a common language that separates us

[Rob Hall]

No cell service in your area????? It's 2012... how is that possible? Are you saying that nobody where you live has a cell phone? That's hard to believe.

There are some voids in the US w/ no cell coverage, like Green Bank, WV which is intentional because of the radio telescope, and other places that are too rural...

Edited March 19, 2012 by Rob Hall

[Harry P.]

That's a big assumption... I do believe this board/forum is open to the rest of the illiterate world too ? Not only that but we do need to remember that for some guys/girls English is a second language, so if it seem's like their posts are hard to read, it's because of this. There is a member here, Cesar Bossolani, that is an awesomely talented builder, from Brazil, who's first language is Portuguese & because he is not so good with English words & comprehension it may seem he's illiterate but he's not. He use's Google translator & sometimes they get it wrong too. My point though, is, some guys really try & some don't. It seem's to me that it's the younger generations that don't... & they really don't have an excuse.

We all can tell when English isn't the person's first language, and we all account for that. Nobody ever criticized a forum member from outside the US, Canada, UK or Australia for his lack of English skills. We all get that and understand it. In fact, some of our overseas members have a better grasp of English than a few of our home-town members!

It's the people to whom English is supposedly their first (or only) language that we get a little annoyed with. And you're exactly right... some people just don't even bother to try and post in correct (or at least close to correct) English. Those are the people who's posts I just ignore.

[bbowser]

No cell service in your area????? It's 2012... how is that possible? Are you saying that nobody where you live has a cell phone? That's hard to believe.

I have a work-issued cell, but it doesn't work at my house or in my town. Rural area in central VT. There are still many areas of the country that have little to no cell service, that's why the 'gummint' is handing out big grants and trying to auction off the airwaves to get cell and 'broadband' access out to everyone.

[Harry P.]

There are some voids in the US w/ no cell coverage, like Green Bank, WV which is intentional because of the radio telescope, and other places that are too rural...

I guess... but it's hard to imagine, with all the technology we have these days, that there are still areas of the country that are "too rural" for cell phone coverage. I mean, there's no technical reason for it.

[bbowser]

I guess... but it's hard to imagine, with all the technology we have these days, that there are still areas of the country that are "too rural" for cell phone coverage. I mean, there's no technical reason for it.

In my neck of the woods it's the mountains. The same reason I only get 3 FM stations and 1 TV channel over the air. Cable TV started in many of these areas for just that reason, no one could get anything off their antennas.

[Rob Hall]

I've definitely been in areas in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico where I've had no cell coverage...made sure I had a full tank of gas, etc before venturing there...

[Harry P.]

In my neck of the woods it's the mountains. The same reason I only get 3 FM stations and 1 TV channel over the air. Cable TV started in many of these areas for just that reason, no one could get anything off their antennas.

The mountains around Denver are way taller. They all have cell phone coverage in Denver.

[Chuck Most]

I have a work-issued cell, but it doesn't work at my house or in my town. Rural area in central VT. There are still many areas of the country that have little to no cell service, that's why the 'gummint' is handing out big grants and trying to auction off the airwaves to get cell and 'broadband' access out to everyone.

Same way in many parts of Michigan's UP- no cell service, and not many people in those areas own one.

[Rob Hall]

The mountains around Denver are way taller. They all have cell phone coverage in Denver.

Yeah, in the metro area...but out in the mountains, 150-200 miles from Denver, there are places with little or no cell coverage..been there...

[Harry P.]

I don't think there's any physical reason why certain areas have no cell coverage (I could be wrong)... I think it's economics. They're not going to spend the $$$ to build cell towers in areas where there are only a few people.

[bbowser]

Because they let them install cell towers everywhere around Denver. Here in VT it takes an act of god (AKA Bernie Sanders) and ten years for permits. Some ways its good, some ways not so much.

[Rob Hall]

I don't think there's any physical reason why certain areas have no cell coverage (I could be wrong)... I think it's economics. They're not going to spend the $$$ to build cell towers in areas where there are only a few people.

I'm sure it's definitely economic...not cost effective. Same w/ internet...I know some people that can't get internet access except for satellite service out in the sticks.... I couldn't imagine living where there is no cell service, or no high speed internet (couldn't imagine using dialup again). I'm frustrated I can't get FIOS here in the 6th largest US city...

