Cell phones

[sandra]

This is totally off the cycling topic. I have a Razr phone and love the size, but the phone is pathetic. When people call me, half the time my phone never rings. It goes straight to voice mail. When DH dislocated his shoulder he tried to call me three times before he finally got me. My phone never rang until his third attempt.

It's getting more and more frequent. Do any of you have a Razr and have this problem? I would consider a new phone, but I don't know what would be any better. Most of the phones now are way more than I need. I just need a phone and like the camera, but don't need data.

[surgtech1956]

I have a Razr v3 - like the phone. I have the same probably too sometimes. The only time I don't get a call and it goes straight to my voicemail is when I'm inside certain places/certain areas. I work at a hospital and all my calls usually go to my voicemail , but this has happened with my past 3 phones. I like a basic phone - don't need all the extras either. but they're becoming harder to find.

[Zen]

I have a $20 Nokia phone from Tracfone. Works just fine.

[blueskies]

Are you sure the problem is your phone and not your service? Just a thought... If your service wasn't working in the area that you were in, the call would go straight to voice mail.

[sandra]

Are you sure the problem is your phone and not your service? Just a thought... If your service wasn't working in the area that you were in, the call would go straight to voice mail.

No, I'm not sure. The cell phone company has reset the phone several times. It is inside my house and a lot of the time it works, so I really don't know.

[KnottedYet]

I get that problem when my tower is weak. People call me, go straight to voice mail, and later I hear the phone beep the little message alert.

I have an older LG phone that is JUST a phone. Believe me, I wanna keep this phone running for as long as I can!

(and then, maybe an iPhone?)

[OakLeaf]

Depending on where you are in Mississippi, you may just not get on well with "modern" phones. Most new phones these days are digital only, but there are still a LOT of rural areas that have only analog service.

That's why I switched carriers, actually. I'd been a happy Cingular customer for like 10 years, but I really needed a new phone, and Cingular doesn't offer any phones with analog service. I went to Verizon and got an LG VX5300, which may be the only analog phone they offer, if they even still do. It isn't nearly as convenient as the Nokia phones I've had, but I didn't *lose* coverage by getting a new phone, and that was my main criterion.

Plus, I finally got the next level of digital speed plus Bluetooth... infrared dial-up Internet connection was just a PITA.

[KnottedYet]

Ooh, yeah, my LG is one of the last analog/digital phones I could find. (I think it was called a "trimodal" phone?) Another reason to keep it!

[Zen]

I've got one of those "bag phones" around somewhere. I bet it works great!

[Mr. Bloom]

I have two Razr's (one for each personality:eek: ). I agree that the problem is probably the service and not the phone.

Silver had this problem with her non-Razr and cingular indicated that there were some downloads needed to update the programing...or something like that (my other personality has the better memory;) )

[Tuckervill]

I have a V3, and I've never had a minute's trouble with it in about a year. I could even use it in Vermont where I never had service with my old phones. And, even if there's only one blip on the signal, I can still hear and be heard just fine.

I'm not sure but I thought I saw where my V3 had a setting for analog/digital or automatic. I can't remember when I got mine, maybe a year ago...but I feel like people who have had one for a long time, since they were out, have more trouble with batteries, etc. Mine may be second generation or something.

Karen

[PscyclePath]

I've been using a Razr for around a year and a half now... the problem is most likely with the service rather than the phone. I was a faithful Alltel customer for around 10 years, until it got to the point that the phone (an LG) could never get signal inside the house or the office buildng, and I could go out in the yard where I could see five different cell towers, and still get maybe one bar... I switched to Cingular and the Razr, and reception improved enormously, though I still do most of my cell phoning from the lawn chair along the back fence ;-)

Tom

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have a $20 Nokia phone from Tracfone. Works just fine.

Another happy Tracfone user here. I got the $50 LG flip phone though, and i LOVE it. After buying the phone itself- the total usage only costs me about 5 dollars a month. No contracts or monthly fees, and it piggybacks onto whatever local towers there are near you. Cool.

