[pct-l] Cell Phones

[Trekker4 at aol.com]

On the PCT I've been able to connect with 2 bars of  signal strength, with 
nothing but forested ridges in all directions and no  valleys in sight; I've 
also been unable to connect with 5 bars of signal  strength, on a high, 
bare ridge with miles of valleys in sight. There is no  rhyme or reason - and 
no point in worrying, planning, or even thinking about it.  Your phone and 
your carrier will connect sometime, somewhere, and some how, all  at a place 
and time of their choosing.
    The signal strength your phone shows is based on  your phone's reading 
of the strength it's receiving from a tower or towers. Your  phone's 
transmit power is feeble, .3 watt or something like that. The wind  will blow that 
away, almost. If you connect, and want to send Pocketmail or  journal stuff; 
stand still and pray the signal doesn't blow away while you're  doing so.
    Take a phone if you want, but don't worry about it  otherwise. There 
are more important things to worry about, like how far it is to  the next pint 
of Haagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry's - or for some the next pint of  "tasty 
beverage". 
 
Bob  "Trekker"
Big Bend Desert Denizen, and...
Naturalized Citizen - Republic  of Texas  

 
In a message dated 5/14/2009 5:19:25 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
keahiker at gmail.com writes:

What is  the general experience with cell phones on the PCT?  Like  what
coverage do they have and which is the best one?

I read a  comment a few years ago that said that for all practical purposes
that  (with the exception of a satellite phone), they only work in towns.
But  there appears to be a lot of people updating journals and sending
messages  from the trail so something must work  somewhere.

Kea
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