The fisher-person's cell phone...

Tinned Fish · 01-20-2004, 09:48 AM

I've tossed this question out about once a year, and the market keeps changing. I need a new phone, so it's time to ask the question:

1. What carrier has the best back-water signal? Please mention where you fish, so we can get plans that match our fishing arena.

2. Which models of phones can punch out, and which phones stay in the tackle box?

It's good old fashioned radio, but they won't publish which phones have the best antenna, wattage, and network. So we need to do the work for them...

thanks
TinnedFish (bruce)

hookumhi · 01-20-2004, 10:02 AM

I've had good luck with AT&T wireless and fish the I5 cor. from northern california to vancover island. As far as phones I still haven't found a good one.

Mr. BrownTrout · 01-20-2004, 12:10 PM

I have no opinion as I don't like them. Have had far too many close calls while people were driving down the road and not paying attention to driving but instead to talking on their cell phone.

Tinned Fish · 01-20-2004, 12:35 PM

Amen to the drivers! I think most intelligent people agree there is a better time and place to talk on the phone.

All I'm looking for is a very long leash, so I can go out fishing and still be at the beck and call of the lady. Hopefully, it will never ring at all! <grin>

TinnedFish

wannacatchem · 01-20-2004, 01:03 PM

It'll never ring at all if you give her a call just before you get there...."hi honey..(PShhh- bzzzt)...almost had one..(sshhhzzzttt)....well, looks like I'm losing the signal...(sggthbbbt)...you!"

Then call her in a couple hours and tell her you're moving to a different honey hole (might choose different terminology) and the signal will be crappy there, too

Just tell her you love her and about all the fish your catching

[ 01-20-2004, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: wannacatchem ]

reeldick · 01-20-2004, 02:12 PM

We researched your question for work. We had technicians traveling all over Oregon, WA, and No. Cal. Some pretty remote locations, too. AT&T and Verizon were tops for coverage without a doubt. You do lose signal in parts of the coast range and up by Kah Nee Ta Resort.
I have used Motorola and Nokia phones and the only broken one was a wet one. (In the river)
Just thought, I also take and use my local cell phone in Minnesota, Alaska, Arizona, Cal. and where ever I travel. Works great.

Lwagg2 · 01-20-2004, 02:38 PM

i use verizon and my father uses at&t i seem to get more recetion than he does in gorge when we fishing or in the mtns (mt hood to mt bachelor) I had a motorola phone i fell in the willamette with it on it still worked the next day after drying out but every day between 3 and 5pm it just started ringing uncontrolably with noone calling so i replaced it with a kyocera (cheapest phone i could get) and I have no issues with the phone or coverage I even get coverage in astoria when fishing the esturgy.
good luck

rookie · 01-20-2004, 09:54 PM

Had them all Verizon by far gives the best coverage.

lilnorthfork · 01-20-2004, 10:14 PM

My Verizon doesn't get much reception from Gales Creek to the Guide Shop along the Wilson River Hwy.
I like your thinking Tinned Fish. We opted for a phone over a second car when living in Ireland. Fortunately, there was a nice trout stream right behind my wife's work, so I was 10 minutes from last cast to "how was your day?"
lnf

Fishing Maniac · 01-20-2004, 11:21 PM

I had AT&T for several years and was relatively happy with them however I could not get coverage in remote areas. I switched to Verizon and they seemed to have better coverage overall, however the clarity of the signal isn't quite as good. I have the Nokia phone but based on using some others I think I might go with a motorolla next time around. Good luck!

fishbait · 01-20-2004, 11:39 PM

I went with Verizon for their coverage, and a motorolla phone to stand up to the abuse.

willametteriveroutlaw · 01-20-2004, 11:53 PM

I have verizion and have no problems with coverage while fishing. Works all over the N.coast . As far as phones go, I haven't found one yet that I couldn't break :depressed: .

mophile · 01-21-2004, 01:20 AM

I have had cell service in the Portland Metro area since 1988. At first I was with McCaw (bought out by AT&T), then Airtouch (bought out by Verizon). Stayed with Verizon for 6 years, hating it but afraid to switch because I believed their claims about coverage. Poor service and customer support drove me to try another provider, which turned out to be Voicestream (later T-Mobile). I could not be happier. Their fringe coverage is not as good as Verizon or AT&T, although the difference is not as great as most think. However, I carry an AT&T prepay phone for those times when I am beyond T-Mobile coverage. I have used about 15 minutes on it in 1.5 years, but it is nice to have. I would go back to a calling card and pay phone before I used Verizon again. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

fishnpray · 01-21-2004, 04:54 AM

Have ATT service, Nokia phone. Get reception when not between lots of mountains and when not swimming in de river. Have dropped phone many many many times and still works (with a piece of tape that holds one side to the other.) Have not yet found a "swimming phone". As a hopeless optimist, I store mine in a ziploc bag while fishing and attach a floaty device...not sure it would hold the weight though. Definitely wouldn't swim back to me either.

