View Full Version : AT Cell Phone coverage
Programbo
02-05-2006, 19:30
I know this goes against everything I believe the trial should be about but with my heart problems at this time I like carrying my cell phone with me on my little day hikes (They aren`t even "day hikes" just a few miles up the trial)..Because most of the trial in Maryland is overlooking heavily populated valleys it seems I can get a strong cell signal on most of the areas I`ve walked lately (I`m on T-Mobile)..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?
Skidsteer
02-05-2006, 19:51
I know this goes against everything I believe the trial should be about but with my heart problems at this time I like carrying my cell phone with me on my little day hikes (They aren`t even "day hikes" just a few miles up the trial)..Because most of the trial in Maryland is overlooking heavily populated valleys it seems I can get a strong cell signal on most of the areas I`ve walked lately (I`m on T-Mobile)..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?
I haven't walked the entire trail, but I'm in the industry. You should of course do some research on you own, but I would say the two best bets for cell phone providers would be Cingular and Verizon. Definitely not T-Mobile for widespread coverage. Luck to you!
Footslogger
02-05-2006, 20:30
They are always upgrading and/or installing new towers so my experience is somewhat dated (plus I didn't carry a cell phone on my thru in 2003) but from what I remember it was pretty hit and miss. One time I remember that they did work was at Ensign Cowall shelter ...and thank goodness we had a signal cuz we had the best pizza and soda party that night !!
'Slogger
AbeHikes
02-05-2006, 21:06
Was thinking about renting one of these for my GA leg this fall...
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/satphonestore/index.html
I've took my verision cell with me every time and most of the time I got a pretty good sig and there has been other times that I have stood on/under a tower and still not got a sig.You also can get lots of false readings on windy days and at certain places sometimes you need the force mode or analog to get a sig.Im sure you know this already but I learned this one the hard way that keeping yo phone on all the time will kill the battery fast from searching. I never use mine in shelters least Im alone then again I only use shelters for eating and conservation. Yoy may have research & read diffrent findings but you will fast learn if you ever do wip ye cell somebodys WILL surly wantta borrow it just to call and chitchat. For sure dude if you got heart probs absolutly take yo phone and a extra battery.Have a good Hike!
Took my Cingular to Central SNP last year and got zero coverage.
minnesotasmith
02-06-2006, 10:13
I looked over their service area maps, and they appear to cover way less than 10% of the AT south of Shenandoah Park. The rep told me that she had T-Mobil, and was able to get service at her cabin in the Smokies.
Tha Wookie
02-06-2006, 15:09
I know this goes against everything I believe the trial should be about but with my heart problems at this time I like carrying my cell phone with me on my little day hikes (They aren`t even "day hikes" just a few miles up the trial)..Because most of the trial in Maryland is overlooking heavily populated valleys it seems I can get a strong cell signal on most of the areas I`ve walked lately (I`m on T-Mobile)..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?
Don't worry, they're clearcutting more mountain tops as we speak to get you a better cell phone signal while hiking. That's what everyone pays for.
Shutterbug
02-06-2006, 23:24
This year I carried both a sat phone and a cell phone on my hike of the 100 mile wilderness. To my surprise, I had more places of coverage for the cell phone than for the sat phone.
I carried the phones for the same reason that you do -- I am a heart patient. A phone probably wouldn't increase my chances of survival much, but it makes my wife feel better to hear from me once a day.
I had cellular coverage (verizon) on most of the high places along the trail. Verizon has the best coverage in New England, but I found coverage in Virginia to be spotty when I was there last year.
The sat phone was a lot heavier than the cellular. A sat phone has coverage anywhere there is an opening in the canopy, but it was harder than I expected to find a clear enough spot to get a clear view of the sky.
I gave serious consideration to buying one of the personal locator beacons. When I was a pilot in the Air Force, I carried one of those. After a good bit of thought, I concluded that a sat phone would cover more situations than a locator beacon. The beacon signal will get out in more situations, but it only gives one message -- "I need to be rescued!!" There could be a lot of circumstances where I might want to seek help or give out information without calling for a rescue.
