[eherlihy]

What phone do you use?
Samsung Galaxy S9 running Android
Does it include navigation applications? - which ones?
It did not include them. I installed the following: MX Mariner, Aqua Map Marine, MX Tides, Tides, Dockwa, US Coast Guard, RadarX. I also have a Windows 11 PC running Polar Navy's PolarView NS, which I bring aboard if we are running in unfamiliar waters for route planning. For example, this year I will be heading up to Casco Bay Maine, and will have the latest available Raster and Vector charts for that area loaded in PolarView NS, and MX Mariner, and Aqua Map.
Which carrier do you use? How well and how far from shore does it work for calling?
T-Mobile (over 55 plan @$30/month per line) It works fine for the entire eastern US, and I have unlimited TXT and Data internationally.
Do you use a tablet? Is it mounted?
Occasionally use a tablet, but I find that the phone is most useful. Tablet is a Samsung Galaxy Tab A without cell coverage. It does connect to BlueTooth and WiFi devices, such as my BM3 battery monitor, Vesper XB-8000, and my Raymarine MFD.
Does/Can your.... New England based phone work in the Caribbean?
Yes - When we travel to the Carib. or Europe, we buy an international data plan for my wife's phone (usually $40/month) from T-mobile.
If not, do you get a local phone and plan?
N/A
If you have and SSB... do you make long distance calls using the SSB?
N/A

 

[eherlihy]

I but the top of the line phone 2-3 years after they were released. By this time everyone is unloading overstock at a fraction of the original cost.

Which reminds me of why I use an older Samsung phone.

1. I refuse to pay the Apple Tax
2. They are easily "clone-able" if you replace them. Samsung SmartSwitch will migrate all your apps and data to another phone seamlessly.
3. The one that I have supports sd (Secure Digital - I had to look that up) memory cards. I load music from my laptop onto an sdHC card, install it in my phone and voilla!

I was painting the bottom of my boat a couple of years ago. I tripped and fell right on my phone. I cracked the screen, although it still worked) and the back into a million pieces. I ordered a replacement S9 (refurbished) for $150 from Amazon. After it arrived (next day) I migrated everything from the original phone to the re-furb, and EVERYTHING worked as it should! I believe that I had to log into my GEC (Aqua Maps) account, and probably my gMail account, but that was it.

 

[eherlihy]

Oh, I forgot to add to the above;
One month after getting the refurb phone, it fell out of my pocket while I was holding the dinghy along the dinghy dock (so that the Admiral could climb aboard). I had JUST bought the damn thing!

I took off my PFD, and I jumped into the water at the dock which was about 5 feet deep. I put my head underwater and I could still see the clock on the screen as it rested on the bottom. I reached down and grabbed it. Then I realized that I still had my wallet in my pocket, and keys and FOB for the land vehicle attached to my shorts.

I looked at the phone to see that it had detected moisture in the charging port (duh!) but it was otherwise operative. I let the phone dry out, then gave the port a squirt of WD40. I am still using that phone.

 

[eherlihy]

Anyone following this thread this far may also be interested in the following Panbo article;

Mobile navigation app roundup

Panbo's roundup of mobile boat navigation apps compares the features and capabilities of 12 marine navigation apps

panbo.com