Cheap phone with great reception/transmission, pay per use and no monthly charge? I don't believe such an animal exists.
With that said, my BlackBerry operates far better than my S3 at my camp where the coverage is really spotty.
Cell phones in the deep woods/poor coverage
- Thread starter John Y Cannuck
- Start date
With that said, my BlackBerry operates far better than my S3 at my camp where the coverage is really spotty.
Cranky Pants
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Where I hunt reception is spotty. Works in some treestands but not at the cottages (down by a lake). It would be handy for communication as the FRS radios we have carry about as far as a solid yell in our thick woods. Some of us have boosters (Wilson sleek) and my Samsung s4 (bell) worked great on a neighbors booster but barely works on my booster 2 lots down?? Wife's iPhone 5s (rogers)won't work on any of the boosters.
Oddly, one neighbors phone and booster worked all summer till the leaves went, now it does not work??
One camp is un a hill and the booster works better there but not great, the smartphones barely work but the cheapy or older phones work fantastic, often not even needing the booster.
As far as what phone to get, impossible to say. You'll have to test it out for reception.
I despise the damn cellphones, every ring, beep or chime puts me in a foul mood but there are times they can be handy though.
Oddly, one neighbors phone and booster worked all summer till the leaves went, now it does not work??
One camp is un a hill and the booster works better there but not great, the smartphones barely work but the cheapy or older phones work fantastic, often not even needing the booster.
As far as what phone to get, impossible to say. You'll have to test it out for reception.
I despise the damn cellphones, every ring, beep or chime puts me in a foul mood but there are times they can be handy though.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
They still make digital bag phones, but they're pretty expensive and not all that portable.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
i had one of those sanyo 10/4 phones and was very impressed. It would never drop calls and would work just fine with one bar. If you're set on a cell that would be my choice. In fact most days I would like to go back to that phone. If I didn't have to check so many work emails every day I think I would
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
My phone can access topo maps and satellite photos in the field. Its a camera. I can check the weather forecast. I can text other members of my hunting party, completely silently. Its a GPS. You turn the ringer off so phone calls arent interrupting you. Nothing is sad about embracing useful technology. Ignoring it is sad.
I have an LG and my wife has a Samsung S4. We have a shared plan and when at the lake she doesn't even turn her phone on as she can't get reception, My phone has great reception. She is ticked at that as her phone cost a lot more than mine.
Forget the old analog (AMPS) 800 MHz phones. None of the carriers still provide AMPS service, and GSM is (slowly) on the way out in favor of expanded W-CDMA (3G) or LTE (4G) digital. And going digital is part of the problem because at least with an old analog phone, if the signal was weak and noisy you'd still likely hold the connection, as long as the control channel could still be decoded error-free, and kind of make out what was being said. Even with really good error correction, digital radio tends to have less coverage area per watt of transmitter power than the older analog systems but the call quality is perfect...at least until you either run up against capacity issues (carrier problem) and/or BER (bit error rate) threshold and the call either mutes or goes "Mr. Roboto" and then probably drops. With digital radio it's either there or it's gone, with a very narrow range of C/I (carrier to interference) or C/N (carrier to noise) ratios where it "sort of works". So unless you happen to be within the coverage footprint of a particular cell tower while in the woods, using a cellphone up there will be a crap shoot. Cell "boosters" or "enhancers" require a power source, not likely to be found in the woods unless you're hauling in a generator or are at a cabin serviced by the local power authority.
That said...
Regarding SPOT, I agree it's only pre-canned, one-way messaging but the Delorme InReach is a totally different animal. However, you do require a thin forest canopy or preferably open sky to make it work. It's cheaper than conventional "sat phones" and I know of a few kayaking/canoeing guide friends of mine who wouldn't leave home without theirs.
'Fly
That said...
Regarding SPOT, I agree it's only pre-canned, one-way messaging but the Delorme InReach is a totally different animal. However, you do require a thin forest canopy or preferably open sky to make it work. It's cheaper than conventional "sat phones" and I know of a few kayaking/canoeing guide friends of mine who wouldn't leave home without theirs.
'Fly
Outcast
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've been researching various reliable anywhere communication for remote hikes canoe trips and I've narrowed it down to the following:
Inmarsat sat phone pro. Best all around unit , I know price is a factor, but mt thoughts are, that if you need it you need it. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere and you break a leg you won't care about price. $645 bucks for the phone kit, they have 6 month SIM cards with roughly 80 minutes on it for $120. Peace of mind is worth the cost to know that if I need to call I can.
Inmarsat sat phone pro. Best all around unit , I know price is a factor, but mt thoughts are, that if you need it you need it. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere and you break a leg you won't care about price. $645 bucks for the phone kit, they have 6 month SIM cards with roughly 80 minutes on it for $120. Peace of mind is worth the cost to know that if I need to call I can.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
I use SPOT at work and while it works, its very limited in what it can do (no txt messages). My mom has a Delorme and she has had some issues with it. Messages not coming through etc.
