Yellowstone may have new towers for wireless on horizon

Seattle Times ^ | May 3, 2006 | Rita Beamish

[bellevuesbest]

Yellowstone National Park officials, criticized for marring the landscape near the Old Faithful geyser with a cellular-phone tower, are preparing a plan to cover any expansion of wireless towers, antennas and TV and radio services in the park.

[bellevuesbest]

Well, we paved roads there

[Don W]

There are some things that are beyond selfish. Constant, intrusive cellphone use is one.

I have no problem with cells being available absolutely everywhere on earth. I DO have a bit of an issue with inconsiderate twits using what should be an "emergency only" availability of service (parks, theatres, concerts, etc) to interrupt the peace and tranquility, or the raw power, of being out in the great outdoors or at an event which only requests that there be a modicum of propriety and consideration for others.

Folks travel from around the world to see the wonders of our continent. Don't we owe them and ourselves a bit of a respite from the "outside world" while savouring the beauty, majesty and raw power of (eg) Yellowstone?

[djf]

Freakin cell phones these days will make your toast for you in the morning, schedule your dentist appointments, and give you an enema if needed.

But they are basically worthless as a communication device. A crappy landline outperforms just about every cell phone I've ever used.

[Lurker]

I sure hope they put them on the horizon because it would really stink if they were in the middle of the park cluttering up the view.

L

[Caipirabob]

But they are basically worthless as a communication device. A crappy landline outperforms just about every cell phone I've ever used.

Perhaps, but they are the future. While the USA and some other countries have the resources to build a stable hardwaired network, most countries to not. This is why such technology has skyrocketed and also why the USA is behind in many areas. The need and demand is not as urgent as it is in other countries because we do have a viable hardwired network.

As costs for maintaining such increase, look for it's use to decrease. Wireless is the future, and that's literally "the bottom line".

[wita]

...and we kicked all the grizzlies out.

[wita]

...and you shouldn't feed the ground squirrels!

[wita]

...and they wasted enough wood to build log homes for practically everyone in America. Just let it rot after the 88 fire. At least I think it was 88.

[wita]

...but worst of all IMHO they have attempted to remove the public in the winter by getting rid of the dreaded snowmobile.

Wonder how the college recruitment program is going, or are they like many other summertime hirees, going to foreign help.

[Larry Lucido]

But they are basically worthless as a communication device. A crappy landline outperforms just about every cell phone I've ever used.

You sure it's not just where you live? In populated areas more and more folks are using cells rather than land lines in the home. Sometimes I wonder why I have a land line anymore at home, except for faxing work-related stuff. The office is a different matter, of course.

[Larry Lucido]

Mount the cells on the grizzlies. They carry all those radio ID tags anyway.

[Renderofveils]

Incoming text message...

"'Eyyyy Boo boo!"

[bondjamesbond]

They are more technically savvy than your average bear...

[sportutegrl]

Can you hear me now?

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"Yellowstone belongs to the American people, who ought to have some say before it is transformed into a giant cybercafe," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER.

Yellowstone belongs to the US government.

Transforming it into a giant cybercafe sounds like a neat idea.

[from occupied ga]

Yellowstone belongs to the US government.

A point lost on most people.

[trebb]

I never had a cell phone until after katrina. In the aftermath, I started to become what I detest, by having the phone with me 24/7 and talking in all sorts of places. I finally discovered that I can leave it at home when we go out to dinner and other places and I'm not any worse off than when all I had was a land line. If folks can't reach me while I'm at home, they can leave a message, just like in the "old days".

[randita]

Sounds great. Enjoying the wonders of God's creation beside a bunch of people yammering on their phones. How relaxing.

[SuziQ]

Most folks won't see the towers. They can disguise them as Lodgepole Pine trees, and no one would be any the wiser.

After the incident last year in which a young boy was swept downriver, and there was no way to contact emergency help, I think it's a great idea to increase the coverage in the park.

To combat the ringing cell phones, and yammering customers, I think the cell companies ought to offer free text messaging. We got a flyer last week from Verizon touting their Unlimited Text Messaging option for $10 a month! I don't think so! They could offer it for free and wouldn't lose a dime in revenue!

When we were in Japan for a visit last year, it was interesting to see that there was NO chattering on cell phones in the Metro; it is just NOT done. But then, all the cell companies offer free text messaging among their companies' customers. So my friend was able to keep in touch with her daughter by sending her text messages. The phone just chirps when there's a message coming in.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Being a bit elitist?

Most of the popular areas in Yellowstone are so filled with people that it's like being anywhere else where there's a lot of people - children running, talk, talk, talk, talk, and crowds.

What difference does a cell phone make?

And if you're in the outback, who's to be bothered?

And if you want the tranquility you are talking about, you have to be in the outback. Yellowstone is too heavily used for that peace and quiet you seem to be searching for at all the main sites.