[TCARC-NTx] no more cell phone

[Gerald Buxton]

Hey David,

Welcome back to the simpler life.  At least, that is my take on the cell phone
thing.  Shura and I have always relied on the ham radio for keeping in touch
during the commute and during errands, and while I'm not always on the air it
is a hassle free way to keep in touch with the club and other hams too.  I've
always mused at the way the cell companies hook you, then wonder if anybody
realizes that $360 to $720 a year is an awful lot to pay for the ability to be
hassled in the middle of the store or otherwise take care of things that can
wait 20 minutes until you get home to your telephone.  $720 can buy a nice new
radio or an excellent used one.

Anyway, I'm not insinuating that cell users are wrong in what they do, I'm
just putting up my two cents about whether it is worth the hassle... as you
have demonstrated in your experience below!  On the other hand, the complete
reliance on this all-too convenient technology by our society just elevates
the usefulness of ham radio, come the next public communications failure!

73,
Jerry

On Sat, 15 Jun 2002 13:26:10 -0700 (PDT), david johnson wrote:

>Hi club:
>
>I have cancelled my 817-291-5816 cell phone.  I was
>using AT&T.  They told me it would take 15 minutes,
>made me wait over two hours in a store to try to
>upgrade to a new phone, then told me I was being
>impatient when I asked how much longer it would be.  I
>told them bye, and canceled my account.
>
>If I ever get another cell phone, I'll let you know
>the number.  However, for now, I'm not willing to
>endure anymore of the "can you hear me now" hassles,
>and then pay a premium for it, too.  In more than 7
>years as a cell phone user, I have never found that it
>was convenient nor reduced my stress levels in any way
>at all.  Not only that, rumor has it they cause brain
>tumors.
>
>So, I'm putting down that money vortex of a
>convenience, and picking up my ham radio a little more
>often....educational, hassle free, community service,
>no charge...that's more like it.
>
>David
>
>
>
>
>
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