CDN Snowbird Cel and Internet Connection Advice

[Jessie2F]

would be very interested to hear from other CDN RV'ers on what they use for cel phone service when in the U.S.

For example, do you use something like the Telus 'North America Plan' or do you get a U.S. phone when in the U.S.?

For internet connection, I find WIFI to be excellent much of the time, however as we all know, that is not the case at all campgrounds. What systems do you use (U.S. aircard, your cel phone, etc.)? I looked into WIFI In Motion but despite the fact that it shows both a Rogers and a Telus aircard compatability, neither company could give me any info that helped.

All of this means I am best to ask our forum members since that is where the real expereince resides.

Thanks.

[Jessie2F]

would be very interested to hear from other CDN RV'ers on what they use for cel phone service when in the U.S.

For example, do you use something like the Telus 'North America Plan' or do you get a U.S. phone when in the U.S.?

For internet connection, I find WIFI to be excellent much of the time, however as we all know, that is not the case at all campgrounds. What systems do you use (U.S. aircard, your cel phone, etc.)? I looked into WIFI In Motion but despite the fact that it shows both a Rogers and a Telus aircard compatability, neither company could give me any info that helped.

All of this means I am best to ask our forum members since that is where the real expereince resides.

Thanks.

[FLYTYER]

Welcome to IRV2

From what I have seen it varies.

We snowbird in Florida with many Canadian friends who have cell phones. Some seem to be US based phones. In this case they use the address of the campground for billing, etc. Others use a cell phone but I think they are with Rogers.

As for WiFi, they use GMail or Yahoo Mail which can transport emails from another email service provider.

[moisheh]

We use a Tracfone when travelling in the USA. 10 cents a minute or less for calls to the USA or Canada. No contract and excellent coverage. I think that using a US aircard would be a real problem. You would need a cell phone with a contract from someone like Verizon. I havent tried but I understand that even having a USA address will not get you a phone. They do a credit check and Canadians are not in the US system. CG's with Wifi seem to be everywhere.

[Ottawa]

I have used Trac Phone, but my research shows that Net 10 is a better value (300 minutes for $30). Both are from the same company.

[Bill Adams]

You can also check out the Cricket phone service at Cricket
They only have service in 29 States and they list specific cities in those, but they have both phone and data plans available. I did an on line chat with them and this is how the conversation went:

Brian: Thank you for chatting with Cricket Wireless. Can I help you place your order today?

bill: Hi Brian, I am Canadian and want to know if I will be able to use the Cricket phone/service while I travel across the US for about 6 months.

Brian: You could do that yes, however as Cricket is more of a town by town service. I would check your route on our coverage map, found on the coverage page of the website first. To make sure the service will meet your needs.

bill: I don't have a US social security number obviously and only a mailing address I use for mail. That's OK? I have looked at the coverage map and I think that would be acceptable

Brian: That is fine. You only need a Credit/Debit card set up in the US to make the purchase online.

I am not sure why he said a CC set up in the US but is that a problem for Canadians?
You have to buy the phones and/or air card but the monthly phone pricing is very good and the air card service is only $40/month for 5GB service.

[Jessie2F]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Over the past three years, we have simply used the 'North America Plan' with Telus for cell phone service and it has worked well however has always seemed more expensive than using a U.S.-based provider.

Given that the Telus plan provides 1600 minutes for $300 a month, the Tracphone or Net 10 option looks to be quite a bit less expensive so that may be my best option regarding cell phone service. I will just have to figure out how to forward my office phone to the U.S. cell phone.

As far as connecting the the Internet, we have stuck with connecting to WIFI at the campgrounds although that has not been reliable. One friend of our's uses a satelite system on his motorhome but given the price of between $4500 - $9000 that is outside what I am prepared to do.

I wonder if any of the Canadians are using a Sierra wireless card for connecting from the U.S.?

Any additional suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[JCM]

We use the $75.00 Telus North America plan. That gives us 250 minutes. Only ran over once.
We also have the Sierra Wirless plan that we are going to try out this year. Our friends bought a AT&T wirless card but they are down south for 6 months at a time. They put it on stanby for the 6 months they are home.

[bobmac]

We also use Tracphone.

Got a Motorola flip that came with the "Double Minutes" option so when refilled (2 X 200 minutes for $39.95), it works out to $0.10 per minute. You also can get (free) up to 3 Canadian tel numbers in select cities for others to call so they can make a local call to reach you - it is set up on their website. Also includes Voice Mail and a speed call to frequent numbers that is also set up on their web site. Much cheaper than getting an US package on a Canadian cell.Phones are either GSM or CDMA depending on where you purchase. I prefer & got a GSM in Buffalo NY.

bob

[moisheh]

Tracfone CDMA will provide the best coverage. If you go to the Yahoo Tracfone group you can find out how to get a phone that will be CDMA. It is a matter of registering the phone for the right address to get on theVerizon and Alltell network. I have never been in an area (where there was a tower) without service.