Wireless carriers typically advertise excellent coverage maps on their websites, while their applications for new cell sites sometimes make inconsistent claims. (Glendale’s draft wireless ordinance, up for final hearing next week, includes provisions for expert review of application claims.) A cell phone app that sends data to a third-party firm now gives consumers another source of information.
Pasadena residents who lobbied their city for cell tower justification studies sent along this CNET review of the interactive ROOT Wireless carrier coverage analysis.
Go to the website, pick a carrier, enter an address with zip code and a coverage map appears. The website is meant for use by potential cell phone buyers, but it could also be used to assess cell antenna applications.
According to Pasadena resident Raymond Quan:
The significance of this includes:
1. Objective coverage maps that are independent of carrier supplied data. Quality of the “real world” coverage maps explained in this link: http://www.rootwireless.com/methodology/technical_faq.php
2. Quality coverage maps from this company are potentially potent weapons to prove the lack of “significant gaps” and refute the claims of the carriers.
3. City Planning Departments can use these coverage maps for conducting justification studies. They will be less dependent on unverifiable carrier data or outside consultants who likely have conflicts of interest if they also do business with the cell carriers.
4. Root Wireless has separate maps covering voice, data, and network problems for 4 of the major cell companies. The network maps show dead spots.