Second mobile phone for farm

patsy_mccabe · 01-12-2016 10:30PM #1

Thought I'd ask this here as must be a common problem on farms. I just got a new smart phone but I want to keep my old builders phone for the farm.
Problem is I want to have the same mobile number for both. Just turn off the smart phone and turn on the tough one when heading out. From what I gather the only way to do this is just divert from the smart phone. So 2 different numbers and simm cards. Downside is I get charged for every call divert. Is there any other way?

restive · 01-12-2016 10:36PM

The phone company's dislike duplicate Sims. But I'd imagine there are places you can get one done.

J.O. Farmer · 01-12-2016 10:52PM

restive wrote: »

The phone company's dislike duplicate Sims. But I'd imagine there are places you can get one done.

The problem I can see is if you forget to turn off the smart phone though in that case would the smartphone ring and the builders phone not.
The first alternative which would be a pain in the hole would be to keep switching the sim.

The second alternative is something like the otterbox cover. I know some people swear by them although none are farmers.
https://www.otterbox.ie/

farisfat · 01-12-2016 10:58PM

I have the same smart phone ón the farm and building site for the last 6 years.
They can take alot of abuse

listermint · 01-12-2016 11:02PM

Get appropriate box like otterbox second phone and sim will be far too much hassle and difficult to achieve

Genghis Cant · 01-12-2016 11:12PM

Another vote for a good case here. They're robust enough cased up.

The only slight reservation I have is the smartphone doesn't cope well with wet hands or the like. If you'd an accident and had blood or muck on your hands you could struggle to get any good of the phone. But I suppose it's a worse case scenario.

Lady Haywire · 01-12-2016 11:31PM

Would this be any help?

http://www.onoffapp.com/

Either that or use a divert on a normal phone?

tanko · 01-12-2016 11:37PM

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Another vote for a good case here. They're robust enough cased up.

The only slight reservation I have is the smartphone doesn't cope well with wet hands or the like. If you'd an accident and had blood or muck on your hands you could struggle to get any good of the phone. But I suppose it's a worse case scenario.

I think that this scenario actually happened. Wasn't there a piece on countryfile or Ear to the ground a few years ago about a man who had a serious farm accident involving a loader bucket falling on his legs.
His hands and the phone screen were covered in blood and he couldn't use the phone to call for help. Luckily someone heard him.
I think he had to get at least one leg amputated and got a special hoist made up to lift him into the tractor cab from his wheelchair. The clutch and brakes were modified so that he could drive the tractor. He farmed away after. It was some story.

drunkmonkey · 01-12-2016 11:41PM

Lifeproof would be another brand to look at for cases, You can't have 1 number active on 2 phones at the same time. You'd have to swap sims the whole time which puts you in a way bigger risk of damaging the sim tray which is not covered under warranty and pretty much makes your phone useless.
Good case, or waterproof pocket on your jacket.
If it's your first smart phone get your head around backing it up automatically to google or apple depending on what smart phone you have. It is going to die someday so make sure it's backing itself automatically to the cloud every day.

patsy_mccabe · 01-12-2016 11:57PM

I got a Samsung Xcover 3 so it should be robust enough. It's just too big and awkward. I know I won't bother bringing it with me if it is that much hassle. Not good for safety reasons not to have one on you.

drunkmonkey · 02-12-2016 12:03AM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

I got a Samsung Xcover 3 so it should be robust enough. It's just too big and awkward. I know I won't bother bringing it with me if it is that much hassle. Not good for for safety reasons if anything.

That's perfect for you, you can chuck that around the farm just don't leave it sitting in water for long.
Just get it syncing up with google to save all your numbers and pictures etc. It's all free and simple just need to sit down with it for an hour and get your data safe.
if you do get it wrecked you can just walk into a shop grab any android, log into it with your gmail details and everything will whiz back on the new phone.

Transfer all your contacts on the phone to google, you do that in the contact settings. Save any new numbers to google.

it'll take you 5 mins http://www.wikihow.com/Back-Up-an-Android-Phone-on-the-Google-Cloud

Muckit · 02-12-2016 08:27AM

I have a Samsung galaxy 6. What a heap of dung. They went and made the battery smaller than it's predecessors! I've it about a year and now battery only just get a lad through the day. The charging port gets clogged with **** and had to use a needle and baby wipe to cleqn out.

Finally got 'black scrren of death' last week. Google it. I think in my case it's battery that caused it.

She runs on a nano size sim so hobbled together an adaptor and shoved it into my old Samsung s3 mini and I'm back in business . Much neater phone.

Ive battery ordered off ebay so going to go ripping the s6 when it arrives.

drunkmonkey · 02-12-2016 08:49AM

Muckit wrote: »

I have a Samsung galaxy 6. What a heap of dung. They went and made the battery smaller than it's predecessors! I've it about a year and now battery only just get a lad through the day. The charging port gets clogged with **** and had to use a needle and baby wipe to cleqn out.