What is the phone for? If you want to be rescued in case of a life and death situation, then nothing beats a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). The battery is good for 5-6 years, never has to be charged, has a built-in GPS and communicates directly with JRCC (Joint Rescue Coordination Center). The JRCC will then task either the RCMP and / or the RCAF or Coast Guard to effect the rescue. Think of it as a direct line to the 911 operator, from anywhere in the bush. It can be used anywhere in the world, not just in Canada, but the Canadian JRCC will always be the 1st to know you need help.
Also, with any Canadian beacon (don't buy one in the US, you'd have to register it with US authorities or have it reprogrammed) that is registered (they have to be registered to work as designed), you can change and update your contacts and your trip notes. So if you're going hunting, you can leave a trip note about where you are going, for how long, how many people, etc... The registration is free. https://www.cbr-rcb.ca/cbr/presentation/other_autre/index.php
The SARSAT network has much better coverage than the network used by the SPOT beacons. A PLB is normally picked up within 2 mins of activation, a SPOT beacon can take from 2 mins up to an hour to be detected by their network, dependent on where you are in Canada and how their satellite constellation is doing (some missing satellites). Also with a SPOT, you have to ensure you have fresh lithium batteries installed before you set out, then ad the cost of the monthly subscription. The Delorme In Reach is another good option, but again relies upon the user to replace the batteries.
PLB: $300 one time cost, no monthly subscription
SPOT: $85-$200, $10-15 per month + batteries
In-Reach: $300, $17-70 per month + batteries
Cell phone: $ cheap, but will it work when you really need it?
To me, it's a no brainer. I use a PLB for hunting, fishing, dirt bike riding, flying, sailing and camping in the back country. When I'm out solo, it's always attached to my belt (in a compact camera case). Most devices can now be activated one handed.
Also, with any Canadian beacon (don't buy one in the US, you'd have to register it with US authorities or have it reprogrammed) that is registered (they have to be registered to work as designed), you can change and update your contacts and your trip notes. So if you're going hunting, you can leave a trip note about where you are going, for how long, how many people, etc... The registration is free. https://www.cbr-rcb.ca/cbr/presentation/other_autre/index.php
The SARSAT network has much better coverage than the network used by the SPOT beacons. A PLB is normally picked up within 2 mins of activation, a SPOT beacon can take from 2 mins up to an hour to be detected by their network, dependent on where you are in Canada and how their satellite constellation is doing (some missing satellites). Also with a SPOT, you have to ensure you have fresh lithium batteries installed before you set out, then ad the cost of the monthly subscription. The Delorme In Reach is another good option, but again relies upon the user to replace the batteries.
PLB: $300 one time cost, no monthly subscription
SPOT: $85-$200, $10-15 per month + batteries
In-Reach: $300, $17-70 per month + batteries
Cell phone: $ cheap, but will it work when you really need it?
To me, it's a no brainer. I use a PLB for hunting, fishing, dirt bike riding, flying, sailing and camping in the back country. When I'm out solo, it's always attached to my belt (in a compact camera case). Most devices can now be activated one handed.
If you want 100% security there is no magic solution. Don't waste your time and go for a Satellite phone. Otherwise:
1.Check for the best provider in your area. In my case, it is Bell (and Telus/Koodo which rent from Bell). Find yours. Check the link provided in post 5. Or even better, ask locals!
2.Find the best cheap handset for connectivity from that provider. As a rule of thumb, Blackberries (pre-passport) are the best and Iphones are the worst. All others fall in between. Old Blackberries like curve, perl can be had for cheap.
During this past hunt session, I had text with my S2 and could communicate with others on Bell/Telus. We could also download Google map for GPS. The ones with Rogers and/or Iphone were dead in the water.
1.Check for the best provider in your area. In my case, it is Bell (and Telus/Koodo which rent from Bell). Find yours. Check the link provided in post 5. Or even better, ask locals!
2.Find the best cheap handset for connectivity from that provider. As a rule of thumb, Blackberries (pre-passport) are the best and Iphones are the worst. All others fall in between. Old Blackberries like curve, perl can be had for cheap.
During this past hunt session, I had text with my S2 and could communicate with others on Bell/Telus. We could also download Google map for GPS. The ones with Rogers and/or Iphone were dead in the water.
Last edited:
Would be ideal if they still worked we had one, was able to call in the Cape Breton Highlands. But all depends on your provider, I know sometimes my rogers get coverage that Lori Koodo phone cant, and vice versa. When I was up in McAdam on the 11th, I lost signal outside of Harvey. Lori had it all the way.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The phone is for my wife's peace of mind, so I can call her from the bush at night and she knows I'm Ok. I am hunting alone, about ten miles into the bush, where the only way in is ATV, or foot. (Well, we did medivac a guy out about a decade ago. So we have a helipad!
The trail is anything but nice and flat, and a winch is a definite pre-requisite.
The damned phone will be OFF all the time, except for calls out at night, or if there were some sort of emergency I can't handle, and I don't foresee that. I have no love of cells.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I do not need or want anything other than a regular basic cell phone with enough range to function properly.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Delorme In Reach. They work, While SPOT service is "spotty" and cell phones useless where I hunt.
