Mobile phone

[davetucker]

Hi, looking at buying a cheap mobile phone for walking in Scotland, not a smart phone, but a basic one where the battery lasts for days rather than hours, is there a service provider that has better coverage then others, ie orange, Vodafone...etc

Regards
Dave

[Challum]

Vodafone generally has best coverage in hill walking areas. That's my experience, others may disagree (but they would be wrong!!!)

[davetucker]

Excellent, 1 Vodafone phone now reserved at Argos £6.99 bargain ! Battery will outlast the iPhone, for sure, many thanks,
Dave

[mickC]

I would be interested in what others think of mobile coverage in West Scotland and Cairngorms. I'm with O2, but don't usually use the phone till I come off the hill and get back to the van. However, I often can't get a reception.
I walked the WHW several years ago and my pal who was on Orange got good reception for most of the way, while my O2 was hopeless [saved me money though, using his ] This was more than 10 years ago.
I have an old Nokia 3100 on which the battery lasts for months, but needs a new Sim, Don't know which PAYG to get for best coverage.

[rockhopper]

I would be interested in what others think of mobile coverage in West Scotland and Cairngorms. I'm with O2, but don't usually use the phone till I come off the hill and get back to the van. However, I often can't get a reception.
I walked the WHW several years ago and my pal who was on Orange got good reception for most of the way, while my O2 was hopeless [saved me money though, using his ] This was more than 10 years ago.
I have an old Nokia 3100 on which the battery lasts for months, but needs a new Sim, Don't know which PAYG to get for best coverage.

I'm also on O2 for normal phone but I do also carry a basic pay&go which is on vodafone when out on the hills. They're usually switched off though when I'm walking - on the few occasions I've tried switching them on to make a call or text, I often find there's no signal anyway. Moving to the highest point sometimes helps but not in remote areas. I generally leave details and a map of my planned route with my wife and arrange a time when I know I should be able to call in - on overnighters though that can mean no contact for over a day - getting any reception in between is a bonus - cheers

[RyanfaeScotland]

Sometimes sending a text is the best option since many phones (not all mind you) will continue trying to resend your text when you get signal, so if you are out wandering you can send a text and even if it fails just slip the phone back in your pocket and check it every now and then to see if it has sent.

I'm also O2 btw and reception tends to be pretty poor out in the hills.

[rockhopper]

Sometimes sending a text is the best option since many phones (not all mind you) will continue trying to resend your text when you get signal, so if you are out wandering you can send a text and even if it fails just slip the phone back in your pocket and check it every now and then to see if it has sent.

sounds a good idea as I tend to switch it on, try to see if there's a signal then just switch it off..............now all I need to do is learn more about this new fangled texting thing - cheers

[tenohfive]

Worth mentioning the 999 text message service since we're on the subject:
http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/registering_your_mobile_phone.php

2 minute job to register ahead of time - if you don't register, it won't work. (Registering doesn't need personal details etc.)