kedanie
Albuquerque, NM
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We are in the early stages of planning a trip up the Alcan to Alaska and back. What is the availability of free wireless internet hot spots? Should we invest in a wireless card through our cell provider(Verizon)?
Thanks,
Keith
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi kedanie,
While I'm sure you may find a few hot spots I would not rely on them for your internet (addicted to it myself *grin*).
kedanie wrote:We are in the early stages of planning a trip up the Alcan to Alaska and back. What is the availability of free wireless internet hot spots? Should we invest in a wireless card through our cell provider(Verizon)?
Thanks,
Keith
Regards, Don
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Pretty spotty at best. Some of the larger towns may have some but larger towns are themselves pretty rare. McDonalds restaurants have them in some cases, Fed X stores have them, public libraries have them but ALL of those things are pretty hard to find on the Alaska Highway or in MOST parts of Alaska itself. If you plan on staying in RV Parking lots along the way many of THEM will have WIFI available but you'll be missing out on the "wilderness experience" of just camping along the way. Good luck and enjoy the trip / skip
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2hams2alaska
Illinois
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This past summer we found wifi along the Alaska Highway at most visitor centers, many commercial RV campgrounds, public libraries, and some restaurants. None of the provincial parks we were in had coverage. But, we had access often enough to easily keep our family informed of our travels and to conduct our personal business (pay bills). I'm not sure a cell phone with an internet card will yield much better access since cellphone coverage is very sparce outside of the major towns. Besides, cellphone time using a phone registered to a US carrier is very expensive, and may not work at all. We did take our US Cellular cellphone and did use it in Canada a couple of times but the access and time charges were high.
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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kedanie wrote:Should we invest in a wireless card through our cell provider(Verizon)?
Not unless you plan on using it for other than your trip to Alaska. It may work while you're in Alaska...at least in areas such as Fairbanks and Anchorage. However, it will not work in the vast majority of Canada...and where it might work, you'll pay a premium in International roaming charges.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi elh0146,
I understand that now some companies are offering an international rate on the usb cell modems. It is not cheap--but it *is* far less than the $3.00 per meg they want if you don't sign up.
elh0146 wrote:kedanie wrote:Should we invest in a wireless card through our cell provider(Verizon)?
Not unless you plan on using it for other than your trip to Alaska. It may work while you're in Alaska...at least in areas such as Fairbanks and Anchorage. However, it will not work in the vast majority of Canada...and where it might work, you'll pay a premium in International roaming charges.
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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We have always used libraries. Sometimes you have to go inside and get a password, maybe even pay a dollar or two, sometimes they are only open during library hours, and sometimes you might not even find they have high speed internet at all.
Mike and Carole
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Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
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A great number of schools and libraries in Canada have hot spots and/or internet access computers thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.
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Hayes
Grand Prairie, TX
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One of the best lists is on this forum. Go to "National Parks, State Parks, RV Parks, Campgrounds" section and look at the first 'sticky'. Click on the list. It lists many locations in Canada & Alaska. You will find many that you have to be very near the office to use it, however some cover the entire park. We spent 4 months in the Yukon and Alaska and there were only a very few days I could not connect.
Hayes
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weasel4
Alberta
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Popsie
I tried to find the areas in Canada that Bill Gates Foundation supplied Wireless and Internet access to. Could you please supply your source of information so I can compare donations within Canada
Thanks
BTC
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