Cell phones in Alaska - RV-Dreams Community Forum

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cell phones in Alaska

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

I cannot help you out with cell service in Canada, but I don't think the service between the US and Canada is compatible. Some of our Canadian friends can help answer that, for sure. However, we have been to Alaska several times via car and have never had an issue. We also have Verizon. So, no worries there. Enjoy yourselves. The scenery is absolutely phenomenal and the atmosphere is so laid back and relaxing. Will you be doing the complete circle? We are not RVing yet, but I can help you with just about anything else. All you need to do is ask! Also, remember that if you have "X" number of vehicles behind you, you must pull over and let them by. I believe "X" to be about 4-5 vehicles. Safe travels!

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Voice service in Canada is OK in the south, difficult up in northern BC and Yukon. Even Canadians from the south had trouble making or getting phone calls in the north since the phone company was different. Do not do internet or data in Canada, it costs way, way too much money. You can end up paying hundreds or even thousands in fees to use data on your phone. In Alaska AT&T is best, with Verizon second. In cities you will have decent service, but much of Alaska is rural so do not expect much. One bit of advice is use your credit card(s) while in southern BC or Alberta, so you can accept the call or text from the credit card company to tell them you really are in Canada.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

From last experience and recent check you don’t want to use any 3G / 4G service in Canada without a specific Canadian plan. It is, to quote the CSR, “way too expensive.” In fact it is a very good idea to turn off your smart phone data at least 25 miles south of the Canadian border just in case your phone should “hit” a Canadian based tower. You could get a very large bill. We have family experience with this but we knew about it and it was a business phone so that was covered as anticipated. But the bill was huge.

We had OK coverage with Verizon in the major cities for voice, none away from them. Once you get north of Edmonton it goes dark until Whitehorse, YT. Then none again till Fairbanks last trip up; about the same over in BC as far as to the north. A lot of Canada is still analog and almost no US provided phones still have analog capability now. You can also sometimes see a signal on the phone but that signal is analog and will not work.

We had 3G in Anchorage and Fairbanks with Verizon. But mostly we had to depend on WiFi which was sort of OK. With an outside antenna or a “Bullet” you will do much better at the campgrounds albeit the speeds are pretty slow – or were last trip.

Verizon has a $20 / month plan that allows you to use your US minutes in Canada. Flat $20 That was just a phone call to set that up and worked well for us and naturally once in Alaska the US plan was in force just as it is in the lower 48. Call Verizon and get the service info before you leave and you will be more at ease.

Simple rule: Don’t depend on a cell phone in Canada or Alaska until you have been there and have your own experience. It depends.

Enjoy the adventure. We’re going back in 2014 as it now stands.

Bill

Terry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Bill and Linda have very good advise.

I am Canadian and for all Canadians with Canadian cell phones, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use your Canadian Cell phone anywhere close to the US border for the same reasons as above. You cell phone provider will perform cell phone grand larceny!!!