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What is your opinion on cell/smart phones for travling?

eZAK
Explorer
Explorer
We are looking to purchase new cell phones to replace our Moto Razr's.
We currently have Verizon pre-paid. We are some what neutral about keeping Verizon. In general, we don't use our phones a whole heck of a lot. It takes me about 3 mos. to go through 1,000 mins. It takes my wife about 5 mos. to go through 1,000.
We talk and text (would be nice to have a keyboard or voice recognition)

Also, We are open to paying for data to access the net on occasions.

So what we are looking at is a reliable carrier across the USA and a easy to use reliable phone with a good battery life.
"Relax, Don't Worry, Have A Home Brew"

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57 REPLIES 57

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
You're right ... a DSL connection ... I didn't realize anyone had those anymore. ๐Ÿ˜‰

By the way, there is also one more (very rare) Internet access method that is the type we have in our residence here in the mountains. It's kindof a wide area WiFi. It's a system with the main Internet trunk feed broadcasted wirelessly from a town miles away to repeaters throughout our mountains. The repeaters aim line of site (high frequency carrier) or through the trees (low frequency carrier) into the canyons and then to antennas on roofs that in turn carry the Internet data via hard wiring into wall sockets inside the residences.

The coffee shop COULD HAVE had that type of Internet access, but I doubt it.
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

wbwood
Explorer
Explorer
We both have iPhones...before that, droids....we've gotten new phones every two years for the last 14 years. This year is the only time we are not anxious to get rid of our iPhone 4S's. We love them. The 5 or 5S just doesn't offer enough for us to do another contract. We currently have AT&T. Before this was Verizon for years. Staying with a company is not necessarily beneficial. The only thing we miss is they unlimited data we had with Verizon. But you get better incentives often with switching to a different company every once in a while.

We both have iPads. I won mine on Facebook from a KOA a couple years ago. We are both sitting here now on them. I have nice desktop in my bonus room with a 24" monitor. But it's so much easier and convenient to use the iPad.

If you will be traveling, then I believe a smartphone is indispensable. There are many apps that you can use at the fly. Gas buddy. Woodall's. KOA. MobileRVing. Flyingj. Next exit. And many more.
Brian
2013 Thor Chateau 31L

clikrf8
Explorer
Explorer
We upgraded to iPhone 5 last April from the sort of smart phone my sister gave us the year before. Verizon gave us $100 off so took the plunge. Being a neo-Luddite for most items, I am not succumbing to iPads or other latest gadgets but found on 3 subsequent trips that the iPhone is indispensable for finding gas stations, road conditions, weather, campgrounds, grocery stores, even GPS, although we have a Garmin Montana for trails and where wifi isn't available (remote areas in the west). The iPhone apps are pretty useful but you need to pick and choose from a large inventory. We rarely use the 2gb for internet use and only have the 65+ 200 minutes per month (no longer offered) and no texting (I can barely type).
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Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Explorer II
Shearwater wrote:
Trac phones are the cheapest option - mine cost $20 and I have a 2 year subscription of 800 minutes/yr for $150 total. I think Trac phone uses ATT's towers.

If you want all the extras that a smart phone provides Verizon has, by far, the best nationwide coverage but at a price.

Tracfone uses AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, depending on which phone you select and where you activate it. Typically, the phone models that end in a 'c' (LG200c, LG505c, Z665c, etc.) are CDMA phones that use Verizon, while no letter or a 'g' (V170, LG840g, T245g, etc.) indicates a GSM AT&T or T-mobile phone. Currently, Tracfone's Android smart phones all use Verizon, regardless of your 'home' location.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
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Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Explorer II
pnichols wrote:
Dutch_12078 wrote:
I was in a cell dead area (all carriers) of the Adirondacks, but I was still able to make and receive calls using a Google Voice app and a WiFi hotspot at a coffee shop.


Hmmmm ... that is a necessary situation for most rural businesses. It means that the coffee shop most have had one of three things: 1) Cable service for Internet access, or 2) satellite service for Internet access, or 3) cell tower connectivity for Internet access via a cellular band antenna somewhere on the building feeding a cellular band amplifier somwhere inside the building so that, even though you couldn't connect to cell towers, the coffee shop could.

The coffee shop would have also needed setup 1), 2), or 3) in order to have accepted credit/debit cards from it's customers.

You missed one... The coffee shop has DSL service from Frontier Communications, the local landline phone company.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate

Shearwater
Explorer
Explorer
Trac phones are the cheapest option - mine cost $20 and I have a 2 year subscription of 800 minutes/yr for $150 total. I think Trac phone uses ATT's towers.

If you want all the extras that a smart phone provides Verizon has, by far, the best nationwide coverage but at a price.
Advanced RV Sprinter

GoPackGo
Explorer
Explorer
I also have the Walmart Straight Talk service for unlimited everything that costs $45/month (but in reality, data IS limited).

