doug60
northern michigan
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Joined: 07/26/2007
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OK, all you computer and cell phone buffs out there, got a question for ya! How do we locate wifi hotspots on our way to Alaska from our home in Northern Michigan? We are going to need our computer to conduct some banking and other business while on vacation. I know, I'd like to leave it all till we get back, hate to do business while on vacation! I know cell phone service is limited throughout Canada and in most of Alaska. Can we just pull up close to some business like a coffee shop, motel, etc. that has wifi and use our laptop from a parking lot or whatever? We have Alltel and air cards are out of the question because you must have a cell phone signal in order to use one of these divices. Alltel tells me that there is no towers to speak of throughout Canada and none in Alaska. So, if you are a computer guru, please get back to me! Thanks!!
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JMTTS
52.1122 N, 106.5625 W
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Joined: 11/19/2004
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I haven't had too much difficulty using my Telus aircard throughout Canada with the exception of traveling around the north tip of Lake Superior (actually most of Northern Ontario). I routinely travel up to Dawson Creek and Ft. St.John BC and have no trouble accessing the Internet as long as I am near a major center.
J & M
2005 Cardinal 33TS LX with TrailAir
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 4x4 DRW D/A (LLY) Crew Cab
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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Internet Cafe's in Every Town. Public Libraries in Most Towns and Cities. You can Down load a Hot-spot Finder.Mc Donalds-Starbucks Most Hotels, Etc.
We have the same amenities in Canada that are available in the Lower 48! True most of Our Population live in the Southern part of the Country, but there are Towns and Cities all the way Up to Alaska that"Have the Electric" these days!
Cel phone service does have some drawbacks up North but again Every decent sized Town does have a Tower!
So Unless You are Stopping in the Middle of Nowhere You should have no difficulty communicating with the Outside world!
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
" Everything in it"Still" Works"
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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You will find free Internet service at all (?) public libraries in Canada, no matter how small the community. More and more campgrounds on the way up, close to towns, will have Internet. Some have WiFi in the park and others you may have to go to the office area. On our last trip to Alaska I paid my bills over the Internet, first in Valdez at the Bear Paw II campground and the next month at the Hi Country CG in Whitehorse. Have used the WiFi at the Rivers Edge in Fairbanks as well. They were down temporary the last trip so I drove down to Pecks Landing Lodge, parked in the parking lot and used the one there. In Skagway I stopped at a cyber café/coffee shop and connected. Don't remember ever going over 2 or 3 days without the ability to connect somehow. Those days were when we were boon docking or out in the woods at a government campground. Cell phones work only in the more urban areas of both northern Canada and Alaska. We also carry a prepaid phone card and use pay phones as needed. (if needed) If you need to use your cell for business, etc. just plan your stops to accommodate.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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txtowman
central texas
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Joined: 08/19/2005
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google "free wi-fi hotspot list" shows free spots by state
 Wannabe-be-fulltime. Me & Madison(Chihuahua)
76' Sunflower 16'
96' Dodge 3500 DRW ext CTD 5 speed
1 Honda EU2000 gen
4 AGM batteries 468 amp hours
1000/2000 inverter/charger
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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In Alaska generally every town has a library and an Internet connection. They usually leave it on even when closed. I've spent a bit of time on the Glennallen library front porch. (LOL) A lot of the campgrounds also say they have, but when you try to hook up you find you're constantly terminated due to their bandwidth limitations. In addition you can get paid service through the local telephone company. Again you have to be near the telephone office. Just don't count on paid service at the ports. When the cruise chips come in, no one gets on. If you like 4AM, that's a different story.
We mucked around the first year, but now er have Hughes Net. Works good all over except more easterly locations in Canada as we're on the 127 Horizon 1 satellite. I could change birds but not worth the trouble.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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and Safeway...all stores offer free wifi. If all else fails, I'll park outside an apartment complex and 99/100 there is an unencrypted system available. Or that motel that offers free Wireless? just park out back! Once you start, it won't be long and you'll know where to find the signals.
Gary Haupt
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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It was actually very disappointing to me the last trip to Yukon just how available the internet and cell service were. I can no longer say to the boss that we're out of range all the time ... and last trip ended up having several Skype video calls with the office, from Beaver Creek, Whitehorse and Watson Lake.
All that connectivity ... it was horrible!! UGH.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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4*phun*2
Canada
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Joined: 09/24/2008
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Banking wireless? You are very trusting.
Glenn & Karen
'03 F350 King Ranch Lariat FX4
'09 Victory Lane Toy Hauler
'02 HD Road King
'04 F150 XLT Super Crew
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joe b.
Florida
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Trusting? I am probably one of the least trusting people you may find, due to my law enforcement background and by general nature. However I am very comfortable doing wireless banking due to the encryption on both ends of the transaction.
I got my identify stolen this summer, not on the wireless use, but by someone stealing my mail out of my street side mail box. They got my cell phone bill and my Medicare quarterly, which gave them my SS number. Can't believe that the federal government uses our social security numbers as our identifiers. Anyway I got some new Blackberries charged to my cell phone acct. Took many phone calls to get it all straightened out. No one but me, seemed too concerned about it.LOL
Around this part of the world, south Florida, the main sources of stolen identify occur when a person hands over their credit card to a waiter to pay their restaurant bill, buys fuel at a "pay at the pump" station that someone has placed a scanner in the pump illegally, or by stolen mail or thrown away mail with information on it, or by writing a paper check and showing your ID with it which the clerk writes on the check. They then have your bank account number, your drivers license number and your home address.
I will take my chances with encrypted wireless any day, have to as I bank in Fairbanks Alaska and have for over 40 years. Have been using Internet services for as long as it have been available without problems. I have switched all my bills over to Internet delivery that I can, SS doesn't offer that service at this time.
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