iPhone for Landout Retrieves - US

[chris]

Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. It did have
the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
system was turned off last year. So it had been pretty good at
picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. Now
that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?

I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. Does
the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? Or
would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
the Verizon network?

I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
it useful.

Chris
Atlanta

[Papa3]

On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
> Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> the Verizon network?
>
> I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> it useful.
>
> Chris
> Atlanta

Hi Chris,

To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
Eastern) you're talking about. FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. I had no
signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
few miles of Reno. This was actually a bit worse than the result
predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
mountains of the western states. Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.

P3

[Dan Wrobel]

On Aug 21, 6:42*am, Papa3 > wrote:
> On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> > the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> > system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> > picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> > that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> > I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> > the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> > would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> > the Verizon network?
>
> > I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> > phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> > it useful.
>
> > Chris
> > Atlanta
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
> Eastern) you're talking about. *FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
> network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
> Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. * *I had no
> signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
> few miles of Reno. * This was actually a bit worse than the result
> predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
> Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
> mountains of the western states. * Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
> phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.
>
> P3- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I was on the Verizon network for 4 years and liked the coverage but
was worried about AT&T's coverage when I went to the new iPhone. To
my surprise, the AT&T coverage was better than Verizon in most areas
that I travel in northern Utah and Southern Idaho. It also worked
better in upstate New York when visiting my parents this summer.
There are always going to be places that you don't get coverage but I
am happy with my choice. In areas that have marginal coverage, a text
will go out when a call cannot be initiated since the text only takes
a fraction of a second to go while the voice needs more reliable
reseption. I also carry a SPOT for those places tha I don't have
coverage.

DW

[Andy[_10_]]

On Aug 21, 6:34*am, Dan Wrobel > wrote:
> On Aug 21, 6:42*am, Papa3 > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
>
> > > Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> > > the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> > > system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> > > picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> > > that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> > > I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> > > the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> > > would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> > > the Verizon network?
>
> > > I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> > > phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> > > it useful.
>
> > > Chris
> > > Atlanta
>
> > Hi Chris,
>
> > To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
> > Eastern) you're talking about. *FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
> > network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
> > Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. * *I had no
> > signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
> > few miles of Reno. * This was actually a bit worse than the result
> > predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
> > Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
> > mountains of the western states. * Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
> > phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.
>
> > P3- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I was on the Verizon network for 4 years and liked the coverage but
> was worried about AT&T's coverage when I went to the new iPhone. *To
> my surprise, the AT&T coverage was better than Verizon in most areas
> that I travel in northern Utah and Southern Idaho. *It also worked
> better in upstate New York when visiting my parents this summer.
> There are always going to be places that you don't get coverage but I
> am happy with my choice. *In areas that have marginal coverage, a text
> will go out when a call cannot be initiated since the text only takes
> a fraction of a second to go while the voice needs more reliable
> reseption. *I also carry a SPOT for those places tha I don't have
> coverage.
>
> DW

Keep in mind that when coverage is marginal you can often get a text
message through where a voice call won't, irrespective of carrier.

9B

[PK]

On Aug 21, 6:34*am, Dan Wrobel > wrote:
> On Aug 21, 6:42*am, Papa3 > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
>
> > > Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> > > the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> > > system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> > > picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> > > that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> > > I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> > > the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> > > would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> > > the Verizon network?
>
> > > I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> > > phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> > > it useful.
>
> > > Chris
> > > Atlanta
>
> > Hi Chris,
>
> > To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
> > Eastern) you're talking about. *FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
> > network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
> > Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. * *I had no
> > signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
> > few miles of Reno. * This was actually a bit worse than the result
> > predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
> > Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
> > mountains of the western states. * Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
> > phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.
>
> > P3- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I was on the Verizon network for 4 years and liked the coverage but
> was worried about AT&T's coverage when I went to the new iPhone. *To
> my surprise, the AT&T coverage was better than Verizon in most areas
> that I travel in northern Utah and Southern Idaho. *It also worked
> better in upstate New York when visiting my parents this summer.
> There are always going to be places that you don't get coverage but I
> am happy with my choice. *In areas that have marginal coverage, a text
> will go out when a call cannot be initiated since the text only takes
> a fraction of a second to go while the voice needs more reliable
> reseption. *I also carry a SPOT for those places tha I don't have
> coverage.
>
> DW- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Which brings up the topic. Which provider (ATT, Verizon,Sprint etc)
and where is better today? I am with Verizon, because it appeared to
have greater coverage on the west coast a couple of years ago.
Anything changed???? PeterK

