View Full Version : Cell phone coverage at shelters
Some shelters get a signal some don't. Is there a list somewhere that tells the availability of cell service for each shelter? I'm suprised that it's not in the guide.
Rain Man
09-23-2012, 15:01
I'm not surprised at all. SO many variables. So many services providers. Constant changes. Weather affects reception. Time of day affects reception. Sun spots and solar flares can affect reception. Type of phone affects service. Sometimes I can do text, but not voice. It's hit-or-miss. One side of shelter may have reception, another side may not.
I can't even tell you if my wife will always have reception at her place of work, and often service at my home is spotty. Much less publish about some shelter on some mountainside.
Rain Man
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Wise Old Owl
09-23-2012, 15:54
Rainman nails it.... the Sprint phone doesn't work at my desk but will ring - I have to go to the kitchen...... Anyway direct strike on a tower sometimes shuts off temporarly or destroys the tower. It took two months to repair the tower in Wilmington Delaware last year along Winterthur route 52. The tower on route three Willistown serving Paoli was hit this year......
There is little need for such a list that you are asking...
Google "your carrier" + coverage+map click on images or add a state, and view the images for this information....
besides making a call from a shelter is social taboo in this culture.... :rolleyes: unless you are very alone....alone....alone.....echo.
Stir Fry
09-23-2012, 15:56
If you are on the side of the mountain that you can see a town you may have service. If you can't see anything you may not have service. But, on the other hand it some times works the other way you see nothing and you have service, you see town and have nothing. If you get out and hike enough you will figure it out, or not. Then again what Rain Man said is spot on.
hikerboy57
09-23-2012, 16:09
rule of thumb is if you need cell service, it wont work, and if you dont need it signal will be clear and strong
bigcranky
09-23-2012, 19:41
My experience so far in the South is that cell service is often available at some point during the day, though it's spotty, and that it's often not available at shelters because shelters are often tucked into hollows or ravines near a water source. If I have promised to keep in touch with home, I'll usually end up checking for service along the top of the ridge during the day, and not worrying about it at night.
Lone Wolf
09-23-2012, 19:47
Some shelters get a signal some don't. Is there a list somewhere that tells the availability of cell service for each shelter? I'm suprised that it's not in the guide.
that is unimportant info not needed in any trail guide
Like BigCranky says, shelters usually suck for reception because they're in semi-protected areas (usually).
Cell phone service is easy to get on the trail - at least with Verizon.
I'm always glad when I'm somewhere WITHOUT cell reception - usually a much wilder and more remote place. I don't have to listen to your conversation and I can giggle at your frustration that you can't use your beloved device.
fredmugs
09-24-2012, 08:48
In May I was in the 100 mile wilderness and forgot to turn off my phone and received a text at the Cloud Pond lean-to. Like others have said it's variable and Verizon seems to have the greatest coverage across the trail.
my opinion is that as much as were paying for cell phones(my bill is 180 mth) there should be no where without service
my opinion is that as much as were paying for cell phones(my bill is 180 mth) there should be no where without service
I think three is something freeing about being anywhere that doesn't have cell service.
Don't get me wrong, it's good to get back to it too.
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it is nice to not have service(when hiking) but i think we have all cursed at our phone for dropping an important call or not having service when we NEED to make a call.
Odd Man Out
10-22-2012, 21:17
my opinion is that as much as were paying for cell phones(my bill is 180 mth) there should be no where without service
Of course you don't get service everywhere. The cell phone companies are too busy laughing all the way to the bank to deposit all the money they get because they have convinced everyone that they can't live without a cell phone regardless of service. Don't you love free market economies. Pretty soon, people will actually stop hiking because they can't get phone service at shelters.
It's something that is a non-issue. If I don't have service I will live!
The question is wi-fi because playing words with friends is a real issue!:)
If you're going to use your phone to communicate while on the trail, at least text. It won't annoy others, and it works better with a weak signals.
It also depends on the phone....