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Old 11-13-2013, 12:46 PM   #1
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Maritimes Trip - Staying Connected

We're thinking of taking a tour of the Maritimes next year. I still work, but my client's don't care where I am - no need to visit an office. But I do need cell connectivity, email and internet.

I've talked with the tour operators, and they are very candid and say that internet connectivity is not good, even at campgrounds. Cell service coverage is also not great.

I have ATT cell phones/data plans, and I'm sure I can add Canada during the trip, but it won't do me much good if there is no signal. I also have an ATT hot spot device that works great anywhere I can get a signal. What options do I have:
1. Satellite phone? I'm not sure how those work for email/data or as a connection to the internet.
2. Rely on campgrounds?

Any suggestions from those of you with experience, or who live in the area will be appreciated.
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Old 11-13-2013, 01:02 PM   #2
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We made the trip a couple of years ago. We have verizon so obtained canada coverage for 2 months and did not have much of a problem with phone service. Data was another issue so we relied on going to mcdonalds and used their wifi. They were nearly everywhere and very reliable
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Old 11-13-2013, 03:38 PM   #3
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The coverage maps for the major Canadian cellular carriers looks better in the Maritimes than they do in Western Canada and we had absolutely no trouble this year in BC and Alberta with a USB stick running on the Rogers network even in the national parks. Our experience this year was that Canada is really a rather civilized place and that that the cell service was pretty good.

For example, if you look at the Rogers coverage map for the Maritimes you will see that Nova Scotia has 4G HSPA+ service throughout the entire province with the only significant exception being most of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. That might affect you if you planned on staying in the park for any length of time, but with that exception it looks like you would have few other issues.

Personally, I wouldn't use my US phone up there for data purposes since the charges are usually atrocious with most carriers even with a "Canadian plan" which usually only reduces the voice charges.

I believe T-Mobile just went to worldwide service with no roaming charges and it might be worth seeing which Canadian carrier's network they roam on. There's speculation in the industry that their move might prompt the big carriers to do something similar.
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Old 11-13-2013, 03:56 PM   #4
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We did New Brunswick, PEI and on to Quebec and Montreal 2 years ago.
On AT&T I had more times with four bars than in a lot of the US !
WIFI as slow, as expected, but it worked ok.
You must buy the Canada cell and Data plan or you
will wish you did.
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Old 11-13-2013, 09:02 PM   #5
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Check out the cost of purchasing a Canadian cell phone and plan, vs your present phone and carriers best Canada Plan. Our minimum AT&T Canada plan still cost us 50 cents/minute.
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Old 11-13-2013, 10:49 PM   #6
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Here may be the solution to your dilemma, and know also that Petro -Can (gas station) have a similar plan

I just entered 'disposable phones Canada' and came up with these, hope it helps

as for reception in Cape Breton, there is nothing there but beauty ... enjoy!
Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck is amazingly interesting, his summer home was on Bein Breauhg Mountain (bennin Bree-aww) lots of Gaelic words there, but stunning in any language) anyhow, here are the links...

The Unofficial 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page



Prepaid Cell Phones - Petro-Canada Mobility Prepaid Cell Phone Plan
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:27 AM   #7
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Thanks for the links and advice. I'm going to check out just getting some kind of Canadian phone/plan for the time we'll be there.
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Old 11-15-2013, 07:57 AM   #8
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If you are using AT&T at home and you buy the Canada/ International plan from them you will be hooked up in Canada using the Rogers network that is who AT&T partner with in Canada, their coverage is great in the maritimes we travelled all over there last year and had no problem. If you want internet coverage you could buy a device from Rogers and you will get 3-4G plus in the cities you will get LTE..
Canadians tend to charge more for internet in Canada but your US internet will not work.
We spend 6 months in Canada and 6 months in the US in Canada we use Rogers in the US we use Att hope this helps
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Old 11-15-2013, 12:56 PM   #9
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Thanks BGSC for the info. I'll check with ATT here and see what they tell me. One problem is you quite often end up speaking with someone who has no direct experience, so your info is helpful.
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Old 11-15-2013, 01:11 PM   #10
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Buy a disposable phone at 7-eleven and get minutes.
Any other Canadian plan will cost you lots of money.

Trust me....I am a Canadian and I need to buy Tracfone
to use in the States. If not, I am charged $5.40/min
on my Canadian cell.

You have more options than we do.
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Old 11-15-2013, 04:06 PM   #11
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We spent about 3 months in the Maritimes and Newfoundland last year. We have Verizon and I added Canada to my plan for about $15 per month so we could call out as well as receive calls from the US and Canada.

For data I bought a Hotspot from Rogers when we got into New Brunswick. The service for the hotspot cost $35 per month for 4G service which was available everywhere including Newfoundland. When we returned I cancelled the month to month plan. When we finally got home I sold the Hotspot on eBay. It was nice not to have to worry about where and when you could get quality internet service.
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