garym114
Texas
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Joined: 07/24/2006
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Sprint has very little coverage in Alaska. We didn't even try to use the phones on the way up in Canada. Only cities covered by sprint towers is Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Everything else is very spotty roaming. We switched to AT&T two years ago. If you are just going to use the phone for calls I would buy a pay as you go phone on AT&T and get the Canada roaming to reduce the cost per minute. Even with the plan it is still about 50 cents per minute. Pretty good coverage till you get north of Edmonton. From Edmonton to Tok there is not much with an carrier.
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Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
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home_school_dad
Woodleaf, NC
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Joined: 07/20/2004
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One thing I noticed in Canada and Alaska was that there were far more public phones than I see around here. Cell phones have almost put the pay phone out of business. When we got into Canada, we bought a phone card and used land lines. This was cheeper than cell charges. We did the same in Alaska.
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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In BC, Telus has the best service and coverage. Compared to costs for cell service in the US, it isn't cheap. Beware of roaming charges ... very expensive!
Telus coverage maps are at http://www.telusmobility.com/en/BC/Coverageandtravelling/canadavoicemaps.shtml. Note that you'll need a phone that is capable of old technology (digital PCS or 1x) for some of the areas. If your phone is only 3G capable it will not work in some of the more remote areas.
Along the Alaska Highway, most communities now have cell service. Between the communities, no service. When I say "community" I mean places like Watson Lake, Teslin, Haines Junction, Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek, and of course Whitehorse. Roadside stops/places like Liard Hot Springs, Junction 37 or Jakes Corner do not have cell service.
Along the Cassiar Highway in northern BC there is no cell service.
If you plan to stay at commercial campgrounds, there are pay phones or use Skype from your computer if the campground offers internet.
If you will be travelling the backroads and require continuous service with the outside world, satellite phone is the way to go. You can rent satellite phones now for whatever period is required.
sue t.
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Craig Nold
Gilliam, Missouri, USA
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Joined: 03/12/2003
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AT&T partners with Rogers for GSM service in Canada. Alaska bound AT&T Wireless customers can expect good service in Alberta and spotty service in BC as far as Fort Nelson. In central BC, coverage is good along Highway 97 and Trans-Canada Highway 16 at least as far as Smithers. There is no coverage on Highway 37 or anywhere in the Yukon. Service resumes again on Alaska Highway 2 near TOK. My old TDMA/GSM phone located a tower at Whitehorse buy would not dial out.
Friends have told me that their Verizon phones worked (CDMA voice only) in Watson Lake, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. If a partnership exists between Bell Canada or Telus and Verizon, that would seem likely. Bell Canada and Telus show those locations on their coverage maps.
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless_network
Craig Nold
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sharbra
Nevada
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Joined: 08/20/2007
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We found our Verizon coverage to be adequate on our trip last summer. Added Canadian coverage to our plan at the rate of $20.00 per month. Even though we spoke with folks at home often, never did exceed our plan minutes and get charged extra.
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Dr Quick
M'boro, Tn
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Joined: 08/25/2004
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We went to Alaska last summer and we have sprint. We had coverage pretty much in most fair size towns along the highway. In Canada it was .65 a minute to call, but in Alaska it was no extra charge, and the long distance was free just line in the 48.
Some one said to use a calling card in Canada, but when I went to place a call on a local pay phone, they wanted 180 minutes off the card for the call, or I guess about $4.00 for a call. I hung up and used the cell phone, it was cheaper.
Dr quick
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obgraham
WA
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Joined: 08/30/2005
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For those of you with a US Verizon Aircard, or the USB equivalent, be aware that the data service in Canada is considered "roaming", and the rate is just over $2.00 per MEG. I spent 2 days there doing a bit of surfing, which cost me $55.
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