Having the phone really made a difference for me. My hiking plan called for me to meet up with some friends at a certain time. Because of three days of rain, I lost a day on my hiking plan. I was able to contact my friends to meet me at a different place. That week, two other hikers borrowed my phone to make contacts. Neither of them were situations where they would have used the locator beacon, but we important needs.
hammock engineer
02-07-2006, 00:04
One thing to consider is the coding technology on the phone. A lot of the newer phones are only bi-mode phones (cdma and cdma 2000, the newer digital ones). There are also tri-mode phones(cdma, cdma 2000, and old analog). The tri-mode phone is one that you want to look for. They tend to work more often in the middle of nowhere. The older phones will also get better coverage. The newer phones use a smaller bandwidth than the newer phones. In areas with spotty coverage, this could mean that the older phone will get a better signal.
Something to look for. I used to sell cell phones. There are still a couple of manufacturers that make tri-mode phones. I know that motorala makes some for Verizon.
I've always experienced spotty coverage when my phone is with me (rarely bring it anymore). I concur that when your phone searches for a signal or tries to connect a call, it will devour battery life. On my older phone an analog call could toast a fully charged battery in less than five minutes. Now if the phone goes at all it stays burried in the pack with a full charge.
gsmnpmtguyot
02-07-2006, 00:48
Don't worry, they're clearcutting more mountain tops as we speak to get you a better cell phone signal while hiking. That's what everyone pays for. There's your conservative conservation for you, conserve the right to rape America so they can conserve their wealth and power. Cell phone coverage in the Smokies: non-existent whatever your brand, the lady from T-mobile is a salesperson, say anything to sell a product(she sounds conservative to me). Coverage in a cabin in Gatlinburg is a far cry from coverage in the backcountry. You would think that there would be coverage on the AT in the GSMNP it being a ridgetop trail: don't bet your life on it. As for satellite coverage; thank goodness I purchased a GPS with a card that had buyer protection, otherwise I would have been out several hundred $. Hope the info is useful.
Illinois Coy
02-07-2006, 01:03
I know this goes against everything I believe the trial should be about but with my heart problems at this time I like carrying my cell phone with me on my little day hikes (They aren`t even "day hikes" just a few miles up the trial)..Because most of the trial in Maryland is overlooking heavily populated valleys it seems I can get a strong cell signal on most of the areas I`ve walked lately (I`m on T-Mobile)..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?
Sorry, I am dead set against cell phones on the AT. You are getting into the wilderness to get away from the dread of technology. It would seem very out of place for a cell phone to ring in the 100 mile wilderness or anyplace else in the wild. The best thing to do is wait until you reach a town and call on a prepaid phone card from a regular or pay telephone. Illinois Coy 2001.
TrailReverend
02-07-2006, 01:10
It is small enough to bring but would suggest leaving it off. I agree it shouldnt ring in the wilderness and coverage is bad but you never know when you may need it in case of emergency. better safe than sorry. I think you should only use 4 emergency purposes. You shouldnt be checking voicemails, text messages or calling out to socialize.
..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?
Not trying to moderate, just pointing this out. I believe the thread author wanted to stay away from debate about "to have or not to have". Plenty of other cell phone threads to weigh in on.:sun
Sorry, I am dead set against cell phones on the AT. You are getting into the wilderness to get away from the dread of technology. It would seem very out of place for a cell phone to ring in the 100 mile wilderness or anyplace else in the wild. The best thing to do is wait until you reach a town and call on a prepaid phone card from a regular or pay telephone. Illinois Coy 2001. Then you need to make sure you never have heart disease. I never smoked, great numbers on Blood pressure etc, ran half marthons then I got heart disease at age 45. Ten years later after 5 stents and a five way bypass I am now back on the trail. I don't use my cell phone but I like knowing it is there to call the family to say good BYE.
orangebug
02-07-2006, 07:01
Depending on the location and weather, there is cell phone coverage in the Smokies. The cell phone was helpful in locating a veteran injured hike Dec. 04, who wound up losing some frozen parts but apparently is back hiking.
Personally, I've found spotty coverage most everywhere in the NC/TN section of the AT. A cell phone may be enough to keep anxious family reassured, even if a silent one buried in a pack causes great distress to some among us.
I use Cingular, but understand that Verizon is a bit better for coverage.
