View Full Version : GSM or TDMA cell phones on the trail
Nameless
05-26-2005, 16:53
Hello,
I need to know quickly whether TDMA or GSM phones will get better recetion on the trail.
I know that TDMA tends to be better in rural areas, but the TDMA phones avalible are about a half ounce heavier then the GSM phones avalible, and with my base weight at 13 lbs, a half ounce matters too me.
I will only be using the phone in towns, unless the is an emergancy on the trail, but I really hope that doesnt happen (and doubt it will). In towns will the difference be enough to make me want to carry the extra weight?
The cell company was useless with my question, the two different departments (GSM and TMDA) were both convinced their service would be best.
Thankyou
Pink
And please dont turn this thread into an arguement about killing birds like the last thread turned into, this is a serious question from a girl that needs answers. I know proper cell phone use on the trail, and I will use it, so dont lecture me on it either.
I know this isn't exactly the information you're looking for, but I would think which service provider you choose would play a larger role in reception than which type of phone.
With that said, I would doubt that the difference would be worth any additional weight. I'd say to go with the lightest phone you can find since reception may be questionable at best and why carry something heavier than necessary when it can't be used. When you can get reception, I would think either would work.
Just my $0.02! Good luck on the upcoming hike!
When you are that light a half oz. shouldn't matter too much?. Have a great hike, hope to meet you this fall!
MileMonster
05-27-2005, 00:16
Two answers you won't want, but I'll write it anyway -
1) If you're only going to use the phone in town then don't take a mobile. Use a payphone/hostel phone.
2) Take a GAIT phone that can use all network technologies. I did, worked well. Probably the heaviest of all the phones out there, though. Might be a whole ounce heavier than GSM phone.
As you might guess, I don't have an answer to your specific question.
Two answers you won't want, but I'll write it anyway -
1) If you're only going to use the phone in town then don't take a mobile. Use a payphone/hostel phone.
2) Take a GAIT phone that can use all network technologies. I did, worked well. Probably the heaviest of all the phones out there, though. Might be a whole ounce heavier than GSM phone.
As you might guess, I don't have an answer to your specific question.I read somwhere, (I think it was on a USENET RV forum) that Tracfone uses any tower available. They do not actually own or build their own towers. That is why they get a better signal than the others but there IS a trade off in price per minute. If you use it just for emergencies and an occasional call when away from a land line (like I do) Tracfone might be the way to go.
Also, increased weight might translate to more battery which also means longer time between charges.
I may use 30 minutes a month, tops, on mine.
Go TDSM. GSM blows in the woods.
The Trakphone idea is a good one too. That way you're only paying for the time you use. Yeah, it's more expensiveif you make lots of call, and in that case go with a plan. But for less than 60 minutes a month go with the pay-by-play.
Nameless
05-27-2005, 16:36
Hello,
Thanks for the responses.
Not carrying a phone is unfortunatly not an option, I would much prefer to not carry one, and that was my orriginal plan. But, the parents stepped in, and are paying for everything, so I dont really have the choice.
And, I cannot go trakphone, because I need the discount on a new cell phone that you get from signing up a new plan. That saves a lot of money, and we are able to get even more off through work. So, we are getting a inexpensive phone and plan by going through cingular (which I chose because I need the phone to work in Alaska when I get back, and it was the best plan that did that)
The bartery is comperable on both phones, one gets about an hour more talk time, the other about an hour more standby, so that doesnt really matter.
I wont be using the phone in the woods, but rather in town, does your comment, Ender, apply to the towns too?
Thankyou
Pink
And I got this light worrying about the half ounce... I may be lighter after a week or two on the trail, theres a couple things I'm thinking about ditching.
RockyTrail
05-27-2005, 17:16
If you're only using it in towns, then remember turn the thing all the way off on the trail to save the battery (or remove the battery if possible) and only turn it on to place a call. You can go a long time w/o charging it this way and the standby time will be irrelevant.