Finally got 'black scrren of death' last week. Google it. I think in my case it's battery that caused it.

She runs on a nano size sim so hobbled together an adaptor and shoved it into my old Samsung s3 mini and I'm back in business . Much neater phone.

Ive battery ordered off ebay so going to go ripping the s6 when it arrives.

If your S6 is under 2 years old get it sent for repair. Not sure how good you are with electronics but changing a battery in a s6 is not a job for an amature and it'll do away with your warranty, you can get the new battery and phone fixed up for free if it's under 2yrs. Don't dream of changing that battery yourself unless your used to it.

Muckit · 02-12-2016 11:01AM

Good man. I didn't realise it would still be under warranty. I was only thinking that I wasn't due upgrade. I will go that option first. Thanks for the tip off.

Bullocks · 02-12-2016 11:33AM

Muckit wrote: »

I have a Samsung galaxy 6. What a heap of dung. They went and made the battery smaller than it's predecessors! I've it about a year and now battery only just get a lad through the day. The charging port gets clogged with **** and had to use a needle and baby wipe to cleqn out.

Finally got 'black scrren of death' last week. Google it. I think in my case it's battery that caused it.

She runs on a nano size sim so hobbled together an adaptor and shoved it into my old Samsung s3 mini and I'm back in business . Much neater phone.

Ive battery ordered off ebay so going to go ripping the s6 when it arrives.

The wife got me the 6 edge but I didn't think it would last so didn't even open it . I always had Samsung but bought a second hand HTC and find it way stronger and nicer use . If I can get over my maneness I might buy the new HTC 10.

I find the touchscreen phones alot better and durable than the old button phones especially where dust is concerned . I'm a slob that works on the buildings and the farm and reckon I'd be as hard on phones as it gets - a good cover is the only job

Timmaay · 02-12-2016 12:27PM

I find the Motorola moto g range very good. Very durable, can be dropped etc and will usually be grand, reasonably waterproof also (some are fully waterproof like the moto g3, not the current g4 annoyingly). Battery life reasonable also. Cost around 120 to 180, (same price as fixing an iPhone screen...), can be got sim free off likes of Amazon, sometimes even argos etc (go over and look in either the mobiles or bargain alerts threads on boards for current offers). You can get super strong screen protectors, which are basically a thin sheet of tough glass, I had it on a previous phone and found it took the most the impact on any drops (it eventually did break up in sh1t, I just pulled it off and replaced it for 10e). Eventually my luck does run out and a cow will stand on it or whatever ha, 150e every 18months not the worst tho.

My biggest problem now is getting the smell of sh1te and silage off the phone anytime I'm heading out etc haha. Does help me stop pulling it out in the middle of the pub etc tho ha.

Mooooo · 02-12-2016 12:43PM

Timmaay wrote: »

I find the Motorola moto g range very good. Very durable, can be dropped etc and will usually be grand, reasonably waterproof also (some are fully waterproof like the moto g3, not the current g4 annoyingly). Battery life reasonable also. Cost around 120 to 180, (same price as fixing an iPhone screen...), can be got sim free off likes of Amazon, sometimes even argos etc (go over and look in either the mobiles or bargain alerts threads on boards for current offers). You can get super strong screen protectors, which are basically a thin sheet of tough glass, I had it on a previous phone and found it took the most the impact on any drops (it eventually did break up in sh1t, I just pulled it off and replaced it for 10e). Eventually my luck does run out and a cow will stand on it or whatever ha, 150e every 18months not the worst tho.

My biggest problem now is getting the smell of sh1te and silage off the phone anytime I'm heading out etc haha. Does help me stop pulling it out in the middle of the pub etc tho ha.

The smell is a balls alrite, esp when you probably don't notice it yourself as much. Used baby wipes to clean it for a bit and seemed to help

Buford T. Justice XIX · 02-12-2016 01:01PM

listermint wrote: »

Get appropriate box like otterbox second phone and sim will be far too much hassle and difficult to achieve

+1 on the Otterbox and a good screen cover. I have the S6 with a year now and have broken the screen cover twice but the phone is still perfect.

As Muckit said, the charge port and earplug port get clogged up with dust but every phone has that problem, I'd say.

Iirc, I paid 60 euro for the box and screencover. I've had to put in a screen lock on the phone because it used keep dialling the creamery while in my pocket and my minutes and power would be gone at the end of milking:rolleyes:

Thargor · 02-12-2016 01:21PM

Dust covers for the ports are dirt cheap on Ebay, 5 for a Euro, God knows what the delivery time from China is this close to Christmas though:

http://m.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_nkw=Headphone+USB+dust+cover&isNewKw=1&isRefine=true&mfs=GOCLK&acimp=0&_trksid=p2056088.m2428.l1313.TR2.TRC0.Xheadphone+usb+dust+cover&sqp=headphone+usb+dust+cover

WexfordFarmer · 03-12-2016 11:53AM

Muckit wrote: »

I have a Samsung galaxy 6. What a heap of dung. They went and made the battery smaller than it's predecessors! I've it about a year and now battery only just get a lad through the day. The charging port gets clogged with **** and had to use a needle and baby wipe to cleqn out.

