Man spends a day without a cell phone in NYC

[Deberg_1990]

Could you go a full day without touching your cell or smartphone?



http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/opinion/obeidallah-cell-phone/index.html?hpt=hp_c1



There are millions of cell phone users in the United States. But one day last week, there was one less: Me.

My CNN editors asked me to participate in an experiment where I won't use my cell phone for one whole day. I thought: How hard could it be? I know many of you, like myself, are old enough to remember America B.C., as in "Before Cell phones." We made it through just fine.


So off I went into the streets of New York City sans a cell phone. At first, I felt liberated, like Neo in "The Matrix" when he took the red pill and could finally see the "real world."

Instead of texting or checking my e-mail, I began to actually look at the people I was sharing the streets with. It truly resembled a movie set filled with extras from all walks of life. A beautiful woman walked quickly past me while fixing her make up. Asian tourists were busy snapping photos. A businessman looked busy talking on his phone. A group of Hasidic men were kibitzing while an Arab man sold falafel from a cart.

It was truly exhilarating. For about 14 or 15 minutes or so. After that, I began to worry: What if someone needs to reach me? What if there is an important message waiting for me?


Being a stand up comedian, I run a unique small business. I'm not only president of my company; I'm also the only product. While I have an agent, I still need to be able to respond quickly to certain booking offers or just move on to the next comic opportunity.

I soon began to feel phantom cell phone vibrations in the front left pocket of my jeans where my phone usually resides. My stress level started to escalate. I had to check my voice mail. But doing so would require me to engage in an activity I had not done for many years: Use a payphone.

While there's no short supply of pay phones in the Big Apple, there's apparently no one charged with cleaning them. The pay phones I saw looked and smelled like homeless people had confused them for bathrooms or had used them to clean certain parts of their anatomy.

Despite the stench, I held my breath and made my call to retrieve my messages. How many did I have? Zero. This instantly took me back to memories of life in B.C. America when I would call my answering machine to retrieve messages and often be met with the (gleeful) robotic voice stating, "You have no new messages."

While relieved, my anxiety over my unchecked emails began to ratchet up. Please keep in mind I'm a NYC comedian. I'm hyper neurotic by nature.

I needed to find an Internet café. Sounds simple enough. But it's not. While establishments offering free Wi-Fi are everywhere, venues with computer terminals to use are not.

I began walking the streets asking people if they had seen an Internet café, like I was searching for my lost dog. The responses ranged from "no," to odd looks like I was a time traveler from the 1990s, to offers of stories on unrelated topics. (One man had no idea where an Internet café was located but enthusiastically suggested a great Turkish restaurant that I should check out.)

Fourteen blocks, two avenues and 45 minutes later, I finally observed a sign outside a slightly run-down deli that read, "Internet." And there I saw three computer terminals, whose best days were clearly behind them, available for rent at the reasonable rate of $2 for 12 minutes.

So what e-mails had I missed? Nothing pressing, to be honest. They all could have waited until I returned home.


As my cell phoneless day continued, I began to wonder: Would we actually talk to each other more if we weren't so attached to our gadgets? Would we be better people without our cell phones distracting us so often? Better spouses? Better sons or daughters?

But I also realized that without my cell phone, I felt unconnected to my friends, my business, and the world. I began to feel lonely in the most crowded city in America.

Riding the subway home later that day, and without my beloved baseball game to play on my phone, I had time to really look around the subway car. And there I made a startling discovery: I had never read the emergency evacuation sign posted in each subway car. That knowledge could very well save my life one day.

My experiment without a cell phone taught me two valuable lessons. One, my cell phone is not just a piece of technology; it is like Linus' security blanket in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Without it, I felt less comfortable. Less confident. I felt alone.


And two, in case of fire in the subway, don't panic. Wait for instructions from the train conductor. Help is on the way.

[durtyrute]

Could you go a full day without touching your cell or smartphone?



http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/opinion/obeidallah-cell-phone/index.html?hpt=hp_c1



There are millions of cell phone users in the United States. But one day last week, there was one less: Me.