[Trek420]

I have an LG, LG3000 I think. My only criteria was battery life. Of the phones Cingular had this and the Razor had the longest standby and talk time.

I just don't like the look and feel of the Razor, too hard edged. I know it is on the leading edge of the whole smaller, thinner, lighter thang. I just don't find it visually pleasing. Yeah, that stuff's important to me. :rolleyes:

I've found models Nokias reliable, still have my first one circa '97 and believe if I pop the chip in it would work so my old Nokias are in the earthquake supply kit.

Motorollas I have had and loved work great ..... for about a year :rolleyes:

[Hub]

Who's your provider?
Cellular South, Cingular? that is more likely to be the difference- unless you've recently dropped the phone lately.
Cell towers are supposed to be a semi-permanent part of the landscape, but they have issue from time to time and need service themselves.

I have a new Razr v-3- and really like it.- and I'use cellular south

[sandra]

I have Cellular South too. We do not have a landline phone, only cells, so I need my cell to be reliable. My hubby has the "free" Motorola flip phone and he never has this problem, but he doesn't have voice mail either. I wonder if it is the voice mail somehow.:confused:

[sandra]

I was reading about Tracfones to see if that would work for me. This is my primary phone, not just one that I use occasionally. I use between 500 - 700 minutes per month. It varies. Is Tracfone for someone like this?

There plans are confusing. How much is it per minute and is this nationwide, no roaming?

[Tuckervill]

No, I think you'd be better off with a flat rate plan at those minutes per month. I don't use a pay-as-you-go because I don't want any chance that it won't work on my travels and don't want to pay extra for roaming.

I spend way too much a month for a cell phone to have both me and my son on the same plan. But during baseball season I go over my minutes (I'm president of the league now so it will only get worse!). The rest of the year I barely register (most people who call me are also on Alltel, so there is no charge anyway).

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandra, with all that mega-yakking you do ;) :eek: :D (700 minutes/month?!) yes you might be better off with a flat rate plan. (just teasing)
Tracfones are the absolute CHEAPEST of the cheap for people who tend to use their cell phones occasionally and for emergencies, like me. They are worthwhile for moderate users too.
Of course they do have decent plans for heavy users as well, but you have to check it all out on their website. You might just need "unlimited".

P.S. I don't get charged roaming fees at all. Same cost per unit/minute no matter where in the USA I go. Same cost calling across the street as across the country.

[bmccasland]

First - the original question - i have Alltel because at the time I was phone shopping they had better coverage in rural parts of the country. Digital and analog. Am loath to do the research to change companies. I have found that "all digital" will not cover the entire country (well nothing does). But in some areas analog is the only option.

Secondly, and this is from experience kids - you really need a basic land line with a hard wired phone (not portable).
1. Portable phones don't work in power failures, but there's enough power in a regular phone to call out.
2. you are cut off from the outside world if you cell tower goes down. After Katrina the lines were limited and so clogged that people couldn't reach me. I was evacuated far enough that technically I was "roaming" so I could call out, but to receive calls, they had to go through the main tower in New Orleans. Frankly I liked having a modicum of control - I could call folks when *I* felt like it, but they couldn't call me.
3. If your cell goes without power long enough, it's dead. If you're home, you still have ways to call out in an emergency if you have a land line.

[sandra]

Oh Lisa! I am mistaken. I SHARE 710 minutes a month with my DH and he uses his phone for work. Also these phones are instead of our home phone.

The funny thing about this is, I really don't do phone. I hate talking on the phone. I never pick up the phone to call a girlfriend just to say "what are you doing" :D I figure I'll see her later. And here I made myself out to have a phone glued to my ear!:cool: :p :D

[sandra]

Beth, it was after Katrina that we decided to cancel our landline phone. We were without service forever. We have Cellular South and we were the only people walking around with cell phones that worked. My friends and family that were Alltel customers had no service.

After so long with no landline service, we decided that we did not need it and it was foolish to pay the extra $45 a month when we were already paying $65 a month for cellular service and we could just use our cells.

Are there any more "all cell" users out there?

