Buying a US mobile phone for use on the Appalachian Trail

[Gippsmick]

Any tips or experience on arriving in the States and purchasing a mobile phone for use on the AT for email, blog updates etc... Is it easy to do?

[GPSGuided]

Depends on the compatibility of your current phone, you can purchase an AT&T prepaid SIM card and run off that (eBay or post arrival). Potentially have everything set up before you arrive. Otherwise there are plenty of packaged prepaid options. Might look into Verizon if you are seeking a local network compatible phone for its coverage. But do check their specific coverage.

[norts]

Verizon seem to cover more of the AT, I am going with verizon next year.
When are you heading overGippsmick
norts

[Gippsmick]

Off next year Norts. Looking for a phone to keep everyone in the outside world posted on progress.

[TomGalvin]

Verizon has the best coverage along the trail, but assume you will not have signal most of the time. You can pickup prepaid phones at Walmart or Radio shack. Another option is to buy prepaid international calling cards. Cheaper, lighter, and waterproof.

[Turfa]

Having a phone on the trail is handy. Sometimes you might need to call a shuttle service to get into town to resupply or to check on accommodation availability. ......... Oh, and for ordering pizza !

I didn't have a phone myself, but other hikers who did usually managed to get service when needed, just check for service on the ridge tops. (And that was a few years ago now, so I would expect that service coverage is even better now)

If I went back to do it again now, I still don't think I would bother with a smartphone for checking email, posting updates etc. Part of the attraction of the trail for me was the feeling of being out of the loop for an extended period.........

[russ752]

I bought a mobile for $15 in a Walmat and refill cards were $20 for 200 mins. Came in very handy and I was amazed at the unlikely spots on the trail where I could receive a signal. You will however need a valid address and telephone no. in the States to activate it

[GPSGuided]

About two years ago when I activated my AT&T SIM, they had some kind of agreement with Apple that they won't permit the activation of a prepaid SIM on an iPhone. To get around it, I simply provided the IMEI of a regular mobile phone to the agent. All good on the iPhone after. Not sure if this restriction is still in place though. So the point here is, make sure you can call up the IMEI of another.

[russ752]

Gotta to agree with you Turfa I would never take a smart phone on a hike. The times on the AT when there was a signal the hikers with tablets and smart phones stopped interacting with the people around them and started posting and blogging. I will always remember one guy in Maine who showed me a post that he had sent. He had taken a photo of his dinner!! This was in one of the most beautiful places in the States with absolutely stunning scenery all around.

When I finished my hike I had a week to kill before coning back to Oz so I stopped off at Boston for a few days. Stayed at a hostel and same thing. Common room was full of people on their tablets etc and no one talking to each other. I spoke to the owner about it and he said it started happening about 4 years ago, No one communicates face to face anymore.

Back in the 70's I did the old backpacking around Asia and Europe thing. I always remember that if you were low or feeling lonely hostels were the place to go. You could always find company and hook up with someone. Sometimes I think that Steve Jobs was a curse on humanity

[Turfa]

I'm sure it makes me sound like an old fart, but I'm with you 100% Russ. One of my most enjoyable memories of my time on the AT is cranking out a solid 20 mile day, cruising into a campsite or shelter in mid afternoon & apart from eating & getting water, having absolutely nothing to do but to sit around & talk BS with other hikers..........getting online & letting the outside world intrude on that would kind of spoil it for me........(old fart mode <off>).

But back to the OP's question..... Picking up a cheap pre-paid phone in the US is about as easy as it gets, drop in to Walmart, Best Buy or any other of the large stores and you can get something for well under $100 . Walmart actually have an entire category on their website for sub $100 phones with no contract

[jacko1956]

The world has changed.
Smartphones are everywhere on trail and off.
Invaluable to have weather info as well as ability to book hotels/hostels/shuttles and keep family/freinds up to date. (It is CROWDED out there and spaces in hostels etc are at a premium.)
Verizon is the only one to get.
I had a Samsung mini this year.
Cost $99 and about $70 a month for prepaid phone and data.
Used wifi in towns a lot for data.
Buy from a genuine Verizon store NOT a franchise. Franchises don't support the Verizon specials you can find online.
Don't carry a solar charger, get one of those rechargers that is another battery you can plug a usb cable into.

[sef]

Hey mate, well over half the US population lives within a hundred miles of the AT, so cell coverage isn't going to be an issue.

If you already have an Australian mobile that's unlocked and 'quad band GSM', your real options are AT&T and T-Mobile. In order to get a SIM over there, you have to buy a phone (unless you can pick a card only up from a flea market or similar) and that $30 piece of junk phone is your option if you don't have an Aussie GSM phone. Data is affordable on T-Mobile, prohibitively bad on AT&T. T-Mobile has dodgy coverage.

If you've time and some patience, I suggest looking into "red pocket mobile" who are a Chinese AT&T reseller. You can pick up a SIM card for next to nothing on ebay and general delivery it to an early PO, best rates of the lot.

& the AT is such a poo... that I wouldn't be concerned with it changing your experience at all. The preachy luddites out there drop out in Georgia.