My CNN editors asked me to participate in an experiment where I won't use my cell phone for one whole day. I thought: How hard could it be? I know many of you, like myself, are old enough to remember America B.C., as in "Before Cell phones." We made it through just fine.


So off I went into the streets of New York City sans a cell phone. At first, I felt liberated, like Neo in "The Matrix" when he took the red pill and could finally see the "real world."

Instead of texting or checking my e-mail, I began to actually look at the people I was sharing the streets with. It truly resembled a movie set filled with extras from all walks of life. A beautiful woman walked quickly past me while fixing her make up. Asian tourists were busy snapping photos. A businessman looked busy talking on his phone. A group of Hasidic men were kibitzing while an Arab man sold falafel from a cart.

It was truly exhilarating. For about 14 or 15 minutes or so. After that, I began to worry: What if someone needs to reach me? What if there is an important message waiting for me?


Being a stand up comedian, I run a unique small business. I'm not only president of my company; I'm also the only product. While I have an agent, I still need to be able to respond quickly to certain booking offers or just move on to the next comic opportunity.

I soon began to feel phantom cell phone vibrations in the front left pocket of my jeans where my phone usually resides. My stress level started to escalate. I had to check my voice mail. But doing so would require me to engage in an activity I had not done for many years: Use a payphone.

While there's no short supply of pay phones in the Big Apple, there's apparently no one charged with cleaning them. The pay phones I saw looked and smelled like homeless people had confused them for bathrooms or had used them to clean certain parts of their anatomy.

Despite the stench, I held my breath and made my call to retrieve my messages. How many did I have? Zero. This instantly took me back to memories of life in B.C. America when I would call my answering machine to retrieve messages and often be met with the (gleeful) robotic voice stating, "You have no new messages."

While relieved, my anxiety over my unchecked emails began to ratchet up. Please keep in mind I'm a NYC comedian. I'm hyper neurotic by nature.

I needed to find an Internet café. Sounds simple enough. But it's not. While establishments offering free Wi-Fi are everywhere, venues with computer terminals to use are not.

I began walking the streets asking people if they had seen an Internet café, like I was searching for my lost dog. The responses ranged from "no," to odd looks like I was a time traveler from the 1990s, to offers of stories on unrelated topics. (One man had no idea where an Internet café was located but enthusiastically suggested a great Turkish restaurant that I should check out.)

Fourteen blocks, two avenues and 45 minutes later, I finally observed a sign outside a slightly run-down deli that read, "Internet." And there I saw three computer terminals, whose best days were clearly behind them, available for rent at the reasonable rate of $2 for 12 minutes.

So what e-mails had I missed? Nothing pressing, to be honest. They all could have waited until I returned home.


As my cell phoneless day continued, I began to wonder: Would we actually talk to each other more if we weren't so attached to our gadgets? Would we be better people without our cell phones distracting us so often? Better spouses? Better sons or daughters?

But I also realized that without my cell phone, I felt unconnected to my friends, my business, and the world. I began to feel lonely in the most crowded city in America.

Riding the subway home later that day, and without my beloved baseball game to play on my phone, I had time to really look around the subway car. And there I made a startling discovery: I had never read the emergency evacuation sign posted in each subway car. That knowledge could very well save my life one day.

My experiment without a cell phone taught me two valuable lessons. One, my cell phone is not just a piece of technology; it is like Linus' security blanket in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Without it, I felt less comfortable. Less confident. I felt alone.


And two, in case of fire in the subway, don't panic. Wait for instructions from the train conductor. Help is on the way.

I don't live in NYC, but I haven't had a cell phone in over a year.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Walk into an Apple store and you can call out from any of their demo models

[Sofa King]

Must be a shitty comedian. I didn't laugh once while reading that.

[Frosty]

Could you go a full day without touching your cell or smartphone?



Yes. Easily.