Tim Rich
02-07-2006, 08:55
When I think of percentage of trail coverage, I don't think of continuous, step-by-step coverage, but rather if there's a place I could stop at any point during the day, get the phone out and get a reception. My hiking partner carried his Nextel phone most of the trail as we sectioned north. His Nextel coverage was not nearly as good as other carriers. A hiker with Verizon had a good reception at White House Landing the middle of the 100 Mile Wilderness, Nextel nothing.
From GA to the Smokies, my time there is too dated for current info. See Orangebug's comments. Anything north of the Whites is quite spotty as well, but we got some reception, at times, between Gorham and Monson.
Once you get north of the SMNP, the AT ridgelines largely parallel interstate highway corridors until you get to NH and Maine. When you do leave the interstates in PA you're in developed country with wide open spaces. Given today's technology (and contrary to Tha's and gsmnpmtguyot's ignorant or deliberately incorrect rants), there's a good chance that you could get a reasonable reception at *some point during the day* on the vast majority of the AT, perhaps as high as 80-85%. We didn't get the phone out every day to check for reception, and it's not such that you would be able to make a call at any time, or that your family could count on hearing from you every day, though. With our wives, we always gave them very low expectations in when we'd be able to contact them so they wouldn't worry. That way, as with our last hike, when we they didn't hear from us between Monson and Abol Bridge, they didn't think something was wrong.
Good luck to you in your hikes.
Take Care,
Tim
Cell phone coverage in the Smokies: non-existent whatever your brand
I'll drink to that! :banana
Hey,
I get complete coverage of the AT, with the exception of the town of Port Clinton and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, in PA using Verizon.
Grey Owl
Hey,
I get complete coverage of the AT, with the exception of the town of Port Clinton and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, in PA using Verizon.
Grey Owl
They have some sort of Hex, maybe? :dance
I hike alot alone in Maine in the winter so I have carried a cel phone for years but it is only for emergency and NEVER turned on. In tests it works about from mid way to the summit on most mountains, almost never in any low spot. In the nothern section of the 100 mile wilderness it worked about everywhere. I have US Celular but sometimes carry a Unicel or Verizon and all work about the same. I have been told. if you dial 911 any tower from any provider will pick it up regardless, but you first have to have a signal. I had a real bad experience on backpacking on the CDT in Montana two years ago. A hiker from another party keeled over from a heart attack. We were at over 9000 feet elevation on an open ridgeline. My wife started CPR while I got GPS Coordinates and dialed 911. NO SIGNAL- I ran to the nearest peak, NO SIGNAL again. We sent runners down the trail and did CPR until we were too tired to continue. I don't know if a cel signal could have saved that hikers life but I do lnow the lack of coverage meant hours before any help came. I still carry a cel phone but that experience taught me that it is not the answer every time. Some people depend too much on their cel phone and that is a major error.
gsmnpmtguyot
02-08-2006, 03:05
Helped participate in the rescue of Mr. Dinwiddie in the GSMNP in Dec. 04 and cell phone did not help find him. He was not located untill he was found by fellow hikers. Yes, he made a cell phone call for help but reception was so sketchy they were unable to triangulate his location, the NPS was unable to discerne that they even had an emergency call. He made the call and then lay helpless for 3 days untill found by the hikers. I repeat my advice on cell phone reception in GSMNP: don't bet your life on it.
gsmnpmtguyot
02-08-2006, 03:26
P.S. for Mr. Rich I live in Sevier county, TN. GSMNP HQ is located in Sevier county TN. I hike the GSMNP at least every other weekend. I merely related my experiences and those of the people I meet. The GSMNP staff will confirm my experiences. Don't tell me which way the wind blows in my backyard. Claiming you can get 85% time coverage in GSMNP is irresponsible as someone might believe you.
Tim Rich
02-08-2006, 09:36
P.S. for Mr. Rich I live in Sevier county, TN. GSMNP HQ is located in Sevier county TN. I hike the GSMNP at least every other weekend. I merely related my experiences and those of the people I meet. The GSMNP staff will confirm my experiences. Don't tell me which way the wind blows in my backyard. Claiming you can get 85% time coverage in GSMNP is irresponsible as someone might believe you.
