Few Cell Phones Will Work along the Alaska Highway
A reader recently wrote me about using a cell phone along the Alaska Highway. Frankly, there's not much use for a cell phone along the highway in northwestern Canada simply because there is very little cell phone coverage except near Whitehorse and a couple of other towns.
To add to that, please note that my U.S.-based cell phone does not work at all from Tok, Alaska (about 90 miles from the Canadian border) until I get to Fort St. John in British Columbia, some 1,200 miles away. And then, when it does work, it is frightfully expensive. Every call I make in Canada means I have to pay roaming rates, regardless of the number of minutes I might have remaining on my contract. Usually this works out to something like $3 a minute.
I believe any active cell phone will work in an emergency if you dial 911--or so I've been told--and if you are in one of the rare coverage zones. I've never had cause to try this feature, so I have no first-hand experience with it.
Once you enter coverage areas in Alaska, your U.S.-based cell phone should work just fine, although it is worth noting that of the larger companies, only Verizon does not have a presence in Alaska. Also, there are vast stretches of road in Alaska with no cell phone coverage, just like in northwestern Canada.
To add to that, please note that my U.S.-based cell phone does not work at all from Tok, Alaska (about 90 miles from the Canadian border) until I get to Fort St. John in British Columbia, some 1,200 miles away. And then, when it does work, it is frightfully expensive. Every call I make in Canada means I have to pay roaming rates, regardless of the number of minutes I might have remaining on my contract. Usually this works out to something like $3 a minute.
I believe any active cell phone will work in an emergency if you dial 911--or so I've been told--and if you are in one of the rare coverage zones. I've never had cause to try this feature, so I have no first-hand experience with it.
Once you enter coverage areas in Alaska, your U.S.-based cell phone should work just fine, although it is worth noting that of the larger companies, only Verizon does not have a presence in Alaska. Also, there are vast stretches of road in Alaska with no cell phone coverage, just like in northwestern Canada.
Labels: Cell Phones
posted by Ron Dalby at
3/25/2007 07:33:00 PM
2 Comments:
As you travel through Canada use a calling card at the pay phones at visitor centers to inform family/friends of your whereabouts. Some of these phones allow you to make calls without charging extra units.DJ
By
DJ, at April 13, 2007 12:32 PM
Two years ago we made the wonderful journey up the AlCAN Highway. To keep in contact with our family we researched the cell phone systems available. Verizon offers a "north american" plan...no airtime or roaming charges in Canada or Alaska. Coverage was spotty in some areas but reasonable. We have an outside antenna for our cell phone on the Motorhome...made by Wilson Trucker, I think. We went no more than 24 hours without being able to contact family/friends on our trip to Alaska.
Pops
By
Kentucky Wildcat, at May 1, 2007 8:40 AM
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