Cell phone boosters

[djthumper]

I have the Weboost OTR, the overland wasn't out when I purchased mine. It works fairly well, I just wish the cable for the internal antenna was longer to route it to the middle of the cab area.

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[Zachanadandy]

My buddies wife does quite a lot of hiking (like Appalachian trail, or other far more obscure locales) etc. and is often in an area for days at a time where she might not pass anyone (or hardly anyone) so she carries an InReach in case something happens. It's entirely plausible to break an ankle and be stuck with no cell service. Dial up the InReach (or Zoleo, or whatever).

I am fine with everyone taking their acceptable level of risk, though. In regards to communications.

I didn't need a Starlink either but if I am in a deadzone and want to doom scroll I have the ability.

I'd consider an InReach or the like if that was my use case. The wife and I pretty much always wheel together. The Jeep has enough food, water, blankets, and first aid supplies to survive for a week in a pinch. Between the starlink, iPhone sat texting, and the fact that one of us should be able to walk for help I don't feel the need. Not judging anyone who does, just not something I'm worried about. Even if we are hiking away from the Jeep, it's rarely more than an hour. It's hard for me to picture the scenario that's incapacitates both of us but a sat text is saving us, but I guess it's theoretically possible?

 

[ChrisNLA]

I'd consider an InReach or the like if that was my use case. The wife and I pretty much always wheel together. The Jeep has enough food, water, blankets, and first aid supplies to survive for a week in a pinch. Between the starlink, iPhone sat texting, and the fact that one of us should be able to walk for help I don't feel the need. Not judging anyone who does, just not something I'm worried about. Even if we are hiking away from the Jeep, it's rarely more than an hour. It's hard for me to picture the scenario that's incapacitates both of us but a sat text is saving us, but I guess it's theoretically possible?

For sure. if I get into solo hiking I'll grab a GPS device.

But for now I always have another human with me, and I'm usually pretty close to the truck - that now has satellite internet

 

[BourbonRunner]

For sure. if I get into solo hiking I'll grab a GPS device.

But for now I always have another human with me, and I'm usually pretty close to the truck - that now has satellite internet

FWIW if you get the Starlink Mini's wifi booster/router device you can expand that coverage to at least 100ft from camp. LOL

 

[Master_Cylinder]

I don't prescribe to the need for 24/7 connectivity. If I have a stroke driving on the freeway I'm likely dead. At least of I die in the back country I'm doing what I love not commuting to work. A fall so bad I can't move is likely to destroy the gadgets in my pocket anyway. Our property is 20 miles out a dirt road and I don't fear falling in the wash and dying to the point I need connection there either. Could it happen? Sure. People fall in the shower and die every year. Not bringing the cell phone in there "just in case" either. If the sudden emergency is so bad that neither the wife nor I can get back to the Jeep to call for help, odds are it's the end anyway. Won't miss a minute of enjoying life not venturing out into nature or worrying about what could go wrong. The only guarantee in life is that it ends, I choose not to worry about the end.

I work for a major cell phone company. When I have No Service, I say Thank God!

 

[smlobx]

As a shareholder of SpaceX (LOL!) I both thank you and agree wholeheartedly.

Me too! I got a small portion of the IPO.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I work for a major cell phone company. When I have No Service, I say Thank God!

Part of the reason we picked our 41 acre property...no cell service.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

People fall in the shower and die every year. Not bringing the cell phone in there "just in case" either.

You mean you people don’t shower with your phones?! Heathens.

 

[jmanley501]

I have a weboost OTR; I also have T-Mobile that can do spaceX. I use it a lot for the deer woods where I have 1 Bar and some rural roads/highways. In my area it's flat for the most part, but the comment on line of sight is correct; also if you don't have at least 1 bar the booster won't do you any good.
I do use mine and it does work good.

 

[xch47cpt]

Weird, when I bug out, it's always to places my cell phone doesn't work, isn't that the point.
Plus less "influencers" show up.

 

[Fpolanco]

I’ve used SOS Satellite messaging on the iPhone before. It ain’t great. It works but as was mentioned, satellite messaging is way slower. This is ok if it’s just messaging the wife to say, “Hey power is out bring home pizza.” If it’s , “My Jeep just rolled over and I need EMS here NOW” you’ll want something a bit better. Something like a Zolio or that realm of comms for emergencies would be better.

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but the Inreach as an FUBAR button on the side, which I'm pretty sure get sent to emergency personnel.

I'm pretty sure you can have that message sent to a couple people of your choosing when you sign up for the subscription. You can also choose to pay for insurance in case EMS have to come out and you get stuck with the bill.

 

[Capngeo]

We carry both the inReach and Starlink. I have considered a WeBoost.

Each cover a slightly different niche.

We use AT&T for cellular with iPhones. Both my wife and I can send satellite text messages through our iPhones when off-grid, however the inReach is more durable, reliable and longer battery life than the iPhones when we are backpacking. It provides security and “one touch” SOS if I fall off a mountain. It does still require clear sky for connection, but it is much easier to link up than the iPhone system and I believe uses a different satellite constellation.

I have Verizon on my phone and AT&T on my iPad, usually at least one has service. Only place I'm ever cell-naked is way out in the Glades, and then the inReach is there

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but the Inreach as an FUBAR button on the side, which I'm pretty sure get sent to emergency personnel.

Yes. That is why we still have it even with the iPhone satellite capability. It is my wife’s main emergency option when she is hiking. It is configured to ping me if she ever triggers the full-blown emergency alert.

 

[HereWeGo]

I got an inreach before our first big overlanding trip two years ago. When I actually got out in the middle of the desert and started thinking about having a major breakdown I realized I would not know who to call because I don't have any phone numbers for Rescue outfits. I'll end up getting the weboost which wouldn't have helped in that situation anyway but I have used the weboost plenty of times and in fact it's almost daily because we are always camping so remote. It all depends on your particular situation, perspective, Comfort level, technology dependence level.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Me too! I got a small portion of the IPO.

Can't be as small as my IPO portion: One share. I've since bought a couple more.

You mean you people don’t shower with your phones?! Heathens.

Nope, only with my bathing toaster.

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