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| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
Brian Boyd
Trad climber
Scottsdale, AZ
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 25, 2007 - 01:52pm PT
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Hey! I've heard there is limited cell phone access, and that it varies by carrier. Anyone know if our T Mobile phones will work?
Been away from the Valley since 1995, finally making it back there this weekend. I had stitches from minor surgery removed yesterday, and my partner tweaked her hand last week. So, look for Team Gimp: if you see a party 'projecting' the Grack, that's probably us. We'll be in a grey Xterra w/AZ tags, and I have a ginormous North Face VE-25. Any ST folks in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi.
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sprout
Trad climber
clovis, ca
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Sep 25, 2007 - 02:52pm PT
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There are spots tmobile will work, but they're hard to find and inconsistent. Don't count on it.
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scuffy b
climber
The deck above the 5
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Sep 25, 2007 - 03:04pm PT
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Not t-mobile, but this might be a good dumping place for other info
Verizon has a good signal in the big parking area between the
Village and the river. 9/15/07
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Wheatus
Social climber
CA
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Sep 26, 2007 - 03:44pm PT
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I had T-Mobile and could not get any reception in the Meadows. I switch to Verizon and reception is great. However, the phone antenna is another factor.
My wife and son both have Verizon but could not get any cell signal. Their fancy modern cell phones have an internal antenna (Chocolate and Blackberry) that failed to gain any reception.
My three year old free Nokia phone has an external antenna that appears to improves reception especially with the antique cell towers of Yosemite.
Similarly, I've heard that GPS units with internal antennas do not get the same quality of reception as GPS units with external antennas (valleys or canyons are problematic with internal antennas).
It appears that my laziness has benefits. If I had upgraded to one of those fancy sleek phones I could not call by bookie down south from the Meadows while belaying.
Summary: Cell phone with Verizon service and external antenna to call from Yosemite.
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Ouch!
climber
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Sep 26, 2007 - 03:49pm PT
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I use Virgin Mobile. Haven't had any trouble with service in the park.
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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Sep 26, 2007 - 04:07pm PT
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I have virgin mobile, and have never gotten ANY reception. Hmmmm...
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Sep 26, 2007 - 05:23pm PT
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Wheatus wrote:
My three year old free Nokia phone has an external antenna that appears to improves reception especially with the antique cell towers of Yosemite.
Similarly, I've heard that GPS units with internal antennas do not get the same quality of reception as GPS units with external antennas (valleys or canyons are problematic with internal antennas).
Although I bought my first cell phone just a year ago, I still have a Garmin 45 handheld
GPS that I bought in 1995. It has the TNC swivel antenna, and its reception blows
away any of modern internal-antenna units, despite having much-improved receivers.
I distinctly recall virtually all cell phones having external antennas, and for whatever
asinine reason they were phased out. WTF???
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Forest
Trad climber
Tucson, AZ
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Sep 26, 2007 - 07:40pm PT
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I think that external antennas on cell phones were (largely) phased out as the perceived coverage and cell phone internal antenna technology were both improved enough that the now pretty small benefit from the external antenna was deemed no longer worth the sacrifice in encumbrance, and aesthetics.
You can still buy some cell phones with external antennas. I don't know if they get perceivably better reception in this digital age. However, the best phone I ever had for reception was a nokia candy-bar style cell phone with no external antenna at all.
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| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
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