Cell Phones

[Skolnick's Landscaping]

I currently am using AT&T as my cell phone carrier and am fairly happy with it. But my phone has been dropped so many times ran over by my ZTR mower a couple of times but luckily the blades didnt pick it up and at this point it barely works. So its time for a new one i am thinking about a two way feature like nextel or even family talk. I also remember someone mentioning a few weeks ago about hand held radios he was gonna get which were only $15 a month each. What would you guys recomend, any info would be great i plan on going to buy something tonight.

[Eric ELM]

Here is a search link on Cell Phones with several threads on Cell Phones.
http://www.lawnsite.com/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=3966&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

[geogunn]

I think I'd stick with the cell phone over the radio option as long as you have good coverage.

GEO

[Groundcover Solutions]

ONE WORD
:blob3: NEXTEL

[TFL]

If you want a cell Phone plan that there are no strings attached try trac phone. in this plan you buy minute cards anywher from 10-500 i like this because the phone cost next to nothing and your not stuck in a plan so you don't loose much if you loose it or break it.

[KirbysLawn]

Nextel, AT&T second best.

[jnjnlc]

Kirby, are you currently using Nextel? I have Verizon and am thinking of changing to Nextel for the 2-way feature. I also do landscaping and some of my vendors use the Nextel. I could 2-way them if needed.

How is the coverage on Nextel? Are you satisfied with your coverage?

I am beginning to hate Verizon. I seem to drop 2 - 3 calls a day.

[Volhunter]

Jeff,
I used to work for Nextel and can tell that you should have excellent coverage. The Carolina's, especially in the Charlotte area has probably the best coverage in the country. Hope my .02 helps.

[TLS]

Josh,

I am currently considering a cellular phone. I work solo, so it would be a good safety feature in case of an emergency, plus, its a tax write off.

I know that there have been many discussions on this subject, but the different carriers are always changing and hopefully improving. So whats the best?

My Mom and Sister have a Sprint family phone. My Mom's phone is a POS and drops calls all the time! My sisters is a better phone and seems fine. Only problem is that Sprint is always dropping calls and going out of service. I just cant believe that its 2001which is over 25 years since the cellular phone was developed and you still cant have 100% of the US covered for service.

I dont want a load of free minutes, just cheap monthly rates and QUALITY SERVICE without loosing any calls. Is that too much to ask for?

[KirbysLawn]

Jeff, I love my Nextel, I have not had a dropped call in months! Nextel has the strongest signal also, the true test is when we go into Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews, the true test is in the basement, EVERY cell service goes dead at the door, however Nextel stays good down the hall and into the back rooms!

STAY AWAY FROM SPRINT PCS!!! THEY ARE THEY WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Ray

[lawnboy82]

i use nextel. i have good things to say about it and bad. more good than bad though. couple of words to the wise about them. when you get the phone, first bill is 2x a regular bill plus activation, when you can every week or so let the phone charge for at least 24 hours straight, and if you get a nextel, even though it may be clunky get the 700 series from motorola. the yellow one is best. the big black phone right now is free, however it is cheap. the flip phone is for white collar guys. so it would be very rare that they scrape it up and what not. the one i have is good, i have dropped it, gotten it wet, etc. it is supposed to be pretty waterproof, and is very durable. the others are not as durable. um, the nextel company gives you some nice bills when you go to them. and should you wish to discontinue service at any time other than when your contract is up you are out 200 dollars, i am not sure if that is per phone, or per contract or what?

[Craig Turf Management]

My vote is NEXTEL. I've had mine for two years now, and not a single complaint. Didn't work for me at Outer Banks N.C., but that was to be expected. I was out in the sticks. I agree with Kirby about using my radio at Presby. Lots of thick walls and shielding for X-rays etc. and my NEXTEL always works for me.

Bill Craig

[sdwally]

We use Nextel. They have some awesome capabilities compared to a standard cell phone. The two way radio can alert the person your contacting like a beeper, so if it is noisy it is easier to hear or feel(depending on the model). You can talk to an entire group and/or a single person(securely). Working range varies with Nextel area coverage and terrain. Our area is from San Diego to North of LA and as far as Las Vegas! The phone even work south of the border(Mexico) without conecting into the Mexican cell phone system(all other brands do). However, there are a few dead zones or gray areas. One dead zone is where my shop is and the other area is the location where are crews work out of. Nexel is suppose to add more towers, but they have been slow in doing so. Out here we have many different area codes and the phones float within those areas. What I mean is that where I'm based the area code is 619, and I have to dial the area code when calling outside that area. However, if I'm physical standing the area code of 858, then I don't have to call using the area code for 858 number eventhough my cell phone number's area code is 619. Anyone calling me has to call me using the 619 area code, it does not float.
I hope that last wasn't too confusing.
Some other options on the Nextel phone are paging and web access. The paging feature works like any other page, however you can sent pages via the internet in alphanumeric code.
If you have a crew Nextel is the way to go.

[CMerLand]

Have gone from cellphones to Nextel and back again.

Used Nextel for three years and for the most part was very happy with the service. The occasional dead spot was a hassle and the phone didnt work in the poconos on a family trip. Loved the two way feature and also liked being able to deactivate the phone service on the crew phone to keep them from calling their honeys every ten minutes. The alert feature and the instant communication were great. Phone reception was kinda poor but may have been the phones we used the (I 390) so I wont hold that against them.

The only reason I left was the cost. We had four units, two heavy users and two hardly used. All told with insurance for lost or damaged phones it was costing me 230 + a month for the four units. We had over 1000 cell phone minutes minutes available between the phones but would rarely used over 300 any month.

Just changed backed to the cingular wireless plan that allows four phones on a single plan for $ 80.00 a month. Free voice mail and all phone to phone calls are free which replaces the direct connect and we now have 800 other cell phone minutes which as I said is way more then I'll need. The phones can also be programmed to not dial certain #s soo if the problem of crew users pops up then I can delete the numbers that show up on the phone bill.

With insurance and all the taxes and what not my monthly bill was at 120 bucks, saving me 1200 bucks a year.

If nextel comes up with some new plans in the future I will sure consider going back to them, but the cost needs to be closer in line with other services out there.

CMerLand

PS Anyone want to make me an offer on three I-390 nextel phones??

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by lawnboy82
and if you get a nextel, even though it may be clunky get the 700 series from motorola. the yellow one is best. the big black phone right now is free, however it is cheap. the flip phone is for white collar guys. so it would be very rare that they scrape it up and what not.

I carried the i1000 (Flip phone) for 3 years and never had a problem. When I first got Nextel the salesman said the same thing, but after carrying the i600 (brick) for a month I switched. I have dropped the i1000 from the truck (bounced a good foot):eek: on more than one occasion and on the ground many times and it never gave me a problem.

I just switched to the i85 and it's awsome! I pay $3.95 a month for insurance so if it breaks I will get another. Great phone!

[Skolnick's Landscaping]

thanks for all the info guys i appreciate it i just signed a contract with nextel yesterday 70 bucks a month 2 phones 800 cell minutes free nights and weekends way more than enough minutes and i got the yellow 700 series phone with the vibrating feature.