[Rasputin]

Could you go a full day without touching your cell or smartphone?



http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/opinion/obeidallah-cell-phone/index.html?hpt=hp_c1



There are millions of cell phone users in the United States. But one day last week, there was one less: Me.

My CNN editors asked me to participate in an experiment where I won't use my cell phone for one whole day. I thought: How hard could it be? I know many of you, like myself, are old enough to remember America B.C., as in "Before Cell phones." We made it through just fine.


So off I went into the streets of New York City sans a cell phone. At first, I felt liberated, like Neo in "The Matrix" when he took the red pill and could finally see the "real world."

Instead of texting or checking my e-mail, I began to actually look at the people I was sharing the streets with. It truly resembled a movie set filled with extras from all walks of life. A beautiful woman walked quickly past me while fixing her make up. Asian tourists were busy snapping photos. A businessman looked busy talking on his phone. A group of Hasidic men were kibitzing while an Arab man sold falafel from a cart.

It was truly exhilarating. For about 14 or 15 minutes or so. After that, I began to worry: What if someone needs to reach me? What if there is an important message waiting for me?


Being a stand up comedian, I run a unique small business. I'm not only president of my company; I'm also the only product. While I have an agent, I still need to be able to respond quickly to certain booking offers or just move on to the next comic opportunity.

I soon began to feel phantom cell phone vibrations in the front left pocket of my jeans where my phone usually resides. My stress level started to escalate. I had to check my voice mail. But doing so would require me to engage in an activity I had not done for many years: Use a payphone.

While there's no short supply of pay phones in the Big Apple, there's apparently no one charged with cleaning them. The pay phones I saw looked and smelled like homeless people had confused them for bathrooms or had used them to clean certain parts of their anatomy.

Despite the stench, I held my breath and made my call to retrieve my messages. How many did I have? Zero. This instantly took me back to memories of life in B.C. America when I would call my answering machine to retrieve messages and often be met with the (gleeful) robotic voice stating, "You have no new messages."

While relieved, my anxiety over my unchecked emails began to ratchet up. Please keep in mind I'm a NYC comedian. I'm hyper neurotic by nature.

I needed to find an Internet café. Sounds simple enough. But it's not. While establishments offering free Wi-Fi are everywhere, venues with computer terminals to use are not.

I began walking the streets asking people if they had seen an Internet café, like I was searching for my lost dog. The responses ranged from "no," to odd looks like I was a time traveler from the 1990s, to offers of stories on unrelated topics. (One man had no idea where an Internet café was located but enthusiastically suggested a great Turkish restaurant that I should check out.)

Fourteen blocks, two avenues and 45 minutes later, I finally observed a sign outside a slightly run-down deli that read, "Internet." And there I saw three computer terminals, whose best days were clearly behind them, available for rent at the reasonable rate of $2 for 12 minutes.

So what e-mails had I missed? Nothing pressing, to be honest. They all could have waited until I returned home.


As my cell phoneless day continued, I began to wonder: Would we actually talk to each other more if we weren't so attached to our gadgets? Would we be better people without our cell phones distracting us so often? Better spouses? Better sons or daughters?

But I also realized that without my cell phone, I felt unconnected to my friends, my business, and the world. I began to feel lonely in the most crowded city in America.

Riding the subway home later that day, and without my beloved baseball game to play on my phone, I had time to really look around the subway car. And there I made a startling discovery: I had never read the emergency evacuation sign posted in each subway car. That knowledge could very well save my life one day.

My experiment without a cell phone taught me two valuable lessons. One, my cell phone is not just a piece of technology; it is like Linus' security blanket in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Without it, I felt less comfortable. Less confident. I felt alone.


And two, in case of fire in the subway, don't panic. Wait for instructions from the train conductor. Help is on the way.

I felt compelled to quote OP.

[vailpass]

Could you go a full day without touching your cell or smartphone?





Hell no; not half an hour. Though I could go for long periods of time without actually talking on it.

