Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cell phone service?

On the subject of cell phones on the trail. Dudes and Dudettes. Cell phones are worthless on the trail until you get to the top of the switchbacks and even then it's a crapshoot. I agree that boneheads making cell phone calls at the summit is a pain in the ass. I understand that you are proud of your accomplishment but the rest of us on top, we know that you are ther OK? You don't have to talk at the top of your annoying voice.
The two way radio thing is an embarrassment.

I have Verizon, and I had a strong digital signal from the summit but had to redial 20 or 30 times to get a connection. Someone told me it was because of inadequate capacity in the local network--I don't know if that's the correct reason or not, but it was just as annoying as some people apparently find cell phones on the summits of mountains...!

Not sure why I felt I needed to post to this but here goes nothing. First off I don't take my cellphone up and call from the summit. I wonder what is so different about someone talking on their cellphone from the summit as opposed to someone talking to their friends?

The mountain spirits are annoyed by people yacking away on the summit, whether to their friends or on a cell phone. If the mountain has been generous enough to allow you to climb it, do not diplease it with this behavior. Show your respect or you may find yourself in the middle of one of those pesky lightning storms! This isn't Disneyland kids, it's the real thing...
Andreas

Ya Andeas. What was I thinking? I must have had my lederhosen laced too tight when I wrote that.

mrogue,

my husband and i switched from verizon (hated them) because of over charging us for calls we weren't supposed to be charged for...they did reimburse us more than $500.00. they also dropped toooo many of our calls, not only in the beach area but in the mountains. there service is terrible.

i too will not take my phone to the top. why bother, too many people and i want to get away from 'my' people at home or i would have invited them. only time i take a cell is if i'm alone.

one word T-Mobile! it's great!! we have reception about 90% of the time up the 395 no problems with area coding either. i understand that they use cingular towers, so i guess they would be good too.

good luck! lush*

Wow, I was going to open a topic ... but saw this thread ... maybe someone here has some feedback to share:

Since I go out solo often, and to some pretty remote backcountry (north of Yosemite) and cell phone coverage is useless, I'm considering getting a satellite phone (GlobalStar, probably).

Anybody else used anything like that in deep backcountry?

There is reputed to be worldwide coverage ... (with a few odd caveats ... (like if you're out in the middle of the Pacific ...) would like to have one just for emerg' since I go out alone (for many days, at a time).

Thanks,

mobrien

Another option for emergencies that someone else mentioned, is a portable ham radio. You have to get a license, but apparently that is easy to get.

My friend, the professional guide out of Bishop, Kurt Wedberg, mentioned that this is what he uses on his trips into the Sierra.

"Another option for emergencies that someone else mentioned, is a portable ham radio. You have to get a license, but apparently that is easy to get."

Indeed, it is easy to get. It is one 35-question multiple-choice test, selected from a pool of about 500 questions. Study guides are available from electronics and book stores. You're looking for the entry level license, "Technician." Don't get a radio without a license - no licensed ham will talk to you. See www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct for info on accessing ham radio repeaters along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Well, I researched it a little; GlobalStar's network can pretty much connect you to anyone anywhere anytime (including Iraq, they're boasting in their ads!)

The units are not cheap ... though I've seen some good deals on eBay ... 2 or 3 hundred bucks ...

A ham transceiver is probably a little cheaper ... but establishing immediate contact on "technician" bands is no guarantee ... gotta hope someone picks up your "10-7" ... but at least there's no "on-air" charges ...

so, interesting trade-off ....

I think I'll spring for a satellite phone for now ....

QSL.It has been some time since I was messing with ham radio stuff. I remember something about license levels and that a "technician" could only send code and that one must have a "general" to transmit voice? The test for the general required transmitting code at a certain rate. I thought a technician could only use voice in a emergency. Has that changed of is my memory of this incorrect?

From:
http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html

"The most popular license for beginners is the Technician Class license, which requires only a 35 multiple-choice question written examination. The test is written with the beginner in mind. Morse Code is not required for this license. With a Technician Class license, you will have all ham radio privileges above 30 megahertz (MHz). These privileges include the very popular 2-meter band. Many Technician licensees enjoy using small (2 meter) hand-held radios to stay in touch with other hams in their area. Technicians may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes. You can even make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple equipment."