Heading north in 60 days and wondering what to do about cell and or internet service. Does anyone have experience with having service in the north, what company is the best to go with? What has worked for you?
This is our first trip and would like to stay in touch. Perhaps it is only available in the cities?
We did the whole Alcan Hwy and only had cell phone service in the larger towns . We have Sprint and it worked good with reg. or romeing service . Internet service was ok in camp grounds near larger towns . Most times you needed to be close to the office or laundry mat . Have a good trip .
Ken/Ellen(RET)
2000 F250 Superduty
7.3psd/Banksbrake/Smartlock/Trans command/3.73gear/Edge EZ module
2002/29ft-Terry 5er:
Oh boy ... don't tell my office that there is cell service anywhere in the north. I have them convinced there is absolutely no cell service and no way to contact me when we're off touring. And each year we've had peaceful vacations.
Despite there now being service in most communities in the Yukon, I've never let on otherwise.
AT&T covers most of the cities and most all of the Kenai peninsula. They recently bought out Dobson (Cellular One). If you use a phone for internet connection that will work also. I put a Wilson cellular antenna on top of the MH and it works great.
2000 Sea Breeze with 1998 CRV Toad in Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
Don't Forget - USS Liberty, June 08, 1967
If you need cell phone coverage in Canada and Alaska here are some hints.
Background
The notion is to point out a common platform that will work for the US travelers in Canada at low cost with no ongoing commitment in terms of contracts. It requires GSM technology type phones.
AT&T is the dominate provider in Alaska – if there is service available at a location then AT&T will be the local provider of choice.
Roger's Communications is a ubiquitous provider in Canada for cell coverage. Their coverage map is fairly extensive but apparently they do not cover more remote areas.
Make sure you have at least one unlocked GSM cell phone capable of at least 850/1900 MHz reception. That phone will work in big city America, rural America(850 MHz is used here) and Canada.
Rogers is an AT&T roaming partner for AT&T monthly plan customers but you will not like their dollars per minute charges for calls from your AT&T phone used in Canada. The key is to get ‘local’ coverage and the least expensive way is to have a pre-paid phone account with the local provider.
Once you have your unlocked GSM phone, then you can purchase a Rogers SIM card with your own Canadian telephone number, voice mail etc.
Details
Purchase an unlocked GSM cell phone capable of at least 850/1900 MHz reception. That phone will work in big city America, rural America(850 MHz is used) and Canada. It must be unlocked so it will work with AT&T and Rogers Communication.
The SIM card in the phone has your carrier identity and the electronic info to’ know’ your phone number and register it with the carrier and make calls. It is a little device inside your cell phone that is easily removed/replaced.
In Alaska use an AT&T SIM card since they are the dominate provider in Alaska. In Canada take out the AT&T SIM card in the phone and put in a prepaid Rogers SIM card. Now you have native Canadian telephone number and service. This only works if the phone is unlocked.
If you are a monthly AT&T customer then you can take the SIM card out of your current phone and put it in your recently purchased unlocked phone – same plan, just a different phone. If you are not an AT&T monthly plan customer then you should purchase an AT&T “GO Phone” SIM card – a prepaid plan type approach.
You have reasonable cost cell service in Canada and America.
More Details
Go to ebay, and search for “unlocked cell phone” – the last search had over 12,000 hits. I use a Nokia 3150 – it has 850/1800/1900 MHz reception, is inexpensive, rugged and readily available for about $25. Unfortunately it is only good for talking – text messaging is almost impossible, it has no camera, no Internet browser, no RSS feeds, no nuthin but talking.
On ebay search for “rogers SIM card” – you should get about 50+ hits. Buy one that is not activated. Should cost about $10 or so. Rogers will sell them to you for about $49.
You now have an unlocked phone and a Canadian SIM card.
If you do not have AT&T service as your native service in the US, then you will probably need to buy an AT&T ‘GO phone’ SIM card or pay for roaming charges in Alaska. That will allow your unlocked phone to work in Alaska. On ebay search for “AT&T SIM card” – you should get about 700+ hits. Buy one that is not activated. Should cost about $10 or so.
Your existing AT&T phone will not work with the Rogers SIM card because the phone is locked to the AT&T network – that is why you bought an unlocked phone. Did I mention that you need an unlocked phone?
You now have all the pieces – use the AT&T SIM card in America and the Rogers SIM card in Canada. Since they are associated with prepaid accounts, you have no contract or other issues. Cost for service vary but will be about $ .25/minute for America and about $ .20/minute for Canada.
Use the prepaid account phone to make calls and also call your ‘regular’ cell/home number, pick up your messages, and return calls.
On my trip through Yukon in 2006, I had no cell service except for Whitehorse. Away from there "in the bush," I had to buy a phone card and call home to Colorado using the land line at diners. This summer I'm going back and will probably do the same thing (still have the phone card), though my very nice friend has lent me his sat phone if I have an emergency.
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