[mikey23545]

Oh FFS...

[Chest Rockwell]

Hell no; not half an hour. Though I could go for long periods of time without actually talking on it.

This if I'm expected to do my job as well; also probably not if I'm in NYC just don't know it well enough to get by.

In my city on a non-work day? Easily.

[mikey23545]

I bet Jay Leno and Conan were trying to reach him all day.

[MahiMike]

I don't live in NYC, but I haven't had a cell phone in over a year.

Our hero!

[HemiEd]

One of the "pots of gold" at the end of the retirement rainbow, is stomping on my cell phone and throwing it in the trash.

[Bwana]

Not a problem.

[Otter]

If I didn't need it for a living it would be at the bottom of the San Juan right now.

[Bwana]

If I didn't need it for a living it would be at the bottom of the San Juan right now.

Likewise

[Steron]

I feel naked without my cell phone but I think I could ditch it for one lousy day.

[Otter]

Likewise Yep, except for the occasional call/message from family & friends it's digital heart burn in the palm of your hand.

[Old Dog]

I could spend the day without the cell phone easily enough, but I ain't going to NYC for ANY damn reason. I'd prefer to do without it right here.

[saphojunkie]

Must be a shitty comedian. I didn't laugh once while reading that.

This was my thought exactly. If you are going to mention being a comedian twice in your article, then I should have laughed at least as many times.

[rockymtnchief]

Not a problem.

This

If it weren't for work I doubt I'd have a cell phone.

A month ago I went 4-wheeling up in the Beartooths (no service) and didn't once miss it.

[vailpass]

If I didn't need it for a living it would be at the bottom of the San Juan right now.

I hear you but even without business needs I couldn't do it. Raising three kids in a big city, plus the wife, gotta' have it in case they need me. Or I need to use the locator feature to make sure the kids are where they are supposed to be. And get appointment reminders for their doctors and dentists and lessons and recitals and games and everything else they have.

Or looking up insignificant trivia at 3:00 a.m. while sitting out having a few with the wife. Or taking impromptu pictures or video. Or putting Soundhound up to see what the name of the song is or who sings it. Or changing my fantasy football lineup on the golf course. Or using the Amazon shopper app to scan a bar code at the mall to see if I can get it cheaper. Or Yelping to find a bar or restaurant in this part of town. And on and on and on.

[Chest Rockwell]

Or looking up insignificant trivia at 3:00 a.m. while sitting out having a few with the wife. Or taking impromptu pictures or video.

Heh. Are those two related? The later at 3:01 after wife lose bet over said trivia? Ehh? Ehhhhh? Ehhhhhhhhh?

You old sea captain, you! You motorboatin' sonofabitch!

[|Zach|]

Could I go without it? Sure.

I wouldn't prefer that though.

[Richard_Cuckold]

Easily could go without a cellphone for a day

Would be pretty relaxing actually

[-King-]

Realizing that you left home without your phone is such a terrible feeling.

So yeah, I have went without my phone, but it fucking sucked.

[Old Dog]

Realizing that you left home without your phone is such a terrible feeling.

false

[LOCOChief]

This

If it weren't for work I doubt I'd have a cell phone.

A month ago I went 4-wheeling up in the Beartooths (no service) and didn't once miss it.

Ahh Beartooth, unbelievable place haven't been there in 8 years but think about it all the time. No way I'd waste one mili second up there with a phone.

[HemiEd]

Do any of you still have land lines?

That is our issue, we got rid of ours about three years ago.

[Micjones]

I never realized how attached I was to my phone until it was stolen.
You would've thought someone died.
I mourned for three days.

Still, I think I could go a day without it.
As long as I still had access to a computer.

[Bwana]

This

If it weren't for work I doubt I'd have a cell phone.

A month ago I went 4-wheeling up in the Beartooths (no service) and didn't once miss it.

