muckles:
(…)Like I said earlier you don’t have a phone signal. (…)
In this case, ask nearby village residents to use their landline phone, to make a call.If they say no, then tell them, you will make a night out just 10 yards away from their bedroom window,and you will let your fridge humming during all night long… 
N0rbert:
muckles:
(…)Like I said earlier you don’t have a phone signal. (…)In this case, ask nearby village residents to use their landline phone, to make a call.If they say no, then tell them, you will make a night out just 10 yards away from their bedroom window,and you will let your fridge humming during all night long…
But the Village is Royston Vasey.
stuartrobbie:
(…)what if you tip at at a farm with a poor signal, then have to reload at another farm which also has a blackspot?(…)
Could be helpful if you carry few diffenent SIM cards.I had to call someone,and she had no signal on an O2 SIM card, but the call worked out well on an Orange SIM. In an another occasion happed that the Three SIM didn’t work, but O2 SIM was fine. SIM cards does not take too much room, but if you want an ultimate solution, check this out:
muckles:
(…)But the Village is Royston Vasey.
I’m not watching TV since 2001, but I figured out less than 10 seconds that the Royston Vasey is a fictional village.
Of course I’ve tried out Google Maps first, no result
If you have internet access streetmap.co.uk shows most farms, and then google earth to check access roads. Virtually all my drops are farms and only occasionally do I have to resort to phoning the farmer.
Remember a lot of farmers will give directions out like they’re talking to the local squire in the pub. “Past Mr Gregorys’ old place (hanged for murdering his mistress in 1933), left where the Elm tree used to be (prior to Dutch Elm Disease), past the old station (closed in 1960 and demolished soon after), past the old Ameys quarry (worked out by 1975) and then a right where old Miss Harris lived (died aged 101 the same day George VI died).”
N0rbert:
muckles:
(…) I couldn’t go any further due to roadwork in a village.Option 1: call the customer,and ask him for directions.
Option 2:Call your planner, and tell him, you are lost.
or follow the diversion
d4c24a:
N0rbert:
muckles:
(…) I couldn’t go any further due to roadwork in a village.Option 1: call the customer,and ask him for directions.
Option 2:Call your planner, and tell him, you are lost.
or follow the diversion
The point I was really trying to make before it went a bit silly, is that the technology is great and useful, I use Google maps and sat navs etc all the time to find places and street view to have a better look. but for a few quid a good map is a useful addition and of course talking to locals and phoning the farmer all work.
It’s not really a question of relying on one particular way of doing the job, but using all the sources of information at your disposal as and when you need them.
The case above was a village in France and I was helped by somebody who lived there, he said go through later when they stop working and there isn’t much traffic, the restriction is only there to stop 2 trucks meeting each other and getting stuck while they are working. He also told me where I could park overnight in the village and how to get out the next day without using that road.
stuartrobbie:
Ordnance Survey Landranger maps, they are a bugger the way they are folded. But even show contour lines, handy for knowing steep hills near farms.often the best thing to do is phone the farmer, he will give you directions
It is but farmers tend to say " No problem we get arctics in all the time " Then when you’re making a ■■■■ of your self trying to get in with a low loader they say The tipper we had in last week got in ok .
Believe me I have been in some farms where you definitely don’t want to be all because the farmer has no idea . I normally google earth them the night before then ring them up and say will I get around that bend or over that humpback bridge with the 90d turn coming off it . The truth comes out then .
For some reason the farmer always likes you in his yard when it would be much easier to meet you down the road
N0rbert:
#1: buy an Android mobile phone, that has Hotspot option(50 GBP). Menu- Wireless and settings- Tethering and hotspot- Mobile AP
#2: buy an used ASUS eee 7" netbook 8 GB SSD (20 GBP on Ebay) - install a free Linux on it, Lubuntu Linux(free)- install Flash(free)
#3: buy Mobile Web allowance for you SIM card
#4: connect to the phone via Wifi
#5: buy a mouse to the netbookFor farm names:
streetmap.co.uk/All the times up to date database,edited and maintainded by volunteers:
openstreetmap.org/Use postode finder, to confirm,and make sure the address is exists where you heading to:
royalmail.com/find-a-postcodeUse Street View
maps.google.co.uk/maps?output=classicGood luck
I’ve been thinking of getting a phone with a web allowance. The minimum seems to be 100mb and then the next 500mb. It then leaps to 1gb. How much would I need for this kind of thing? Thanks.
Ader1:
I’ve been thinking of getting a phone with a web allowance.
I hear they can pipe water directly into your house now too. Interesting times.
Ader1:
The minimum seems to be 100mb and then the next 500mb. It then leaps to 1gb. How much would I need for this kind of thing? Thanks.