[brianDG303[_2_]]

On Aug 21, 8:08*am, PK > wrote:
> On Aug 21, 6:34*am, Dan Wrobel > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 21, 6:42*am, Papa3 > wrote:
>
> > > On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
>
> > > > Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> > > > the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> > > > system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> > > > picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> > > > that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> > > > I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> > > > the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> > > > would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> > > > the Verizon network?
>
> > > > I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> > > > phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> > > > it useful.
>
> > > > Chris
> > > > Atlanta
>
> > > Hi Chris,
>
> > > To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
> > > Eastern) you're talking about. *FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
> > > network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
> > > Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. * *I had no
> > > signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
> > > few miles of Reno. * This was actually a bit worse than the result
> > > predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
> > > Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
> > > mountains of the western states. * Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
> > > phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.
>
> > > P3- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > I was on the Verizon network for 4 years and liked the coverage but
> > was worried about AT&T's coverage when I went to the new iPhone. *To
> > my surprise, the AT&T coverage was better than Verizon in most areas
> > that I travel in northern Utah and Southern Idaho. *It also worked
> > better in upstate New York when visiting my parents this summer.
> > There are always going to be places that you don't get coverage but I
> > am happy with my choice. *In areas that have marginal coverage, a text
> > will go out when a call cannot be initiated since the text only takes
> > a fraction of a second to go while the voice needs more reliable
> > reseption. *I also carry a SPOT for those places tha I don't have
> > coverage.
>
> > DW- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Which brings up the topic. Which provider (ATT, Verizon,Sprint etc)
> and where is better today? I am with Verizon, because it appeared to
> have greater coverage on the west coast a couple of years ago.
> Anything changed???? PeterK

I had a Razr V3 which provided great coverage in the Seattle area
including north of Seattte at altitude, I moved to the iPhone on ATT
and now have marginal coverage. I love the iPhone although I don't
think it is a very good phone, it's the other features that have
value. I've been thinking about getting a Verizon pay-per-use contract
just for the plane at about $100/year. I suspect it is a location
issue and that other areas will be different.

Brian

[bod43]

On 21 Aug, 20:04, brianDG303 > wrote:
> On Aug 21, 8:08*am, PK > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 21, 6:34*am, Dan Wrobel > wrote:
>
> > > On Aug 21, 6:42*am, Papa3 > wrote:
>
> > > > On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
>
> > > > > Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> > > > > the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> > > > > system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> > > > > picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> > > > > that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> > > > > I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> > > > > the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> > > > > would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> > > > > the Verizon network?
>
> > > > > I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> > > > > phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> > > > > it useful.
>
> > > > > Chris
> > > > > Atlanta
>
> > > > Hi Chris,
>
> > > > To some extent, I think it depends on which boondocks (Western or
> > > > Eastern) you're talking about. *FWIW, my Blackberry on the Verizon
> > > > network was more-or-less an expensive paperweight from the time I left
> > > > Fallon, NV to head south to Yerrington back in June. * *I had no
> > > > signal of any usable quality until we got back to within a relatively
> > > > few miles of Reno. * This was actually a bit worse than the result
> > > > predicted by the Verizon Coverage Map, but it was not unexpected.
> > > > Verizon still shows a lot of white space (no coverage) in the
> > > > mountains of the western states. * Google "mobile coverage" or "cell
> > > > phone" on the R.A.S. archives for a thread on this topic recently.
>
> > > > P3- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > > I was on the Verizon network for 4 years and liked the coverage but
> > > was worried about AT&T's coverage when I went to the new iPhone. *To
> > > my surprise, the AT&T coverage was better than Verizon in most areas
> > > that I travel in northern Utah and Southern Idaho. *It also worked
> > > better in upstate New York when visiting my parents this summer.
> > > There are always going to be places that you don't get coverage but I
> > > am happy with my choice. *In areas that have marginal coverage, a text
> > > will go out when a call cannot be initiated since the text only takes
> > > a fraction of a second to go while the voice needs more reliable
> > > reseption. *I also carry a SPOT for those places tha I don't have
> > > coverage.
>
> > > DW- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > Which brings up the topic. Which provider (ATT, Verizon,Sprint etc)
> > and where is better today? I am with Verizon, because it appeared to
> > have greater coverage on the west coast a couple of years ago.
> > Anything changed???? PeterK
>
> I had a Razr V3 which provided great coverage in the Seattle area
> including north of Seattte at altitude, I moved to the iPhone on ATT