That's one of the things I love about the area. :thumb:

[Otter]

I hear you but even without business needs I couldn't do it. Raising three kids in a big city, plus the wife, gotta' have it in case they need me. Or I need to use the locator feature to make sure the kids are where they are supposed to be. And get appointment reminders for their doctors and dentists and lessons and recitals and games and everything else they have.

Or looking up insignificant trivia at 3:00 a.m. while sitting out having a few with the wife. Or taking impromptu pictures or video. Or putting Soundhound up to see what the name of the song is or who sings it. Or changing my fantasy football lineup on the golf course. Or using the Amazon shopper app to scan a bar code at the mall to see if I can get it cheaper. Or Yelping to find a bar or restaurant in this part of town. And on and on and on.

I don't have kids and slowly getting myself off the grid. If you ever have a week to not give a **** come deep into the Rockies. Bring gear. You and about 15-20 other people here have open invite.

Understand the whole family thing but you learn to not like your cell phone. Actually you learn to hate it. :D

[DaneMcCloud]

Do any of you still have land lines?

That is our issue, we got rid of ours about three years ago.

We have two Voip lines because we don't get even close to a solid cell reception in our home. Plus, I like having a wireless phone in nearly every room. I'd lose my cell and miss an important calls for one reason or another.

I hear you but even without business needs I couldn't do it. Raising three kids in a big city, plus the wife, gotta' have it in case they need me. Or I need to use the locator feature to make sure the kids are where they are supposed to be. And get appointment reminders for their doctors and dentists and lessons and recitals and games and everything else they have.

Or looking up insignificant trivia at 3:00 a.m. while sitting out having a few with the wife. Or taking impromptu pictures or video. Or putting Soundhound up to see what the name of the song is or who sings it. Or changing my fantasy football lineup on the golf course. Or using the Amazon shopper app to scan a bar code at the mall to see if I can get it cheaper. Or Yelping to find a bar or restaurant in this part of town. And on and on and on.

All of this and more. I can't imagine not having a cell in Los Angeles and I don't think I've forgotten to take my cell with me when I leave the house in over a decade.

[ModSocks]

I'm 27 years old, don't use a Cell Phone, Twitter or Facebook.

Gasp....

[Bearcat]

Lesson 3, based on 0 new vm and no pressing emails: We're not as important as we think.

I recently completely disconnected from work for 12 days, which was the longest I had gone in probably 5 years... and I was also without internet/phone/text for most of that time (excluding a couple of hours on free wifi the first and last day). Granted, I was pretty excited to have access at the end of my vacation, I didn't miss it at all, which kind of surprised me.

Of course, it's different when it's planned... I hate not having my cell on me during a normal day, and if you don't respond to something right away you have to deal with those who think you should be available all the time.

[Bearcat]

Do any of you still have land lines?

That is our issue, we got rid of ours about three years ago.

I'm 32 and I've never paid for one.. I've had a cell phone since around the time I graduated high school. Time Warner will call me every once in a while about how I need a landline and they'll go through all these scenarios...

Bad reception?
Two phones, two carriers... nope.

Emergencies and your cell phone is dead?
Again, two phones, not a problem.

Kids at home?
wut

[mr. tegu]

If I am with the fiance I go without looking at mine on many days. Although with football, that doesn't really happen as much anymore due to having to check scores and fantasy lineups.

So basically, I can go without using it pretty easily, but I think not having it would cause some anxiety. It is one of those things that you only really want it if you don't have it, so having it is a comforting feeling.

[durtyrute]

I'm 27 years old, don't use a Cell Phone, Twitter or Facebook.

Gasp....

I'm right there with you on all accounts except I'm 33. I went to 54th Street about a year ago and was talking to the bartender. I told her I no longer used a cell phone, and I shit you not, the whole smoking section stopped talking and looked at me like I just walked into a KKK meeting or something.

Crazy!!

[Otter]

Could I go without it? Sure.

I wouldn't prefer that though.

It becomes like a reward to catch up and see everything going on. I also understand that there's people that just enjoy checking e-mail, twitter and the news every half hour. It's kinda like the opposite of going camping if that makes sense.