[Blueberry]

We have Vonage plus cell phones. Works out to be not very expensive. Seems like I end up with too many hour + "customer service" type calls to make just a cell phone work.

We did have Alltel. My job required that I purchase a blackberry, so we've switched to Verizon. Alltel owed me a refund. It took 4 hours on hold, 5 phone calls, one trip to the store and 5 months to get a refund. I wouldn't recommend them. Plus, our reception wasn't great, but then neither is our reception with Verizon, so go figure.....There are places I expect to lose service (e.g. out hiking or biking in rural areas), but NOT on interstate 40 in Raleigh. That should be covered.....(Alltel had a dead zone, Verizon has a not great zone)

We're actually at 1500 minutes a month used on the cell phones (but I rarely talk on the home phone). I have a long commute and DH and I frequently catch up about our days while I'm on the road.....I'm working to change the commute and go to a much lower rate plan. Crossing fingers.....

[AgilityAddict]

Hey, I'm a cell phone only kind of person too!! I also am NOT a phone person. While my family (and DH's family) only lives about 25 miles away they were all long distance on the land line, so we only used the cell phone to talk to them anyway. I had the land line cut off several months ago and it hasn't been a problem. The only difference is we do keep our cell phones on 24/7 now since we both have elderly parents and you never know when there might be an emergency.

Would you believe someone told me it's "rude" not to have a land line??? He said if I were in a restaurant and he called me about something "important" it would be rude for me to talk?!! That is some strange logic - you still don't have to answer the DANG THANG!!!


Beth

[Blueberry]

I've not heard (and don't think) that it's rude not to have a land line. I have lots of friends who are cell only.

I've had some folks get a little PO'd that I won't give out my cell to everyone. :eek: :eek: However, most people don't respect limits and I'd prefer not to have my cell ringing all the time (I also unlisted my number and have requested that all companies with whom I do business not telemarket to me). One that comes to mind was a credit card company. FWIW we finally gave it to them (since they kept mistakenly detecting fraudulent activity on our account and suspending use for example when we were on vacation, when we had called to tell them we would be travelling). Wouldn't you know - they didn't call the cell because "they weren't allowed to telemarket on it." Common sense and credit card companies do not go together...

[OakLeaf]

My ex cancelled his landline service and is cell only.

We would do the same, except out in the boonies we don't get cable, so we get our internet via DSL which requires a phone number.

We rarely pick up the landline phone. It's hard to imagine that just 10 years ago when we moved in here, we had to have three additional landline numbers installed so that we could both get internet and voice calling :D

[Tuckervill]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation.

I'm not talking about a 5-star Zagat's rated place. I'm talking about Western Sizzlin' (happened just the other day).

I turn my phone to silent when I don't want to answer it. If I do want to know who is calling me, I will put it on vibrate. I had a lot of practice remembering that from when my son was in Iraq--no way was I going to miss his call, so I was glued to the cell phone all the time.

Karen

[Zen]

Interesting article (and reader replies) in the New York Times (http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/cell-phones-here-come-the-jammers/?8ty&emc=ty)about cell phone usage.

[sundial]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation. Karen

You know what irqs me? Cell phones being used in movie theaters. I'm trying to watch a movie and some ninny is talking over the dialogue. Usually it's a *mature adult* who decides to talk about something trivial--like his tires being rotated. I'd like to rotate something else! :mad:

[sundial]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/cellphonecartoon.jpg

[Blueberry]

As much as I talk on my cell phone, I completely agree regarding the appalling lack of cellular phone etiquette. On the few occasions I've had to take a call and been in a store or restaurant, I generally excuse myself and step outside to talk. Yep - I've been rained on and gotten quite cold, but to do otherwise is just *rude* Most of my conversations are in my car *with my headset.*

We still have someone's cell phone go off in court once in a while - talk about embarrassing!

[onimity]

Statistically you are not safer using a cell phone in a car just because you use a headset. It is the distraction more than the phone that is problematic when driving, and I would kindly ask those of you that do this to concentrate on driving and have your conversations when you arrive at your destination. Distracted drivers make the road a lot more dangerous for all of us.