Since no one has mentioned it -
http://www.iridium.com/
Obviously quite costly.

As mentioned SMS or maybe even data (email), sometimes
gets through when voice does not on normal mobile networks.

A possible option might be to see if you can get a phone
that can be used with an external antenna to improve
reception.

[Dave Nadler]

On Aug 21, 8:26*am, chris > wrote:
> Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> the Verizon network?
>
> I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> it useful.
>
> Chris
> Atlanta

I love my iPhone.
But, what's a retrieve ?
See ya, Dave "YO electric"

[Eric Greenwell]

brianDG303 wrote:

>> Which brings up the topic. Which provider (ATT, Verizon,Sprint etc)
>> and where is better today? I am with Verizon, because it appeared to
>> have greater coverage on the west coast a couple of years ago.
>> Anything changed???? PeterK
>
> I had a Razr V3 which provided great coverage in the Seattle area
> including north of Seattte at altitude, I moved to the iPhone on ATT
> and now have marginal coverage.

On the ground or in the air? My experience/observation is coverage in
the air really took a hit when the analog towers were turned off.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* Sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

[Eric Greenwell]

Dave Nadler wrote:

>> I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. Does
>> the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? Or
>> would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
>> the Verizon network?
>>
>> I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
>> phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
>> it useful.
>>
>> Chris
>> Atlanta
>
> I love my iPhone.
> But, what's a retrieve ?
> See ya, Dave "YO electric"

It's what happens when you push the motor lever forward in the air!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* Sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

[JS]

Cell phone coverage went down the tubes with the phase out of
analog. Analog towers have been fitted with digital transmitters, but
the problem is that analog signals keep working, though poorly, where
you'd be "out of range" of a digital cell. Same as digital TV. With
analog, you could have received a picture which might look like ant
races, and noisy audio. With digital it's black screen and nothing.
Dave and Eric, the best thing about an i-phone in a motor glider is
that you can keep the Darth Vader theme tune on it, playing it in the
background whenever you transmit. My friends want to fit my 26 with
something similar.
Jim

On Aug 21, 2:20*pm, Dave Nadler > wrote:

> I love my iPhone.
> But, what's a retrieve ?
> See ya, Dave "YO electric"

[Uncle Fuzzy]

On Aug 21, 5:26*am, chris > wrote:
> Currently I have a Verizon trimode phone [motorola v325]. *It did have
> the capability to use the analog network in remote areas before that
> system was turned off last year. *So it had been pretty good at
> picking up a signal outside of urban areas/ Soaring=boondocks. *Now
> that analog is gone are all digital phones about the same?
>
> I wanted to upgrade to a smart phone, probably the iPhone 3s. *Does
> the iPhone and or AT&T tower network work good for retrieves? *Or
> would I be better off with a Blackberry or some other smart phone on
> the Verizon network?
>
> I suppose having a Spot Messenger make it a bit less critical to get a
> phone call trough but after the first spot message a voice call sure
> it useful.
>
> Chris
> Atlanta

I had Verizon for several years. I got it based on coverage of the
areas I fly. In 2006, at Tonopah airport, I had a fine signal, but
nobody without Verizon had squat. This year, however, I had an iPhone
on (of course) AT&T. I had great coverage with AT&T too. I guess
they put some more cell sites up. That said, SPOT is so cheap, and
the 'coverage' so good, I had to get one.