People crying about no cell coverage inISDRA

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:30 pm

Heres what you can do if you really need cell coverage out in the sticks:

OPTION 1

Become a HAM radio operator and install a 50+ watt 2 meter FM transmitter (less than 200.00) in your RIG, you do not have to have morse code anymore for the basic license. I am not certain for the SOuthern California area but I'll bet theres 2 meter amateur repeater coverage over most of Glamis and Dumont.
HAM radio operators LOVE to help on emergency comms. I was talking to people in Arizona from SanD Hill, NV last weekend (on a 220mhz transmitter)

OPtion 2

I got an old Motorola cellphone (must get the 3 watt car mounted one) and built a high gain "Yagi" antenna and find some way mount it as high as possible when in use. With a 15' mast (3 5' sections of TV mast) I was able to hit Reno cell towers from the Black Rock Desert- (Burning MAn)over 100 miles away. You can find instructions on antenna manufacture all over the web.

Option 3 ($$$$)

Buy a Magnavox satellite phone; the one I used in the US Army (circa 1989) allowed me to call home from the CLoud Forest in El Salvador at a mere $29.00/second burden to Uncle Sam! They used to cost over $50,000 but I've heard they're much cheaper and waaay smaller now!

Post by **jhitesma** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:09 pm

Giff wrote: Become a HAM radio operator and install a 50+ watt 2 meter FM transmitter (less than 200.00) in your RIG, you do not have to have morse code anymore for the basic license. I am not certain for the SOuthern California area but I'll bet theres 2 meter amateur repeater coverage over most of Glamis and Dumont.
HAM radio operators LOVE to help on emergency comms. I was talking to people in Arizona from SanD Hill, NV last weekend (on a 220mhz transmitter)

Check out the ASA's GPS and Radio forum we've got quite a few HAM's in the ASA and there are at least two repeaters on black mountian which can be hit with a 5 watt 2 meter handheld from anywhere in the dunes.

There's also a digipeater on black mountian that's tied into the APRS-IS system so if you get something like a tinytracker to go between your radio and GPS you can even send your exact location out across the country, the tinytracker even has a switch to let you choose one of two messages, one can be a basic position report and the other can be an emergency beacon requesting assistance.

nats-fj40 · Post by **nats-fj40** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:04 am

I think it's ECRA, that has a few repeaters around here that allows it's members to make phone calls/patches thru their radios. Bob?

Bob Tenwick · Post by **Bob Tenwick** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 1:05 pm

nats-fj40 wrote:I think it's ECRA, that has a few repeaters around here that allows it's members to make phone calls/patches thru their radios. Bob?

ECRA, which requires membership, operates a repeater near Mt. Laguna, actually Monument Peak, that has a phone patch. It can be hit with a hand-held from Glamis full scale.

147.240 KA6DAC 103.5 Monument Peak 6400' ft AutoPatch,Weather,CALZONA Link

http://www.ecra.org/

Post by **jhitesma** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:31 pm

ECRA also owns the 147.120 machine on black mountian. Not sure if it's got an autopatch but it is part of the CalZona link system that goes as far east as Phoenix and as far west as San Diego.

Since it's the same location as the repeater Bob has reported being able to hit on Black mountian (the .88 machine) it should be easy to hit as well.

Voice · Post by **Voice** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:27 pm

Or,
Just get At&t/Cingular... Cell right at the store, no coverage issues at all.

Brian

Washroad · Post by **Washroad** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:36 pm

Just get At&t/Cingular

Yep! Got rid of Verizon which wouldn't work at all past Gecko Road. Now I have AT&T and works everywhere!

Poiks · Post by **Poiks** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:36 pm

Washroad wrote:Yep! Got rid of Verizon which wouldn't work at all past Gecko Road. Now I have AT&T and works everywhere!

I've heard that the new AT&T GSM phones work well at Glamis. Problem is, my fiancÃ© just got one and we have worse reception in our neck of the woods than her old AT&T phone or my Verizon phone. I guess there's no winning...no one service that's best everywhere.

Cathi · Post by **Cathi** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 2:08 pm

Verizon worked for me.. straight out pad 2.. mile and a half out in the big bowls.

1/2 mile out from Osborne. At a very very crucial time.
Had 911 the second I turned my phone on.

Always have 2 cell phones with you. Best thing I ever did.
I have Verizon.. others had AT&T. Also batteries charged on all phones and the GPS working as well.

As you pack the cooler.. pack the phones/check batteries on gps!
Best thing you could ever ever do.

Experienced.

Rekd · Post by **Rekd** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:35 am

Just got back from Gordon's. I have Cingular. I had full bars the whole weekend, where last year I had to struggle to get 1. Since Cingular took over At&t, the coverage basically doubled.

I'm still looking into HAM though, seems a very safe alternative to the reliability issues with cells.

Post by **ggorman** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:50 am

They also recently brought up a new cell station on the towers near PAD, I think it started working late last season. I use T-Mobile and it works good at Gordon's.

Greg

sbheg · Post by **sbheg** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 11:51 am

I find Verizon works great at Gordons or Buttercup, But does not work at Glamis, on the wash side, but Sprint seams to work fine there. need to get that Verizin guy out to Glamis. "Can you hear me Now" NO

sbheg

Sue Davies Laird · Post by **Sue Davies Laird** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:12 pm

Kevin and I both have an older Nokia on AT&T. I want a new phone though. Does anyone have a NEWER AT&T phone that works out there?

The Nokia on AT&T works great now and I hesitate to get a new one. Sales guy told me new phone may work on different cell tower and he could not guarantee it would work at ISDRA. ???
I got rid of Verizon in 2003 and signed up with AT&T just for that reason. and it works great.