You need to pay attention if you go this route. The phone you buy dictates which service provider you piggyback onto - Straight Talk uses more then one provider.

Since it's generally agreed that Verizon has the best map coverage, I wanted to make sure I got a phone which uses their service. So I bought the Iphone 5.

There are many Straight Talk phones available and at least one cheaper plan (not unlimited).

Note that you cannot use your phone as a tether under Straight Talk. I use a Millenicom hotspot for my computer data requirements, which also runs on Verizon. I also have a Wilson Sleek in my truck and also their home/office kit in my 5th wheel to boost reception. So far, so good, although I have not been west of the Mississippi yet. Will try that next year.

I'm very happy with my choices.

Regarding battery life - smart phones seem to be battery hogs. My kids recharge every day. I recharge about every 2-3 days. One thing I like about my new truck is that it has numerous 12 volt and 110 volt outlets so it's convenient to plug in while traveling.

Tim

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Dutch_12078 wrote:
I was in a cell dead area (all carriers) of the Adirondacks, but I was still able to make and receive calls using a Google Voice app and a WiFi hotspot at a coffee shop.


Hmmmm ... that is a necessary situation for most rural businesses. It means that the coffee shop most have had one of three things: 1) Cable service for Internet access, or 2) satellite service for Internet access, or 3) cell tower connectivity for Internet access via a cellular band antenna somewhere on the building feeding a cellular band amplifier somwhere inside the building so that, even though you couldn't connect to cell towers, the coffee shop could.

The coffee shop would have also needed setup 1), 2), or 3) in order to have accepted credit/debit cards from it's customers.
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

Dog_Trainer
Explorer
Explorer
I use a Smart phone as I keep up with business doings while on the road. I also use it as a hotspot for my laptop and can use the GPS feature when wandering bout. When cell phone coverage is available it is usually on Verizon my DD uses ATT and I am connected a little more often in those remote areas. I also switched my land line to cell service as I can add it to my minutes for an additional tem bucks a month. I am not real tecky but have found that a Smart phone although not a must is a good companion.
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Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Explorer II
One advantage of a smart phone over conventional phones that I recently had occasion to use, was the WiFi connection capability. I was in a cell dead area (all carriers) of the Adirondacks, but I was still able to make and receive calls using a Google Voice app and a WiFi hotspot at a coffee shop.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
obgraham wrote:
I have no need whatsoever for a smartphone.
In the late 80s I remember thinking "Whatever do I need a computer for?"

Sometimes it depends on what you can afford. SPhs ain't cheap!
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

obgraham
Explorer
Explorer
I think it completely depends on how you work. I have no need whatsoever for a smartphone. I only have a dumbphone to use in emergency, or so my kids can call me when we are out on the road. I just want to to be a phone.

But I do all that other stuff -- web, internet, check campgrounds, trip planning, on and on. More hours in the day than I care to admit. I just prefer the bigger screen and keyboard of a real computer. So I use a Verizon hotspot, which accomplishes the same thing as your smartphones, and the cost is similar.

So...it depends!

jerem0621
Explorer II
Explorer II
Walmart has straight talk wireless with unlimited everything for $45.00 a month and a more limited plan for about $30.00. They have Galaxy android smart phones for around $100 bucks.
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Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Explorer
I just upgraded. Verizon. New "Flip Phone" wife and I..

and I picked up a Verizon Jetpack for my laptop.

I like a Dumb Phone. small, light, and I have large fat fingers.
smart phones do not deal well with my type of fingers.
besides, if my wife also got a smart phone .. it would take me 3 years to teach Her how to use it.. and again the SIZE. wife does not use a purse. ever.

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Altern wrote:
The days of flip phones are over ...


Nope. Smart phones are too big.

My good old Verizon/Samsung Convoy is way smaller .... fits nicely in pant or shirt pockets without me worring about cracking it's glass if I lean up against something. I can hook it up to the Internet at 3G speeds for browsing in a pinch, too, if I want to pay for the service.

An iPad Mini is far superior for RV ease-of-use when the passenger is trying to read a slightly jiggling screen when traveling in the RV - especially if the passenger's eyes aren't as good as they used to be for looking at little tiny things.

However, a main problem with flip phones, iPhones, and iPads on RV trips is they have to be able to CONNECT TO the Internet when in non-coverage areas - of which we are in a LOT OF here out West. To eliminate a lot of the connection problems, we've installed a roof antenna and an amplifier in the RV for boosting access to Verizon towers whenever we're in the RV, both when moving and when camped. The RV becomes a hotspot when using the antenna and amplifier, so that computers and iPads just have to use their WiFi circuits to connect through the RV's wireless hotspot router.
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C