Community Forums

MWeiner · 04-22-2020, 05:45 PM

OK, you've decided to take another USA trip and while there's many places that have cell phone coverage, there's always places that you might be and experience a system equipment FAILURE, and there's never enough security or in this case "cellphone service" until you need it.

Think of this as "insurance", and maybe you'll be "lucky" and be able to to find someone with a cellphone that's working even if yours is not.

SO.... what do you do? You've planned so your coach is in working order, but, you know, Murphy's Law, anything can happen. If you go go any places off the normal grid, you might get stuck and have "no easy way out".

Share your experiences if you carry a Satellite Phone? Maybe you rent one?
Or did you purchase one? There's many plans and the minutes do expire if you purchase a 6 month or 12 month plan, so, be aware that this is an issue. Or, you can just have a post paid plan and it's certainly expensive, it's $1.45 per minute, but, if you're STRANDED, even $1.45 per minute to make the call might sound pretty good.

I suppose if you never intend to go into an area without cellphone service, you're fine, but, you'll never be able to figure this out.

Or, maybe you'll just say "the hell with it" and I'll just take my chances. We've been doing that, just taking a chance. I guess you could think of this like if you were to carry protection, you'll hope that you will never use it and hopefully you will not.

It is NOT a phone you want to use, it might well just sit around doing absolutely nothing, which is a hard thing to justify, I understand. I don't like it at all, but, conversely, I don't think any of us will like it when you're stuck and don't have any communications.

Please share your thoughts, thanks.

Skip426 · 04-22-2020, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWeiner

Or, maybe you'll just say "the hell with it" and I'll just take my chances. We've been doing that, just taking a chance. I guess you could think of this like if you were to carry protection, you'll hope that you will never use it and hopefully you will not.

Please share your thoughts, thanks.

Not a class B owner , but need to ask .
Do you travel without a toad ?
My toad always has a full tank of fuel , and I figure in 600/700 miles ; of driving the toad away from a broken down coach; I'll find cell service .
Just my 2c worth.

Unicorn Driver · 04-22-2020, 06:35 PM

I have owned a couple of Sat phones for winter mountaineering and backpacking trips. I sold the last one as the monthly charges were getting too expensive.
Ended up getting a used Garmin sat messenger which costs 12$ a month.

I have a friend who I can text who will call coachnet for me or in event of an emergency Garmin will contact the emergency services.

96Bounder1st · 04-22-2020, 06:41 PM

No, I do not have a sat phone. However like Skip I do have a toad that is normally full and can travel to where there is cell service.

Terry

Filthy-Beast · 04-22-2020, 09:09 PM

Nope, but I do have ham transceiver

Arch Hoagland · 04-22-2020, 09:28 PM

If you dial 911 on any cellphone...activated or not and showing no signal from your carrier you will probably get through to 911.

Discovered that fact when we broke down in Elk California. Tried three different carriers from friends cell phones and no one had signal. I decided to dial 911 anyways and it went through. Tow truck arrived and all was well.

It turns out that there are hundreds of cell phone carriers owned by private companies out in the middle of no where that need coverage for their business.

Think mining and logging companies, etc. They are required to pass through any 911 call they get.

This will work even on an old cell phone that was deactivated years ago.

UTTransplant · 04-23-2020, 06:18 AM

This is in the general discussion area, so I will respond from a general view. We have had a number of trailers and now a Class A motorhome. It is not infrequent that we camp where We have no cell, but I don’t like it much. Heck, I get grumpy if I go without internet for a couple of days, but I manage for,lovely areas occasionally. We travel a lot through call dead zones since we like rural western US. However we aren’t off pavement often, and there are always others on the road. I just can’t see the need for a sat phone if you aren’t in the back country without other people around. After all, cell phone have only been common for 20 years or so, and people have been traveling in RVs for many more years. Just wave someone down and have them call someone for you when they get to a cell site. Or just walk the mile to the house/business you see in the distance and ask for the same.

Unicorn Driver · 04-23-2020, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

If you dial 911 on any cellphone...activated or not and showing no signal from your carrier you will probably get through to 911.

Discovered that fact when we broke down in Elk California. Tried three different carriers from friends cell phones and no one had signal. I decided to dial 911 anyways and it went through. Tow truck arrived and all was well.

It turns out that there are hundreds of cell phone carriers owned by private companies out in the middle of no where that need coverage for their business.

Think mining and logging companies, etc. They are required to pass through any 911 call they get.

This will work even on an old cell phone that was deactivated years ago.

Hi Arch,

I knew that 911 calls go out on any network but did not know there are private networks.

Good to know.

Toby Dog · 04-23-2020, 06:26 AM

I like the sat messenger idea. I'll have to check into that. We have a 5er so no toad to go for help. $12 a month is way cheap.

SLOweather · 04-23-2020, 07:20 AM

We've had a GlobalStar phone with the car kit and roof antenna for 18 or more years. It's a nice security blanket, especially to stay in touch with our parents as they aged. Being with GS so long, I can usually negotiate a better than advertised rate, like 50% off.

We go many places that have no cell service even now.

Before cell phones and sat phones, we had an IMTS mobile phone in the Suncruiser.

Wizard · 04-23-2020, 07:30 AM

No more than I would use it the battery would probably be dead when I pulled it out.

Unicorn Driver · 04-23-2020, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby Dog

I like the sat messenger idea. I'll have to check into that. We have a 5er so no toad to go for help. $12 a month is way cheap.

I got a used device for 60$ and very happy with the 12$ a month.

95f5334j · 04-23-2020, 08:48 AM

After looking at the cost of Sat phone hardware acquisition and monthly fees, it's far less expensive to use dual band UHF/VHF radios in motorhome and Jeep. If we're going to be in back country locations, we file a travel plan, including scheduled check in dates/times, with friends or relatives. It's also fun to check in with local nets and speak with other Hams.

RickNC · 04-23-2020, 10:12 AM

I have been using a Delorme (now owned by garmin) Inreach for the past 6 years. Bought it primarily for my bicycle tours and off-road rides. It gives my wife peace of mind knowing she can reach me, locate me or I can reach out in an emergency. I also carry it when boating and now in the motorhome. I pay about $300 a year for the service which includes unlimited tracking(pinging) and IIRC about 50 texts a month. l have never used the SOS.