Sprint PCS and the GMC

[hdavis]

>Thanks for all the input on cellular service, and especially Mike about his
>good luck with Sprint PCS. I just signed up with Sprint because it looked
>like the best choice for our needs, and digital service is available where
we
>spend most of our time; back and forth between Oregon and California, mostly
>near the I-5 corridor. And, for emergencies, we have a dual band phone and
>can "roam" in analog just about anywhere.
>
>We do not have the saturation on the west coast like it is in Florida,
>however, and I've been discovering some "black holes" in the San Francisco
>Bay Area. A feature article in the San Fancisco Chronicle yesterday
reported
>on problems all cellular providers are having. So, my experience is not
>unique. But, there's hope that with the field growing so rapidly, there'll
>not be any dead spots in the future.

Just a note from the road on cell phones:

Not every location is tariffed for all cell providers. What I mean is this:
AT&T may be approved for selling service say in Santa Clara valley of
California, but not in Santa Cruz county - when the difference between the
counties is a mountain range. AT&T signals are accessible, but at least
until recently (I haven't checked) AT&T could not sell their NOrth American
one-rate plan in Santa Cruz county. You need to check ALL of your local
service providers to see which really provides the best alternative. FWIW,
Escapees and other organizations may provide benefits in this area as well
(service plans are generally restricted by your billing address.

Later,

Henry

 

[gene]

Hi glen

I am curious I just looked at the sprint, and the map showed there was no
service from Sacto. north until Eugene. I was interested but then this
turned me off. I use the save route you do. In fact I am going there next
week.

gene

>Thanks for all the input on cellular service, and especially Mike about his
>good luck with Sprint PCS. I just signed up with Sprint because it looked
>like the best choice for our needs, and digital service is available where
we
>spend most of our time; back and forth between Oregon and California, mostly
>near the I-5 corridor. And, for emergencies, we have a dual band phone and
>can "roam" in analog just about anywhere.
>
>We do not have the saturation on the west coast like it is in Florida,
>however, and I've been discovering some "black holes" in the San Francisco
>Bay Area. A feature article in the San Fancisco Chronicle yesterday
reported
>on problems all cellular providers are having. So, my experience is not
>unique. But, there's hope that with the field growing so rapidly, there'll
>not be any dead spots in the future.
>
>We got a Samsung phone, bought it at Radio Shack. One feature that sounded
>good to us is the cababity for voice activation. If it works as adverised,
>it would eliminate the need to dial a number if you want to make a call
while
>driving. Also, the keybord keys are slightly larger and the numbers clearer
>than on the other Sprint dual band phone, Qualcom.
>
>For reception, it is the clearest phone I've ever used. So clear, I don't
>miss a word. Hey, now can put off getting a hearing aid.
>
>I'm looking forward to getting Sprint's Wireless Web Connection Kit so we
can
>connect anywhere on the road, as Heintz and Mike are able to do. Like Mike,
>I also chose the 500 minutes/ $50 plan ... and have been pretty successful
in
>persuading my co-pilot to use digital for our long distance calls, and
>eventually chuck our land line long distance company (Justin, can I help?
> ).
>
>One note of caution, though. I signed up for Roadside Rescue, a Sprint
>offering that sounded pretty attractive; only $2.95 per month. Then, I read
>the fine print. It limits towing or service call reimbursement to $50. For
>$35.40 a year, that sounded like pretty expensive insurance. But wait...
>that wasn't all. The fine print went on to say that motorhomes are
EXCLUDED!
> No deal for me. I cancelled!
>
>I'm still in the student phase of cellular phoning, so any tips are much
>appreciated.
>
>Glenn
>78 Kingsley
>Independence, OR
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[hdavis]

>For coverage in remote areas, here's something AT&T did for me. I had been
>with SWBell for 4 years and had an old bag phone mounted in my car. When I
>got the new cel phone, they also programed the old bag phone with the same
>number and told me that if I planned a trip to the boonies where coverage
was
>a problem, to come in and it would take about one minute, no charge, to
>switch me to the bag phone. Susposedly it is stronger and will work in
remote
>areas where a hand held won't.

The "bag" phones have a 3 watt transmitter while the hand held units are a
few hundred milliwatts. That translates to a longer range - all things
being equal. On the other hand, many of the newer phones have better radio
sections in them so they actually perform better in some instances than the
older bag phones.

There are many factors that influence range, including the type of antenna
you use, the exact radio type used in the phone, and physical constraints
beyond your control like hills, trees, etc.

All of this said, I have a hands free kit for my Motorola StarTac with
antenna on the roof and a Motorola analog bag phone. When the cell site
available is analog only, my bag phone outperforms the handheld.

Henry

 

[gene]

I would really like to get my email that way, but need to use it on the
road, sigh, guess I will stick to my att 7cents plan and just call in to
my provider. I really wanted this to work. I am real tired of looking for
phones to plug into..... Even in Florence it is hard .

gene

>
> service from Sacto. north until Eugene. I was interested but then this
> turned me off. >>
>
>That's right. It should be good in Livermore and it's good on I-80 to
>Vacaville, then roaming from there up I-5 to a little south of Eugene. It's
>no good at Florence or anywhere else on the coast except for roaming... and
>those charges would break the bank.
>
>It works for us, though, since we spend most of out time either in the Bay
>Area or in the Willamette valley. We consider the cell phone is only for
>emegencies in the dash between Oregon and California. If we need to make a
>phone call in between, I can whip out my prepaid calling card and use a pay
>phone. The cost is 30 cents for the connection plus 10 cents a minute.
>Affordable! And, a heckuva lot less than using my phone company calling
>card. Don't even carry that one any more.
>
>I'm still not a seasoned veteran, though, so all my intentions and
>impressions may change as we get more used to this new (to us) technology.
>
>I sure like how I can hear on that little sucker, though.
>
>Glenn
>78 Kingsley
>Independence, OR
>
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[richard waters]

Wow what a deal! I wonder how many miles $50 would take a GMC
if it had to be towed?
Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI

> One note of caution, though. I signed up for Roadside Rescue, a Sprint
> offering that sounded pretty attractive; only $2.95 per month. Then, I read
> the fine print. It limits towing or service call reimbursement to $50. For
> $35.40 a year, that sounded like pretty expensive insurance. But wait...
> that wasn't all. The fine print went on to say that motorhomes are EXCLUDED!