Trying to find some OnStar type alternative to work in my 9 year old Fleetwood is challenging, and they all use cell phone lines anyways, which have big dead zones all over.

So, I was thinking, what about old fashioned CB radios for calling in emergencies? Is that something that can be done? How would you connect with AAA or Good Sam on CB?

 

CB radios have even bigger gaps in service since they depend on line of sight between the radios. The CB first of all depends on someone listening for your call and then being able to communicate with you through line of sight and distance. On the highway or near a highway you may be able to get through to a trucker or motorist who may relay a message to a service like AAA or other roadside service company.

There is also Family Radio Service (FRS), the walkie talkies you see sold at Walmart, Camping world and other retailers. FRS has better range ability than CB but still requires someone on the other end to hear you.

Ham Radio could be an option but also has limitations.

Most cellphones will work near large cities and major highways. Verizon seems to have the best coverage nationwide in the US. If you add an external antenna and amplifier you can extend your ability to pull in a cell signal. Personally I would choose Cellphones over any of the others.

The job I work at requires me to travel to very remote sites in the deserts of California, Nevada & Arizona. I can usually get cell service until I get about ten miles out of the nearest town on secondary roads.

I used to use CB radios back when I was driving an 18-wheeler and I can attest that the range on a CB is not good.  Plus, when there are active sun spots, the reception might "skip" better, but one would never know who would be able to hear your transmissions, or whether they would have any idea of where you were or who to contact to help you.

Just as a thought, we called into a service that was affiliated with one of our vehicles that gave us roadside service.  Where we were located, even though it was in a metropolitan area, they could not locate.  Even with me giving them the intersections where we were, they were lost.  A police officer finally came along and stopped to help us.

As for services for cell phones, I would think I would want better coverage than unlimited data so I could watch YouTube.  Besides, if one didn't have service, YouTube would be gone as well.

Terry

Jane,

You make sense, but I would think that with a business, it would be even more important that you have good coverage.  With limited coverage, one would think that they would rather move around looking for service instead of looking for places of interest.

Of course, in our case, when we finally get to travel, we will have the luxury of having our pensions and our Social Security, so we may not need to worry about being connected except to pay bills or other online needs.  We might find the need to workkamp on occasion, but only time will tell on that issue.

If we must, all we have to do at that stage is take a laptop and our Verizon MiFi into a coverage area.

Terry

I'm stuck with a Sprint contract for a while. Back east coverage on all carriers is more comprehensive than the desert SW, big blanks for all carriers, though Verizon is best. I also have an antennae that can pick up and boost free wifiand I have skype and a phone approach on my Blackberry tablet. Just trying to be as prepared as possible, before sailing off into the unknown! I saw a device online called Splitsecnd which looks so good, they are sold out. It's an OnStar type thing you plug into the cigarette lighter.

Justin Case. He wrote and recorded some of the classics... Like, "SOS isn't just for breakfast anymore", and "Your seat cushion is a floatation device if you eat beans and fill it with gas". They just don't make music like that anymore! He is always good to have along when you need him.

don't worry about driving like a lil' ol' lady !!!!.......I drive 55 on the interstates and my gas mileage is great for that reason , also keep in mind about your water , you dont need to keep 60 to 80 on board...you need to find out how much you use per day and fill at that rate.....you can get potable water at most truckstops and service stations for free and dump at most campers worlds....flying J truckstops and most towns and cities have dirt cheap dump stations at their waste treatment plants!!

of course I am very frugal and refuse to waste money on anything including WD-40 to keep my butt from squeaking!!!

I'm so bad I have a solar hot water heater I built out of PVC and the old shower line head out of the coach and put lake or stream water in it for showers while Im boondocking!!! I use an outside shower unit to keep that water from adding to my holding tanks....

I also carry 2 7 gallon blue totes for water as needed empty and fill them rather than move the coach.....the advantage to having a small fresh water tank is you will know when the water runs out that you can only go about another 20 gallons before your going to have to dump!!

HHHhhhmmmm......

Stranded

20 gallons of water equals 10 days at 2 gallons a day (more than 10 days without seeing a rescue party use cell phone and call again!!)

Disaster

20 gallon rule......(See Above Rule) after more than 10 days somebody from FEMA will come and give you free water and directions to the shelter or National guard will come by and tell you to move long!!!....(I hate when they boot you out of Walmarts parking lot)

Bug out

normal bug outs are planned you should have filled the tank first ,if all else fails find a fresh stream and use your on board 12 volt pump to fill tank and bleach to make it safe or boil it for consumption. and pray for rain ......your rainwater collection system should bail you out unless your in a flood zone.

if none of this works and we are facing the end of the world, find me......I have 300 gallons of fresh water and a 5 year supply of rations left over from Y-2K and the Myan calender Scams , I will have a map posted on facebook as to where the last Boondocking Rally is for RV Dreamers we will all meet there for the final farewell and one hell of a party!!!!!!!!! (BYOB Please)