Cell Phones and Lawn Care?

[TOSLC]

How many of you carry a cell phone while doing lawn care, and if you do what style or brand have you found that is most durable. I've had a Motorola Startac for about two years now, and just broke it today. Time for a new one! Motorola, if your listening I'd like a Stainless Steel cell phone modeled off the robust design of a Dixie Chopper. As Tim Allen would say, RRR RRR RRR!!!!!!

[KirbysLawn]

I have a Motrolola Nextel i85, tough phone. I have dropped this one several times with no damages, the last one I had I ran over it with the aera-vator, the screen was crunched but the phone still worked and I used it until the replacement came, switched the chip and had a new phone.

[BReese]

I am currently using Nextel's i550...very durable phone...I've done everything short of taking it swimming and it just keeps going. Nextel's service is pretty good, too. I cannot imagine trying to do business without it!:cool:

[Commander]

I carry my cell phone with me in whatever I am driving. If I am walking a property or doing errands or whatever I keep it on me. If I am working on a machine such as a tractor / excavator / bobcat / etc then I put it in the machine. If I am cutting grass, doing any landscaping, or any other grunt work I leave it in the truck. Even though I use a Motorola i700 series (which is the most durable phone out there) I still don't like the idea of it being banged around and whatever. I have had employees in the past who carried their phones on their belts whenever they did anything... I didn't care for this too much, however I never had a problem reaching them.

[John DiMartino]

I carry my phone everyplace i go,when i'm mowing, i carry it in my front pocket,so i canfeel itvibrate,becasue you certainly cant hear it over the Dixie,si this way i dont miss a call,in this day and age i dont know how you could get by without one.

[Scotlawncare]

If I'm up and semi awake, my Cell phone is on me or right beside me. I'm on VoiceStream and am using the Nokia 8290. It's very very small, 3/4" thick and 1 1/2" wide and maybe 3 1/2" long. It's very tough with the leather case I have. One plus is it vibrates when it rings so most times I can tell it's ringing when operating equip. Another phone you can't go wrong with is the Nokia 5100/6100 series phones. I've had two of them for 1 year each and always dropped them. I wore out the batteries before I did the phones.

My cell phone I guess you could say is more important than my keys. I can always call someone for a spare set.

Scot

[clipfert]

I use the same ..Motorola StarTAC. I am on my second one. Dropped the first and broke it. I would suggest to get the adddtional insurance to cover broken /stolen phones. If it is stolen you must have a police report. Call em up and the send a new one and send the old one back . Had the second one only a few days and dropped it in the toilet (before it was used) and it still worked!

:eek:

I feel the most important issue for cell phones is the service area. Right now I have Verizon and I feel like the guy in the commercial "Can you hear me now?" Too many dead areas where I am. Can any one suggest a good service provider in Eastern PA?:confused:

[kerr lawn]

Nextel the i700 plus
you can't go wrong with it.
like everything else, it has its moments but 99 of time it works
i talk to it nice and then it seems to work again

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by kerr lawn
Nextel the i700 plus
you can't go wrong with it.
like everything else, it has its moments but 99 of time it works
i talk to it nice and then it seems to work again

Same here, a yellow one. If it falls off I can find it no problem.

Dropped many times.

Ran over 2 times.

Thrown a few times.

Tough phone.

[Mark]

I always carry my cell phone with me im solo and you just never know if something could happen. Ive got the tele-tac 250 Motorola its a field phone and is very tuff,ive banged it droped it on concrete but it keeps on ticking. I buy the prepaid cards two thirty dollar cards last me a season. Marks Mowing Service

[SCAPEASAURUSREX]

NEXTEL i700 over here too.. and of course the yellow one... I hate digging in mulch to find my phone.. LOL...

[PAPS]

Nextel i1000's but... like SCAPEASAURES, the i1000 are that durable... wish i had the i700's sometimes

[TOSLC]

Thanks for the input guys I really appreciate it. I went to the Verizon dealer today (that's who we already have a contract with) and they didn't carry any of the next tel phones. They had Motorola, LG, Nokia, and Audiovox. After looking at them real close, and remembering the luck (mostly good) I've had with Motorola, I decided on the Motorola V-60C. My dreams almost came true. . . Not Stainless, but Aluminum!!!! That's right they make a phone out of metal. So far I love it. Thanks Again for all the input. I'll let you know how it works out.

[lamblawnscaping]

Motorola i700, but mine is not yellow. It is a great phone though.

[JimLewis]

Nextel i85s (by Motorola) here. It's durable as heck. But I don't ever mow lawns any more, so I don't know how it would hold up in those conditions. Have dropped it a bazillion times, though.

[LawnLad]

All of us have the Nextell service, using the Motorola i1000. We've been happy with 'em. Turned down the new phone that is supposed to replace the i1000 since they have not come out with a new plastic clip for it.

Installation and maintenance, we've been thrilled.

Verizon will not carry Nextell... as Nextell is it's own service provider. You'll have to contact Nextell directly. I'm sure they're website will have location information.

We used to have a Samsung model that we traded in for the Star Tacs... but then I got tired of breaking the aetenas (spelling?). As well, the coverage wasn't great in our area. Nextell has saved me about 30% on my phone bill due to the direct connect feature. And I like the service. Good company.

PS - In the interest of full disclosure, I own stock in the company too. BUY NEXTELL!

[tpirobert]

Nokia 5185i with vibrating battery, goes everywhere. Use padded case by Eagle Creek to carry on belt. It stays put and I don't worry about banging in to anything. Also use PDA case by Eagle Creek for my Handspring Visor.

[proline32]

I have the several of the nextel i500 plus phones.... holds up real well and you gotta love the direct connect feature, I'm even direct connect to my Mechanic in case of problems.

[Grass_Slayer]

while ridin in a friends lowrider cruisin round town, set my old nec up on the dash. he took a really fast turn and it kept goin straight. we came back 15 min later to find it in the midlle of a major highway being run over. after that i got a nokia 5165 havent run over it or thrown it, talk about abusing equip! those things cost so much how can anyone afford to throw one acros a parking lot. i know a guy that did that and he couldnt find it!

[Commander]

When I buy cell phones now I don't let the employees use the plastic clip thing. I broke that within a week of getting the phone. I insist that they use the leather carrying case. MUCH more damage resistant.

[kcameron]

I also have the i700 (yellow phone against green grass = an easy find) and it quit working. Went to the local service store, they gave me a loaner untill one got in and it just cost me $35. Service is great, coverage is good where I am, but so-so ouside the city limits or off the interstates. They should be getting better soon. Love the direct/connect!!!! The vibrate mode makes it great when things are loud or you are in a meeting.