I am cell-only, have been for 8 years now. I like that I can take my 'home phone' with me when I travel, but I don't feel compelled to answer the phone when it is not convenient for me, or to continue a conversation if I am otherwise occupied. Sorry I'm eating. Checking out at the grocery store, not a good time. Cell use gets a little silly to me, sometimes. Technology can offer us so much flexibility and freedom but we can let it control us and limit us too.

Anne

[Blueberry]

Statistically you are not safer using a cell phone in a car just because you use a headset. It is the distraction more than the phone that is problematic when driving, and I would kindly ask those of you that do this to concentrate on driving and have your conversations when you arrive at your destination.

While this may be true, I would respectfully submit that talking on a headset is no more dangerous than other distractions we're not likely to ban or even ask others to refrain from such as: talking to a passenger, listening to the conversation of other passengers in your vehicle, eating, drinking, smoking, changing the radio station, changing a CD, etc. I supposed ideally (from a distraction perspective) we'd all be driving single occupancy cars with no radios.

FWIW I think the legislatures in lots of states would disagree with you given the plethora of hands free laws that have emerged. I'll continue to use my hands free device since I believe I'm less distracted with it (as opposed to holding my cell phone). But, it's simply not practical for me to completely give up talking in the car. I have a 45 minute each way commute and a 60 hour a week job. Yeah, I'm trying to change that. But it's a lengthy process.

[onimity]

While this may be true, I would respectfully submit that talking on a headset is no more dangerous than other distractions we're not likely to ban or even ask others to refrain from such as: talking to a passenger, listening to the conversation of other passengers in your vehicle, eating, drinking, smoking, changing the radio station, changing a CD, etc. I supposed ideally (from a distraction perspective) we'd all be driving single occupancy cars with no radios.

I agree that there are numerous distractions for drivers. And of course the vast majority of the nation agrees with you as there is tremendous demand for every sort of distracting device, DVD players, etc. Cars are turning into entertainment devices, and there is no incentive for lawmakers to fight that. And unlike a lot of the distractions you mention, phone conversations are often longer, can get emotional and the other party has no indication as to the conditions the driver is facing.


FWIW I think the legislatures in lots of states would disagree with you given the plethora of hands free laws that have emerged.

No doubt about that. But that doesn't mean those legislatures went on any more than what they too believed. And it's not about what *I* believe, I too thought that it would be safer until I read study after study demonstrating otherwise. It turns out that things like voice dialing, the increased errors in dialing on hands-free devices and maintaining the conversation all significantly reduce the response times of drivers. Driving with a cell phone is a lot like having a drink before you get behind the wheel. Yep, it's legal (under the BAC limit, or hands free, or...whatever) but it's not something that encourages the safe operation of a huge, fast moving machine.

I understand the pressures of a time-consuming job and trying to fit a lot of things in; and I think it feels safe to drive with a cell phone because most of the time, especially on freeways and the like, the road is quite predictable.

Anne

[Blueberry]

You definitely have a point about freeways - about 95% of my commute is on freeways. I have found that I'm much more reluctant to use my phone when I'm on something other than a freeway. I don't know if it *is* safer, but it certainly feels that way. I'm also known to be what some would consider "rude" to the folks I'm on the phone with - either hang on or I'll have to call you back - there's heavy traffic....

CA

[Zen]

Changing the station on the radio is very different than having a telephone conversation.

Changing the station is automatic, I know where to reach for the buttons.
Having a conversation involves different brain pathways, including those that need to be used for driving.

[OakLeaf]

I agree. Studies have shown that talking on the phone gives you tunnel vision, it has nothing to do with using your hands. Probably only motorcyclists, who are used to "seeing with our whole eyes" and keenly aware when our alertness suffers, ever even notice that we get tunnel vision if we try to talk on the phone.

I'll answer my phone via bluetooth and a steering wheel button, but only to tell the person I'm driving and I'll call them back. If I didn't answer it, worrying about who it was would distract me as much as just answering the call.

