How can I access internet with no cell service?

[Ephphatha]

Hi Community! Heading to Acadia National Park end of September and reviews say no cell service in campground. I need to do a zoom call while there. Ideas for equipment etc that might work in absence of using cell phones as hot spot?

[Lafitte]

Drive to an area where you can hot-spot your cell ?

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by Lafitte;

Drive to an area where you can hot-spot your cell ?

Yup. No LTE = no internet.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Best bet is that there is no WiFi either.

The only real alternative is satellite based. For reliable connections at Zoom call sort of bandwidths, up on the north east coast, that's going to cost. Is connectivity worth $10,000 a month to you? (plus the price of some hardware to get it to work).

https://www.satphonestore.com/tech-b...x/airtime.html

Note the "12 month commitment required" down in the fine print.

This is not the only service out there, but it is one that would likely work. Starllnk gets tossed around as an alternative. We probably are two to four years out from that being a viable alternative in this situation.

With satellite setups, being able to "see" this or that part of the sky becomes critical. It is quite possible that with this or that service you may not have reliable coverage in *this* campsite.

Bob

[Vantair]

Originally Posted by Ephphatha

Hi Community! Heading to Acadia National Park end of September and reviews say no cell service in campground. I need to do a zoom call while there. Ideas for equipment etc that might work in absence of using cell phones as hot spot?

Options for this often are:

a: See if a local camp office / country store has wifi service you can use/pay for.

b:Weboost or Shurecall Cell Boosters (must have some minimal cell service in area or must drive to an area to use.

c: Drive to an area or town that does have your cell service direct on cell

d: Starlink Satellite based up/downlink- probably more that you wish to go for.

Hope this helps !

[wulfraat]

A above is the only option.

I have a weBoost. WeBoost receives radio waves via a basic antenna, and then amplifies in the trailer using a second antenna. No signal is no signal, you cannot amplify 0 incoming signal. [emoji4]

Starlink is sanctioned by the FCC for fixed base use in predetermined areas.

[Vantair]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

A above is the only option.

I have a weBoost. WeBoost receives radio waves via a basic antenna, and then amplifies in the trailer using a second antenna. No signal is no signal, you cannot amplify 0 incoming signal. [emoji4]

Starlink is sanctioned by the FCC for fixed base use in predetermined areas.

Absolutely Correct !
Also having a Weboost and interchangeable YAGI (Directional) and Omnidirectional antennas- with a 20ft telescopic... you must first find "some" signal to grab and to boost. Or drive somewhere hopefully nearby to do so.....

[Ephphatha]

Yikes! Option A it is!! Thank you all for sharing collective wisdom!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Ephphatha

Yikes! Option A it is!! Thank you all for sharing collective wisdom!

Hi

If option A is the "beg to use the connection at the office" ... likely not so much in a National Park. .... First up the office probably doesn't *have* a connection. Next up, if they do, it's "for government use only, fines and jail time apply ...".

Bob

[nryn]

There are undoubtedly places in Bar Harbor that will have free wi-fi and perhaps a business or two in the area who would be willing to let you use/rent an office.

A lot of national parks have spotty coverage except perhaps at their edges (as a park they don’t often have towers inside the park). It’s a park; I’m glad to be disconnected and thrilled that folks aren’t streaming sports games on the TVs mounted outside their motorhomes (for some reason I *always* see this at private campgrounds). State parks seem to be a little more flexible.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The "drive in to town" approach does work, but it gets old really fast with 8 hours a day of Zoom 7 days a week.

Of course if that's the schedule .... what's the point of going on vacation?

Bob

[GetawA-S]

Technology is wonderful when it works. When I was teaching, I knew to ALWAYS have a backup plan. What you are looking for on someone else’s network is reliability and security. Also, the absence of embarrassing background action…
Can you contact a public library ahead of time to see if you can log into their internet from a small meeting room?

[SeeMore]

Technology coverage was definitely sporadic to nonexistent when we visited. Here is a publicly available WiFi spot that had decent WiFi speed for free in 2020:

Jesup Memorial Library = https://www.jesuplibrary.org/computer-printer-wi-fi

Cell phones are strictly an urban thing. Besides satellite reception options, Spectrum is the local cable provider on the island and offers limited WiFi hotspots in both Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor if you have an account. Consolidated Coms and Axiom offer DSL with 20Mbps download speeds but no WiFi access spots. A few campgrounds (KOA, Bass Harbor, etc.) boast of WiFi but those are best described as trickle speed networks for e-mail or headlines only. Your remaining choice is getting a hotel room to access the cable network.

[CMHM]

I was just there a month ago. There was signal pretty much everywhere on the peninsula, it’s so densely populated.
I actually climbed Cadillac Mountain, and on my way down I was sitting on a rock overlooking the Atlantic and being on a video call with clients in Europe. I had 5G the entire time while climbing up the mountain.

[bweybright]

Drive to Machias and have Lobster lunch and blueberry pie while zooming at Helens....
Then go the the Bluebird cafe across the street and have their grilled ham and cheese with blueberry pie. Either way you win with two different blueberry pies and the best meal of both places.......
Been there a lot of times for work....never left hungry or unhappy.

[SeeMore]

Originally Posted by CMHM

There was signal pretty much everywhere on the peninsula, it’s so densely populated. I actually climbed Cadillac Mountain, and on my way down I was sitting on a rock overlooking the Atlantic and being on a video call with clients in Europe. I had 5G the entire time while climbing up the mountain.

Verizon Cell towers on the island:

[eubank]

Public libraries often have wifi available for patrons. It's been a while, but we certainly made use of it near several national parks, albeit not Acadia. Nonetheless, it might be worthwhile to pay them a visit, among other things to find out if their wifi is hefty enough to handle zoom.

If it works out, leave them a donation!

https://www.jesuplibrary.org/

Lynn

[MetalMissile]

I use a satellite dish to get internet and you can do zoom calls although there is a bit of latency (delay) but many cases hardly noticeable.

The catch is you have to be clear of trees or tall physical obstructions (cliff/mountain/building) for a clear shot of the Southern Sky.

[CruizinDux]

We had connectivity via a Verizon Jet-pack at the KOA. I'd also look for a public library in Bar Harbor maybe? Not sure if the jet-pack has the bandwidth you'd need for zoom.

[DonRich7878]

Copied from an earlier post in answer to a similar question..

The best coverage overall is provided by Verizon Wireless with a few exceptions. Key West FL and Newport OR for example, ATT is much better. Open Signal makes a great app for predictive service level on each network. I carry SIM chips for both ATT and Verizon for my (unlocked) iPhone and use it for my laptop hotspot. If you don't have a Smartphone, you will need to acquire the Verizon LTE Jetpack or equivalent ATT device.

https://www.opensignal.com/apps


Operating in a fringe area (one or two bars) that has limited service, Wilson Signal has an RV package that works very well in my rig, amplifying the cell tower signal inside the Airstream. I mount the outside antenna on a 12' flag pole which I mount to my rear bumper and connect the signal cable through the outside cable TV jack. I also have a military surplus 40' portable antenna tower that packs into a duffle bag, for long range fringe operations.

https://www.wilsonsignalbooster.com/...it-470159.html


For areas that have zero cellular coverage, satellite is your only option. Like Cellular services, some work better than others.

Because I represent a number of satellite networks professionally, you will need to contact me privately for additional info.