Date:         Fri, 21 Apr 2000 13:45:19 -0500
Reply-To:     "Michael C. Duran" <grendal@USA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Michael C. Duran" <grendal@USA.COM>
Subject:      Re: CB or cell?
Comments: To: Drew Bedford <drew@BOMB-PROOF.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <3900933A.E1B0C09B@bomb-proof.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Is your cell phone a REAL cell phone or a PCS?  If it has analog
capabilities, chances are you are covered.  If it is digital only (PCS),
then chances are you won't be covered.  Analog cellular covers 98% of
places on the continent where humans live.  Digital PCS? Bahah!!  Go off
the Interstate and bye-bye coverage.

Secondly, CB radios, at least down in Texas are virtually out of use by all
but truck drivers.  Truck drivers MIGHT be nice enough to help you out if
they get your cry for help, but chances, IMO, are slim based on my prevoius
CB conversations with truckers.  Many of the smarter truckers run w/
squelch up high so they don't hear all the crap (cussing, sex jokes, blah
blah) of the other truckers.  Also, FYI, nobody monitors channel 9, the
"emergency" channel. The cell phone is your best bet unless you can afford
a satellite phone :)

Also, if you're ever cruising with a group it's probably a good idea to get
a FRS radio.  It's a low-powered walkie-talkie style radio used by alot of
civilians (it stands for Family Radio Service).  So far I find alot more
individuals in cars using FRS than CB anymore.  The range is alot shorter,
but you're alot more likely to find a friendly voice when next to a highway.

Good luck...

-Michael

At 11:43 AM 4/21/2000 -0600, Drew Bedford wrote:
>I'm heading off to a rather remote location for a weekend camping trip
>and I began to ponder communications. In case "Happy" gets unhappy,
>should I add a CB to the glovebox? I already have a national-coverage
>cell phone, but rural Utah is, well... rural. Has anyone gotten out of a
>jam using a CB where no cell coverage was available? Seems like fairly
>cheap insurance.
>
>TIA,
>Drew
>83.5 Westy