[teigyr]

I don't make important calls when I drive. I do call my husband on my drive home because it's one of the few times we have uninterrupted time! I will say also that if things get complicated I have no problem saying "hold on". To me, it's the same as talking if he was in the car in fact it might be easier because I don't look for expression or reaction. I refuse to use the handset, hands free is MUCH better.

I'm like others here, I won't use the phone in front of people. I figure nobody wants to hear my conversations! I step out in the hall, outside, or I go for a walk so at least I'm not standing by the same people hearing the same conversation. I also try to speak somewhat quietly.

The one thing I am not coordinated enough to do is talk and ride :eek: I see people do it though.

As far as the original question goes, I have a RZR 3xx. I like it but the battery life is bad....like only a few hours for talking. I think the original RZR is better for that.

[OakLeaf]

Try it sometime then.

I'm sad to say that most car drivers probably don't even know what it is to have their full attention on their DEADLY task, but I HOPE that everyone who's regularly out on the road on two wheels at least knows how to do that.

So next time you're driving your car, practice full alertness. See with your whole eyes. Understand how that feels, if you're not used to it (and please, please, please if you're not used to it, try to get used to it... but back to the topic).

Or let's say it another way. How are you with descending on your bicycle? Are you perfectly comfortable at 50 mph? If not, it's because you're not looking around you. You're not going any faster on a bicycle at 50 mph than you are in a car at the same speed. The only difference is, if you crash your bicycle at that speed, it's you, not someone else, who is likely to be hurt. Now, I'm human and everything, but I would LIKE to think that I'm as concerned about killing someone else as I am about killing myself.

Once you learn to be aware of everything around you, then try the next step in this experiment.

Now, next time you're on the phone, observe yourself. Can you identify everything in your 160 degree peripheral vision? Are you looking 14 seconds ahead and to both sides, as you were before you answered that call? What's in your right side view mirror? What color and general shape is the car coming up behind you, that's now in your blind spot, so that you're waiting for it and recognize it when you see it again? Heck, can you see that bicyclist in commuter clothes that's trying to get into lane position to make a left turn (not the one in Lycra that attracted your attention because you want to know what kind of spiffy bike they're riding)?

Way too many people are dying every single day because they or others are not paying attention while piloting 3,000 lbs of metal. The attitude today that is actually expressed by safety officials is "crash all you want, just don't get hurt." That's fine when you're inside that cage, but it is not fine for bicyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians. As bicyclists, we should all be extra concerned about the problem of inattentive driving.

[onimity]

Oakleaf, I could not agree more.

So many of the drivers that put me in danger on a daily basis do not even seem to know that they are doing so because they are so focused on their conversations. I regularly have people pull out in front of me that are chatting away and never even look in my direction. And if you asked these people if they were distracted they'd probably say 'of course not' because they didn't even see the bicycle they almost hit.

I mean no personal criticism of anyone here, but I think it is sad that our culture is such that our only time to connect with the people we love or the people we need to communicate with is when we're hurdling ourselves down the road at absurd speeds, when we're engaged in our most dangerous activity of the day. Our lives are so complicated that we must do everything at once and in doing so we give everything a fraction of the attention it deserves. I just don't understand it.

Anne

[Blueberry]

I mean no personal criticism of anyone here, but I think it is sad that our culture is such that our only time to connect with the people we love or the people we need to communicate with is when we're hurdling ourselves down the road at absurd speeds, when we're engaged in our most dangerous activity of the day. Our lives are so complicated that we must do everything at once and in doing so we give everything a fraction of the attention it deserves. I just don't understand it.

Not to thread drift too much (as if we haven't already:o ), but I couldn't agree more with this. I've been trying for more than a year to find a different job with less stress, fewer hours and more time to spend with those I love and do the things I want to do. But, I still have to pay the bills, so I have to keep this one until I can find something else. There seems to have been a major cultural shift away from quality of life. Our upper firm management just suggested that the partners would really appreciate it if the associates worked through Thanksgiving and Christmas so that they would have larger bonuses. And implied that those who don't will not be thought well of. Nope, I'm not going to - but who knows if I will have a job in January.

