We currently use an 800mhz trunked (private frequency) radio system. The owner of our repeaters has sold out to Nextel. In less than a year our radios will be expensive paperweights.We switched years ago from the 450mhz systems because we shared the frequency with too many people, and now, we no longer own the 450mhz equipment.
I'm considering going cellular, because by comparison it's cheap, but there are some dead spots in my area. Our dealer is pushing the Nextel radio/telephones.
Does anybody use, or has anybody tried the nextels? If so, what do you think of them?
Does anybody use cellular alone? How is that working? Thanks.
THE COMPANY I WORK FOR USES NEXTEL , WE LIKE IT OVER OUR OLD RADIOS. THEY HAVE BAD SPOTS ALSO.
THERE IS NO PERFECT SYSTEM OUT THERE. I HAVE MORE
PROBLEMS WITH MY CEL PHONE THAN THE NEXTEL RADIOS. IVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT CEL PHONE COMPANYS IN THE PAST 5 YEARS FOR MY PERSONAL USE. IVE HEARD THERE IS A COMPANY THAT WILL BE GIVING NEXTEL SOME COMPETITION LATER ON THIS
YEAR, ITS IN THE TESTING STAGE.
MrWheellift: What model Nextel phones do you use? I ask because the salesman told us the flip style was crap. But I think he's just trying to sell what he has in stock. From what I can see the flip is the way to go. :cube:
The company i work for has the older style nextel radios that are permanently mounted. We have a few that are portables but not the type you are talking about. We have more problems with the perm mounted radios. I dont think they make them anymore.
I stopped using Nextel phones almost 2 years ago. At the time, the reason that I stopped using them was because the cell phone half of the unit was awful. You could be standing absolutely still, talking on the phone (taking a USAC call, for example), and, all of a sudden, you'd hear a beep, and the conversation would end abruptly. You'd look at the phone, and the red light would be on, indicating that there was no cellular service. Ten seconds later, the phone would beep again, and the green light would come back on, indicating that there was cellular service once again. I lost a number of calls that way. I got sick of that, so I canned them. Meanwhile, we have had Motorlola 2-way radios on the high band, around 150-155 mhz., for over 25 years. We have always used the radios, even when we had the Nextels. I own everything, about 15 units. I have an antenna on the garage roof, and a tall antenna at my house. My house is high on a hill, so I get awsome coverage from home. And my father's house is connected to the garage radio by a phone line. My brother sells Nextels, and he tells me that they are much better now, because there are more towers than there were before. I bought a Nextel phone for my son recently, because all of his friends have them. It seems to work well for him. It is one of those yellow, waterproof units. When the two year comitment runs out on my celular phones later this summer, I will consider Nextel again.
I used the Nextel system at the last towing company for whom I worked under contract. I must say the experience left me impressed. So much so that I am considering using Nextel in the road service business I'm now developing. I looked at using a combination of a cellular telephone and alphanumeric pager combination, plus exclusively cellular. After learning the costs of operating these two other systems would run me more than what the rate plan I would use from Nextel, I have to say the best deal I've found is through Nextel.
Technology is moving forward all the time. There are handheld computers out there now that just might be the answer some day. You can send a text message with information for next tow through email type notes. They are still working out details and still have the phone coverage problems. Future might be satelite link and total handheld computer stuff.
Nextel can have it's good days and bad days. I go out of town often, and the coverage is great. Kinda ridiculous to have a crystal clear conversation in Green Bay or Mattoon (earlier last night) than anywhere in our Chicagoland area. Both examples are 200 miles away. Other than that it is very fast communications.
Thanks for all the great ideas.Does anyone use Cellular only? If so, how is that working out? Thanks.
We use cellular only but it is just me running the two trucks for the two companies
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