[mr. tegu]

I'm 27 years old, don't use a Cell Phone, Twitter or Facebook.

Gasp....

I don't have any Twitter or Facebook, but I do need my cell phone.

[big nasty kcnut]

Do it all the time. I need a phone but i can live without it.

[|Zach|]

It becomes like a reward to catch up and see everything going on. I also understand that there's people that just enjoy checking e-mail, twitter and the news every half hour. It's kinda like the opposite of going camping if that makes sense.

I enjoy getting away and everything but I value and enjoy reading shit...being tuned it...and talking to people. Well...not a lot of voice calls but texting.

I share a bit of similarity to the author in that I need to be ready to take on opportunities as someone that is self employed.

[whoman69]

I have to push myself to even use my cell.

[Ming the Merciless]

Must be a shitty comedian. I didn't laugh once while reading that.

my exact thought

[Kerberos]

I never had a smart phone till I started working for my current employer. They provided it for me and I have to say that if I had to buy my own phone again I would probably have to get a smart phone. Too freaking convenient for a multitude of things. I keep in touch with my wife daily while we both work and my son loves to play games on it while in waiting room to get his allergy shots. I don't know I think as a whole our world has become dependent on such things.

If you started watching Revolution TV series for the past couple of weeks... Everything electrical comes to a stop. A woman carries her uncharged iphone around with her because it is the ONLY thing she has with pictures of her kids on it. I can see where this could happen to A LOT of people. Makes you think.

[Aries Walker]

He doesn't run a unique small business; he runs an unusual small business. Vocabulary fail.

[DaneMcCloud]

I'm 27 years old, don't use a Cell Phone, Twitter or Facebook.

Gasp....

Lame.

You're missing out on all the chicks that text nude pics.

[rad]

We have two Voip lines because we don't get even close to a solid cell reception in our home. Plus, I like having a wireless phone in nearly every room. I'd lose my cell and miss an important calls for one reason or another.



All of this and more. I can't imagine not having a cell in Los Angeles and I don't think I've forgotten to take my cell with me when I leave the house in over a decade.

Been contemplating the Voip thing.......who do you use?

As for the smartphone thing, I already go some days without looking at it. Sometimes I leave it in my car for days.

[vailpass]

I don't have kids and slowly getting myself off the grid. If you ever have a week to not give a **** come deep into the Rockies. Bring gear. You and about 15-20 other people here have open invite.

Understand the whole family thing but you learn to not like your cell phone. Actually you learn to hate it. :D

Appreciate it man. Would love to sit on a huge warm rock in the middle of a mountain stream again, haven't done it for a while.

I lived in Colo for 4 years. Used to camp in Rifle for days on end and emerge to hit the bucksnort for a couple day long reign of terror. Loved Pine too. Been all over the high country. Was in that beautiful little tourist trap (kidding) you live in last summer to take my boys on the train.

[DaneMcCloud]

Been contemplating the Voip thing.......who do you use?

As for the smartphone thing, I already go some days without looking at it. Sometimes I leave it in my car for days.

We've had Time Warner bundles with their Business internet since 2006. It's like $25 a month with unlimited North American calling and we've been really happy with their service.

Recently, I replaced the phone system in our home with a new Panasonic offering from Coscto. It features Blue Tooth that when enabled, allows you to receive a cell call using the Panasonic system. It's great because you're not stuck with carrying around a cell phone everywhere. It's pretty cool.

[Otter]

Appreciate it man. Would love to sit on a huge warm rock in the middle of a mountain stream again, haven't done it for a while.

I lived in Colo for 4 years. Used to camp in Rifle for days on end and emerge to hit the bucksnort for a couple day long reign of terror. Loved Pine too. Been all over the high country. Was in that beautiful little tourist trap (kidding) you live in last summer to take my boys on the train. It's a tourist trap but it's a tourist trap 10 minutes away from God's land in every direction. Someone has to bring in the bucks. :D

[rockymtnchief]

Do any of you still have land lines?

