Am I nutters to only have Tracfone flip dispersed camping?

[Riverman]

Your plan sounds real simple except for one thing. When miles and miles from wifi, how do you use it?

 

[skyl4rk]

I wish I could say it is easy to set up that kind of a smartphone, but its not. It all has to be configured just right and then something updates and you have to configure it again. Osmand and Voice are the main problems. Your phone stops ringing when you get a call, so you have to find some obscure setting and reset it to what it was before.

We camped for a while without wifi, but then discovered we were driving into town a few times a week to get our email. The cost of gas was probably more than a data plan. We eventually got a unlimited 3G device, which was great until they shut it down.

While one can get by without spending money on data, it is a lot easier to have it. Of course then one becomes a screen time addict.

 

[RoamerRV428]

it really boils down to what do you personally need/require etc. to each their own on this one you can find just what you want out there in plans etc. and whatever phone you want. I own no phone, hubby has an iPhone XR and I might use his like 3 times a year to call my mom while out on the road kinda thing. I hate cell phones but they serve a purpose when ya need one real bad If I am alone, I would have a smartphone to do it all and the smallest plan to do a few things with as a just in case. Just what I think would suit me.

 

[chucktate]

If your flip phone uses CDMA only, you may run into issues finding a tower that handles that. Many are ditching that technology and only going with LTE. If it works and you are happy, than use it until it goes away. Then figure out what you want to do. I don't think there is any wrong answer

 

[michaelwnoakes]

I've never had a smart phone.  
Rarely use my flip phone.

As I begin to disperse camp here on the Tennessee Valley Authority, should I to buy a smartphone.  Or so what?  

Any low tech nomads out there?

Between solar and wifi you guys seem so cutting edge!

I have been all over the country with a trak phone and rarely have signal troubles. You can get a Verizon hotspot at best buy that is pay as you need just like your phone for wifi.