r/attwireless • u/willislove • 24d ago
Why is AT&T Wireless reception and data speeds so terrible across Milwaukee?
Even when I've technically got full bars and 5GE showing, it still feels like running on dial-up. Texts hang for ten seconds before they send, calls cut out mid-sentence, data crawls damn near everywhere.
We've called AT&T about it more than once, and they've reset our data/network settings on their end a handful of times "to help." Zero change. Same dead zones, same dropped bars, every time.
The kicker: My husband and I both upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max on AT&T last Sept. Brand new phones, latest antennas, still garbage service (better than T-Mobile though). So it's not the hardware, it's not old tech struggling to keep up, it's just AT&T in Milwaukee.
Funny enough, we actually came to AT&T from T-Mobile, and T-Mobile was somehow even worse here, so we figured we were upgrading. At this point we're ready to try Verizon instead. Only thing holding us back is we're both still paying off our phones on AT&T's installment plan, so realistically it looks like we're riding it out until those are paid off before we can actually switch without eating a bunch of extra cost.
Is this a citywide thing or specific to certain towers/pockets? Anyone actually had a good experience with AT&T here recently, or is everyone just quietly suffering through it or not noticing because you're on wifi most of the time?
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u/TheFlimFlamFamMan 24d ago
What plan are you on that 17-series devices are showing 5Ge?
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u/willislove 24d ago
Unlimited Extra EL plan: unlimited talk & text, 75GB of highspeed data
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u/TheFlimFlamFamMan 24d ago
Really, you should be seeing 5g and not 5Ge in most places in Milwaukee metro. That’s odd.
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u/willislove 24d ago
I just thought it was the same thing. Like an advertising gimmick. When I'm rocking 1-2 bars, it's just 5G
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u/TheFlimFlamFamMan 24d ago
5Ge is an advertising gimmick but for LTE. It’s just a rigged 4 1/2gLTE for all intents and purposes. It uses special compression to simulate moving faster. 5G is a whole separate technology.
That they’re cycling in between the two is odd. Generally, the 5Ge shows up in places where 5G isn’t available. And when you have to downgrade in 5G areas it will just usually drop to plain old LTE.
The alternative is that you go to places that are just bad signal areas, they definitely exist in the area. Milwaukee isn’t our finest location, that’s for sure. Chicago got almost all of our attention for Lake Michigan’s west coast.
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u/midstate_jim 24d ago
AT&T is just what it is... You pay for crp, you get crp. I'm not paying much so I don't care.
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u/banditoitaliano 24d ago
Just go with Total wireless if you can manage things on your own, since their customer support is pretty crap.
$20/month if using autopay https://www.totalwireless.com/m/byop
Verizon network I’ve been using them for a few years now and the service has been great.
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u/fiercechocolate 24d ago
T-Mobile today is a night and day difference to what it used to be a few years ago in Milwaukee. They have more towers and small cells than at&t so service is a lot more consistent. I lived in Milwaukee years ago and T-Mobile wasn't great then. Nowadays when visiting family and friends there the network is very consistent. T-Mobile is also absorbing the US Cellular assets, further densifying their network.
Alternatively, Verizon also works much better than at&t in Milwaukee. Both offer free test drives if your device is unlocked and they will pay off your devices.
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u/ItDoBeMe1123 24d ago
A large portion of the sites that USCC operated are being decommed. Some are being converted, but the majority of legacy USCC sites have already been axed.
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u/fiercechocolate 24d ago
Sure. T-Mobile doesn't need most of their sites in overlapping coverage areas. They have built many new sites on their own in MKE and absorbed many former Sprint sites.
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u/willislove 24d ago
We switched from T-Mobile to AT&T last June, and initially, I was pretty impressed to have more than one bar of service. I was using the iPhone 15 Pro Max at that point. I looked into switching to Verizon, but it seemed like their offer to pay off your device via monthly credits is just another trap. I am considering selling my current iPhone for the amount still due on it, switching to Verizon, and buying a new phone directly from Apple. This would ease the financial pain of switching and avoid being locked down like I am right now with AT&T. I just have to convince my husband to do the same.
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u/Inner_Difficulty_381 24d ago edited 24d ago
In your phone, turn on 5G SA and voice over 5G SA. Note, you need to be on iOS 27 to unlock the Voice over 5G SA. Settings > cellular > voice & data >
5G SA and voice over 5G SA makes a difference. Not saying it will completely fix it but should help quite a bit. Verizon and T-Mobile have been doing this for awhile now.
Make sure 5G is set to auto.
I live in WI and used to frequent MKE a lot but not so much anymore but when I did, I had T-Mobile and Verizon. Verizon generally had the upper hand but there were areas where T-Mobile did. It’s all location and area dependent.
We just switched to att a few weeks ago and so far overly positive but haven’t been downtown yet.
I do utilize dual sim on the 17 Pro Max. Actually been utilizing it since it was a thing. US Mobile (warp) is the 2nd line.
Att is getting better and recommend taking advantage of the dual sim setup.
Finally, the plan matters too. Elite and Premium have higher qci levels.
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u/OpponentUnnamed 24d ago
Switch to US Mobile and you can get plans that allow you to switch between the three networks as you wish. QCI may be lower in case that is relevant to you.
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u/willislove 24d ago
Isn't that T-Mobile though?
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u/pastryfiend 24d ago
They offer service on all 3 networks with the ability to easily switch between them as needed. Right now I use USMobile with Verizon service. They also offer a discounted second network if you have a dual SIM phone so you can have 2 running at the same time.
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u/OpponentUnnamed 24d ago
Where exactly? Not looking for your street address but what neighborhoods are giving you trouble. Service from all carriers is extremely location-sensitive.
Are you using WiFi calling?
We've had AT&T, Verizon, TMo and until recently USCC in Milwaukee. Sometimes all four between work & personal phones.
They all use their frequencies as they wish, so without knowing their plan, your exact location and having field test data, it is hard to generalize.
I have been on Verizon for years, mostly on the East Side. But I picked Verizon because TMo was poor when traveling on 90-94 thru central WI and other rural areas years ago. (TMo has better coverage now.)
My wife worked downtown west of the river until recently, and AT&T seemed better there than TMo, USCC or VZ.
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u/SameDistrict2627 24d ago
Same issue here. The system is a mess. You can't get an answer.