Conference vicki::boats

    with a bag phone, you will not get a thing above Portland Maine. 
    Celluar 1 seems to have more coverage outside boston, but it is 
    more expensive then Nynex through the Digital employee plan.
    In Mass bay, Nynex is really clean sounding.
    
    I find them really handy. For holidays, it is the only way to get a hold of
    some else without a lot of noise. It is also handy to reserve a mooring
    long before you are in range of the place you are headed. I keep a list
    of harbormaster phone numbers on the boat nowadays.
    
    The only thing I do not like is the reception with the 6 inch antenna.
    I am looking to add one of those suchion cup portable antenna's to
    the boat.          

    
    
    	I currently have a cellular one phone on board.  I use an 8' roof
    	mounted (6db gain) anntenna connected to a 3 watt bag phone and
    	my range has been very good.  The range I have used it at is
    	30 miles offshore of Plum Island, all along the east coast down
    	to Atlantic City, N.J., and out as far as the Barcardi Wreck (60
    	miles off the N.J. coast).  The cell phone easily beats the VHF
    	radio for range and reception.  I have not yet tried the Cellular
    	One phone above Portland, Me..  I have also had a hand held on
    	board in N.J. (my sisters because I did not want to pay roaming fee's)
    	and the range was very poor, I was getting a lot of static and
    	very weak signal at 6 miles offshore of Barnegat Light, N.J..  
    
    	If you want good reception and long range go for the 8' cellular
    	anntenna.  I have used the 6" anntenna that comes with the bag
    	phone and was getting a weak signal and I have plugged in the
    	8' anntenna and the signal meter was at full strength.  The 8'
    	anntenna is expensive, approx $150.00, but if you want to reach
    	out and touch someone far out at sea you will need it.
    
    
    	You can also get the Corporate Rate through Celllular One ($11.00)
    	a month if you are a Digital Employee.
    
    		Give me a Call  ( JOY III   603-421-4714)
    
    		George

Thanks for the inputs.  Looks like it's going to be a 3watt bag phone.  I will also
look into an external antenna. 

George, you and I are boating in the same area so it looks likes Cell one is a good
choice.

It will come in handy when I need to call the wife to say I'm going to be late coming
in because we have a 1000 lb tuna on.

Thanks

Gordon (Rock'n 'N Reel'n)

    I have friends who use cell-1 50-100 miles offshore. You might want to
    check on phone features. When shopping for a phone, get one that allows
    you to not connect to a roaming cell. Because the signals travel better
    over water, with a good antenna, you might still be able to connect
    with you local cell from great distances. This is very important when
    on the fringe between your home/roam cell. On anchor, the phone bounces
    between the two. One day tuna fishing on Jefferies off the coast of
    Maine, I was able to program my phone to connect to Cell-1 Boston, rather 
    that go through Maine cellular. No roaming charges.
    
    Steve 

    
    
    	The cell phone is also handy to call into work on Monday morning.
    
    	JoyIII
    	George

    I use a 3 watt bag phone with EXTERNAL mag mount antenna.  I find it
    invaluable... a great addition to VHF for boat safety. Can't speak on
    reception north of Portland, Me. yet.  I will know better later this
    summer.
    
    Jeff

    One small note of caution.  My cell phone has, on occassion,
    interferred with my Loran receiver.  If the cell phone/antenna gets too
    close to the loran antenna, you may loose your lock on home and the
    loran receiver will hunt forever trying to re-sync in.
    
    Regards,
    
    Stan
    
    Blu Fox