Cell Phone Coverage in the Park

[Undertaker]

If the issue is safety, I agree that contact with the outside world is wonderful, all of my ham equipment and cell phones have an on/off switch, usually left "OFF". Modern communications collapses during an emergency, look at most earthquakes and hurricanes, it is usually the out of date "HAM" with his/her equipment that enables communication. Even with modern tech, you have to be self reliant and have the will to survive/continue, sad that a large part of the folks in this country have come to depend on the government to be the safety net.

[iCe]

If the issue is safety, I agree that contact with the outside world is wonderful, all of my ham equipment and cell phones have an on/off switch, usually left "OFF". Modern communications collapses during an emergency, look at most earthquakes and hurricanes, it is usually the out of date "HAM" with his/her equipment that enables communication. Even with modern tech, you have to be self reliant and have the will to survive/continue, sad that a large part of the folks in this country have come to depend on the government to be the safety net.

KD5YA de NE5U 

[Al]

At Camp de Leon on Old Ore Rd I successfully made a call on my Verizon phone this month.

Al

[Juke Box Hero]

Here's my experience on this topic based upon my trip last week.  I have AT&T.  Signal was usually strong between mile 3 on the Basin road out to Panther Jct.  No signal whatsoever in the Basin.  No service on the RMSD or road to RGV.

[RichardM]

Here's my experience on this topic based upon my trip last week. I have AT&T. Signal was usually strong between mile 3 on the Basin road out to Panther Jct. No signal whatsoever in the Basin. No service on the RMSD or road to RGV.

  I recommend my RV friends to get a cell phone booster and be safe then sorry when you decide to unplug from the system

You wouldn't happen to be in the business of selling and/or promoting such devices, would you?

[Casa Grande]

You wouldn't happen to be in the business of selling and/or promoting such devices, would you?

Why what makes you think that Richard?  Maybe his name is Ivan von Booster.  Benefit of the doubt sir.


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[Homer67]

Driving out from the Mule Ears circle, we picked up reception along the Ross-Maxwell.  It even hit full bars at one point. 

[Sophora Bean]

here is a coverage map of the area

http://www.cingular.com/coverageviewer/?zip=79834&x=47&y=13

I found a site that lists cell tower locations (http://www.cellreception.com/).  Here's the data it has on the tower in BBNP:
http://www.cellreception.com/towers/details.php?id=1053652

I didn't take the time to re-read EVERY message in this thread but Richard's 2007 location (above) is actually near the Big Bend Telephone Company's switching office at PJ. Someone I think on page 6 or so in this thread says the tower is on the south end of Rosillos Mts. - correct.  And it talks to a dish that sits at another location at PJ where it goes to a land line to the above BB Tel Co office.

At present - late June 2010, that tower/system has been down and there is no cell service from the Rosillos repeater tower.
So, bring signal flags or a satellite phone until that changes.

SB

[jave]

On 6/27 I tried to put air in my tire at PJ and they had been without power for 16 hrs; happened from the Marathon side they said.  The gas station guy was still sitting forlornly outside when we came by later.  Maybe that was related to the cell issue?

[BigBendHiker]

I Modern communications collapses during an emergency, look at most earthquakes and hurricanes, it is usually the out of date "HAM" with his/her equipment that enables communication.

Very true.  We had a ham shack at the manufacturing plant I used to work at in Seadrift just for that purpose.  In a storm, cell antennas and towers will not last.  If you lose your ham antenna, you can take some wire, run it along your building with some insulators, tune out the SWR with your antenna tuner and be good go to in a matter of minutes.

BBH
KA5PCK (Advanced Class license)

[iCe]

Yep... take it a step further and with very little power a CW signal can be transmitted great distances even in bad conditions. I used to work CW Mobile but when I changed vehicles I didn't install my rig so I would probably do good to send / receive 10 WPM vs the 20+ that I used to send / receive (without writing it down).

NE5U (Extra ticket)

[WayneR]

Wow, maybe we need to start a new thread; "HAMS of Big Bend"  .  There appears to be quite a few licensed amateurs on the board. QRV...

Wayne
KE5UOF

[homerboy2u]

I am no licensed ham radio dude, but when i go out yonder, i use CB and dual banders..Very interested in more topic from you hammers.

[Sophora Bean]

Well, looks like the Rosillos cell repeater is operational again. ... 'til the next thunderstorm....

[Lorax]

We send visitors to MM#22 on the RMSD to use the Terlingua Tower.  We have used our ATT phone from the parking lot at Castolon.  The Chimneys Trail Head is another site that hits the Terlingua Tower.  I had someone get a call on a walk in Santa Elena Canyon.  We have good luck around PJ, in front of the Visitor Center.  Also, we have tried the "Cingular Coverage Map" available on line for BIBE but we had little success.