Preparation for Alaska summer trip

[DMcGalliard]

Oo. We are planning a May to September trip to Alaska. I have been keeping up with the Cap-over-camper thread but I do need input on several issues:

Internet, I do my all my banking and bill paying via the internet using earthlink from my laptop. I use dial-up or a local network where available. What can I expect in Canada and Alaska?

Phone, We use Verison wireless, does it work?

Mail, What works best? you can't go three months without checking your mail, I might get a check from uncle sam??



Any input will be helpful. Oo.



Davem

 

[Grizzly]

If you look at thread, "Alaska Trip in a Cab-Over-Camper", you will find an answer to all of your questions and more. Verizon has no towers in Canada, so if you use your cell phone, you will be roaming. We plan on using a MCI prepaid Phone Card @ 2. 9 cents per minute. We also plan on using internets in Public Libraries.

 

[RMachida]

Last May, while driving to Alaska, my GSM cell phone worked in Prince George and that's it. There are some excellent CDMA & GSM coverage maps available on the Internet. In AK, coverage is spotty outside of the larger towns. I welcomed the break from email but came back to a couple thousand emails after only a week while driving up.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Anywhere you have [D]igital cell access, if you have a laptop and a Verizon (which you seem to) you can get on the internet. It is slow but it works. Course until you hit Canada you can just go to a Flying J or wherever else there is a hot spot. For the Verizon access, you will need the USB cable to connect the telephone to the laptop. Otherwise in AK, you might be better off going to a local library or something. Guess it depends where in AK you will be?

 

[Mr.Goat]

DMcGalliard



There was lots of camp grounds that I encountered that offered there guests either internet hookup or a couple pay as you go computers, in there lobies or common rooms.

In several towns you will also find internet caffe's which are pay as you play. For example there are internet caffe's in Haines Jct (grocery store actually) and downtown Whitehorse. High Country RV in Whitehorse offers both coin operated computers and telephone line access for internet hookup. Several other places I stayed also offered the same services, it was alot more common than what I expected to see.

A word on telephone calling cards: alot of them either do not work in the Yukon or the advertised rates do not apply as stated. So read the fine print on the cards, if there is any. Cards that I bought in Edmonton either would not work or they charged greatly accelerated rates in Northern BC, Yukon and Alaska. The cheapest way of communicating was email, next a good cell phone plan.

I had a close family member take care of all my financial business in my absence. It was then a true holiday, the only thing I had to worry about was where my next tank of diesel and meal were coming from. However there were a few tense moments when we ran out of rum once also.

Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff. The truely important folks in your life will still love you even if you don't phone them for weeks,... . the "Dog. "

Pete