100mb would last me about 5 minutes. HTH
Contraflow:
Ader1:
I’ve been thinking of getting a phone with a web allowance.I hear they can pipe water directly into your house now too. Interesting times.
the streetlamps work now and ive not seen our lamplighter for ages…he has to be taking the peee
I often use my phone to surf the web but only using wifi. I’ve never had the need to surf whilst out and about in the past. I’m just not sure how much of a download allowance I should go for.
big-john:
It is but farmers tend to say " No problem we get arctics in all the time " Then when you’re making a [zb] of your self trying to get in with a low loader they say The tipper we had in last week got in ok .Believe me I have been in some farms where you definitely don’t want to be all because the farmer has no idea . I normally google earth them the night before then ring them up and say will I get around that bend or over that humpback bridge with the 90d turn coming off it . The truth comes out then .
For some reason the farmer always likes you in his yard when it would be much easier to meet you down the road
You’ve lived that dream too or still do like me…the tipper is usually a 4 wheeler and you can bet he struggled too sometimes with the zb dumped everywhere like most farms. How the zb they expect a low loader to just spin around I seriously don’t grasp that fact but most farmers are better than most builders by a long shot.
To answer op question I have a box of Philips Street Atlas for the county…
Im no luddlite I use my Waze app, Google Street view and my snooper HGV sat nav.
I personally prefer these maps for farms as gives most names and gives me a good idea of best way in that sat nav may not of appreciated in its infinite wisdom.
Not everyone’s preference but maps are the final get out of jail free card if technology fails and don’t believe the hype it usually does at the most critical time…I get my maps from the surveyors I used to work for with a discount or another site I’ll post when I get home…just make sure you get the most recently published date for map…that information always given on the websites like amazon/ebay etc with ISBN.
HTH.
C
Ader1:
I often use my phone to surf the web but only using wifi. I’ve never had the need to surf whilst out and about in the past. I’m just not sure how much of a download allowance I should go for.
It depends what you want to use it for.
If it’s exclusively for maps, then I’d say 500mb a month would be enough.
Don’t be coming on TruckNet, watching YouTube videos or visiting any gentlemen’s sites whilst you’re out and about though.
If the difference between 500mb and 1gb is a couple of quid or so, get a gigabyte. That should cover you for most things and a few pence a week is ■■■■ all.
My current allowance is 4gb a month, but I’m mostly at home on wi-fi and not exclusively looking at maps.
I’m also incredibly drunk so anything I say might not actually be true.
Ader1:
(…) The minimum seems to be 100mb and then the next 500mb. It then leaps to 1gb. How much would I need for this kind of thing? Thanks.
If you use only the Streetmap,and Openstreetmap 20 times a month the 500mb could be okay. But, if you wander around on Google Street View, 20 times a month,2-3 streets alongside the delivery point, the 500 mb allowance could be insufficient.
If you use an ASUS EEE netbook, with 7" screen, that also save data, becouse of the small resolution (800x480) and an important thing: DO NOT use Win 2000, Win Vista, Windows XP, or Win 7, etc when tethering is not allowed,and you sharing the Internet with your laptop,netbook, desktop PC, etc. Use Linux only.
100mb seems a bit too oldschool. Try an another mobile service provider, like Three, they runs on 3G (WCDMA only), no GSM transmission, it has better access to the Internet.
Three.co.uk:Inclusive UK data:2 GB Inclusive UK minutes:200 mins Free calls to 0800/0808/0500 numbers Inclusive UK texts:All-you-can-eat texts Contract length:12 month contract £10.00 a month.(private, this is a non business plan)
I pay £16.50 for unlimited calls(mobile+landline) unlimited text, unlimited internet(no tethering) at Virgin. I’m not satisfied, the Internet is too slow. Other drivers said that the Three has good Internet access,and fast speed across the whole UK.Works in Europe too(a bit slower,but it works)
The best thing to get is offline OS (1:50k / 1:25k) maps on your phone or tablet, that way you aren’t using any data and don’t need a signal.
The cheapest (if not entirely legitimate) way to get these is to look for .qct file maps on filesharing sites - these are the older, unencrypted Memory Map maps and are about 10 years old (but country roads don’t change that much anyway).
You then need an app called AlpineQuest for Android, which costs a few quid, which will load these maps if you put them on your phone or tablet.
You can get current OS maps via the proper Memory Map app, or I think one called Out Doors for iOS, but that costs more money.
Ader1, as you know I’m doing the same sort of work as you are. Forget the satnav/mobile/gadgetry; go for the OS or Phillips maps, much quicker, more reliable and the battery never goes flat on them. None of our lads use anything else; and much of your work will be repeat drops so once you’ve been there a couple of times you won’t even need the map.
Some really useful information on this thread. Thank you all. I have ordered a few Philips maps Sidevalve. I do like gadgetry from time to time too. 