I never said that. What's irresponsible is not reading what is right before you. I specifically excluded the SMNP from my comment. What I said, exactly, was this (other than bolding what you obviously missed):
From GA to the Smokies, my time there is too dated for current info. See Orangebug's comments. Anything north of the Whites is quite spotty as well, but we got some reception, at times, between Gorham and Monson.
Once you get north of the SMNP, the AT ridgelines largely parallel interstate highway corridors until you get to NH and Maine. When you do leave the interstates in PA you're in developed country with wide open spaces. Given today's technology (and contrary to Tha's and gsmnpmtguyot's ignorant or deliberately incorrect rants), there's a good chance that you could get a reasonable reception at *some point during the day* on the vast majority of the AT, perhaps as high as 80-85%.
You should have read my comment before seizing upon an incorrect assumption. My comment dealt with the AT north of the Smokies and south of the Whites. I also made it clear that reception (north of your Smokies and south of the Whites) could be had at "some point during the day", not continuously.
Lone Wolf
02-08-2006, 10:11
Tim, I read you post and it is clear. The smoky guy jumped the gun. Some folks are real territorial over trail sections and think they know-it-all about that section.
Cell phone coverage in the Smokies: non-existent whatever your brand.
I get good reception at the Le Conte shelter. 6400 feet about 5 miles from the AT.
I get good reception at the Le Conte shelter. 6400 feet about 5 miles from the AT.
There goes the neighborhood!
dougmeredith
02-11-2006, 18:18
Don't worry, they're clearcutting more mountain tops as we speak to get you a better cell phone signal while hiking. That's what everyone pays for.
Hopefully this will take care of some of those pesky birds too. :)
Doug
carolinahiker
02-14-2006, 09:36
I didnt have any coverage near clingmans dome a few year ago but my sons laughed and said i had crappy service his service would work so i said well call your mom and tell her how we are doin , he said he forgot to bring it lol. after a short chase down the trail i pummeled him with my hikin stick lol i had visions of the wife bring goodies to use at clingmans dome . But on a side note he did get good service on a insurgents cell phone he got after a firefight he called me and the reception was great. He said the guy didnt need it anymore and when they get one off a guy theu run up his bill, i told him that was low waste him and use up his minutes . War is hell i wish the Viet Cong would have had cellphones i could have called my mom.
Billygoatbritt
02-14-2006, 09:55
As an alltel cell user, I have always been able to get a signal at some time of the day. Even in the Smokies I was able to establish a connection from time to time. Don't expect coverage to be constant. If you take it for an emergency, Use it for that purpose only. Mine stays in the pack, turned off until it is needed.
Cannibal
09-26-2007, 20:09
So, more than a year and a half after the last post.........
Is Verizon still the leading contender in regards to coverage in towns along the AT?
My Verizon (Motorola V710) phone worked pretty well between Lehigh Gap and south-central Virginia on this year's section hike. SNP was problematic but not impossible -- I used the pay phones there a few times. Some shelters in hollows and gaps were problematic also. On almost any given day, I was able to get a signal from at least one point during the days' walk. Usually up on a ridge somewhere.
Cannibal
09-26-2007, 20:20
That's what I heard at Trail Days this year. My phone was useless (at&t-cingular-at&t) and everybody that had Verizon had signal. Thanks.
How about Verizon coverage on the AT through the Whites?
How about Verizon coverage on the AT through the Whites?
At Sunday River ski area and in Bethel, ME... no problems. (suggesting OK coverage from Gorham to Grafton Notch, more or less.) Can't comment on "the Whites" since most of my treks there predate cell phones ;).
Tennessee Viking
09-26-2007, 23:27
I know this goes against everything I believe the trial should be about but with my heart problems at this time I like carrying my cell phone with me on my little day hikes (They aren`t even "day hikes" just a few miles up the trial)..Because most of the trial in Maryland is overlooking heavily populated valleys it seems I can get a strong cell signal on most of the areas I`ve walked lately (I`m on T-Mobile)..Saving the pro`s and con's of carrying a cell phone for another thread..How much of the trial does everyone think might be covered by cell access?I can tell you that Sprint/Nextel/Virgin coverage sucks. I can only get signal in the cities and on major highways near trail in TN/NC. But other than that it drops off fast. Unaka & Roan I can only get GPS pings, but no voice service, from nearby towers.
