Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Can you hear me now? Summit cell phone coverage

The recent search and rescue effort showed the importance of being able to communicate your position and condition. The three hikers were able to send text message from the summit. It sounds like the communications greatly assisted their rescue.

Who has the best cell coverage at the summit: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint...? If I'm going to drag along a cell phone (and I usually don't) I want to have some coverage.

How spotty is the cell phone coverage? I'm assuming that most spots along the Mount Whitney Trail won't have any cell phone coverage. You'll need to be high up and have clear exposure to the east.

I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a cell phone versus SPOT locator discussion. But if I was in the missing group from Meysan Lake, I'm sure that a SPOT would be worth its weight in gold.



Comments:

- Weather conditions can affect cellphone coverage.

- Text messages can be sent in some cases even when you don't have enough signal for making of voice call. Texting uses way less power so you can preserve battery power.

Generally speaking, Verizon users seem to have the most success. I've got AT&T and have had zero luck in the past - a complaint I hear regularly.

iPlod -
From my experience, AT&T is HORRIBLE anywhere in the Sierras, especially on the east side. I wouldn't rely on my iPhone for anything other than pictures and video when I'm hiking up there. I've heard that Verizon is a little better. I think that's what Laura has.

Stacy
(Whaz up Gary?)

Hi Verizon today is the most likely to get coverage , next week or next year no telling which system will be the "one". These companies sell service to third parties .I think last year this coverage area was not in the big sell off to Verizon from Cellular-one , We have found in the past that at times are billing and accounts were started in Reno and never tied to California , so when the change from Analog to digital happened we were without service and needed new gear for phone and credit card processing.


Ok some simple things when looking for service if it says no roaming charge that means you may not or will not get signal/service in this area ,you system is blocked.


When you buy a phone ask for the most power-out at least .3 watts on the transmit and make sure you get the phone with the strongest battery and longest hold on the charge, I think some phones have a power down function and may save battery


Simple may be better , ring tones, lights and sounds may use battery. I have found tech people at the outlet centers about a waste of time, but if you spend the time and get to the techs at the call center they will research the answer and call you back.


Line of sight is the key when calling .If you can see the Valley search for the town center and look in that direction while calling. Stay clear of trees and rocks that may block the signal. The hotter it is in the Valley your distance will reduce for service( hot/cold air SKIP OR BOUNCE) .


I carry a phone on all trips and have used them when all other radios systems fail , would I trust it working everytime ? NO.


One last thought on cell phones and profit , if I recall the new phones have gps coverage for tracking the caller , GPS has the ability to track velocity. Why can one text when moving??Thanks Doug

I found three places on the MMWT where I could make calls with my Verizon phone.
1. Eastern edge of Lone Pine Lake
2. Several locations between Mirror Lake and Consultation Lake
3. Summit

well, I enjoy calling with AT&T from Lake T Edison east end boat landing and at VVR when nobody else has a signal. It's a hit and miss elsewhere and useless around Whitney. Doesn't really matter, since I'm only with AT&T because no other carrier works where I live. For the Sierras, if you really need to call somebody, just get a sat phone.

Fishmonger
The last time I was at Edison Lake (love the road from Huntington!)was about 20+ years ago and I had LA Cellular...remember them?
Trust me, I don't go backpacking to make phone calls....I go to get away from them!

Stacy

You can make AT&T calls from UBSL/Clyde Meadow area. I know because I was bored to tears in the tent for two days during a winter storm and was able to make some calls to maintain my sanity.

There are a few other spots in the Whitney Zone where AT&T will work, but they aren't widespread.

Verizon is a LOT more reliable. When Verizon gets the iPhone, I'll probably switch back (not that I own an iPhone now).

Richard -
When I get up Whitney (hopefully next year) I'll give it a try from UBSL...but I don't think it will be the result of boredom, at least I hope not.

BTW - Congrats on 100 summits! We were up on Bishop Pass at about the same time and I gave a shout out towards Whitney in your honor

Stacy
(from MC's Dinner Party)

My Verizon always got out from the summit and from various other locations on Whitney and other parts of the Sierra. I've seen AT&T users not have nearly as good of coverage.

I have a Sprint cell phone. I get coverage on top. But, not from Sprint. It is always in the expensive roam mode. In fact, I only have Sprint coverage a few places on the 395 (Bishop) from I15 all the way to Mamoth. I also do not get any Sprint coverage in Yosemite and can not successfully enter the roam mode on top of HalfDome. When I started with Sprint 15 years ago coverage was good and no charges for also placing calls in Canada. Recently (past 5-7 years) coverage has been much poorer and calls in Canada are very expensive. When I next switch carriers I would be very interested in one that works throughout the Sierras and that I could take to Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) and South America (Aconcagua). Good luck on your quest for a good cell service.
Jim

JimC,

You're not going to find a phone that works well at Whitney plus Tanzania and Chile. All of the posts on this thread confirm Verizon has the best coverage in the Eastern Sierras. Unfortunately, you won't find any cellular networks in Africa or Chile compatible with Verizon's phones (call them CDMA). AT&T has phones (GSM/UMTS) that will work overseas, but they don't work well up in the Sierra mountains.

When I went to Tanzania, I relied on internet cafes for keeping in touch and sending home news. I didn't even take a phone. And I was working for Nokia's division who made phones for Verizon. You can always rent a phone when you arrive.

I second this for another reason: you do not want to do what I did, which is forget your personal phone with all of your personal and business contacts in a motel room in a rural Italian village. I was lucky enough to speak the language, strike a deal, and have the phone shipped home.

Part of the reason I dumped Verizon was the amount of time I was spending out of the country at the time. I could have gotten a Verizon phone the had a slot for a GSM chip, but didn't want to pay the cost, so I switched to AT&T.

If I had it to do over again, I would have kept the Verizon for the US and just bought a cheap phone and prepaid SIM overseas (which is what I've been doin ever since). It rediculous how much any of our phone companies want (per minute) when you're overseas.

I live in Bishop and have AT&T. The service isn't so good in the mountains but adequate along the highway and in town. The type of phone you have makes a difference. I have a Blackberry and it does pretty well. I have stood right next to people with iPhones and other AT&T phones who didn't have service. I don't get service on the summit of Whitney though.

For the Sierra I rely on my Ham radio and I sometimes bring my satellite phone. Cell service is spotty at best in the Sierra regardless of who your provider is. But among the cell providers, like people have said above, Verizon is your best bet.

Part of the reason I use AT&T is it will work internationally. I regularly guide trips to Kilimanjaro & Mt. Kenya (Tanzania & Kenya), Aconcagua (Argentina & Chile), Mt. Elbrus (Russia), and Mexico's Volcanoes among some other countries and my phone will work in all these places.



If you're just bringing a phone to the summit of Whitney to make that "I'm at the summit of Whitney" phone call bring a Verizon phone. If you're looking for a device that will help in an emergency I would seriously consider another option in addition to a cell phone. A Ham radio license is easy to get and there is a great repeater system in the Owens Valley. I can hit a couple different repeaters from the summit of Whitney. My satellite phone works well in open spaces as long as I'm not around high canyon walls. I own one because of all the international trips I do. You can rent a satellite phone though.