Finally got 'black scrren of death' last week. Google it. I think in my case it's battery that caused it.

She runs on a nano size sim so hobbled together an adaptor and shoved it into my old Samsung s3 mini and I'm back in business . Much neater phone.

Ive battery ordered off ebay so going to go ripping the s6 when it arrives.

I have a s6 as well only had it for a year and I must say I won't be sad to see it go as it has given me nothings but dogs hardship such as follows 1. Five screens replaced 2 . Seven chargers broke 3. Charging port cleaned x2 every day daily tbh I think that fast charge is the biggest balls I've ever heard of and saw ,
I'm swapping now to a iPhone 5c or a iPhone 7+ which I'm thinking of treating myself to for Christmas BTW never go on bill pay biggest pain I've had bills up to €500 for using 15gb out of my 3 gb.

greysides · 03-12-2016 03:04PM

Just to balance the books as regards the poor old S6, I have one and am quite happy with it. Battery life would be the biggest bugbear. Have the screen protector and Otterbox. Gets moderate hardship. I can see that port covers would be handy though. Great camera and does all I need it to do.

maidhc · 03-12-2016 03:07PM

Otterbox all the way. A good few new phones including the iPhone are waterproof now as well. I wouldn't bother with a second phone.

patsy_mccabe · 03-12-2016 03:25PM

I have s Samsung B2100 that's still going strong. Bought it in 2007. I want to keep it for the farm as I've dropped it in sh1te enough times and washed it under the tap that it has only sentimental value now.

03-12-2016 08:57PM

greysides wrote: »

Just to balance the books as regards the poor old S6, I have one and am quite happy with it. Battery life would be the biggest bugbear. Have the screen protector and Otterbox. Gets moderate hardship. I can see that port covers would be handy though. Great camera and does all I need it to do.

I have a S6 too, And an otterbox defender.
The defender has the screen protector and port covers so i have never had any issue with debris getting into it,
The otterbox commuter is the cheaper cover with no screen protector.
One other thing with the s6 is it can be charged wirelessly so even if the charging port gets damaged you can still charge it

emaherx · 03-12-2016 11:22PM

I've a HTC 1 m8 for about 2 years in an otterbox case and have had no issues. Before that I had a Samsung S3 for a couple of years. I've broken more old Nokia type phones around the farm than I have smart phones. Probably just down to better protective cases.

But if you really wanted another option, what about a cheap mini tablet and an app like Tablet Tallk. It will allow you to send receive texts aswell as place calls from your phone remotely. Phone needs to be within Wi-Fi or bluetooth range but could be left safely charging in cab of tractor or jeep.

Haven't actually tried it myself but could be worth a look if you really want a second device.

kerry cow · 04-12-2016 12:25AM

I have the life proof cover and it's the business .twice as good as otter box and I have had 4 otter boxes before as I change to up grade every 18 months .
Life proof is completely sealed and has taken far harder hits than otterbox .

I would have bought otter box again un knowing about life proof except my friend had a spare he brought back from usa and he gave it to me .

ArKl0w · 04-12-2016 09:26AM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Thought I'd ask this here as must be a common problem on farms. I just got a new smart phone but I want to keep my old builders phone for the farm.
Problem is I want to have the same mobile number for both. Just turn off the smart phone and turn on the tough one when heading out. From what I gather the only way to do this is just divert from the smart phone. So 2 different numbers and simm cards. Downside is I get charged for every call divert. Is there any other way?

Install viber on your good phone,set it up also on your work phone using the good phones number
Verification text or call comes to your good phone
Enter that to verify app on work phone
Add credit to viber so as to be able to make viber out calls from the work phone
These will come up as your new phones number and not the number of your old spare dirty phone
Divert all calls to dirty phone just don't answer them
Ring them back via viber out and it will come up on their phone as if it's you calling from your usual number on your new phone

Use a Vodafone sim in your dirty phone with a 4G data allowance as Vodafone have the best coverage and you need data to make the viber out calls

Finally install the hullomail app with your usual number from your new phone and you'll have all voicemails from your usual number on your old dirty phone for free

It's visual voicemail too so you can quickly pick what voicemail to listen to and call back via viber out
A tenner a month will get you 500 mb data on voda which is plenty for viber and the other fiver will buy 30 mins of calls from your dirty phones new number for emergencies

Once you've all that set up once it's simple after that

Second mobile phone for farm

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