-Luis

NorthRiverRick · 01-21-2004, 05:19 AM

I have ATT and my fishing partner has Verizon. We fish all over the coast and CR primarily. His signal remains a little stronger in the fringe areas, like up the Wilson/Trask/Nestucca and certain spots in the gorge. I've had all brands of phones, only to return to Moto for the strongest signal reception. He has an LG now and is happy, he used to swear by Moto.

Rick

Troller · 01-21-2004, 07:07 AM

I use verizon and pretty happy with them. The coverage is pretty good. I have a motorola phone now and have never been happy. I had switched to a LG (lucky goldstar) and hated it. Poor reception and went in for repair twice in one year under warranty then just after the warranty expired the battery died. So I switched back to motorola.

Fish Hawg · 01-21-2004, 07:33 AM

Verizon

is the only one I know of that will work at Neah Bay and 15-20 miles off the coast. I tried T-mobile

AT&T no service and nextel; none of those worked

Paddlefish · 01-21-2004, 07:51 AM

I'm stubbornly cellubate! Hey, why do you think I go out into the boonies in the first place?

And "there oughta be a law" about cell phones ringing out on the river. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] This particular troglodyte still hasn't gotten used to that idea. (Can you tell?)

My wife, however, a standard issue, working soccer mom, who isn't prone to things like swimming or falling down cliffs with phones, still manages to go through all brands with regularity. Every time she gets a new one I search the fine print for the word "disposable" (truth in advertising, right?) on the packaging.

Old dog · 01-21-2004, 08:39 AM

Had T-Mobile last year and it didn't work fshing on the coast at all. Also didn't work at the other end of the state at Burns. Switched to Verizon and it is just right most places.

5-Cents · 01-21-2004, 08:45 AM

If you are fishing ALL over the state then AT&T would be best. I have had coverage fishing desert lakes in SE Oregon and coverage all up and down the coast. Some spots are spotty but overall I dont have any complaints.

Smily · 01-21-2004, 09:58 AM

Check this out,

I Have T-mobile and I was fishing in Lake billy Chinook and I got a phone call. To my shocking surprise it was a buddy that wanted a fsih report from there. I was in a canyon as well is all the lake is pretty much. I actually got a fish while talking with him too.

Any way's my report There are some dead spots going to the coast thru the cascade range but on the coast there is coverage. Garabladi and Lincoln city and Astoria. Depending where you are of course. I had coverage when my buddy didn't in Astoria. Don't know if he had Verizon or Att. Check there map out. It is improving all the time.

Cheapest plan out there. I had been with them now for about 6 years. Just got done looking around to either switching or staying with them and add Wifey to the plan. I think I'll add wifey to the Plan. Make that a family plan and hold the drop outs please. :grin:

:smile: Smily :smile:

Mitch- · 01-21-2004, 10:22 AM

Can only speak for AT&T...poor reception in the NFL and EFL areas. Wish I went with another carrier but locked into a two yr contract.

Hawg Caller · 01-21-2004, 10:32 AM

Verizon: I even get service on most of the nestucca,out to the halibut ranch, up in the mtn. when hunting,great all around service.

Barviewrocks · 01-21-2004, 12:34 PM

FYI - Verizon techs tell me to update the software in the phone to recognize new cell towers. They say you should do this once a month since they are adding new towers on a regular basis. I do not understand if this is valid because I find it hard to imagine they store cell tower locations and IDs within each phone.

I use Verizon with a Motorola phone (US company) that I like for the features such as voice dialing. The newer phones are getting better all the time. The only things I find rated are the radio wave emission data for phones.

Here's an interesting site / organization for those of you that like to read up on the latest technology, issues, and directions:

http://www.wow-com.com/