New cell tower in Pahoa

[Lee G]

A new cell tower was installed last week near Pahoa propane in the Malama shopping center. It should help those in lower puna
with mobile phones.

[JerryCarr]

This may be a bit off-topic, but is anyone aware of any maps showing the various cell phone companies' coverage (or at least what they CLAIM to cover) in Puna? I would love to use my Verizon cell as my main phone, but it only works outdoors at home on Railroad in HPP.

[Carey]

Jerry, I haven't seen any wireless maps on awaii with that detail (larger metropolitan areas have maps that are down to blocks or mile). The three biggies all have general coverage maps, but that is all I have seen. We used verizon as our main line further down near Beach & Maku'u, but we had to buy a step up antenna to get reception in the house, and some days the reception gods were against us even with the added boost. On another thread, someone stated that the new phones have better reception (ours is over a year, so it probably is old technolgy in cell years!)
Aloha, Carey

[JerryCarr]

Thanks,Carey. I think I need a new phone, and your idea about a booster antenna sounds good, too. The county recently refused to allow a tower to be built on a residential lot in Orchidland. I wonder if they have tried putting one on the commercial property around the old Wiki gas station?

[Nate SC]

There are no "residential lots" in Orchidland. This subdivision is zoned "Ag" and we plan on keeping it that way. Thats why the "Big" shopping center plan at Aulii was shut down. Anyways, my Cingular fone works all the way to "9 road" with no prob's.

[John S Rabi]

Just remember guys there can be commercial activity on AG-zoned land if they get a Special Use Permit. They don't necessarily need to re-zone!

John S. Rabi
ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,R
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
808.327.3185