I just switched to Alltel, and I can get a little service on some of the more remote parts on Unaka/Roan/Bald.
As an alltel cell user, I have always been able to get a signal at some time of the day. Even in the Smokies I was able to establish a connection from time to time. Don't expect coverage to be constant. If you take it for an emergency, Use it for that purpose only. Mine stays in the pack, turned off until it is needed.
So, if cellphones stay in the pack, turned off, until they are needed, how do folks know where there's a signal? :-?
I have made calls from Spence Field 2 years in a row. I have AT&T my friend with Verizon could not make a call. It was real sketchy and you had to hold your moth just right but it worked. I will call my wife and babies every night I get the chance and if you do not like it I am sorry but not enough to stop calling my babies. I love the woods but I sleep better knowing my kids are safe and well. I am not trying to be obstinate but come own all the stuff that goes on in a shelter cabin dogs, Smoke, language, some one talking on a phone is not that big a deal. I always walk away from the shelter where others can not hear me but If that was the only place I got signal I would sit right down and call my wife every night. lol
Every Blessing
canerunner
09-30-2007, 11:24
Sorry, I am dead set against cell phones on the AT. You are getting into the wilderness to get away from the dread of technology. It would seem very out of place for a cell phone to ring in the 100 mile wilderness or anyplace else in the wild. The best thing to do is wait until you reach a town and call on a prepaid phone card from a regular or pay telephone. Illinois Coy 2001.
That's easy to say when you are young and healthy (as far as you know), but when you get a bit older and already have health challenges, prudence is a necessary thing.
(No flame intended here, but there are other considerations.)
There are many of us out here who have had life threatenting events or illnesses, and many of us who, although requiring more caution than others, still ain't dead. I have to be pretty cautious with the things I do and I have to keep within my physical limits. That being said, as long as I can be outside and close to what I love, I will.
I'm almost 60, and a cancer survivor. I don't have the stamina I had before my cancer, and sometimes, due to the type of cancer, I have issues that can come on rapidly and at unexpected times. I have not let that keep me at home. I have learned to adapt and overcome. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time, and sometimes I have to have outside assistance. It's not often, but it happens.
If something as simple as a cell phone stored in my pack is available to allow me to at least be out and hiking, It's going to be along for the ride. I don't have to have it turned on for someone to call me, but I sure what to be able to make an emergency call if I get to a point where I need help in a hurry.
Your being "dead set" against cell phones doesn't make a rat's rear to me. If it means I can follow the white blazes, a cell phone is a lot more important to me than your opinion. You do it the way you want, and I'll do it the way I need to.
Having to face the very real possibility that your life is at it's end really alters the things that are important to you. Having the ability to reorder your priorities afterward makes you really appreciate the things that you took for granted before.
Being able to do things that you thought would never be possible again brings true joy. Understanding the gift that you've been given truly humbles you.
Walk a mile in the other man's moccasins. Open your eyes a little wider.
When I backpacked the 100 mile wilderness, I managed to get cell phone coverage a few times. Depends on where you are I suppose.
Kirby
Blissful
09-30-2007, 15:35
How about Verizon coverage on the AT through the Whites?
Spotty at best. Even at high elevation, we had problems (esp in the Presidentials). We got cell coverage at Galehead hut, I know, right in front of the hut. I got it once at Lakes of the Clouds in the middle of the night (that was a miracle as I was really illl). You can use the pay phone on Mt Washington, which I did. And at the notches, depending on where you are staying (pay phone at The Flume at Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch Campground, and Pinkham Notch). You can take the gondola down for free on Wildcat - I didn't go down myself but I'm sure there is probably a phone there. I found having a calling card and my cell phone to be helpful, though the pay phone does eat minutes alive.
Blissful
09-30-2007, 15:37
When I backpacked the 100 mile wilderness, I managed to get cell phone coverage a few times. Depends on where you are I suppose.
Kirby
I know, that was amazing. I spent more time talking to my hubby on the cell those last few days. Maine really wasn't too bad, considering. I got him at different times even with only one bar.
-SEEKER-
09-30-2007, 20:55
TracFone They latch onto whatever tower is near.
I haven't hiked the entire trail, but I can tell you that when others don't have service I have. I use Verizon. Never have found a place without service yet.