Did I see people useing cell phones on the playa last year?

[Zman]

I think I saw cell phones used last year. I know in years past they didn't work. I have always rented a satellite phone to check in with the family every few days. Will my cell work this year? I have AT&T.

[Jackass]

I wouldn't count on it

[bluemoon541]

i saw some chick using one last year...she was standing by the "entrance" to silicon village near HOTD when i saw her....

[AntiM]

MyLarry's Verizon worked the first two days. His sister was going in for emergency surgery, which is when they discovered her ovarian cancer. Otherwise he'd not be on the phone there. Later in the week he couldn't get a signal.

[TomServo]

Nextel direct connect works, over by the frog pond.

[justfred]

I saw a guy tapping on an iPhone near center camp, I asked him amusedly what he was doing. Filing his unemployment claim. I thought that was awesome.

[TomServo]

I saw a guy tapping on an iPhone near center camp, I asked him amusedly what he was doing. Filing his unemployment claim. I thought that was awesome.

Wow! Tis the season to lose a job! I don't feel so bad!

[falk]

I saw a guy tapping on an iPhone near center camp, I asked him amusedly what he was doing. Filing his unemployment claim. I thought that was awesome.

He was probably on the WiFi. That works sometime.

There was an amateur-run cell tower last year, I think. You had to go to them to register your phone, but then you were good. I don't know if it was for in-city calls only, or if you could actually call outside.

[alt12]

I think I saw cell phones used last year. I know in years past they didn't work. I have always rented a satellite phone to check in with the family every few days. Will my cell work this year? I have AT&T.

there was access last year because a local landowner finally allowed a cell tower to be placed on his property.... reception was intermittent because it is obviously not designed to handle 50,000 phone calls.... as far as I know its a permanent tower so will likely be there again.... I had at&t and managed to get a text message or two out to request deliveries of items that we forgot to bring....

[Playa Foot]

Last year a new cell tower was put up near Empire. It can handle the normal traffic for the Empire-Gerlach metroplex but is overwhelmed by the metroplis of Black Rock City. It is there but do not plan on using it.

I heard that a woman drove up to the gate last year talking on her cell phome, she gave the gate person the 'just a second' finger and continued on the phone. Three days later they let her out of 'D' Lot.

I was on the playa a few months ago and got a call from my boss, a week later I quit the job.

[Thecatman]

I was on the playa a few months ago and got a call from my boss, a week later I quit the job.

The first week of June I was at work at a guy from work said he was on the playa and called me to make sure I was commimg up the following weekend. While in Gerlach I called my wife twice...no problems

[oneeyeddick]

Didn't they have a booster truck over at frogponds during the event last year?

I was on Playa 2 weeks ago and had zero reception, yet I made several calls from my RV during the event last year(including calling in my unemployment, twice).

[crstophr]

We had reception on my AT&T iphone Saturday and Sunday before the burn. It turned out to be a godsend because our theme camp's generator caught fire on Saturday and we had to work out the details of the warranty and return from the playa.

Reception was all but gone by Monday as the local tower became overwhelmed.

[Rusted Iron]

I saw someone near center camp making a sucessful call. With mixed feelings, I called home and found out that the impending bad thing never happen. I thanked my house-sitter and shut the phone off for the rest of the week.

(That was with AT&T and a non-iphone, incase that makes a difference.)

[Dr Dilemma]

A member of our camp last year managed to get out a few "no, I love you more" text messages out to his boyfriend back home, but never had enough signal from the Gerlach / Empire tower to make a call. I know there are folks that have a situation like AntiM who are waiting to hear important family news, but I do have mixed feelings about having phone signal. The whole reason I first came to BM in 2002 was because I was assured there was no way work could get in touch with me.

[bm_cricket]

I saw someone near center camp making a sucessful call. With mixed feelings, I called home and found out that the impending bad thing never happen. I thanked my house-sitter and shut the phone off for the rest of the week.

(That was with AT&T and a non-iphone, incase that makes a difference.)

Until a few weeks ago you and I were the only non-iPhone users left.. But I found a working iPhone in a dumpster so now it's only you.. You are the only one left....

[Teo del Fuego]

my standard AT&T cell phone has worked sporadically the last two years on the Playa. I only used it in the mornings though.

[LostinReno]

I saw someone near center camp making a sucessful call. With mixed feelings, I called home and found out that the impending bad thing never happen. I thanked my house-sitter and shut the phone off for the rest of the week.

(That was with AT&T and a non-iphone, incase that makes a difference.)

Until a few weeks ago you and I were the only non-iPhone users left.. But I found a working iPhone in a dumpster so now it's only you.. You are the only one left....

My iPhone didn't work on the first Monday but campmates Nokia did (both AT&T) I'm not sure why we tried? I guess just to see if we could? Anyhoo, after that my phone was thrown in a drawer in our camper for the rest of the week. I vaguely recall turning it back on, on our way out and it had a TON of the same "101" texts from somewhere on the playa???

[Boijoy]

from what I understand, Burning Phone Camp will be at the 4:30 plaza again this year. They have a small cell tower & you can make calls out.
Last year it went down a few times in the wind & when a big camper parked behind them. Expect a line.

[dr.placebo]

My story is that I can't possibly be reached on the playa. This may be related to my leaving my phone turned off.

[Token]

Phones work fine with a 5W amplifier and good antenna.

[oneeyeddick]

Phones also work great for lighting up a Jots run at 3:50 in the morning.

[Fire_Moose]

so do head lamps....

[Sham]

There are lots of phones on the playa, you just have to keep an eye out for them!

[Sail Man]

My cell phone stays locked up in my truck for an 8 day timeout. It is a glorious time.

[galaxybeing]

I took my iPhone last year (to test an app) and had voice and data service when I got there, but as the city filled up it vanished. Occasionally at odd times I would get bars and be able to make calls, but not when I needed to. We lost our tarp and went over to the Burning Phone camp and made a call to get another delivered. They had two phones connected to a high gain antenna. Worked great. Was able to get wifi at center camp early in the week, but by the middle it was overloaded. I kept looking around expecting to see people using wifi, but couldn't really see anyone using it. I found a hot spot over by the roller disco, so I would stop there and check email, but soon that dried up too. I think people must start streaming music or something!

[pbmaniac2000]

From what I understand from last year there is actually a cell tower out by frog pond. The thing is that it can only handle 20-30 calls at a time. Those 20-30 lines are split up by a couple of service provides. (verizon, and att if i remember correctly.) During pre-week people were able to make calls out without too much trouble. Once the city started filling in though it was nearly impossible to get a call out.

A girl in our camp some how managed to get a call out almost once a day. She didn't quite "get" burning man.

[shroom]

I don't plan on using my cell phone unless my camera dies. My cell phone has a pretty good camera on it.