GSM does work at some spots in GA, I was near Gooch Gap and a hiker I know was using a GSM cingular phone, he said it worked fine there but was spotty in some places.
I'm willing to bet that the phone won't work in EVERY trail town, but will probably work in most. On the trail is a gamble.
If you only want it for towns, I've found my Cingular works pretty well at most reasonably sized towns. Not the best, but by far better than many.
Good luck with your hike!
The towns you hit are small; don't expect to find much support for services that are more typically found in cities (GSM). Actually, a calling card works well, but if you're set on a phone, don't risk not being able to use it most of the time.
Yeah, I'd have a Sams phone card too. At 3.4 cents a minute its a great deal. You can memorize the # and not carry the extra weight! Remember however, lighter is not always better- particularly if you are already well within your comfort zone! Enjoy!!
MacGyver2005
05-28-2005, 09:38
I am currently Thru-Hiking and am carrying a Cingular phone. It is a GSM phone, but it still uses the towers all of the time anyway. I would suggest you go with the GSM as it will cover both, and will be more up-to-date when you get off of the trail.
One thing to note is that a cell phone is going to work at some times you would not expect it, and not work when you cannot believe there is no reception. Through GA my phone worked almost all the time. It never worked once in the Smokey's. It works pretty well in VA, especially near the Interstate. A lot of the towns are in a gap, and the phone doesn't work there either. I think I have had the phone work more coming into towns than actually in the towns. I know that it did not work in Damascus or Hot Springs, for example. There will be times when it will not work at a shelter, but will work 1/10 of a mile down the trail from it. They typically work better up on a mountain, and rarely work in a gap. About a day outside of Pearisburg you actually walk right past a Cingular tower, so I can promise you reception there. ;) There are many times when you can see towers on other ridgelines and on top of other mountains, as well.
I have made it practice to turn the phone on a few times a day to check for reception. If I get on top of a mountain and have a snack, or if I stop for lunch, and always at the end of the day. The reception in the woods is typically low, and you can count on losing the connection or getting disconnected on a call of any duration. But you can make calls out there, and the phone does work quite often.
To answer your question, get a GSM phone. I recommend an LG or Nokia, and recommend to stay away from Motorola. Other than that get whatever phone is cheap (or even free!) with your plan. And don't stress over the weight. A phone is something you have decided to carry, so the weight of the phone and the charger are now just part of the trip. Trust me, that's one thing you don't need to worry about. Good luck, and enjoy your trip! :D
I'm so glad I found this post. I've been wondering about this for the past year and just found whiteblaze.net again. Anyway, I own a small business and have been worried that I won't be able to spend any significant time on the trail. I would probably need to speak to my assistant 5-10 minutes a day 3-4 times a week. Is that possible on the trail?
MacGyver2005
05-30-2005, 12:31
I would probably need to speak to my assistant 5-10 minutes a day 3-4 times a week. Is that possible on the trail?
Not always, but usually. You can make it happen if you are willing to check your phone for reception several times a day. However, there are times when you might go at least half of a week without reception, like in the Smokeys. But that is pretty rare, and towers are being added all the time.
Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005
Thanks for the quick reply McGyver2005. I think I might have the worst possible carrier for chance of reception, T-Mobile. They seem to drop service even in the civilized world. I'll have to figure something out or else I'll be stuck doing day hikes for the next 20 years.
BTW, how are you accessing the web during your thru-hike?
MacGyver2005
05-30-2005, 13:39
BTW, how are you accessing the web during your thru-hike?
There are computers at a lot of locations. Libraries are in a lot of towns, and some hostels and outfitters even have them. Right now I am home for a few days, so that is why I have been online frequently. Also, if you are more interested in email and journaling, you can check out www.pocketmail.com
Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005
I checked out the pocketmail site. I'd heard alot about it and it looks very interesting. It'll certainly be a good option for me. Thanks.