Anyone have a fixed mount 3 watt cell phone on their boat? We are installing a mast head antenna, but would like a more powerful phone... We spent most of last summer on the boat and staying in touch was not easy with the little nokia. I'm wondering what networks support the 3 watt phones I don't see anything about them on sprint, att or verizon.... Scott
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Frank Walker
Feedline Line Loss
I think that you will find that the loss in the feed line will limit your range. I have a Motorola bag phone with the antenna on the first spreader. The feed goes down the shroud and into the deck house where the phone is closely located. This system has worked out pretty well.
I think that you will find that the loss in the feed line will limit your range. I have a Motorola bag phone with the antenna on the first spreader. The feed goes down the shroud and into the deck house where the phone is closely located. This system has worked out pretty well.
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Deac
What kind of increased range do you get?
I sail on Lake Erie and wonder how far from shore you can get with your cell phone. It is also a problem that due to wave 'bounce' you can pick up Canadian cell towers inadvertantly even close to the U.S. shore and be charge astronomical foreign roaming charges.
I sail on Lake Erie and wonder how far from shore you can get with your cell phone. It is also a problem that due to wave 'bounce' you can pick up Canadian cell towers inadvertantly even close to the U.S. shore and be charge astronomical foreign roaming charges.
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Bryce Grefe
cell phones
Scott, I have a mast head antennae on my 410 with the Nextel system. You need to use low lose cable to the mast head or you'll not gain anything. couldn't tell you exact range, however, I have coverage pretty much everywhere cruising along the New England coast. Had coverage in Cuttyhunk last summer and I'd have to guess we were 10-15 miles from the closest tower probably in Woods Hole or Falmouth. Without the mast head antennae, I had no signal while there. Since its Nextel, I haven't had any problems picking up other carriers cell towers. Can also pick up e-mail etc. with the system, albeit its a slow connection. Had to try a couple of ISP's before I found one that supports the slow speed. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
Scott, I have a mast head antennae on my 410 with the Nextel system. You need to use low lose cable to the mast head or you'll not gain anything. couldn't tell you exact range, however, I have coverage pretty much everywhere cruising along the New England coast. Had coverage in Cuttyhunk last summer and I'd have to guess we were 10-15 miles from the closest tower probably in Woods Hole or Falmouth. Without the mast head antennae, I had no signal while there. Since its Nextel, I haven't had any problems picking up other carriers cell towers. Can also pick up e-mail etc. with the system, albeit its a slow connection. Had to try a couple of ISP's before I found one that supports the slow speed. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
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Len Fagan
3 watt cell system
We have a Raymarine cell system with antenna mounted on stern rail (it needed to be near and would not work on mast head ) Problem in finding cell provider due to requirement for analog service. We are using Verizon. No others in our area sell analog service. The problem is that at 9600bd normal internet providers to not work due to slow speed. As a telephone system it is fine. Note, uses convential telephone with dial tone. Len Fagan "Tale Winds"
We have a Raymarine cell system with antenna mounted on stern rail (it needed to be near and would not work on mast head ) Problem in finding cell provider due to requirement for analog service. We are using Verizon. No others in our area sell analog service. The problem is that at 9600bd normal internet providers to not work due to slow speed. As a telephone system it is fine. Note, uses convential telephone with dial tone. Len Fagan "Tale Winds"
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Jim
Cell Phone
We installed the standard Nokia hands free car set up, that has a handset or hands free mode. Hooked this to a Cellular antenna on the radar pole (available from West) We chose Cingular because of analog mode, and have traveled the east coast to Bahamas. I had reception up to 20 miles out. When in Bahamas we had to get a BATELCO Cell number, and the same set up worked throughout the islands. The handset works with Pocketmail. Have had this setup for 5 years and it works great.
We installed the standard Nokia hands free car set up, that has a handset or hands free mode. Hooked this to a Cellular antenna on the radar pole (available from West) We chose Cingular because of analog mode, and have traveled the east coast to Bahamas. I had reception up to 20 miles out. When in Bahamas we had to get a BATELCO Cell number, and the same set up worked throughout the islands. The handset works with Pocketmail. Have had this setup for 5 years and it works great.
