On Thu  3-Oct-1996 12:04a, Ed Stimach wrote:
ES> On ( 1 Oct 96) Brent Hendricks wrote to Ed Stimach...
ES>        The cellular coverage in southeast Texas and along the Gulf
ES>   Coast is very good, and getting better all the time. Wireless
ES>   digital communication, which is just now taking off here, may
ES>   provide better service for you there in southern California.
        The covereage may be better in texas then in SO Cal. but you have to 
remember that your cell phone only puts out like 3/4 of a watt, where as with 
a radio you can put out allot more power (Such as HAM radio or VHF marine..  
You can also not talk directly between boats, or the Coast Gaurd (Even if you 
called the Coast Gaurd dispatch center you are still going through a third 
party whereas with a radio you may talk directly to the people coming out to 
rescue you.
ES>        That's a great option, Brent. What kind of boat do you have?
ES>   I've just a small pleasure boat, and I'm never more than a mile
ES>   from any shoreline!
        I have a 34ft sailing vessle,  Ed, do you also have VHF on you boat?? 
 Problem here with cellular is what happens if your engine dies and you begin 
to drift out to sea??  Sooner or later, in this case probably sooner rather 
then later you are going to loose cellular coverage, whereas you have MUCH 
greater range with VHF/MARINE....
--- CNet/3
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