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cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 7:06 pm
by geofish
I think it hit me last week while I was trying to download radar app images to see when the t-storms were gonna get me. T-mobile cellphone coverage on the waters off of St Marks is pretty awful! Which cellphone company does best out on the flats & bay? I was thinking Verizon, but now I see that maybe only AT& T is going to have that new Galaxy 8 "Active" waterproof version. Which carrier do y'all use out there?

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 7:17 pm
by Salty Gator
I get decent coverage with at&t in the refuge and st mark flats. My buddy w Verizon looses coverage when we go through the gate. Other than that they are the same. I can get coverage further offshore also.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 7:18 pm
by geofish
cool, thanks! Very helpful

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 7:32 pm
by fishdux
My verizon phone (Iphone 6+) will pick up just about anywhere out of St Marks. I was 15 miles out the other day and it rang. It scared the crap out of me. :D

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 8:12 pm
by geofish
Fish calling on line 2 . . .

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 23rd, 2017, 10:16 pm
by doomtrpr_z71
My coverage with Verizon sucks inside the refuge, only 1x no data, but after getting on the water past the lighthouse I have great service, 4g and all.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 7:03 am
by bbb
I've used my Verizon phone all around the flats, East and West with no problems. I may lose coverage like others are saying going through the refuge but pick it up again when near/on the water.

I was sending text messages, receiving calls and listening to Pandora 9 miles off Mexico Beach.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 8:37 am
by Steve Stinson
I have four land surveying crews that I provide phones to. They are often working in remote locations and we've found Verizon to be the most reliable. Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 8:53 am
by guthooked
I have verizon and iphone 6 plus and my coverage is very good from shell point all the way over to the mouth of the Aucilla. Terrible coverage at Shell Island Fish Camp though.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 9:12 am
by FishWithChris
I have AT&T and the new Samsung Galaxy S8 Active that you're mentioning... I just got the phone so I haven't been ale to test it out on the water, but had the S7 Edge before that. The S8 Active is currently restricted to AT&T, but may become more widely available in the coming month or two if you can wait that long.

Get a phone that's water resistant and/or IP67 or IP68 rated. Both Verizon and AT&T do well, but I think Verizon may have the edge a bit over coverage areas in our big bend.

I suggest reaching out to George Goodson (bigphishy) or Jimmy Milton (milto something...) - they work for Verizon and can talk to you a bit further on the coverage and currently available phones.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 9:57 am
by Salty Gator
The 3 people I usually fish with have verizon and I have at&t. There are times I have service and they have none. There has never been a time when they had service and I didn't. Especially offshore and the refuge/east flats.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 2:52 pm
by Apalachee Inshore
I have verizon and fish from Keaton to Panacea and have service probably 90% of the time, but the few signal issues I do have are usually around St marks. I rarely make it past the 3 mile line either.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 24th, 2017, 7:37 pm
by onefishtwofish
I have Verizon. Milto sold me my phone! I have the water resistant iPhone 7. Like said before, in the St Marks refuge and on Mandalay Road, not so good. I can text, just not use internet and phone is spotty. Everywhere else on the flats is fine, from Appalachicola Bay to Aucilla.

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: August 25th, 2017, 9:49 am
by geofish
Very helpful!!! Thanks to all

Re: cell phone coverage on the water

Posted: September 11th, 2017, 3:45 pm
by Salty Gator
I got this text from at&t a few days ago. My wife didn't get anything like this from Verizon. Pretty strong in addition to much better coverage on the water

AT&T Free Msg: Hurricane Irma Efforts - As Hurricane Irma continues to make its way toward Florida we'd like to help out during this difficult time. You won't be charged for any talk, text, and data overages from 9/8-9/17. Go to att.com/hurricaneirma for more info.