B.O.B./G.H.B. phones?

Decker · Feb 18, 2011

Hi all, I've been wanting to include a prepaid phone into the bags I've setup for our vehicles but have no experience with them. So, here I am appealing to the collective wisdom of my fellows.

Thoughts on a prepaid that I can buy and leave in a bag until needed? Do I need to have a monthly plan or can I just buy some minutes and use it whenever?

-d

MarkAd · Feb 18, 2011

you can get a trac fone. buy minutes and your good to go.

Thebastidge · Feb 18, 2011

Most pre-paids expire after a period of time of disuse. Read the fine print.

Fishnutz · Feb 18, 2011

Decker said:
Hi all, I've been wanting to include a prepaid phone into the bags I've setup for our vehicles but have no experience with them. So, here I am appealing to the collective wisdom of my fellows.

Thoughts on a prepaid that I can buy and leave in a bag until needed? Do I need to have a monthly plan or can I just buy some minutes and use it whenever?

-d

So I was in the same situation, my luck I could not find a non expiring pre-paid. IMHO, Virgin mobiles 90 day expiration is a safe bet. Plus when you run out, you can put more minutes on with your credit/debit card.

MA Duce · Feb 18, 2011

You need to think this through. If there is a natural disaster..your current phone will still work. If there is a Armageddon-like melt down NOTHING will work.

Thebastidge · Feb 18, 2011

Really the only reason for prepaI'd is if you expect your phone to be tapped or traced. If that's the case it's probably already too much and they would have all if your ISP records. At some point Paranoia really is crazy. But if you do buy prepaid, do it somewhere you've never been, in cash, with no ID and no other purchase or transaction in the area to lead to it, or it doesn't do any good. Likewise, don't use it to call anybody you know and have called from your regular phone.

See, it sounds a little odd when you take it to logical conclusion.

Decker · Feb 18, 2011

Okay, so I was thinking more like a situation where you were caught in a snow storm... or you're out on a hike and fall and your phone gets busted... or if you had evac your work because of a fire or some such and you accidentally left your phone on your desk... you know stuff that falls short of TEOTWAWKT but would be nice to have a backup.

So, it seems the biggest issue is finding out what the expiration dates are after your purchase...

lowly monk · Feb 18, 2011

AAA has a really good deal for stored car phones. You dont need to be a member.

Thebastidge · Feb 18, 2011

Decker, in that case, get any used cell phone from Goodwill that has a charger with it. Keep it charged up and turned off. Some phones need a SIM card to operate, but it doesn't have to be activated. Any cell phone that can power on can call 911- it's a safety feature that is built in. No need for pre-paid minutes. You won't be able to call home, but a 911 dispatcher could patch you through if it were a true emergency.

Grunwald · Feb 18, 2011

Thebastidge said:
Decker, in that case, get any used cell phone from Goodwill that has a charger with it. Keep it charged up and turned off. Some phones need a SIM card to operate, but it doesn't have to be activated. Any cell phone that can power on can call 911- it's a safety feature that is built in. No need for pre-paid minutes. You won't be able to call home, but a 911 dispatcher could patch you through if it were a true emergency.

That's a very good advice. The phone companies have to allow 911 calls by law, no matter if the phone is active or not. A lot time ago, before everyone had a cell phone, I kept my old one in the car after my plan expired and I did not renew. I kept that phone just for 911 calls and have used it at least once for that purpose.

I know that T-mobile has a pre-paid card that lasts 1 year, but it is a $100 card. At least they did a couple of years ago.

mxitman · Feb 19, 2011

Okay, so I was thinking more like a situation where you were caught in a snow storm... or you're out on a hike and fall and your phone gets busted... or if you had evac your work because of a fire or some such and you accidentally left your phone on your desk... you know stuff that falls short of TEOTWAWKT but would be nice to have a backup.

I ran into this problem personally just not a snow storm but a good few days turned bad by heavy rainfall & crazy wind, we hiked in about 12 miles up in the northern cascades we planned to camp for 2 days then hike back down and then take the forest service road another 6-7 miles back onto the highway. Well our camp got inundated with water and my phone was in my pants which I had taken off while sleeping, the tent got completely soaked and even our bags and gear got wet by about 4 am we decided to cut our losses and pack up and head down. I was prepared with rain gear but I didn't have a tarp or waterproof bags.

The hike down was miserable as the trail was getting washed out and it was still dark when we headed out...I fell numerous times and was soaked through under my poncho...No problem we got back to my truck loaded up and I had a change of clothes.. all toasty warm

Well only a mile later the hillside had completely washed down and huge trees had come down...there was no way we could get around it and DUMB me I didn't bring a chainsaw. I grabbed my phone to see if I could call someone and the phone was really wet and wouldn't come on... My friends phone was the same way... so we had to pack up again and hike down until we got to someones house... I wish I had a cheap or even old used phone with me in the truck.

Now in my GHB I keep one of my old phones and car charger, I charge it up periodically just in case..

Decker · Feb 19, 2011

mxitman said:
I ran into this problem personally just not a snow storm but a good few days turned bad by heavy rainfall & crazy wind, we hiked in about 12 miles up in the northern cascades we planned to camp for 2 days then hike back down and then take the forest service road another 6-7 miles back onto the highway. Well our camp got inundated with water and my phone was in my pants which I had taken off while sleeping, the tent got completely soaked and even our bags and gear got wet by about 4 am we decided to cut our losses and pack up and head down. I was prepared with rain gear but I didn't have a tarp or waterproof bags.

The hike down was miserable as the trail was getting washed out and it was still dark when we headed out...I fell numerous times and was soaked through under my poncho...No problem we got back to my truck loaded up and I had a change of clothes.. all toasty warm

Well only a mile later the hillside had completely washed down and huge trees had come down...there was no way we could get around it and DUMB me I didn't bring a chainsaw. I grabbed my phone to see if I could call someone and the phone was really wet and wouldn't come on... My friends phone was the same way... so we had to pack up again and hike down until we got to someones house... I wish I had a cheap or even old used phone with me in the truck.

Now in my GHB I keep one of my old phones and car charger, I charge it up periodically just in case..

Okay, so MX, this is pretty much the type of thing I was trying to plan for. Sounds like a pretty rough night... yikes... I too had a trip turn sour and ended up with a trashed phone and nothing as a back up and while it obviously wasn't the end of the world it would have been helpful had the situation been an emergency.

Lowly Monk, I checked out the AAA website and didn't see anything about phones there... did you pick one up at a local store?

Fish, I poked around a bit for the Virgin-Mobile phones but like the AAA, nothing local. Suggestions?

-d

flowx84 · Feb 20, 2011

Go to wal matt there you can buy a prpaid phone for 20 bucks and it comes with a 10 dollar cane in it then just activate the phone when you need it

Decker · Feb 20, 2011

flowx84 said:
Go to wal matt there you can buy a prpaid phone for 20 bucks and it comes with a 10 dollar cane in it then just activate the phone when you need it

Winner!

-d

Thebastidge · Feb 21, 2011

When hiking/camping I have a few small things in a waterproof box- the phone is one of those. Remote fob for the car door is another. Not to say it couldn't be crushed or lost, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping the stuff I don't need for camping, but do need to reconnect with civilization seperate and safe is at least an ounce.