Farmer Cell Phone?

May 12, 2009 9:34 AM

Trying to find a cell phone for my Dad, a farmer, who spends lots of time in noisy barns and on the tractor. In both cases, the ring and vibration features of a normal phone don't register. Is there a sturdy, simple phone with a very powerful vibration function (ideally one that builds gradually, so it doesn't shock the user!)? One compatible with ATT would be ideal.
posted by harnharn to Technology (9 answers total)

A Blackberry may be excessive, but mine (a Curve from ATT) has a great vibration function -- when it's in my messenger bag and I have the pack on, I can even feel it vibrate in the bag. I actually leave it on vibrate most of the time because it's made the ring gratuitous -- since the vibration function is so strong, I can usually hear it vibrating against the desk, etc. when I don't have it in my pocket or in my pack.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 9:50 AM on May 12, 2009

Maybe an in-ear headset with auto-answer?
posted by procrastination at 9:59 AM on May 12, 2009

The phone probably just needs to be worn in a different place or closer to his skin. As a bicyclist, it has taken me a while to figure out exactly where I need to wear my phone so that I'll definitely feel it when it rings.

Might be easier to sew a special pocket into his clothes than to buy a whole new phone.
posted by hermitosis at 10:00 AM on May 12, 2009

Is it important that he answers the phone when it's so noisy and vibration-y that he can't hear or feel it?

When I call farmers and construction workers I figure I'm just going to go straight to voice mail if they're busy. They'll call me when the racket does down.

The only way I notice my phone's vibration is when its in my breast pocket.
posted by Ookseer at 10:20 AM on May 12, 2009

My grandpa is a farmer, and I think he carries his cheap Nokia in his breast pocket on his shirt (sort of under his overalls so it stays put) so he can feel the vibration and reach it easily.
posted by BlooPen at 11:59 AM on May 12, 2009

Not a direct answer to your question, but Consumer Reports includes listening and talking voice quality ratings in its cell phone reviews, and conducts the tests in noisy environments. That said, it looks like they don't give any of the phones a very good or excellent rating in those qualities.
posted by pbh at 12:18 PM on May 12, 2009

I've seen a number of devices that will light up and flash when your cell phone rings. At the moment I can't seem to find any that aren't painfully cheap and tacky (like this one), but they must exist. Your dad could get one of those and carry it on his wrist or something where he could see it.

I know that doesn't answer your specific question, but it seems like it would serve the same purpose.
posted by fermion at 12:46 PM on May 12, 2009

Ah, this one at ThinkGeek is slightly better. They seem to only work with specific types of phones, so you'll probably want to check and make sure your father's phone is compatible.
posted by fermion at 12:51 PM on May 12, 2009

Best answer: Another vote for a cheap Nokia candybar phone (indestructible and vibrate like, well, a vibrator) or one of those Motorola phones or other rugged models made for construction dudes and suchlike. Most of the guys I work with have these and swear by them, they tend to destroy normal phones in hours or days. Some are even waterproof which is pretty cool*.

My Nokia is not waterproof but has gotten very, very wet and survived just fine.

*By pretty cool- I mean an obvious feature that all phone manufacturers should offer but Motorola actually does!
posted by fshgrl at 9:36 PM on May 12, 2009