[Mr. Bloom]

There seems to have been a major cultural shift away from quality of life.

I agree here - it's a "more, better, faster, with less" world. Economics calls this "improved productivity". "Improved Productivity" results in lower prices. This is a reality, so it means we have to be more productive in the time we have to maintain a quality of life outside work.

However, I'm sorry to say that we're not willing to pay the price to make it otherwise...are you willing to have higher prices for everything you buy to justify lower productivity...some are, but most would say probably not.

I, for one, need the time that I spend in the car to get things done by phone. Neither my life nor my work stops because I'm in the car...and I do not feel that the world is less safe as a result...


Our upper firm management just suggested that the partners would really appreciate it if the associates worked through Thanksgiving and Christmas so that they would have larger bonuses. And implied that those who don't will not be thought well of.

I really hope they said that as a joke:( I believe in productivity...but this is productivity motivated out of greed...and I'm sorry you're challenged by that environment...:( :(

[Blueberry]

I really hope they said that as a joke:( I believe in productivity...but this is productivity motivated out of greed...and I'm sorry you're challenged by that environment...:( :(

Sadly, I'm *sure* it wasn't. One of the many reasons my eyes are wide open, and I've been in touch with the south seas....

CA

[Zen]

...and I do not feel that the world is less safe as a result...



That's frightening that someone as intelligent as you truly believes that..
numerous studies cited here (http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Drive-Now/scientific-evidence.html)
Reminds me of the anecdote of last words being " I wish I had spent more time at the office"

[Mr. Bloom]

That's frightening that someone as intelligent as you truly believes that..


From the first study:

"The study found that when 18- to 25-year-olds were placed in a driving simulator and talked on a cellular phone, they reacted to brake lights from a car in front of them as slowly as 65- to 74-year-olds who were not using a cell phone."

Well, there you go...I'm 45:D :D

But, sincerely, I understand your perspective...but this very example is in a controlled, simulated study where the driver is forced to be on the cell phone in simulated conditions. In other words, it places them in a risk situation regardless of whether they would typically operate in those conditions outside the study.

Thanks for acknowledging that I'm intelligent...but because I'm intelligent, I wouldn't be on the phone in difficult or high traffic conditions where I feel pressed. Silver will attest that in really high traffic conditions I either ask the kids or her for silence if I really need to concentrate...it doesn't happen often, but I know when I need to concentrate...

In addition, it's counter-intuitive, but I recall there being bona-fide studies out there that also "prove" that men driving with radar detectors have fewer accidents...Soooo... I just don't buy the "studies" because someone has done them...I only know how I feel about my abilities and limitations...

BTW - I LOVE Click and Clack!:D :D

[OakLeaf]

Just try the experiment I posted above. *Then* tell me talking on the phones don't give you tunnel vision.

I admit that, like you, I am one of the 80% of drivers who considers myself an above average driver. But I've done that experiment, I *can* see with my whole eyes when I'm not talking on the phone, and I *don't* talk while driving any more.

And if you consider "someone putting brake lights on in front of you" to be an exceptionally high risk situation, I've got nothing to add.

[onimity]

Exactly, OakLeaf, I think the problem is not so much that people are engaging in behavior that they know is dangerous as it is that we all over-estimate our abilities to do more than one thing well at a time. Like I said, the majority of drivers on cellphones that fail to yield to me on my bike don't even seem to *notice* that I'm there. So I think it's easy to be oblivious to the danger until you actually hurt someone or cause an accident.

A lot of people will tell you that they are absolutely ok to drive safely after a drink or two too.

CA in NC, your employer sounds like a few I have encountered. I worked in the tech industry over the boom years when the rage was to bring in food, games, even beer (!) too keep people at work. It seemed like a nice bonus until you realized that the point was to chain you to your desk. It just isn't worth it. A bigger paycheck is rarely so much bigger as to compensate for lost time, enjoying your family and the like. I hope everything works out well for you, and mostly that you soon find an employer that is closer and knows that a balanced life leads to a happier and more productive employee.

Anne