Alaska Communications

[Sprinter]

For those of you heading north this summer and those of you who have gone before us. I've been doing some research on cell service from here to Alaska. It appears that Verizon is covered all the way up except for in the Yukon.

What are your ideas for cell service thru there? I was thinking of a $10.00 trac phone that pulls signal from any tower for emergencies. Or just do the old pony express and send a note on with the next driver or two.

What are your thoughts?

Sharon

[Birdie]

Before Pony Express....no communication for a week or 10 days probably won't end a relationship. I mean, family is still family and friends are still friends and then you have LOTS to talk about.

Some are talking about getting a Canadian sim card for their phones. For me, see paragraph 1.

[Liz]

Last time I was there my US bought Tracfone did not work in Canada. Don't know about buying one there for use there. To make international calls you'd need an international plan I believe or else have enormous roaming charges from Verizon.

Like Birdie, I don't plan to use my cell in CA. When I was there in 2009, I needed to call my dd, so bought a $10 Canadian phone card and used the cg phone to call. Never did use all the minutes on that card.

We'll have Walkie-Talkies to communicate within our caravan.

[longdog2]

Verizon has a US/Canadian plan. Might check to see if you could switch to that for the time needed and then switch back. If you can get Internet locally , you can skype.

[mitch5252]

..

I plan to buy a prepaid phone from Petro Canada...$25 for 100 minutes/120 days.
Use it to call campgrounds, restaurants, etc. within Canada.
The 120 days should cover me both coming and going. (I hope!)

I'm bringing a 2-meter ham radio for emergencies, but I'm sure it won't be needed.
Walkie-Talkies for the car.

http://mobility.petro-canada.ca/en/features/401.aspx

..

[Sandersmr]

Mitch - you are a ham? (sorry if I set you up with Vicky)

My call is WA5RSU - my dad was a ham while I was growing up and that was his call sign.

[mitch5252]

..

Yes, I'm a ham. SHUT UP, VICKIE!
I have an Advanced License.
Passed the test for Extra, but couldn't do the 20WPM code.
BTW - Vickie's a ham, too!

..

[VickieP]

Yes, yes I am! That got me to thinking...there was a thread on this previously, had to go search.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2180&p=23161&hilit=ham+license#p23161
We started out talking about HAM and somehow (the way we do, same as here, sorry Sprinter) we ended with guns.

[Gentleladybear]

If you have a phone with a sim card you can buy a sim card as you enter canada, use it through canada then switch back to your american card. This was advice given to me by sprint.

[Sprinter]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I would only use it for emergencies. Just thinking if I break down and can't call Coachnet. I won't be caravanning, I'll be solo. I guess I could always unhook my Jeep and go to the nearest town too. Lots of options here.

Hoping to find wifi along the way for my internet addicition!

Thanks again!
Sharon

[Bethers]

If you need help, you wave down the next car - almost everyone will stop to help. That said, I could use my phone in Canada last time (AT&T) and had to for business once - cost me - but had to do it. I rarely turned it on though. You will find you can stop many places for free wifi and stay in touch that way, if you need to. I will not do anything this time - used to travel without a phone, and it doesn't bother me. You will be more often without service in Alaska - and you will NOT have service everywhere in Canada other than the Yukon - do not believe that. And service can even be sketchy in many Alaska cities - work good one day, and not the next. AT&T was better than Verizon in some of the cities last time. I have Verizon this time - so we shall see. I went on a Verizon forum to read - and many customers are not happy up there who have upgraded to 4g phones - said they are not working as well (they claim they go backwards to 3g, but they say they don't do a good job of it). We have a few more months on our sides, so hopefully that will continue to improve. And I have the old data card and phone - so that might work in my favor this time. Then again, might not

[dayspring39]

Wow I have walki-talkies does that mean I can go along?
oh how I wish...
I am excited for all of you...
Kathleen

[Sprinter]

Sure you can Kathleen!

Beth, I'm with you. I can upgrade in April, but I'm not going to. 4G just isn't there yet except for in big cities. We'll be better off without it.

[Liz]

Wow I have walki-talkies does that mean I can go along?
oh how I wish...
I am excited for all of you...
Kathleen

Wish you could too, Kathleen.