1x does not mean you are roaming, there are still places were I live and travel still to this day that are 1x and have not upgraded to evdo.
Example: Laredo, Texas is a 1x network, anybody from Laredo can vouch for that
Now if you are seeing a bouncing of EV/1x or at least seeing the EV icon on the TP every once in a while in that area there is a cab to force EV, but remember you will lose voice/text...since that runs on the 1x network. If not then again your are just in a 1x network area period.