If you have Nextel Service, there is a new feature now.

[RiskTaker]

Just as an FYI for those anglers that venture off-shore, or for anyone else for that matter. Nextel is selling a few phones that are Direct Talk enabled.

The iDEN division of Motorola makes these phones for Nextel which we casually termed as MOTO-talk. And what this feature does is that it allows you to talk directly, from appropriately equipped Nextel phones, ie. directly phone to phone, like a two-way walkie talkie, without having to go through the subscriber service towers.

This means that you can talk on your Nextel phone, boat to boat, let's say about six miles from each other even if you are out of range of the subscriber service which you use for regular cell calls. Certainly the Hi-power 25 watt VHF radio remains the primary method for localized Marine communication, but now you can have an alternate, or as a back-up communications link if you want.

With this feature you can talk privately from phone to phone, or you can
broadcast in the familiar channel and noise filter code, to anyone tuned to your channel/code setting.

You can check out the details at the link:
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/en/se...fnetwork.shtml

This should be a standard feature on upcoming models. For now this feature is available on the models: i315, i325, i325is, i275.

In a pinch, think "line of sight" and you will get more range from a Direct Talk connection.

Beam me to Bimini, Scotty: then we'll talk. :alien: RT

[CaptKen]

I have Nextel,and mine SUX !!! ,a mile off the beach and no signal,Travel commerical Blvd between the turnpike and University,5 dead zones,you couldn't carry on a phone call if you wanted too.In side a building forget it!
Always a billing hassle! they try to rip you off every month! check your bill!
I wouldn't take one of those new phones if they gave Me 2 of them!
I cant wait for my contract to run out !

Singular,25 miles offshore,off West Palm Beach and spoke with Chum like He was standing next to Me in Pompano.Also works in the Bahamas.
Ken

[wackme]

i second that captain ken mine does the same thing . and i got screwed into a two year contract . half the time the phone doesnt even work at my house.

[CaptainEd]

I think any cell service is going to be questionable that far offshore although phone to phone mode seems like it has possibilities. If you want reliability get a sat phone. I finally bought one and it's great. Before that I went as far as to install a Galaxy 170. + + +, cell antenna. The thing was garbage and made no difference in cell reception what so ever so I returned it. If you want more private than VHF long range boat to boat comm use SSB which I have used for years in my truck and on my boat.

[CaptKen]

I agree with you on the sat phone Ed,But a bit pricey though,I was in the Bahamas a few weeks back and made a call on one for 4 min.Got a bill for $50.00, $10.00 a min x 4 min & $10.00 to hook up to a satilite.

Would be worth a $100.00 min if you needed it though.

[RiskTaker]

Capt. Ken - Thanks for that feedback about the Nextel service. I use Nextel service too and there are times that I grumble after I finish a sentence and the connection finished first. Agreed, it seems like I am familiar with at least 2 gaps in coverage on my typical horse-trail to the barn.

So at least you know about the new phone 2 phone technology, not that you will ever have it once your contract is up. I use this phone in both modes all the time due to my line of work (not yet Direct Talk), so when I have service deficiencies, I just grin and bear it and keep moving. But most every successful company ranks their performance with at least some components of customer satisfaction in the equation. So by making your opinions known, hopefully directly to the customer satisfaction people at Nextel, there is a chance that the service may be improved over time. Which it certainly has over the years that I have been familiar: first service handling capacity, then National PTT, multiband for International usage and now Direct Talk. The proximity of the towers probably remains a tough nut to crack though. To fix that problem you would probably need another tower or two to squeeze in with all the pre-existing installations, meaning also that all of these would need to move to achieve optimal and uniform coverage. (I am not a location planning engineer but that is my edumecated guess on how it works.)

Just remember these cell phones are all low power devices, unlike their analog trans-portable predecessors of several years ago (the ones with a handle). Creative technology has helped but there are limits to the range that a 3/4 W radio can achieve. Quality antennas are still required: this never goes out of style.

Capt. Ed. - I agree with you for safety AND long-range communication that SSB is the way to go. And satelite phones are great to have so long as you don't use them? It seems like their operating expense keeps them out of the hands of people with shallower pockets. Ed, sorry to hear you are land-locked recently but it is good to know that you are still talking on the forum. It would be a little bit more boring without your good posts.

For me, the 25 watt VHF with a good antenna connection and a spare 6 watt VHF handheld along with an EPIRB is all that I need as the economical solution. (Used to have an SSB along with a variable tuner but a close crack of lightning took out everything and the SSB was never replaced).

Direct Talk will be a sweet little bonus on the cell phones anytime you are out of the functional range of the tower.

Wackme - The first rule of thumb when you have a choice on a cell phone provider is to ensure that it works reliably from your home. Probabilities are high that you will be making quite a few calls from that zone.

Can you hear me now? ...... GOOD... or should I say, DONE.

[CaptainEd]

Right on Ken. It's worth whatever you have in an emergency. I use mine only for emergencies and also to call the person I filed my float plan with to tell them if I'll be in late. It's embarrassing to have the CG call you on the VHF because you've been called in over due. I've had a few nights I have missed my float plan arrival time because of a late hook up or deciding to stay out because of a tough bite.

Hey bro we had some good times out there on the grounds except that one we almost bought it. I flew over the chalet in the swamp during my heli lesson today and it reminded me of my day on the "Wide Open". Is that crazy bastard still alive and kickin'? This is going to be a good summer.

[Anonymous]

Nextel=Chitty service. I have and can't stand the dropped calls and lack of coverage areas. Had Cingular for 4 years without any problems. Left them for nextel.

Can't wait for my contract to be up so I can switch to a better carrier.

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by SwordSlasher

Nextel=Chitty service. I have and can't stand the dropped calls and lack of coverage areas. Had Cingular for 4 years without any problems. Left them for nextel.

Can't wait for my contract to be up so I can switch to a better carrier.

Pottydoc took his Nextel to his deer camp, put it on a stump and ran a 7mm slug through it. Said it was the best feeling he ever had about the phone/service. Pretty much tells me what I need to know.
Miss my Sprint - had no problems making calls from the sword grounds.

[CaptainEd]

They all seem to have their deficiencies. I have Sprint and frequently find myself in areas with no service on land. I get service on my cell while out on the sword grounds maybe once out of twenty trips and it never lasts long. When it comes to cell service I've learned to lower my expectations. I also accept the deceitful commercials as humorous fiction...can you here me know! 01456