Yahoo Message Number: 1563 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1563)
I'd like to share a new product idea for those who use a cell phone in the coach.
It's called cell socket. Its about $90.00 You put your cell phone into this holder, then
you can plug a regular telephone into it (including a cordless phone or an answering machine)
and use it anywhere in the coach. If you have the coach wired in several different places
for a regular phone, you can use your cell phone on any of those phones. I ordered one to
see what it was like, then ordered another.
The plus is that you can find a place in your coach where you get your best signal for
the cell phone, and then thats where you leave it.
When you get a call, it will ring the regular phone. If you make a call, you just dial the
number, then hit the # sign on the regular phone.
Here is the web site for the company: http://www.cellsocket.com/ (http://www.cellsocket.com/)
the cheapest I've seen them advertised is mail order through either
www.technoscout.com (99.95 but they usually give you a discount if you ask)
and www.heartlandamerica.com where they are 89.95.
I saw a similar device to this about 10 years ago and have been looking for something
like it since then that would work with the new smaller cell phones. I guess other
people have been looking too.
Jim Boldebook
Yahoo Message Number: 1568 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1568)
What a GREAT find! Thanks.
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Yahoo Message Number: 1572 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1572)
It sounded great, but when I went to their website it looks like currently it only works with several Nokia cellphones and also it said something about only working on analog cell phones....
Anyone find this isn't true? I'd love to have it, but I have a Qualcomm phone that works mostly in digital areas.
Thanks...Jan McNeill
Intrigue 2001 11320
Yahoo Message Number: 1576 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1576)
I saw on their site that my phone (Nokia 7160-Digital) was scheduled to be included as of March, 2002. I didn't bother to look at the other phones. I could not fine anything that said the phone had to be analog. Did I miss it?
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Yahoo Message Number: 1577 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1577)
Dick
I bought one today. Don't see anything about analog. The phone we are using in it is digital.
Ron Harp
Yahoo Message Number: 1578 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1578)
Dick, here's the quote from the FAQs that confused me about the digital vs. analog.
terminal connections?
You will not be able use the CellSocket with the above. The reason is because it will not work on a digital cellular connection.
Digital cellular connections use compression algorithms that will not allow modem or fax tones to pass through the network. It may work on an analog connection. However, in the United States it is common for cellular service providers to deny an analog call to be made if a digital connection is available. We have a lot of interest in this, and may provide this capability in a future model. >>
Perhaps they ONLY meant when using it with a modem?
Also, did you get the antenna they advertise that says it will make you receive a stronger signal? Do you hear (are are you heard) better than if you were on the cell?
Sounds like a great gizmo...I'm going to check to see if it works now with Qualcomm phones..or when they will.
Thanks for putting us on to this! Jan
Yahoo Message Number: 1580 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1580)
In regard to cell socket. I only purchased it for voice communiation.
I have tried numerous setups for wireless internet and between bad connections
and slow speed, I've pretty much given up on using the current state of cell phones for internet connections. I get a lot of email and just one large one
plugs up the system for 20 minutes. There are other options coming down the road in the near future for wireless internet connections. For now, I just like the idea of using a regular, comfortable phone with my cell phone
circuit. I also know there are a few places in the coach where the signal is usually stronger so thats where the cell socket will go, with a wire that goes back to all my phone jacks.
Yahoo Message Number: 1581 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1581)
I think what this means is that the modems used by fax machines, etc., are not digital. I would have to do a little reading to be sure. It is likely that the cell side of the CellSocket is digital but the home style phone side only accepts an analog signal. The technology of converting the analog to digital for sending through your cell phone would probably make the gizmo too pricey.
But that is just a guess on my part.
Anybody else have thoughts on this?
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Yahoo Message Number: 1582 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1582)
Do you think that the signal is better, worse or the same when using the CellSocket?
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Yahoo Message Number: 1583 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1583)
same signal.
Yahoo Message Number: 1584 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1584)
I can't remember the numbers right now, but there is a small amount of strength built into the Cell Socket and if you buy the "optional" anteanna it is increased to 5.? something which, I guess, is quite a bit stronger than a non boosted signal. We called ourselves and tested the unit and it worked great. The benefits we noticed were:
its much nicer to talk on a regular phone. the ring is throughout the house on all of our phones. there was no changing quality of reception as on the cell phone. we have long distance included in our monthly charges, so now can pick up any phone in the house for long distance, dial the number and hit the # button and dial long distance without additonal charges.
con:
it fits only my wife's phone and she forgets to place it in the receiver when she gets home, so all above is lost. :-()
We have a two line phone and the Cell Socket takes over either line 1 or line 2, depending on how you set it up, so our regular lines now both ring on line 2. I think???? the answer to this is to get a cheap handset phone and give the cell socket it's one line that will auto ring on line 1, then can leave the two line phones set as normal. . . . I think??? Will let you know in a few days.
Ron Harp
ronharp(at)usa.com