Cell Phones - Phone Cards - PocketMail- and staying in touch on the Trail

[chai guy]

I thought we might need a thread for this so here it goes.

You're probably going to need to make a few calls on the trail. I had a plan set up with my brother where he knew where I was at all times and what my expected call dates would be. If I missed a call day, I would have 48 hours to make the call before he would contact the authorities to report me missing. It was better than nothing I guess, and it made my family feel better.

I also needed to call to request gear to be sent to me and to just stay in touch.


1. Cell phones, yes, I saw people carrying them, can't say how well they worked. Obviously it's one more thing to carry and you'll also need a charger (or bounce one, but that seems even more of a hassle to me). Also you'll have to deal to with everyone else wanting to use your phone.

2. Phone Cards- I found a pretty decent one at the "99 Cents Only" stores here in CA. Still, they are somewhat of a rip-off in that almost all cards will either A. be left with too little $ to make a new call or B. run out of $ while on a call, thus requiring you to use a new card, which will then charge a second premium fee to reconnect you.
I think everyone should carry a phone card, even if you have a cell.

3. Satellite Phones- Very expensive, and heavy, but I knew of at least one hiker who had one. No worries about not connecting with one of these.

4. Email By Phone- I LOVED this service. First they give you a 1 800 number, which is perfect. You then dial the 1 800 number and enter your PIN code, which let's you access your email (or multiple email accounts). You can listen to email messages (which are "read" to you by a comptuer). You can also compose email messages (which are recorded via phone and then sent your recepients via an mp3 file). You can also forward messages. Want to update ALL your friends at home with one phone call? Just create a group or list with all those emails and with one call, update everyone. Very nice! http://www.earthlink.net/dialup/extras/ebp/
http://www.earthlink.net/dialup/extras/ebp/

5. Jott- Toll Free! You can also sign up for JOTT, which is a free service that allows you to dial a toll-free number and then talk to a computer which then transcribes everything you say into text and then sends it to any email or any text capable cell phone. This is a great way to not only stay in touch, but you can also leave messages for other hikers who are also on the trail. (provided they have an email account).
http://jott.com (http:://jott.com)

6. 1-800 Voice Mail - Yahoo used to offer this service but then cancelled it (probably because I used it so much). Just google 1 800 voice mail and tons of options will come up. Again, the toll free number is key! You can change your outgoing message to give friends and family updates, and you can look forward to hearing your support crew back home whenever you get to a pay phone. Most of these services charge a fee, but it's usually pretty affordable, like $5.00 a month.

7. Pocket Mail aka "F-It Mail", I didn't use it, but it appeared that some loved it and some hated it. I don't like trusting anything that does not have removable memory, so that's my take on it.

[chai guy]

Oh, I almost forgot one other important tip:

You will probably have one or two numbers that you will want to call all the time, like your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend whoever, there is usually one or two important numbers that you will always dial while out on the trail.

Here is a way to dial those numbers toll free from any payphone:

Google recently came out with a new service called GOOG-411, basically you dial a 1 800 number
(1-800-466-4411) and ask to be connected to a business (you tell them what type of business and the location)

Say you want to order a pizza and you're in Las Vegas, call GOOG-411 tell them Pizza and Las Vegas and bam they connect you to a pizza place, in Vegas, all via this toll free number. Got it? Good.

Now in order for you to make this work, you need to sign up with Gmail, or open a google account. so go do that now and then come back...

So what you need to do next is register the number(s) you want to call with Google. Keep in mind this process, while easy, takes about 30 days to complete so do it sooner rather than later. You go online, register your "business" (Hint: make it something obscure so that other people won't be calling you, say "Aerospace Parts" or something ridiculous like that).

Once you register your number(s) google will call you to confirm (this is the part that takes 30 days). To confirm that you sell "Aerospace Parts" (just say "yes"). Once you "verify" the number, you can go back into your account and change it to any number you want, but you have to make the first number your phone number in order to verify it.

Now once your on the trail all you have to do is call GOOG-411 say "My Hometown" and "Aerospace Parts" and you'll they'll give you the listing you created and connect you to that number for FREE!

http://www.google.com/goog411/

[Mango]

I'll use this thread to pose a question. I'm looking for a "communication device" to carry in 2010 on the PCT. I have a number of critieria, including voice, internet access, reliable in heat and cold, convenient to recharge, ability to create and store word docs for later uploading, ... . The smart phones seem to have more of the features I want, but almost everybody requires a two-year contract. I prefer only one year. Suggestions?

[chai guy]

I have a number of critieria, including voice, internet access, reliable in heat and cold, convenient to recharge, ability to create and store word docs for later uploading, ... . The smart phones seem to have more of the features I want, but almost everybody requires a two-year contract. I prefer only one year. Suggestions?

You don't ask for much do you? Haha! Lemme see if I can help.

1. The first issue is going to be "reliable in heat and cold". Consumer electronic devices like smart phones do not like to get wet, hot, cold or dirty. I'd suggest that whatever you go with, invest in water tight, smash proof container like an "otterbox" or "pelicancase" Also, I'd keep the battery next to you when it's cold to maintain a reasonable temperature, otherwise you risk having the battery go dead.
http://www.otterbox.com/waterproof-cases/


2. You may also want to invest in a solar charger and a back-up battery as well.
http://www.solio.com/charger/

Now, what device to get? Well, you don't want a two year contract. Could you live without the celluar phone part? If so, you might consider getting a Ipod Touch. You could download skype and have phone capability anytime you could find a wifi signal (You won't be finding an abundance of cell signals in most places anyway). Buy the ipod touch for $200 download the Skype app and The Quickoffice app (for word docs), and you're in business, with $0 monthly charges, and no contract!
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/
http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice_iphone/
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/iphone/

another idea would be to sign up for a phone w/data plan NOW, by the time you come off the PCT, you'd be outside of your contract anyway.

You may also want to just look at how much early termination would cost. Or buy a "jailbroken" phone on ebay and just add the data plan with your current wireless company (note, that the reason for the 2 year contract is that they are in effect subsidizing your new phone purchase, often you can buy the phone at "full price" without any required contract).

Hope this helps!

Chai : )