OFF the GRID Radio + GPS + Camera for $20!!!

C

collecter

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Messages
1,083
Update:

I started this topic asking if anyone here uses the push-to-talk cell phones off the network or off the grid but no one replied so I thought I'd try it myself.

I bought 2 used nextel phones on ebay and along with couple of used nextel sim cards. And they work! Even the GPS works which was a surprise.

I still need to test them for range and compare them against my cb radios and post some pics for you guys that can't read ;-)

Stay tuned.
 
Last edited:
Anybody?

I guess I'll be the guinea pig on this one, I ordered 2 used nextel phones from ebay. One phone is the bigger i355 and the other is the i686 flip phone, both are mil-spec. They were pretty cheap about $20 each plus another $4 for sim cards.

I read a enough about the i355 to expect it to work well. The i686 is a bit of a gamble but it's newer, smaller and lighter.

I'm looking for something with better range than cb and the typical family radios. I like to use walkie talkie type radios for caravaning or rzr to rzr communication while off-roading.

When they show up I'll post my thoughts.
 
I still think the towers are necessary. Hence, push to talk may not work in remote areas.
 
22-rimfire said:
I still think the towers are necessary. Hence, push to talk may not work in remote areas.
Click to expand...

No, the towers are not needed. This is the reason I'm interested in them. They work off the grid radio to radio. Supposedly because they are digital and the frequency at which they transmit the range is supposed to be excellent. And they are cheap, mil-spec waterproof, dust proof, etc.
 
First phone came last night and the second one should be here today.

The condition of the first phone isn't in nearly as good condition as advertised but the seller agreed to give a partial refund so I'm ok with it. It appears to work fine it's just "rougher" on the outside than expected.

I checked the descriptions and photos carefully before I bought this one and was still surprised so be warned...based on this experience if the description states "Excellent" condition it really means "fair" condition. The second phone also states "excellent" condition but it had better photos and I expect it will be in equal condition to this first one. Different seller.

Update: The 2nd phone arrived and it actually looks "excellent" plus it was fair amount was cheaper. The seller had more of the same so I ordered another one.

The sim cards should also be here today or tomorrow. Once I get everything I'll let you know how they work and post some pics. I already us CB radios for caravaning and off-roading so it will be good to compare the two systems side x side in the same conditions.
 
Last edited:
Interesting thread. Do you need to unlock the phones before you use a new SIM card? I am interested in how well they work but a new i686 seems expensive, meaning a used one is suspect, especially for $20. Is the GPS true or assisted? If it is true then that is a definite pro for the unit. Thanks for posting, I was unaware of the mil-spec phones and off grid communications ability. I am interested in your evaluation.
 
I don't have the sim cards so I can't try them yet. They should be here tomorrow.

They shouldn't need anything other than nextel sim cards to work. No unlocking or activation of any kind. All the units I ordered and sim cards are nextel products and as far as I'm aware they should all work together.

The i686 ended up costing about $17 after the seller gave me some money back. Each of the i355's were $25 including shipping. The i355 I got today is really clean and nice looking. I'm very pleased with it. I'll post pics so you guys can see them up close.

If i355 works as well as a gmrs radio I'll be thrilled. I can tell the construction is heavy duty and all the ports are capped with rubber that snap in place securely. I have do doubt that they truely are waterproof.

The i686 feels almost as robust but it's hinged so that may or may not be a weak spot. It has the added feature of a camera which I think might be nice. I just realized it's a camera that's waterproof!!! :-)

I don't know anything about the gps. I'll have to research that. If it works off the satallites that would be a huge plus!

I can't wait to get those sim cards!!!
 
I just read the GPS section in the manual and it states that it uses "satallite signals and network assist data" then under Enhancing gps performance, it notes to stay in network coverage.

I'll have to try it and see what happens.
 
The sim cards arrived!
I didn't have time to try setting up the phones for direct talk but I did try the GPS on the i686 and......IT WORKS!

After inserting the sim card and turning on the phone, I found the gps tool, pressed the button and in a about a minute it located 4 satallites and gave my coordinates and alttitude.

This is a major plus for me. I follow a compass and map outdoors so I never cared for carrying a gps but I always felt it would great if I could just verify my location and alttitude. This phone is close to the size and weight of the etrex gps that I had for a few years and sold because of what I said above. But this thing condenses a walkie talkie, camera and GPS into one gadget. This is pretty cool!
 
Bo T said:
Were you out of tower range when you tested the GPS?
Click to expand...

No but I don't have an account so I'm off the network. The thing said it aquired 4 satallites. I'll be far outside of any cell network in 2 weeks and plan to use them.

I compared them last night against my vehicle mounted cb + hand held cb. In a urban area with lots of building the best range I could get from the CB's was approx 2,000 ft (as the crow flies) and reception was scratchy. The push to talk cell phones (off network) had a range of approx 2,700 ft and reception was crystal clear. 2,700 ft (1/2 mile) isn't anything to be excited about but it was a side x side comparison and because the buldings and topography I think these are as crappy conditions for two-way radios that exist.

I'm looking for an opportunity to use them some more.
 
Let us know your results. They sound promising so far. sounds like you made a good purchase.
 
Most, not all, Nextel units have an off-network walkie-talkie feature called Direct Talk. The network PTT solution is Direct Connect.

The phones don't need to be active to use Direct Talk, just have a SIM in them for the solution to work. It is digital unlicensed 900 MHz band. 10 channels and 15 codes per channel. Max users on a code/channel is ~20. You can even make a private call. Line of site range is capable of 6 miles, but 2 is what you will get in most terrains.

I have used them in the woods, cruise ships, travelling abroad, driving in separate vehicles, etc. Great solution that many companies and public safety agencies appreciated for many years.

http://www.nextel.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/guides/services/walkie_talkie/direct_talk_qsg.pdf
 
abo4ster said:
Most, not all, Nextel units have an off-network walkie-talkie feature called Direct Talk. The network PTT solution is Direct Connect.

The phones don't need to be active to use Direct Talk, just have a SIM in them for the solution to work. It is digital unlicensed 900 MHz band. 10 channels and 15 codes per channel. Max users on a code/channel is ~20. You can even make a private call. Line of site range is capable of 6 miles, but 2 is what you will get in most terrains.

I have used them in the woods, cruise ships, travelling abroad, driving in separate vehicles, etc. Great solution that many companies and public safety agencies appreciated for many years.

http://www.nextel.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/guides/services/walkie_talkie/direct_talk_qsg.pdf
Click to expand...

To add to the above, the GPS also works (off network) on my i686. I couldn't aquire any satallites with the i355's but i'll try again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top