Cell phone coverage

[alpiam]

Because I am from Portland, Oregon, I don't know what the best cell phone coverage for the AT will be. I just want to use it in the towns as I pass through to call in to my family. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Bigfoot (scheduled to begin some time in March depending on weather).

[Mountain Wildman]

I have a Tracphone, I know for sure it works from Connecticut to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where I live.

[wcgornto]

They're all spotty. Generally work in town, on peaks and at major road crossings. Most people use AT&T or Verizon. Some people (including me) used a prepaid phone. I used a Tracfone and had service comparable to the major carriers.

[Praha4]

I've used an AT&T Gophone on section hikes in GA and NC, good coverage except around Standing Indian Mtn. Don't use TMobile, their coverage sucks in the mountains.

[d'shadow]

Verizon has the best coverage overall. In spots where you cannot get a signal to call, you can often still get a text message through.

[Beancounter09]

Verizon has the best network coverage of any of the major cell companies. Go to the Verizon and AT&T home pages, you can check the coverage for the trail by zooming in on their coverage maps.

That said, no carrier is going to provide 100% coverage the whole way. The reason tracphone, etc work is the providers all have roaming agreements. Most US carriers are CDMA (Verizon, Sprint, etc.)

[Spokes]

Verizon has the best coverage overall. In spots where you cannot get a signal to call, you can often still get a text message through.

d'shadow is right.

I used it to call 911 at the Poplar Ridge Lean-to for a female hiker who had a pine bough go through her leg coming down Saddleback Mountain, JR. Took Search and Rescue 4 hours to get her off the top of the mountain and to the hospital in Rangeley, ME

Thank goodness for Verizon coverage!