Marc:

Is your primary concern the handsets ability to grab a weak signal and still
make a call successfully, or is your priority to have a multifunction device
that will allow you to check radar images, etc?

If it's the former, then the earlier suggestion to get an old fashioned
bagphone will be unparalleled. They are pretty archaic, but they will work
where pretty much any other phone would fail you, even in the weakest signal
locations. Just forget about internet, or even text messaging for that
matter. I don't think you can really even buy them new anymore (I could be
wrong, though) but you'll have no problem finding one used.

If your interest is the latter, then there's lots of options that are
surprisingly cheap. I know you mentioned that really expensive ones are out
of the question, so that probably eliminates the Treo/Blackberry option, but
have you considered a Sidekick?

I know it carries a bit of a stigma as a "Kid" device, but I've owned for
for 2+ years now and it is the absolute best bang for the dollar when it
comes to a multifunction device that is not only a phone, but a good
internet-capable data device.

There's nothing more reassuring then sitting in the cockpit just before
startup and getting a live radar image of your destination, or pulling up a
METAR/TAF while waiting for wx.

There's lots of handhelds that will allow you to do this, but none that will
do it for the downright cheap price that you can get a Sidekick for.

No, the screen isn't the size of a Treo/Blackberry, but it works well in my
experiences.
--
Regards, Mark.
http://www.oshawapilot.ca
Unmunge my email address to respond directly...