How far out does your cell phone work??

[ftl900]

I'm new to boating on the Gulf of Mexico- all my previous experience was in Georgia lakes or intercoastal waterways. With our pontoon boat, I'm not (EVER) planning on going 25 miles out or anything, but I don't have a VHF or a kicker. We're still putting it all together as far as equipment and accessories.

We're gonna putt around in local lakes and stay against the coast until we can work out some of the bugs, (do you ever get them ALL out?) but I'm wondering how far into the gulf my at&t cell phone will work?? I mean, it's pretty flat out there, and there are no buildings to obstruct the signal.

So how far will it go?? I have done a few searches, but haven't found much info on this.

Anyone have any direct experience with cell amplifiers on a boat? There are marine models, but I don't know anyone that's ever tried one.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Cell boosters work well but you do have to have a cell signal. Up were I live cell signal is poor at the best of times. I think it come down to were the towers are.

 

[j_martin]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Don't be like the football jocks that went out to sea without proper equipment, and paid for it with their lives. Get a marine radio with the satellite tracking setup and register it.

My 02
John

 

[mike343]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Get a standard 25 watt VHF. It will work to about 25 miles with a good antenna. And any nearby boat will respond to a distress signal.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Don't be like the football jocks that went out to sea without proper equipment, and paid for it with their lives. Get a marine radio with the satellite tracking setup and register it.

My 02
John

I agree with that!! And the range far exceeds any cell, and not only that, Who are you going to call on the water if your sinking or stranded, someone with out a boat?? Get a Marine radio and you can have all kinds of help in a matter of minutes, Way faster than someone on land can do.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Vhf!!!!!!

 

[nlain]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

ftl900 since you have Ga experience the South end of Ossabaw Isl cell phone is almost useless on the beach there, move the wrong way and lose signal, that should give you some idea of how good a cell phone is.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Coast Guard does not recognize a cell phone as a safety device. VHf radio like others have said is best. VHF should be the first item of necessity Make sure that you at least have flares and shell flares with gun.

It is not about how far out that you could go with a cell phone. There are dead spots that could be just a mile away from shore, your dock and your cell may not work, then again it may work ten miles off shore.

One thing that none of us do is to put our cell in a sip lock freezer bag, if the boat flips the phone will be dry and the bag is thin enough and won't mess up the freguency and it may save your life.

With your VHF always call for a radio check prior to leaving the dock. Just because you turn your VHF on and you can hear people talking does not mean that you can call out.

Put the coast guard base phone number in your cell or harbor master and you always have 911 and with todays cell phone they may be able to track your location if not in a dead zone.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

There are dead spots offshore in the Gulf where we are too, VHF is the answer.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

I also boat on the Gulf in South Florida. Barring "dead spots" my cell phone (iPhone)will rarely work more than 8-10 miles out. The GPS on it always works so it's GPS is not through cell towers.

Usually within sight of shore it's OK .

VHF is still the way to go on this one.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

It really gets me people wanting to use cell phones and CB's for for emergency situations on the water?

 

[Mark42]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

Ever try to open a zip lock bag, take out the phone, and dial 911 all while bouncing around in 2+ ft waves and trying to keep the phone dry?

My hand held VHF floats, works when soaking wet, and doesn't need to be kept in a zip lock bag to keep it safe.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

My EPIRB floats, automatically deploys and calls for help using a built in GPS and satellite communication. In my area if my boat sinks within an hour or so there will be a USCG helicopter hoovering overhead.

 

[dave11]

Re: How far out does your cell phone work??

My cell will work 8 to 10 miles off Madiera Beach. Most of the time it won't work at all 1/2 mile or more off Egmont Key (In the Tampa Triangle). That is why I have a VHF.