That is our issue, we got rid of ours about three years ago.

Yup

$23 with unlimited long distance in the lower 48.

[Coach]

I have a cell phone, but I can go through it without 3 days, easy.

[Spott]

Done it plenty of times. Just went on vacation in the mountains in Tennessee for a week and there's absolutely no cell phone service anywhere up there, at least not with AT&T. Done it a few times on 4-5 day cruises as well.

[Bugeater]

I'd love nothing more than to smash mine into little fucking pieces.

[Shaid]

I don't own one so yeah, I think I might be able to handle it.

[HoneyBadger]

I always need mine... to make sure I don't miss any booty calls.

[clyde05]

Only time I've been without mine is if I take a cruise, I know there are ways around using them on a cruise but I do the better safe then sorry philosophy.

[Imon Yourside]

I can go a full day without it, no problem. The people trying to get a hold of me my might have an issue but i wouldn't miss it.

[007]

absolutely and it would be easy.

[Pushead2]

yawn...been there and done it. Where's my article?

[Dayze]

no problem.
it would be a relief

[Rausch]

Never owned a cell phone - never will.

I wouldn't have a home phone if work didn't require it...

[luv]

Just spent five days without a cell phone OR internet last week.

[Graystoke]

Got back from Trout Fishing Wyoming last week. Didn't have service for a week, and the only thing I missed was making sure everyone back home was ok.
Other then that I didn't miss it a bit

[Fish]

We have two Voip lines because we don't get even close to a solid cell reception in our home. Plus, I like having a wireless phone in nearly every room. I'd lose my cell and miss an important calls for one reason or another.



All of this and more. I can't imagine not having a cell in Los Angeles and I don't think I've forgotten to take my cell with me when I leave the house in over a decade.

I would venture to guess that's a big part of the reason why you have problems with your battery life on your phone. It sounds like you're in a location where your phone is constantly searching for a network, or possibly right between 2 different networks. That really overworks your phone. When your phone can't consistently stay on one network, it usually works itself twice as hard. I bet if you switched carriers, you'd notice an improvement with the same phone...

[Inspector]

I have a few phones but they are all connected by a wire to the phone jacks in my house. Some have rotary dials.

I get along just fine. Don't miss what I never had.

[Inspector]

Do any of you still have land lines?

That is our issue, we got rid of ours about three years ago.

Yes. They are free.

Man, I love free.

[Frosty]

We only have a land line because our ISP/phone company requires it to have their DSL. Otherwise, I'd be saving the $25/month.

[suds79]

I have days where I don't use my phone at all.

While I do have online access with it, it's not that great.

I once thought about upgrading and getting a smart phone but then realized why? So I can check work emails anytime? Awesome. Can't wait to do that. ;)

So I can browse the web on a 4 inch screen? Nah I think In can wait until I get home or at work.

If I'm out and about and need to look up a location or phone # to a place I can do that but other then that? Not really needed IMO.

In short, completing this experiment would be all to easy for me.

[vailpass]

It's a tourist trap but it's a tourist trap 10 minutes away from God's land in every direction. Someone has to bring in the bucks. :D

I was just kidding. Durango is God's country. The Strater is as good a place to stay as you could want. Silverton is God's country as well.

[DaneMcCloud]

I would venture to guess that's a big part of the reason why you have problems with your battery life on your phone. It sounds like you're in a location where your phone is constantly searching for a network, or possibly right between 2 different networks. That really overworks your phone. When your phone can't consistently stay on one network, it usually works itself twice as hard. I bet if you switched carriers, you'd notice an improvement with the same phone...

I'm sure you're right. But we just signed with Sprint in January with the employee rate and we really didn't get "great" reception in our home with T-Mobile. Verizon was even worse.

"Supposedly", Sprint is aware that their network sucks and plan to upgrade it soon in Los Angeles. We'll see...