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Frank Walker
Further Than You Think
On a recent trip across the NE corner of the Gulf, I consistently was able to make calls when the closest land was 40 to 50 nautical miles. This was both going to Tampa and and returning. I was surprised, as previous range with the little whip on the phone inside the cabin was 6 to 8 miles at sea. Line of sight would not explan that range increase, but nevertheless it happened.
On a recent trip across the NE corner of the Gulf, I consistently was able to make calls when the closest land was 40 to 50 nautical miles. This was both going to Tampa and and returning. I was surprised, as previous range with the little whip on the phone inside the cabin was 6 to 8 miles at sea. Line of sight would not explan that range increase, but nevertheless it happened.
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John
Cell on Lake Michigan
I checked my Verizon cell phone last year as we crossed Lake Michigan from Waukegan to South Haven. I was able to get dial tone 26 miles out of Waukegan and on the other side 26 miles from South Haven. It was an 80 mi. crossing so we were happy with the performance. Was able to use PocketMail without a problem.
I checked my Verizon cell phone last year as we crossed Lake Michigan from Waukegan to South Haven. I was able to get dial tone 26 miles out of Waukegan and on the other side 26 miles from South Haven. It was an 80 mi. crossing so we were happy with the performance. Was able to use PocketMail without a problem.
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Peter Roach
Look for analog
All of the networks that support analog will usually support 3 Watt phones (Sprint is out because it is all digital). If you are looking to increase your range, you definitely want analog service. Due to the nature of the digital system, you can only get digital service for about 15 miles from the antenna (if that). The nice thing about analog is it will work with your existing modem on your computer and will give you decent throughput. You will not have to sign up for the cellular carriers ‘data’ service. You need to find an ISP that supports relatively slow data speeds. You want your antenna as high as possible but you are dealing with a lot of line loss if you run the antenna up the mast. It is a trade off. Low loss coax with the approprate connectors will make a big difference. Make sure you use the highest gain antenna you can find (usually 3dB – 6dB is the most you will easily find). Ps. Frank – you probably got service across the gulf from the company that has cell towers actually in the Gulf. The Federal Communications Commission actually set up the Gulf as its own cellular system.
All of the networks that support analog will usually support 3 Watt phones (Sprint is out because it is all digital). If you are looking to increase your range, you definitely want analog service. Due to the nature of the digital system, you can only get digital service for about 15 miles from the antenna (if that). The nice thing about analog is it will work with your existing modem on your computer and will give you decent throughput. You will not have to sign up for the cellular carriers ‘data’ service. You need to find an ISP that supports relatively slow data speeds. You want your antenna as high as possible but you are dealing with a lot of line loss if you run the antenna up the mast. It is a trade off. Low loss coax with the approprate connectors will make a big difference. Make sure you use the highest gain antenna you can find (usually 3dB – 6dB is the most you will easily find). Ps. Frank – you probably got service across the gulf from the company that has cell towers actually in the Gulf. The Federal Communications Commission actually set up the Gulf as its own cellular system.
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Wynn Ferrel
Buy a used Motorola "Bag Phone"
I bought a Motorola "Bag Phone" and pulled it out of the bag and installed it at the nav station. Looks pretty cool and was cheap. Its a 3 watt phone and much more powerful than the handhelds. Works well most of the time. Depends on the tower locations of the local cell provider. You'll be on analog "roam" a lot. You don't need to run an antenna up the mast. While I can't fully explain all of the technicalities, I went to a "commercial" radio installation shop. They do the installations for local and federal govt. cars in Kansas City. They said that it was crucial not to use too much antenna cable, as the loss of signal per foot of cable is high. All of the gain you get from the height of the mast is lost because of the length of the cable. They advised me to install a small antenna on the stern quarter and leave it at that. Good luch, Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
I bought a Motorola "Bag Phone" and pulled it out of the bag and installed it at the nav station. Looks pretty cool and was cheap. Its a 3 watt phone and much more powerful than the handhelds. Works well most of the time. Depends on the tower locations of the local cell provider. You'll be on analog "roam" a lot. You don't need to run an antenna up the mast. While I can't fully explain all of the technicalities, I went to a "commercial" radio installation shop. They do the installations for local and federal govt. cars in Kansas City. They said that it was crucial not to use too much antenna cable, as the loss of signal per foot of cable is high. All of the gain you get from the height of the mast is lost because of the length of the cable. They advised me to install a small antenna on the stern quarter and leave it at that. Good luch, Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
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