cell phones

[grizzly]

I know this is a very unpopular topic, but... can anyone tell me what cell phone company has the best connectivity on the trail? I realize that I will not be able to always get a connection, but is one service provider superior to another? Verizon looks pretty good,(and that's what I intend to bring) but any information to the contrary would be appreciated.

[Papa Bear]

I had good experience with Verizon from NJ north to Maine. Didn't hike south of there.

Remember you will generally get a signal on hill/ridge tops, not in valleys.

One side affect of this is when you get to a road you generally will not have a signal (except in towns). We learned the hard way when we came out in Grafton Notch (Maine) instead of East B Hill Road and couldn't call our shuttle (in Andover) to notify him of the new rendezvous. We froze in the rain and finally hitched to Bethel.

Pb

[Preacher Dude]

My cell phone is Verizon. I was able to use it only at certain mountain vista overlooks ....and even that would come and go. Since most of the shelters are located in gaps, I haven't found a shelter where I could get a connection. If you are expecting someone to be able to get in touch with you while on the trail .....you can pretty much forget that.But then again, one of the main reasons a lot of us enjoy the trail is because we are able to get away from the phones and the stress of day to day business.. I normally leave the telephone numbers of the Ranger districts that I plan to hike through with my family so they can get in touch with me in case of an emergency.

[MedicineMan]

can you say Ham radio....CW can punch through when nothing else can...not for telling the mrs. that you are fine, but good for when someone has bone sticking through skin

[Blue Jay]

Verizon is currently building and planning to build more cell phone towers than any other corporation on earth. So if you want more towers, Verizon is a very good corporation to support.

[Rhody Bill]

AT&T worked nine out of ten nights, from Ga to Me from the ridges and mountaintops.

[smokymtnsteve]

.....

[grizzly]

I would like to thank the people who stuck to the topic and gave me concrete, unbiased and usefull information on cell phone connectivity on the trail. For me personally, I now will consider this forum closed.

[Blue Jay]

For me personally (and every other nally), I now will consider this and all other forums except trailplace, open.

[Lugnut]

Finally! A legitimate use for a cell phone on the trail.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37000-2003Jul10.html

[Jumpstart]

We had good luck with Sprint, as far south a VA..Spint service on a Sanyo phone :) Good luck

[B Thrash]

You may get strung up on a nearby tree for using a cell phone in a shelter by a purest white blaze thru-hiker. Just between me and you when I use my cell phone I go up or down the trail so I will not cause any ill feelings with the other hikers in the shelter.
If you already have a cell phone it will work as good as any as long as you have a good battery and your cell phone signal is picked up by a tower in the area that you are in. I use Cingular with good results.

[Lone Wolf]

I don't use water filters, hiking poles, cell phones, my pack is over 40lbs., I blue blaze a LOT, may carry a sidearm sometimes, never s**t in a privy. My point? Too much cabernet tonite. Carry a cell phone if you feel you need it. I'll respect your decision. Have a nice hike.
Semper Fidelis