Mr Big Wrench · Post by **Mr Big Wrench** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:07 pm

My OLD Nokia on A T T worked out there in most places, New Motorola V70C "NOT as GOOD" coverage out there, or even at home!!
I am thinking about an external antenna, since it has the little hole in the back for one.

Sue Davies Laird · Post by **Sue Davies Laird** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:17 pm

[quote="Mr Big Wrench"]My OLD Nokia on A T T worked out there in most places, New Motorola V70C "NOT as GOOD" coverage out there, or even at home!!
quote]

Thank you for the info!! I think I'll hold off on a new phone for a while!!

Post by **BHenry** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:24 am

I am on Cingular (company phone), and since the new tower was built, I have great reception on my phone. Its a newer Siemens S56, and I usually have 4 bars of signal just about anywhere in the north dunes.

Mr Big Wrench · Post by **Mr Big Wrench** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:11 pm

Does anyone use an external antenna on there cell phone?
I was told that you can get a magnetic antenna and plug it into My phone and get much better signal, fact or fiction?? I know this wont help in the dunes on my quad, but for use in camps etc.

Rekd · Post by **Rekd** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:21 pm

Mr Big Wrench wrote:Does anyone use an external antenna on there cell phone?
I was told that you can get a magnetic antenna and plug it into My phone and get much better signal, fact or fiction?? I know this wont help in the dunes on my quad, but for use in camps etc.

Bob, there was a thing on the news about external cell booster antenas. The only one that worked of the 3 shown was the one that runs your cell thru the car's radio.

The one that sticks inside the battery area didn't work, neither did the long ones that you stick to the windows of your car.

I'm not sure about the plug-in type, they didn't cover those. My new cell doesn't have the plug for that, but if yours does, you might give it a try.

Mr Big Wrench · Post by **Mr Big Wrench** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:51 pm

Thanks Rekd
I do have the plug for an external antenna, I think Radio Shack has them, I will try that first. I know the booster in the battery area doesn't work, did not know about the other 2,

phx450 · Post by **phx450** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:00 am

My sprint cello works at the store, and on gecko. Thats it.

Post by **Woodglue** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:07 am

This is a really old thread PHX, but thanks for breathing some life back into it.
My Nextel works everywhere in the North Dunes... didn't used to be the case until just a couple years ago.

BakerKlan · Post by **BakerKlan** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:27 pm

Verizon no issues from Gecko to Wash 26, so far so good

like2bcrazy · Post by **like2bcrazy** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:35 pm

Just one of many companies that sell these things.

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cell ... sters.html

crash · Post by **crash** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:38 pm

How about a Satelite phone? Anybody have one? The prices are not that bad. About what cell phones used to be a few years back.

http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/airtime/voicepricing/

glamisfanatic · Post by **glamisfanatic** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:50 pm

Sprint works just about everywhere nowadays

Post by **Woodglue** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:16 pm

Back in 2006, Woodglue wrote:This is a really old thread.

And now, in 2010, it's more than twice as old as it was then.
A Six Year old thread revival, has to be some kind of record eh?

the_fog · Post by **the_fog** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:30 pm

Remember kids if you see a dead thread laying there, don't try to revive it, just let it be.

Glamisbound · Post by **Glamisbound** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:41 pm

I'm pretty sure Mattv resurected a thread from 2002 last year

Post by **LoBuck** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:48 pm

hmm. I guess all that "crying" about the cell service paid off.

BTW - I think the new CPR - chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth - works on BBS thread recessatation as well. No more worry about getting those sightly canker sores. =D>

Post by **Woodglue** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:49 pm

Oh Glenn, you were really reaching for that one eh?

Sloppyduner · Post by **Sloppyduner** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:34 am

Why is there no wi-fi in Glamis?

GlamisSandDuner · Post by **GlamisSandDuner** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:11 pm

Sloppyduner wrote:Why is there no wi-fi in Glamis?

When are you out there and when did you get wifi?

BTW, Verizons wifi out there sucks

, Sprint at least works out in wash 24

, don't know about any other providers

gelwell · Post by **gelwell** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:47 am

GlamisSandDuner wrote:
Sloppyduner wrote:Why is there no wi-fi in Glamis?
When are you out there and when did you get wifi?

BTW, Verizons wifi out there sucks , Sprint at least works out in wash 24 , don't know about any other providers

We pick up wi fi in Ogilby. The wife likes playing her on line casino games. That is with sprint

Glamisbound · Post by **Glamisbound** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:14 pm

The crow flies at midnight

DuneRookie · Post by **DuneRookie** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:24 pm

I know we all like to stay connected but I feel people are missing the point of Camping. It's supposed to be a place to get Away from the BS of everyday stuff and relax. Yes I have a Blackberry but I will tell you I keep it turned off as much as possible (while camping) so I can avoid having to get stressed out over having to respond to something that can truly wait till I get back.
While cell coverage is important for emergency situations the rest is a non issue. Just my opinion.

gelwell · Post by **gelwell** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:03 pm

DuneRookie wrote:I know we all like to stay connected but I feel people are missing the point of Camping. It's supposed to be a place to get Away from the BS of everyday stuff and relax. Yes I have a Blackberry but I will tell you I keep it turned off as much as possible (while camping) so I can avoid having to get stressed out over having to respond to something that can truly wait till I get back.
While cell coverage is important for emergency situations the rest is a non issue. Just my opinion.

I couldnt agree more one reason why I dont have a blackberry

American Sand Association

People crying about no cell coverage inISDRA

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