Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: motcid!king@uunet.uu.net (Steven King) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cellular Telephones on a Bicycle Message-ID: Date: 9 Mar 91 08:02:09 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Mr. News) Organization: Motorola Inc. - Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL Lines: 38 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 188, Message 8 of 10 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: hub.eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu In article KLUB@maristb.bitnet (Richard Budd) writes: > 1) The telephones would only be needed for the duration of the bicycle > trip and due to budgetary constraints, we would prefer to either rent > them or accept a donation in exchange for promotion. To whom should > we speak about renting cellular telephones for a ten day period (Radio > Shack, the cellular phone companies...)? I'd go to the cellular phone companies. It's my guess that they'd fall all over each other for the opportunity to brag, "Communications provided by XYZ Cellphone Company", especially if the event gathers a good deal of publicity. You can also check the yellow pages for "communications", "pagers", etc. to find companies that do business renting phones. This probably isn't a low-cost solution, though. Remember, unless you can get the cellphone operating company to donate airtime and setup fees, merely using cellphones as intensely as I imagine you will be can add up to some serious money very quickly! > 2) Two to three members of the support crew ride bicycles. What would > be the set-up required to install a cellular telephone on a bicycle? My choice would be to get portable phones. They're completely self-contained including battery and antenna. The setup needed would be a small carrying pouch on the bike so the rider doesn't have to hand-carry the fool thing. Some sort of mounting device might also be in order to allow one-handed dialing. Most portables aren't very convenient to hold and dial with the same hand. Also, contact the local cellphone companies and make sure you've got service all the way along the route! It would be bad to stake your communications on cellphones only to find that some rural areas (if you're riding through them) have little or no coverage. All the standard disclaimers apply. Steven King, Motorola Cellular (...uunet!motcid!king)