Cell Phone reception experience

[Phils]

Phils - - how old were those phones?

You've got a good approach, if they will let you try-before-you-buy. The other suggestion is to talk to others from your vicinity, or wherever you will be needing your phone.
One thing I learned, after the fact, is that you can get better deals by going to the ATT wireless website you can find better deals on phones than you can by going to a store. - - or for that matter, Walmart! I would do that if I could do it all over again, especially once I knew what I wanted.

Jack

Don't remember for sure, Jack. I'm guessing 16 or 17 years. Cellular was new. My wife had recently broken down and walked in the rain to a farmhouse from the freeway to use a phone (new to us '87 Taurus). Saw an ad for a used Motorola "bag phone" for $50 and had them install it. It was defective and after trying for a week to repair it they just gave me a brand new one for what I'd already paid. The new ones were selling for $300. Bought the second a year or two later for my truck. Been paying $25/month for both phones since (NO minutes included).

Verizon has been trying to get me to change for years: "Phil, 8-tracks are history. Beta tapes are too. You NEED a digital phone and a better calling plan!" I called a few times. "Nope, no plans even close to $25/mo for two phones". Obviously I don't use them much or the per minute charge would've made switching a better deal. For many years I've understood that if one or both broke, there'd be NO getting them repaired.

Like tallyho8, a lifeline phone might be good for me but, like tallyho8, it probably wouldn't get out when I needed it. I live in the hills and travel out of range of the little phones.

I've also found great deals on the net but have months to decide. I've been figuring that around Christmas some better deals will probably start appearing. Or maybe I'll just go without and borrow my wife's phone on occasion.

So keep the comments coming! The ATT store said they'd lend me one for a few days to try coverage.

Phil

 

[Diesel-ME]

Incidentally, any cell phone (not sure about the old analog ones) can be used for 911 dialing, even if the phone is not activated or under contract. I believe it's federal law. Of course you have to be able to get a signal AND the emergency has to be 911-worthy.

I found this out when a neighbor who worked with an abused women's shelter asked if I had any old cell phones I'd like to donate. I was glad to get rid of the numerous older but working digital phones that I had. They simply hand them out for free for 911 use I guess. In fact if you are sitting on a cache of them now - this is a great way to make use of such resources!

~paul