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TMandGirls's avatar
TMandGirls
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2013

Internet technical options in Yellowstone

We are spending a week in Yellowstone this month, Canyon Village. My better half is taking online classes and we need internet access. I have searched the archives with no success (nothing recent) What are my options? Internet card? Is there Data service there, I could use my smartphone as a hotsopt? Sat? Any locations where we could use free wifi? Etc. any help would be great. We just need to be able to post on forums, small data usage. I am really looking to getting out of Fresno..106 here tomorrow..IN JUNE!
  • Well, you always have free wi-fi at any McDonalds, plus a lot of other fast food restaurants now offer it. Libraries are good too. If you plan on staying at an RV park, wifi is almost at all of em now. Call ahead. Otherwise, a cellular data plan for the laptop would work, but a bit pricey.
  • There is cellphone service in the Canyon Village area. There is (limited) cellphone service near (all?) the villages, almost none away. NPS has -NO- plans to allow expansion of cell-phone service.

    Wifi is available in Canyon Village Lodge, my understanding is it requires a "pass" from the hotel management.

    My further understanding is the band-width is limited. Hopefully the classes are not video, or they may not happen.

    The closest Library would probably be in Bozeman. I am also aware of NO "fastfood" or "coffeeshop" offering wifi in the Park.

    Due to the distances, don't be surprised if you have to pay for bandwidth.

    Personally I would hang the class until you were out of the park.
  • Go to your cell phone provider's web site and search for "coverage map." That will allow you to search a particular area and see what (if any!) coverage you have.
  • There is virtually noncoverage in the park my DW Verizon and my AT&T were virtually useless last year. The lodges had limited acces to a cell but data was almost impossible .. We stayed in west Yellowstone and could get acess there . I agree bag the course until later or don't go. :-(
  • Forget about trying to do anything with cellular internet in Yellowstone. We were just there and it's not gotten any better and there are no plans to change that. We had "some" service at Old Faithful and Mammoth. If staying in West Yellowstone is an option you should have excellent service there.
    I would call Canyon Village and see if they are able to provide any from of internet but your phone won't work so it's going to have to be a local Wi-Fi connection in the hotel.
  • The library in West Yellowstone has WiFi. There is a McDonalds there also that most likely has WiFi.
  • Update. At canyon campground in Yellowstone right now. AT&T has both voice and 4g data. Using cell as hotspot. Coverage in park is 50percent of time.

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