Edited March 19, 2012 by Rob Hall

[Harry P.]

Sounds like the "electrification" process back in the teens and 20s. The population centers got it first, but the small towns and rural areas lagged behind.

[bbowser]

I don't think there's any physical reason why certain areas have no cell coverage (I could be wrong)... I think it's economics. They're not going to spend the $$$ to build cell towers in areas where there are only a few people.

It's the money. The only reason there is telephone service to many of these areas is because they're subsidized by the customers in the more densly populated areas. The FCC is currently trying to shift that subsidy over to broadband, with limited success. If you wish to live 40 miles from nowhere then you can't (or shouldn't) expect downtown services!

[Harry P.]

It's the money. The only reason there is telephone service to many of these areas is because they're subsidized by the customers in the more densly populated areas.

Yeah, tell me about it! You should see some of the taxes and fees on my phone bill...

[MrObsessive]

Do what I do. Whenever I see a post that's gibberish I don't even bother trying to decode it. I just ignore it.

If someone is too lazy to post their comments in actual, legible, understandable English, why waste your time trying to figure out what they said?

I totally agree! I've been doing that for years now..........

[Monty]

Although I'm not a member of their forum, I occasionally pop in on briansmodelcars.com to check out the WIP and completed models. I've noticed they enforce a set standard of quality when it comes to photographs members can post. Pictures that don't meet the standard are deleted and the OP is asked to submit better pictures before they'll allow them on the board.

I wonder if something like that could be implemented on here when an especially poorly written post is submitted. Maybe a polite but firm PM asking the OP to rewrite their post before allowing it to appear...

[62rebel]

i cringe a little when someone mentions bmc..... my own reasons.

[Jordan White]

The worst excuse I've ever heard for illegible posts is "This isn't school/english class/an english paper". There's a reason that they say school is preparing you for the real world, being able to type and write coherently is necessary in the real world! Sure it may just be a forum post, but not everyone types and writes the same way you do, so they may not be able to understand you or the way you're writing.

I've seen this suggestion before, there needs to be some sort of mandatory program where the computer will read back to you what you wrote, so these people can hear just how dumb they really sound.

[Harry P.]

The worst excuse I've ever heard for illegible posts is "This isn't school/english class/an english paper". There's a reason that they say school is preparing you for the real world, being able to type and write coherently is necessary in the real world! Sure it may just be a forum post, but not everyone types and writes the same way you do, so they may not be able to understand you or the way you're writing.

I've seen this suggestion before, there needs to be some sort of mandatory program where the computer will read back to you what you wrote, so these people can hear just how dumb they really sound.

The problem is, the worst offenders are the same ones who don't see a problem!

[Monty]

i cringe a little when someone mentions bmc..... my own reasons.

Years ago, when I first discovered their site, they seemed to have quite a few talented members and the majority of the builds were worth checking out. Over the last couple years, however, the number of remarkable builds on there has gone down. I'm not saying it's Gluebomb Central, just that I haven't been awestruck by anything on there for quite a while.

Can you elaborate on your experience with them?

[62rebel]

no, i think you captured it succinctly. let's leave that sleeping dog lie.

[Agent G]

Harry I think you nailed it regarding cell coverage and population density. If you look at a cell coverage map of Nevada, you will see that Clark county in the south, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Laughlin are covered. Washoe county and Douglas county in the north, Reno/Sparks, Carson City, Lake Tahoe are covered.

That's it! The remainder of the state is hit and miss, literally. Those are the population centers of Nevada. Everywhere else is either open desert, bomb range, or so sparsely populated as to be vacant.

There is a large gap in coverage in between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City as well. There's also a long stretch of I 70 in Utah that has NOTHING, no cell phone service, no exits, no NOTHING.

There's quite a bit of this country that is wide open still.

G

[Harry P.]

There's quite a bit of this country that is wide open still.

G

Yes, you're right. Sometimes living in a huge population center like the Chicago area, you tend to forget that "wide open spaces" actually still do exist, especially in the western states.

[Eshaver]

Yes Harry, I know where they still have Out houses , kerosene lamps and a telephone line is still a "Party Line" too !!!!!!!!

No , I am not makin dis stuff neither .

Ed Shaver