cell service and coverage

[Joel S]

what do you guys do when your out and about on a ride or something and need to communicate. I'm with att and went to the black hills a few weeks ago, had crap service from like 90 by the border all the way for the rest of the trip. Then sunday, all day i had crap service, Things happened, crashes, my bike key system was about to get hit with a rock (thats why my lights were on the last 3rd of the day) everytime i looked at my phone i had nothing.
is this something you guys have addressed or thought about, or just stick together seems to work too ??

Thanks much for the time,
Joel

[Vander]

I've been looking into a CB radio option for this very reason.  From what I can tell, up to 20 miles of range (with the radio tuned by a pro and a good antenna mounted) with good communications to fellow riders (with CBs) and an added ability to get road reports from truckers.  The radio that I am looking at includes weather bands too.

And how cool would an Italian bike look with a CB antenna mounted on it?   

[Stinger]

Sprint works, but it wasn't that long ago when nothing worked. You do what you got to do, the one time I needed services I had to ride a few miles down the road.

Otherwise a farm house would do.

[Ray916MN]

Sprint has the best coverage in the sticks as far as I can tell. AT&T seems to have the worst.

Out on rides in the sticks, I've lent my phone to AT&T users quite a few times. Sprint's coverage isn't perfect, but it seems to be noticeably better than any other carrier's.

FWIW.

[Furiousgeorge]

My brother and I have Garmin Rino 520's. GPS with two way radio's. FRS and GMRS up to 14 mile range. Plus they have position locating feature. You can see anyone else with a rino unless they hide themselves. It's come in very handy on the trail when someone takes a wrong turn, stuck etc. Not perfect in every situation but I find them very handy for what I do. We've used ours in the black hills, moab, all over WI and MN. Waterproof, durable, I love em. The position reporting feature works with any model in the Rino line. Small screen but all hand held designs are small.

George

[wolfkingen]

Verizon also seems to work pretty well in SD.  I've often considered picking up a cheap prepaid phone in areas without AT&T coverage. 

[Joel S]

thanks for the feedback and information.