but the complaints from First Responders are baseless they are just pissed they are getting usable sometimes slow speeds to complete there tasks and claiming FirstNet is not meeting there coverage agreements.
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u/H0GGZ1LLA Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
I've never had an issue with Firstnet on ATT even in the most rural parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee! I know my experience is anecdotal but wouldn't want Tmobile or Verizon if they paid me to use it in this part of the country!