Waterproof Phone (>IP68) need to get calls in surf (on call)

Hi there guys!
I am on call 4 days a week and usually get the call around 6am to 8:30am and would love to be able to still go for a wave instead of waiting by the phone.
Does anyone know of a cheap way of being able to receive phone calls while in the surf? I have looked into the lifeproof cases but have yet to hear of anyone using them for anything other than splashes and dont want to take my real phone out in the surf, just divert calls to the surf phone.
What Im thinking of at the moment is getting an old Nokia wrapping it in a condom and then putting it in one of those "waterproof" phone pouches, it may or may not work and I may or may not be able to hear the speaker or have the mic pick anything up.
Any other ideas???
Are there any new long range hands free gizmos that would pick up phone from 100m away??

Comments

  • +1

    Most waterproof phones MIC/speakers don't work correctly when they have water in them, but are fine once they dry out again. So you'll be needing one of those "waterproof" phone pouches anyhow to keep the water out of them.

    As for making/receiving calls while sitting on your surf board. Yeah it could be done, but really, if its business, is this the place you should be doing it?

    • Just for a few days I get a call to go in ranging from 6-830 am if I miss the call I miss the days work. Dont need to discus too much with them just location.

      • I seriously doubt you're going to 'hear' the phone while on your surf board and be able to answer it in time. So you'll be missing the call anyhow.

        This is turning into some real FWP stuff, maybe you need to 'adjust' your schedule, so your surfing happens after 8.30am, so you can answer the 'come into work today' calls.

        Sometimes in life, you have to choose…. work or pleasure and which one comes first.

        Or think out of the box, Is there not anyone else who can answer the phone? Could you not explain your 'surfing' commitments and have your employer text you a 'request' to come in?

        • OK mate I appreciate the input but easy on the judgements please. I've worked hard for the last 20yrs and like a healthy balance of work and keeping fit while I still can. If I can figure out a way 2 get more exercise and fun in my day then I will and if I cant then I wont loose too much sleep over it.
          As for getting someone to answer the phone, my wife did suggest that as she doesn't leave home till 7:20 but works out a bit clunky logistically and I dont want to have to leave her responsible for my things while I go surfing. As for surfing after that time, the landmass usually heats by that time and causes and onshore wind which is why we are in the water first light generally. In my normal line of work I usually surf before work (conditions permitting) and find that I am actually more productive, provided i'm not out too long then it does become counter productive.
          ATM just just curious of the possibility of seeing if it could work as I enjoy the tech problem solving part as well.

        • @QLDtightarse: Sorry, there were no judgements, just giving you the hard truth which is water + phone + phone calls = crud.

          It might be easier to change your schedule or the way your work is booked in, but if you can't, then I guess we're back to the crud solutions :/

          Start looking at some swimming solutions, but I don't really know of many with microphones. Some of the bone-conducting headphones connected to your phone in a pouch via bluetooth would work.

          At least you'll 'hear' the phone ringing ;)

  • +1

    Bloody Nora username checks out…

    What Im thinking of at the moment is getting an old Nokia wrapping it in a condom and then putting it in one of those "waterproof" phone pouches, it may or may not work and I may or may not be able to hear the speaker or have the mic pick anything up.

    What? No that wouldn't work. lol. Waste of a condom for one thing.

    Can you be more descriptive. What do you mean on call? Are you a Doctor ?

    An Apple Watch is water proof. Not sure if it's surf proof though. In other words the salt might ruin it.

    Old nokias won't work because they don't work on 3G.

    • +1

      Old nokias won't work because they don't work on 3G.

      Ummm nokia 6120 classic is 3g ;)

      What? No that wouldn't work. lol. Waste of a condom for one thing.

      This is ozbargain, who said its a new one!!

      • Ummm nokia 6120 classic is 3g ;)

        I may yet go back to using mine. Love the size

        • hahaha one of the folks won't give up their 6120 classic they love the size and the fact it can be dropped without issues ;)

    • A rusty iWatch would be cool, brah! And look swell at the cafe's in between sets too…

      Just make your bluetooth earphones waterproof (without them blowing up), or maybe go get Cochlea's new hearing aids implanted in your inner ear (hopefully the are waterproof already as they are implanted!)

      Either way, my bet is that it'll end up going to the sea bed if it isn't small and strapped on, (or embedded, lol).

  • The salt will probably destroy any waterproofing material in a phone so I wouldn't suggest doing that…..nor would I suggest using your phone I'm a swimming pool either (the chlorine).

  • +1

    You're trying to get one over on your mates by asking for a technical solution on OzB?

    Could be dangerous.

    I'd suggest Bikies:

    One holds your phone, another yells at you when it rings or tells the caller what they need to hear, ie when the package is due to arrive, which beach… etc.

    And the others just handle security and the law…

    It's a tried and tested method but usually only in relation to larger shipments than what would be manageable on a board or two…

  • +3

    get a crappy phone and cheapo 365 day sim.
    when you go surfing you divert your real phone to the crap phone..

    $10 cheap crap 3g candy bar phone from woolworths or coles and an aldi $5 sim and some clip seal bags for storage/water proofing.

    • This is exactly what I had in mind but finding the hard part is how to answer it

    • This is exactly what I had in mind but finding the hard part is how to answer it

  • +1

    What about getting a set of waterproof bluetooth headphones? I had a quick look online and looks like some sets have a mic too. That way you can completely seal up your phone to protect it from water and not kill your phone.

    Worst case your headphones crap out and you've wasted a lot less money.

    I'm also now having mental images of a boardroom full of suited men who ring you to get some critical information and get to listen to you being dunked by a wave….

    Also for your 100m transmission distance thing not really going to work well. Bluetooth has a theoretical max for some devices of around 100m but very few devices use class 1 Bluetooth as it uses more power than Class 2 which you are looking more at around 10m. You've also got to consider line of sight. If you are bobbing up and down on waves then your connection may cut out every time their is a wave between you and your phone. Bluetooth isn't exactly great at passing through water which is bad for your idea but good for allowing microwaves to heat food! (They both use 2.4Ghz)

  • Is there such a phone with an IP rating greater than 68?

  • Waterproof case with underwater swimming headphones should work?
    Something like: https://www.casebuddy.com.au/products/samsung-s7-idiver-wate…

    • +1

      I doubt the person on the other end would be able to hear anything if this guy is surfing though…

  • Hire airtasker to take calls for you, telling them you're on another call and will call back as soon as possible.

    • +4

      what does airtasker do? sit on the beach and wave you in when you have to go in to work?

      • Basically…. You're paying them to do whatever you want. So if you want to pay me to do that, then I have no issues with doing it ;)

  • +1

    I do a similar thing when out on the jetski. Waterproof phone case for iphone 5, from memory was $10 on ebay, also have a UE roll strapped to the jetski so I can hear the phone ring, but most the time I still miss a couple of calls

  • Great thanks for the responses guys! Looks like its a tough one. I like the idea of sealing up the phone, stuffing it in the back of my wetsuit and using waterproof headphnones.
    Or does anybody know if there is a china droid with same physical dimensions as Iphone as the lifeproof cases seem to be reasonable but dont want to spend too much on a phone that could die

  • Oh for anyone looking for a similar thing but have more $$$ to spend these look perfect: https://www.bbtalkin.com/

  • Maybe a waterproof pouch + waterproof bluetooth headphones that is suitable for swimming…strange but I've heard of them (maybe plantronics from memory)?

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