Cell Phone usage in Canada on way to Alaska

docj wrote:

pappcam wrote:

jcsb wrote:
Traveled to Alaska in 2011. Have Verizon. Added the extra charge while in Canada. It was a waste of money. Did not activate for second two trips into Canada during our trip.

Generally except in the larger towns, there is NO cell service in Canada. Along the Alaskan highway we had no cell service.

Utilized internet when available, generally in RV parks and larger towns.

Wow. What a load of garbage. Thanks for perpetuating your stereotype though.

If you don't have Verizon or ATT your cell phone may not have adequate roaming capability in Canada but we were carrying a Telus pre-paid phone on our trip this summer and had no trouble making calls even as far north as Jasper.

If you look at a Canadian cell phone coverage map you can see that there is definitely coverage from coast to coast along the Trans-Canada Hwy. Sure, there are areas of no coverage but they are mostly so far north there aren't any roads you would be driving on anyway.

Blame your phone, don't blame Canada.

Well said and thanks;
A Canuck.
Interesting how generalizing is generally wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pappcam wrote:

jcsb wrote:
Traveled to Alaska in 2011. Have Verizon. Added the extra charge while in Canada. It was a waste of money. Did not activate for second two trips into Canada during our trip.

Generally except in the larger towns, there is NO cell service in Canada. Along the Alaskan highway we had no cell service.

Utilized internet when available, generally in RV parks and larger towns.

Wow. What a load of garbage. Thanks for perpetuating your stereotype though.

If you don't have Verizon or ATT your cell phone may not have adequate roaming capability in Canada but we were carrying a Telus pre-paid phone on our trip this summer and had no trouble making calls even as far north as Jasper.

If you look at a Canadian cell phone coverage map you can see that there is definitely coverage from coast to coast along the Trans-Canada Hwy. Sure, there are areas of no coverage but they are mostly so far north there aren't any roads you would be driving on anyway.

Blame your phone, don't blame Canada.

jcsb wrote:
Traveled to Alaska in 2011. Have Verizon. Added the extra charge while in Canada. It was a waste of money. Did not activate for second two trips into Canada during our trip.

Generally except in the larger towns, there is NO cell service in Canada. Along the Alaskan highway we had no cell service.

Utilized internet when available, generally in RV parks and larger towns.

Wow. What a load of garbage. Thanks for perpetuating your stereotype though.

If only in transit across Canada surely one can do without their beloved cellphone for a few days. It really is not that hard to do. Man survived thousands of years without it.

Most all Canadian private CGs have WIFI. If you have WIFI you have Skype. No big deal to notify those who might need to contact in an emergency what time you most likely will be on.

I called Verizon and they added Canada for a very reasonable price with no roaming charges. I have the unlimited national plan. Once I returned to the US, I called and they removed it and prorated the month. For data, I added a block of data for Canada to my mi-fi 4G. Not cheap but worked like a charm. I did not go into remote areas of Canada or to Alaska.

Traveled to Alaska in 2011. Have Verizon. Added the extra charge while in Canada. It was a waste of money. Did not activate for second two trips into Canada during our trip.

Generally except in the larger towns, there is NO cell service in Canada. Along the Alaskan highway we had no cell service.

Utilized internet when available, generally in RV parks and larger towns.

All smartphones have an option to turn data roaming off. It leaves the data and voice connection going but as soon as you're out of the area covered by your data plan the data will shut off on it's own. Mine is set like that all the time so I never have to worry about getting dinged with obscene roaming data charges and it requires me to do absolutely nothing to my phone before I go anywhere.

Six years ago I added Canada to my verizon plan for $10 a month. May no longer be available but ask verizon

docj wrote:
You do NOT have to turn your smartphone off in Canada; all you have to do is turn off the data connection and make sure that Data Roaming is OFF.

Thats what I meant. I should have been clearer. Sorry

You do NOT have to turn your smartphone off in Canada; all you have to do is turn off the data connection and make sure that Data Roaming is OFF.