Does anyone remember what we did before cell phones? I vaguely remember taking a dime with me any time I traveled and using a gigantic wire bound book of maps whenever I drove. Today’s phones have changed our lives in ways we have not even begun to understand. Timely access to information and the ability to communicate with others from anywhere are simply gamechangers.
But, as powerful as those little black slabs are, they have their limitations. They’ll help you in an emergency on land, but when it comes to the water, they’re just not enough. Why? Because the transmit power of a cell phone is between .6 and 3 watts. That’s enough to get to a cell tower 1.5 miles away on land, or up to 5ish miles on water. The signals travel further on water than on land because there’s nothing to block them. Marine radios, on the other hand, have a broadcast power of up to 25 watts. That’s why you get about 60 miles of range from them on a sunny day. Having that extra range could be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
You need a marine GPS, too
You would think that a GPS receiver is a GPS receiver is a GPS receiver. So, you’d be tempted to skip buying a marine GPS because you think you can use the one on your phone. Again, you need to rethink that. Phone GPS apps are designed around the idea of roads, not waves. More importantly, the GPS antennas in phones are pretty small. Marine GPS systems are designed to work when you really need them. When there’s no visibility you really need to know not only where you are but where you are going.
Having a full complement of marine instruments isn’t just an option. It’s mandatory. Some stuff is required by law, while other things are just good common sense. When you’re out several miles, you need to know you can depend on yourself.
Cell phone signal boosters: your ace in the hole
Now, let me shift gears a little bit. Yes, you do need all those marine instruments. But, you can also do something to improve the way your phone works. You can get better cell service on the water by adding a cell phone signal booster. Marine cell boosters work just like land-based ones. They use large antennas to pull in even the weakest signal, then amplify it and blast it inside for you to use. In this way, you can often get signals all the way out to ten miles. That can help you in an emergency too. That’s why cell phone signal boosters are a critical part of your boat’s electronics.
There’s only one place to get it all
What if I told you that you could get all the marine parts, plus a cell booster and everything else to help you live your best digital life… all in one place! Shop at SolidSignal.com for everything you need. You’ll find all the parts and accessories for the marine life you really want. But there’s just a bit more to this story. If you need help, we’re here! Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. We’ll connect you with a real technician who understands the marine world. We believe in old-fashioned customer service and we can’t wait to show you how well you can be treated!
