Ideal mobile phone for non tech head sailors!

aquaholic

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Have just recently purchased a Samsung GT-B2710 and must say am very pleased with it.
Have had smart phones, touch screen and all the rest and realised I needed a good solid phone that made calls and was up to a bit of a bashing, did some research and came up with this one.
http://www.mobilegazette.com/samsung-xcover-271-b2710-10x09x20.htm

Once you realise that its not an i-phone or anything like it you will appreciate the benefits it does have are ideal for boaters and outdoor enthusiasts alike

Having used it I think the best bits are:
1, Waterproof to 1 mt
2, Shockproof/Dustproof
3, A whopping 7hrs talk time and 20 days standby on the same battery!
4, Bright LED torch for when you get back to the boat in the dark
5, In 3 clicks it will give you your current GPS position in Lat/Long without using Google maps or having a data connection (although it is installed)
6, Very good loud speaker for hands free operation or playing your music

It also feels very tactile and has a very easy menu system, I dont have shares in the company or own a mobile phone shop, just spent a long time looking for a suitable phone and thought I would share my experience with this phone.
Play.com have this for £99 sim free or it is free on contract with o2 and orange :)
 
I've got its predecessor, the B2100, which has survived many a total dunking, dropping and general abuse. If I ever succeed in destroying it I'd consider the B2710.

A slight digression. Where is the ' on the B2100? It is a bu&&er having to txt its instead of it's, and similar conractions.
 
Does anyone know if the GPS facility will give position as OS grid reference (for when on dry land)?
 
Don't call us...we'll call you

There can be few more useless things in this world than a switched-off mobile phone. :)

That depends whether you want to communicate with the rest of the world - or have it bothering you.

I remember when mobiles first started to find their way onto boats...Solent Coastguard were very scathing when they got a distress call via the "Voodoo phone" as they referred to it.
 
That depends whether you want to communicate with the rest of the world - or have it bothering you.

I remember when mobiles first started to find their way onto boats...Solent Coastguard were very scathing when they got a distress call via the "Voodoo phone" as they referred to it.


Doesn't alter what I said, switched off it's no good for anything.

You will find that once you move away from UK the opposite is the case. Use of the VHF for general purposes is unusual and actively discouraged in some countries. The only people heard on VHF in Greece are Brits and ships being called by port control. In general marinas don't even listen to VHF in many Med countries but they always answer the phone.
 
But the point surely is-if you feel the need to carry a moby when on your boat,carry one that will withstand the enviroment-The older B2100 is really robust and practical.It will live happily in the wet pocket of a BA.It's even got an eye for a lanyard !The trick with the pint glass is for real,done it loads of times.I know of about 6 local boaty/builder types who use them.If the new one is as good,it'll be great.
Cheers
 
Bringing back this thread from 2010

I am considering buying this phone, the only additional capability I woulod like to have is to use it as a modem for the occasional email retrieving and quick web site update.

I looked and looked on the internet and there are contrasting reports, some say "yes it can be used as a modem", others say "no it's impossible", but most people refer to the manual and/or instructions which are unclear.

Has the OP or anyone else managed to actually use this phone as a modem for the pc ?

thanks
 
Good phone which lasted well. 2 problems, it doesn't float as I found out. The charging connection cover eventually proves very difficult to close, probably because the seal becomes tired.

Yoda
 
I am sure there is a compass hidden in there too..

I have had one for afew years now no major issues... Basic but works if I was buying now I would move with the times and would be tempted by one of these:
decathlon-quechua-android-phone.jpg


Mixed reviews but that might be like a landrover defender... They have there known faults but is it unreliable because its badly made or because of what people expect out of it...

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/quechuaphone-50-id_8294081.html
http://www.scotoutdoors.com/outdoor-gear-reviews-news/quechua-smartphone
 
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