| Author |
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pwr
Posts: 2 |
 
Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:47 pm |
Hi folks, first post. I'm in SE Michigan but I travel a lot to areas with spotty coverage.
It's time for a new phone. I have an ancient Motorola V120C tri-band phone that I've kept long past its best-by date just because it's always served me well and the battery seems to last forever, and it outperforms many newer phones--when I'm out for a motorcycle ride with friends in remote areas, they're always borrowing my phone because I'm the one who can get reception and call out. But the phone is starting to crash on me.
So my question is: what OBJECTIVE criteria can I use to evaluate which phone is going to have maximum range? Is this SAR? (I really miss the old bag phones.) I know I need a tri-band phone. And I've seen all kinds of anecdotal information out there, i.e., "well, I like my Nokia's reception." That really doesn't do me any good.
Other criteria: I don't care about anything other than the telephone part of the cellphone. I don't want or need a camera, or a music player, or any other multitasking capabilities. I've got a camera and an iPod already. My next cellphone only needs to be a telephone. If other stuff comes with the stellar reception, so be it, but I don't need that stuff.
It would help, too, if the phone can be dropped five feet onto a hard surface on a daily basis. 
Thanks in advance for any help!
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Verizon010
Posts: 62
Phone Model:
Samsung SCH-A930
Service Provider:
Verizon Wireless |
Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:43 pm |
well, i know the new VZW phone, rugged edition, can withstand just about anyhting. its price can withstand just about anyhting as well, $369.99 with new two-year contract, but its waterproof, dustproof, shock resistant, and complies with military standards. idk about the mode, not sure if its dual or triband, but almost everywhere now has full digital 1X service. i live in RURAL ohio, and when i say this, i mean it, im at least 50min away from a good sized city (dayton) and i have 2/4 bars, with 1X on my dual band, dual mode Samsung SCH A930. as far as a good triband phone, the Nokia 6215i would be excellent, look it up on cnet, and you can see they rate call quality as "stellar, with no difference compared to a landline", and its a basic phone that would serve ur needs very well.
.VZ  
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paperstreet
Posts: 332 |
Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:58 pm |
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G'zOne. Have you read about it's durability?
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Shalalala
Posts: 661 |
Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:16 pm |
I believe this website, infact, has a review on it.
It really is a marvel of technology.
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pwr
Posts: 2 |
Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:47 am |
Checking out the reviews of the g'zOne, it is digital only and has mediocre reception, according to the anecdotal evidence. Those are dealbreakers.
I'd still like to know how, other than word-of-mouth, you can tell how good a phone's reception/transmitting is going to be. I can't believe there's no objective measurement criteria .
Thanks for the suggestions.
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turn_on68
Posts: 1 |
Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:31 pm |
| pwr wrote: | Checking out the reviews of the g'zOne, it is digital only and has mediocre reception, according to the anecdotal evidence. Those are dealbreakers.
I'd still like to know how, other than word-of-mouth, you can tell how good a phone's reception/transmitting is going to be. I can't believe there's no objective measurement criteria .
Thanks for the suggestions. |
I too wanted a basic phone and found one through Verizons warehouse 800 number. I thought I was calling Austin, TX. They found me the 6236i candy bar phone. I absolutely love it. Unlike the NOKIA 6015i whose keyboard is a piece of junk, this one works everytime, my password doesn't have to be re-entered. It has a built in FM Radio and camera, which I have not used yet. I got a hard wired cradle to hook up to my old car kit cark-91 and it came with the car antenna connection too, so now my speaker phone and mic work in the car again, phone auto re-charges like my old 5185i did. The car roof antenna boosts the reception. Cradle was $42 delivered a whole lot less than the new Cark-CK-7W at over $150. If you don't have a car kit you can buy one of the now older Cark-91 really cheap and get this cradle which will in plug into it and work . I guess I should add my reception is excellent and no antenna to worry external to worry about, my cost was $9.99 and a new two year contract which was not even do until July of 07, but Verizon let me upgrade early. 
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danielleenos
Posts: 5 |
Thu May 10, 2007 4:40 pm |
The US only has 850MHz and 1900MHz.Due to that fact, a tri-band phone does not matter in the least (unless you are traveling internationally and at the point you NEED a quad-band phone).
Nokia helped create the 850MHz network and because of that their phones DO work the best. Nokia also has the highest RF ratings on Cingular's GSM network (dropped calls, highest signal strength).
Candy Bar style phones offer better signal, rather than the flip phones.
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paperstreet
Posts: 332 |
Sat May 12, 2007 1:13 am |
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It's rumored that February 18th 2008, the FCC will allow wireless carriers to retire analog networks. This allows Verizon Wireless to fully transition to an all Digital wireless network, offering improved voice and data services. The last day Verizon Wireless will provide analog cellular service will be February 18th 2008. There should've been a letter sent to you in your bill regarding this, so trimode won't necessarily have the fix. Checking the RF levels of the phone makes sense, it seems to teeter-totter with battery life, if service seems stronger the battery may drain faster, and vice versa. That's one of the reasons those old nokia phones have a low battery expectations.
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lookrich
Posts: 1 |
Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:51 am |
I'm also in the market for a new cell and my only concern is reception. Does anyone have any experience with the Nokia 6215i or Nokia 6315i? I live in a garden level apartment in Chicago, if that means anything.
To the original poster: I had a Motorolla E815 and I loved it. It had great reception, long battery life and was extrememly durable. It took many beatings in the year and a half I had it. The phone is discontinued, but if you are willing to go to e-bay, that is the phone I would recommend. Just don't have it in your pocket during a rain storm.
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lotsa luck
Posts: 1 |
Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:31 pm |
paperstreet,
Does the rumored Verizon drop of analog networks have anything to do with the roaming capabilities of a Verizon Tri Mode phone? I am pretty uneducated to all this. I have a Motorola E815 which is all digital and had on old Nokia which always had a signal at my home. Not so with the E815. I thought I'd try the Verizon LG VX5400 which is a Tri Mode phone like my old Nokia. I plan to travel extensively next fall throughout the Southwest in a motorhome and thought the Tri Mode would be beneficial. Thoughts?
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