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[pct-l] Cell phones



It's been my own experince (with AT&T and Verizon) that a cell phone is a 
pretty useless device anywhere along the PCT.  I've investigated 2-meter radios 
but was put off by their weight and my own inexperience with them.  Chgeth, 
I've never been to Germany, but, as someone mentioned before, with a denser 
population I would imagine that in any given spot your odds of picking up a cell 
signal there are pretty good.  Now imagine...here in America...pick a spot, just 
throw a dart at a map of America,  the chances, especially in the western 
portions, are that at that particular spot there is no cellular coverage.  There 
are a lot (and here I'm hitching up my cowboy boots and spitting out a bit of 
chaw) of wide open spaces here in the land of the free and the home of the 
brave.

So, if I understand your intent, that you want to have a good chance of 
telephone coverage along the PCT, I think that you're only option is a satellite 
phone.  They're a bit pricey, a used Globalstar will run you, refurbished, about 
$395.  Monthly service starts at about $35, which includes 30 minutes of free 
time and a charge of a dollar a minute after that.  Other plans cost more but 
offer more free minutes and less expensive additional minutes. There are 
other systems as well as rental options; you'd probably be best served by checking 
some of their web pages. 






In a message dated 4/8/2004 1:59:42 PM Pacific Standard Time, chgeth@yahoo.de 
writes:

> Being from Germany I have some questions about cell
> phones in the US.
> Apparantly I need a new cell phone for the US because
> you  use triband ones that are not common in Europe.
> When I buy a new cell phone in the US what provider
> should I use for best net coverage and reception? 
> Will I generally have good reception on the trail or
> are there a lot of "white spots"?
> And if an emergency happens, whom do I call? Just 911
> or is there a special number for mountain rescue?
> Thank you,
> Christine
> 
> 
>   
>     
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