3G problem on new Kindle touch

[mooshie78]

I got my mom a Kindle Touch 3G with special offers for Xmas. We couldn't get it to connect to 3G at all, which was odd as her K2 picks up full signal...not 3G but just the slower 1x cell Internet. My verizon iPhone also picks it up fine, and my mom has a Verizon mifi that she uses for home Internet as its faster than dial up which is their only other option out here in the sticks....other than the overpriced satellite Internet anyway.

Has amazon changed 3G providers since the K2 and maybe it's not picking up well as verizon is the only cell tower near them?  I'm hoping its just a defective wireless card as it was having some trouble with the wifi connection as well. So we have a replacement coming. But I'm worried the new one won't work any better. She doesn't really want to hassle with using the mifi to download books as she's often close to her data usage limit most months.

[Kathy]

I believe they use AT&T not Verizon. 

[mooshie78]

Did they change since the Kindle 2?  Her K2 connects fine.

[Ann in Arlington]

The first K2's were Sprint as I recall.  Then they switched to ATT maybe 6 months later when they started selling them internationally.

Did you check the coverage map? Most areas should be covered, barring any localized dead zones. . . .

[mooshie78]

Thats probably it then as the K2 is the US3G only model. AT&T doesn't pick up at their house out in the sticks.

Verizon is pretty strong and I guess sprint must share their cell tower out here.

Wish Amazon would use Verizon as their coverage is a ton better than AT&T in general. I've never had a time where I didn't have reception on my Verizon phone and someone I was with had signal on their AT&T phone. While the reverse has been true numerous times.

[mooshie78]

The new one didn't pick up the 3G either, so it's just that they're in a cold spot for AT&T.

She's going to keep it and just use the wifi from her Verizon mifi as the better contrast screen is a lot easier for her to see than the old K2 screen.  Hopefully AT&T will upgrade their coverage in the area in the future.  The didn't get any service at home at all until Verizon put up a new cell tower a couple miles from their house a couple of years ago.