Re: Any recomendations for Renters Insurance and Cell Phone ser

From: Edward W. Scott (shred@netcom.com-DeleteThis)
Date: Wed Jun 04 1997 - 10:30:43 PDT


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Subject: Re: Any recomendations for Renters Insurance and Cell Phone ser
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 97 10:30:43 -0700
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From: "Edward W. Scott" <shred@netcom.com-DeleteThis>
To: "Wind Talk" <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>
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>Any recommendations for the best cell phone deal these days? Has
>anybody tried PCS?

Yep. If coverage area is a concern, go cellular. Cheap digital cell and
PCS phones are both about $99. Cell 1 has a very cheap plan
($19.99/mo.), but requires a 1 year committment. Coverage area is
excellent. You pay more (.75/min?) for peak than off peak (.40/min?).
Pac Bell's PCS is also $19.99/mo., but there's no distinction between
peak and off-peak calling rates, and there's no minimum committment. For
$49.99/mo. you get 300 minutes of airtime, again, no distinction. PCS is
more secure - it's encrypted, digital cellular is not, but I think it
does some sort of frequency hopping (enginerds?).

Main downside of PCS is the limited coverage area and short range. The
signal strength meter drops off fast when I drive out of a coverage area.
 The whole unincorporated coast is not covered. As soon as you pass the
Santa Cruz city limits on 1 going north, it's out of range. Doesn't work
at Davenport, Scott's, Waddell. My analog cell phone did (barely).
Don't know yet about Sherman and San Luis.

-Ed



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