Best Cell phone/reception when around barrier islands? - The Hull Truth

Boongirl · 08-18-2009, 08:57 PM

I need a new cell phone, and possibly carrier. I have AT&T service, and an OLD Nokia 3120. I get NO reception when out at the Barrier Islands in MS sound.
I need opinions of those who have good experience with their phones/carriers. I heard Cellular South has good reception out there (but do they also have good coverage elsewhere in the country?)
I do have a handheld VHF, and don't go more than a couple miles south of the islands; but a good cellphone signal would be an added safety feature!

dryhydro · 08-18-2009, 09:09 PM

Verizon!!! so far, or the Petrocom Network which is very expensive until you need it .It will connect you 50 mi. or more off the beach for a price,but when you need it,it's cheap....

Sea Daddy · 08-19-2009, 01:35 AM

Cell South does have good reception out to and past the islands for a few miles. Several people I know including myself have Cell South that are out there on a regular basis. As far as the rest of the country, I can tell you there is cell reception on the great plains of South Dakota in places and there is nothing much in some areas out there for MILES.

Maybe someone else can chime in on other remote places in the nation.

pugnacious3333 · 08-19-2009, 02:32 AM

I have Alltel and have always gotten decent reception around the barrier islands. In the last few years, that reception has gone from good to excellent. Now Verizon bought Alltel. I've had problem with roaming and reception since the switch, but verizon took care of that. The people at verizon told me that they bought alltel because the reception was better than verizon in this area. People down here have always said that Cellular South is best, but my reception has always been just as good, if not better with alltel. What i've found is that the phone makes a big difference. My Razr gets a great signal. Some of the cheaper flip phones have poor antennas.

GotchaRB · 08-19-2009, 06:43 AM

Get ya a sat phone! They are very nice!

Boongirl · 08-20-2009, 07:55 AM

Hmmmm. yes, that brings up another factor - the phone itself.
I wonder if all the more expensive phones like the Razr have good antennas.
What phones are ya'll using? (Dyhydro & Sea Daddy)?

Sea Daddy · 08-20-2009, 08:03 AM

I have a RAZR. But I have heard the old Nokias have the best antenna. They are just not made anymore and are not easy to find. I had a Nokia before this RAZR and it picked up well with ALLTEL but it went for a swim in the river and never received again.

MadScientist813 · 08-20-2009, 02:51 PM

I have cell south, 2 phones(work and personal), i get great reception with both Nokias at all the barrier islands

RingLeader · 08-20-2009, 09:35 PM

We fished out to the horseshoe rig area in May and I had great reception all the way out and past the Chanduluer Is. I had roam fees for the calls I made/recieved at the rigs we fished in the MP area, but nothing substantial. The guys in the boat with Cell South had no reception (text either) all day. I have AT&T. Just my observation from that day.

I get OK reception in the Phesant fields of South Dakota as well. But it can be spotty out there.

REDWEISER · 08-20-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RingLeader

We fished out to the horseshoe rig area in May and I had great reception all the way out and past the Chanduluer Is. I had roam fees for the calls I made/recieved at the rigs we fished in the MP area, but nothing substantial. The guys in the boat with Cell South had no reception (text either) all day. I have AT&T. Just my observation from that day.

I get OK reception in the Phesant fields of South Dakota as well. But it can be spotty out there.

I have AT&T .....
P

pugnacious3333 · 08-21-2009, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boongirl

Hmmmm. yes, that brings up another factor - the phone itself.
I wonder if all the more expensive phones like the Razr have good antennas.

I can't really say whether the Razr has the best antenna, but in relation to the last phones I had (Samsung and LG flip phones) it was a HUGEEEE improvement. The blackberrys get good reception too.

patrickg · 08-21-2009, 11:31 AM

All of them are terrible. I have Cellular South. I had an important call at Cat island that was breaking up. I called back on everybody's phone that was on the boat. I think we went through every carrier and none of them worked. I actually have better reception at parts of Chandeleur than I do at Cat. All of the carriers seem to work ok at Ship and Horn.

Paul Barnard · 08-22-2009, 01:13 PM

I am a Coast Guard Search and Rescue coordinator and have worked in and played in this area for about 10 years. None of them are reliable enough to count on for emergencies. I have Alltell/Verizon. I had ATT and T Mobile at some point. They worked at times and not at others. When at work and I talk to people on the fringes of reception, reliability is suspect at best, and they most often have battery life issues. This is because their phones spend a lot of energy in search mode. Carry a 12 volt charger with you. Above all, take a VHF and monitor VHF channel 16. I wouldn't consider going to the islands without one.

Boongirl · 08-24-2009, 07:48 PM

Oh, there's no way I would count on any cell phone for emergency communications - that's why I have the handheld VHF. But, the cell would be a back-up, and also to communicate to shore for, say, when I'm on-call for my job (fortunately I don't have to go in when called, just answer questions).
Looks like I need a cell phone with good battery life and a decent antenna.
As far as carriers, it seems hit-or-miss with all of them - viewing everyone's replies.
Between Alltel, AT&T and Cell south - it's a toss up.......and may even depend on the time of day, etc. So many factors!
Thanks guys, for your input.........lots to think about......still!

solaman · 08-26-2009, 12:50 PM

If you are going to use your cellphone offshore, get AT&T due to the roaming agreements they have with Broadpoint (formally Petrocom and Coastel Communications combined, Broadpoint is the only offshore cellular company at this time). Something that may help you get better reception is an external antenna that has gain built-into it. You will have to make sure an external antenna can be connected to it. There are cellular BDA's that can boost signal, but you have to be able to seperate the two antennas on the BDA's so it will work properly. I have attached a link to Broadpoints coverage map (be careful signal levels are low at the fringe areas of the circles on the map. http://www.broadpointinc.com/public/pag16.aspx

DonDon · 08-26-2009, 03:40 PM

on me cell South Blackberry out half way to the Chandaliers from Ship Saturday. LOL

Boongirl · 09-01-2009, 09:22 PM

Very interesting post, Solaman - thanks for the link. Seems that their grey coverage area has the Barrier Isles on the borders (fringes) and doesn't include Cat.
But it's great to know that this company has towers farther out in the Gulf!
I may see if both AT&T and Cell South have a "trial" period.......