Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Cell Phone For Truck

[radar doctor]

I am out in the Boonies with my work and i need to get some kind of phone that i can call for help if i need it. What phone works the best? And where can i get the best deal on Phone time? Can any of you put me on to a Company that has a real good deal on Cell Phones and a good Minutes Plan?? I need one with at least 500 minutes a month and No Roaming charges, What Companys are the best deals? Thanks Radar Doctor

 

[nfox]

Cell Phone

I got my phone through US Cellular and they good plans on min. packages. I have a hands free set up in my 96 ram and it works great!!

 

[Demon Dodge]

I have Verizon and contrary to their commercials it has lots of dead spots even here in southern ca. My son just got cingular and it works where mine doesn't. You can go online and research the available plans from all the major companies.

Good luck,

Rod

 

[stg2500]

I have been very satisfied with my Nextel. The coverage is good and there is no roaming or long distance charges.

 

[Pit Bull]

AT&T Wireless has the best coverage. Make sure you get a good digital phone that has the power. Not one of the little secret agent phones that are small with no power output. Ask a lot of questions and tell thm you need power in the boon docks.

 

[bighammer]

If you are only going to use it for a true emergency, any cell phone should work. (even without an active account) Find a friend who has upgraded and get their old one.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by bighammer

If you are only going to use it for a true emergency, any cell phone should work. (even without an active account) Find a friend who has upgraded and get their old one.

Thats a great point bighammer. That is what my wife and I have. It will work for 911 only, but it is free. I know I'm cheap

 

[The patriot]

I got my wife a phone about 5 years ago. I asked for a "local number" but it was a local long distance call to call her. I was PO'ed. The good part is that the coverage was good. That was Bell Atlantic mobile.

I now got her one with Cingular. It's one of the older accounts, every first incoming minute is free, and free nights & weekends. The phone is now a free call from our house. She only gets about 75 minutes peak, but she really makes over on them with that free minute, and free nights and weekends. I never saw a bill over $30. 00 a month.

I got myself a cell phone about a year ago. Same company. My bill is $35. 00 a month (no free 1st minute) but I have something like 400 minutes, free nights and weekends, no long distance nationwide. I'm always talking to my parents in Maine, and my little brother in Maryland. I usuially wait until after 9, then I dont have to worry about how long we talk. I never went over the $35. 00 basic bill.

Coverage is OK, could be better. We both have the Nokia phones. Mine is a 5165 (I could send e-mail and whatnot. ) hers is an older Nikia 6100 I think. Both are digital... . you'll want a digital phone.

HTH

Eric

PS A sattelite phone will have dam near 100% coverage all the time but the price will kill you.

 

[Bigsaint]

My wife and I both have the Nextel phones, coverage within my town isn't the greatest. Outside of Vernon it works well. The direct connect feature is the cats a$$.



Scott W.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I have Qwest and hate it. I call it Qworst. I hear good things about ATT and Verizon at least in this neck of the woods.

 

[The patriot]

I HAVE seen the 5 watt models in a cellular store recently, but I dont know if they were digital capable.

That would be the sh-- if they were.

Eric

 

[RJ2]

I am waiting to upgrade my sprint. They are coming out with a very improved nextel type system that is instant speakerphone nation wide . Supposed to be out in the next couple months.

 

[LSMITH]

Whatever you do don't get a Motorola phone, they are the worst on the market. I had US cellular and went to Verizon, Verizon is far and away better around here. The best service for you will largely depend on your area, some are better than others for specific areas.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Verizon gave us horrible service and spotty coverage, we gave it up and went with Cingular, and they've been great. My son has the Cingular, I've got a Nextel Motorola supplied by my employer, but my coverage area is even better than his !!! Sometimes in the truck, he has to use my phone instead of his.

It all depends on what state you live in, I guess. I don't think the brands/coverage/ service quality is consistent across the nation.

 

[WDaniels]

If you work out of the range of cell phones most of the time they arn't really the thing that you want. An Irridum phone would be the best. (sattalite phone. ) You can get a refurbished one for any where between 200 and 600. 00. That's Alaska price. 1. 85 per minute. But if it's for an emergency, you'll always have something that will reach out and touch someone.

WD

 

[JConley]

I just switched from Sprnt to Verizon. Verizon has much better coverage that Sprint where I live.

 

[JHansen]

Depends on what you want to do..... I have a 3 watt Motorola fixed-mount in my truck for work. I have had this phone for 8 years now-it started life as a bag phone and was the original phone I received when I signed up with Telus. Yeah-it's analog, so you miss out on a lot of the newer snazzy stuff. But there isn't very many places out here that you can't get out on it. I considered upgrading it to a Timeport with a booster kit-but the booster only works for the analog side-the digital stays at 0. 4 watts (I think that's the right #?). And by the time I was done paying penalties etc. and buying the phone, booster kit and install (package deal even though I installed the current one) it would have cost me over $1K CDN!.



So I ended up getting a V60c Motorola for use as a call phone. My main # is setup with multi-ring... so if you call it both phones ring. The little phone has call display activated-that is kinda nice... . and if you're outside of the truck the V60 gets pretty decent service. But the fixed-mount is still stronger... ... if I could only run one as much as I like the new one the old sucker still kicks its butt!



Of course my experiences here in Alberta probably have no bearing on you guys south of the 49th-thought I'd throw them out there though for comparison.



Jason

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by LSMITH

Whatever you do don't get a Motorola phone, they are the worst on the market.

I have a little Motorola flip StarTAC phone that I just love - it works great and when on Digital people can't even tell I'm on a cell phone. It will eat batteries fast on annalog though. My wife and dad and most people I know have the same phone.



For service I have Verizon. I wife and I share the plan and can call each other mobil to mobil for free. We get 350 day/3550 night-weekend minutes a month for $55 for 2 phones.



I guess it all depends on where you live as to what the best plan is. Where are you Radar Doctor?



Blake

 

[FRANK FERGUSON]

Look up CLARKHOWARD. COM. He goes over cell phones and rates.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by JHansen



My main # is setup with multi-ring... so if you call it both phones ring.

I tried to get this done. I'm told this is illegal here in the US.

Eric