T-Mobile "good" coverage?

[Silly Ducklings]

I'm on verizon ATM, in the "extended 4g" area on the data map, but i never get over 3 bars of 3g...  I'm thinking about switching to T-Mobile and getting the unlimited data plan, but where i live is in the "good" section on their data map (this data map > http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage.html), does that mean the same thing it means on the verizon data map? (good=1-2 bars of 3g:extended 4g=1-2 bars of 3g)  Right now i can't even make calls from my house without problems.  My voice doesn't go through some times, it drops them on a regular basis, so SOMETHING has to change.  I have an iPhone 5, not sure that makes a difference or not...

 

Looked this up on the internet and couldn't find any info on how they scale their data map ratings, so hopefully some of you guys use T-Mobile and know what this means. (they say you'll be able to use 4g and calls will be very clear in the "good" area, but i have a hard time believing it to be honest)

 

I'm almost positive that nobody will have the answer to my question, so if you don't know just let me know where i can go to get an answer, maybe a 3rd party coverage map that's accurate to real world performance, something like that would really help out.  Or just give me a quick couple of words on if you're happy or unhappy  with T-Mobile if that's the provider you use.

[Superspeed07]

T-mobile works well in big cities but outside of that it is meh, though I just went on a trip across nebraska and had 4g with roaming the entire way.

[QueenDemetria]

Looked this up on the internet and couldn't find any info on how they scale their data map ratings, so hopefully some of you guys use T-Mobile and know what this means. (they say you'll be able to use 4g and calls will be very clear in the "good" area, but i have a hard time believing it to be honest)

Hi Silly Ducklings, its honestly varies by area but at least where I live(middle of nowhere Colorado) "Good" on 4G LTE is 25 down and 6 up. Now, if you would have asked this a week ago my answer would have been different since they literally just put up a new tower, but I used to be in an edge only area and the only rating they gave it was "2G". 

[Silly Ducklings]

Whoa, 25 down would be black magic where I am.  Hmmmmm...  I used this coverage map to check it out > http://opensignal.comand the t-mobile signal where i am looks pretty dodgy compared to even verizon in my area, which is pretty much as sucky as it can be.  Is this a reliable source for this kind of stuff?  If it is, i guess i'll just have to be content with terrible service where i live, because according to that verizon is my best bet.

 

Also, while i'm here asking about T-Mobile, is it possible to root a note 4 on t-mobile and tether the 4g to a computer to use it as internet? (or maybe do it without a root? i'm just switching from IOS to android so IDK what you have to do to unlock certain features) There's a 5GB cap on the mobile hotspot for T-Mobile, but if i could use the 4G without a cap for my gaming rig, i would be able to completely throw out my current wifi, which is only 6 down.

[jag3498]

Have you considered trying T-Mobile Test Drive? They will ship you an iPhone for free (They do put a hold on your credit card tho), and let you test it for 7 days. This way you could get a good idea of what the coverage really would be. And yes, if you root there are methods to get around the tethering restrictions. 

[Silly Ducklings]

Have you considered trying T-Mobile Test Drive? They will ship you an iPhone for free (They do put a hold on your credit card tho), and let you test it for 7 days. This way you could get a good idea of what the coverage really would be. And yes, if you root there are methods to get around the tethering restrictions. 

Well that pretty much solves my problem then! Thanks man.