[vailpass]

I'm sure you're right. But we just signed with Sprint in January with the employee rate and we really didn't get "great" reception in our home with T-Mobile. Verizon was even worse.

"Supposedly", Sprint is aware that their network sucks and plan to upgrade it soon in Los Angeles. We'll see...

They've been telling us that in Phoenix for 10 years. We don't even have 4G FFS. They used to charge us $10/month for each smart phone as a "4G surcharge" even though we don't have it. One day it changed to a "data surcharge".
We have 4 4G phones and 1 LTE phone but no 4G/LTE service.

Still, I like Sprint and haven't changed. Best all-in-one data plan out there.

[Kerberos]

I'm sure you're right. But we just signed with Sprint in January with the employee rate and we really didn't get "great" reception in our home with T-Mobile. Verizon was even worse.

"Supposedly", Sprint is aware that their network sucks and plan to upgrade it soon in Los Angeles. We'll see...

Dane

If you have issues with signal inside the house then you might want to call Sprint Customer Support and ask for a Airvanna that hooks through your home network and boosts signal to your cell phone.

I works pretty good.

My wife and I went back to Sprint for our Cell phones and inside the house we got no signal and is was so weak it kept dropping calls.

After an hour with customer support I told them I wanted out of my contract if they couldn't give me better support inside my home. They agreed to send me this free of charge... setting it up is a whole other story about how crappy tier1 support is for Sprint. Tier 2 will at least listen to you. :)

[DaneMcCloud]

Dane

If you have issues with signal inside the house then you might want to call Sprint Customer Support and ask for a Airvanna that hooks through your home network and boosts signal to your cell phone.

I works pretty good.

My wife and I went back to Sprint for our Cell phones and inside the house we got no signal and is was so weak it kept dropping calls.

After an hour with customer support I told them I wanted out of my contract if they couldn't give me better support inside my home. They agreed to send me this free of charge... setting it up is a whole other story about how crappy tier1 support is for Sprint. Tier 2 will at least listen to you. :)

Thanks, Dude. They actually sent me one back in January but it was cancelling the signal from my wireless router and wireless boosters throughout the house. Sprint support was awful, so it's boxed up and sitting in the garage.

I'll ask for Tier 2 support when I get a chance.

:thumb:

[Kerberos]

Thanks, Dude. They actually sent me one back in January but it was cancelling the signal from my wireless router and wireless boosters throughout the house. Sprint support was awful, so it's boxed up and sitting in the garage.

I'll ask for Tier 2 support when I get a chance.

:thumb:

Actually I had the same problem that if you hook this thing up the way THEY tell you to it wouldn't pass traffic to my home router and Tier 1 tried telling me it was on Cox's side.

I told tier 1 till I was blue in the face that my home network was fine till I hooked up their box the way it was in the instructions. I twas NOT a Cox problem but their units problem. It won't pass traffic to your home network.

Well long story short... If you didn't try to hook this thing up DIRECTLY to your router or home network interface and turn it on.....that is what I would try if I were you.

Once it came up (took like an hour for the GPS pinpoint it's location) it works great and my home network is unaffected by the booster.

Hope this helps.

[DaneMcCloud]

Actually I had the same problem that if you hook this thing up the way THEY tell you to it wouldn't pass traffic to my home router and Tier 1 tried telling me it was on Cox's side.

I told tier 1 till I was blue in the face that my home network was fine till I hooked up their box the way it was in the instructions. I twas NOT a Cox problem but their units problem. It won't pass traffic to your home network.

Well long story short... If you didn't try to hook this thing up DIRECTLY to your router or home network interface and turn it on.....that is what I would try if I were you.

Once it came up (took like an hour for the GPS pinpoint it's location) it works great and my home network is unaffected by the booster.

Hope this helps.

Thanks again, Dude. I did plug it directly into my router via a Cat 5 cable and for whatever reason, the wireless connection was either blocked or stopped broadcasting. I still have the box and I'll try it again sometime this Fall when time permits.