Question For Canadian Mobile Phone Users

Uncle Phil

Uncle Phil

Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
11,189
Age
72
Location
In The Holler West Of Nashville, Tennessee
Bike
4 ST1100(s)
2025 Miles
006132
I now have a LG G3 smartphone from a 'certified' Canadian cell phone seller and it powers up.
Here's my question - what is my best option for a prepaid company?
I have a Telus SIM card now but it has no minutes on it.
I tried Telus, but the setup will not accept a USA zip code when setting up a user ID.
I just need voice and possibly some text in case of an emergency, so I am not interested in getting a big data plan or a ton of minutes.
Calls back to the USA would be a plus but I am not interested in spending a bunch of money for a plan that I will rarely use.
Once I get across the border for ONSToc (crossing at Prescott, Highway 16/416) is there a place I can pickup a sim card with some minutes?
The phone is unlocked so I should be able to use any carrier.
I also plan on using it when I ride to Alaska next year in BC and the Yukon and in any future trips up north so 'network' advice would be appreciated.
 
The article above says you can but they do not mention you can't online with a US ZIP - which is what I ran into with Telus one of the companies listed.
As I said, I already have a Telus Sim but no current way to put money on it.
One of my questions is how good is the coverage on the carriers in various provinces.
In the States, I have always found that Verizon has the best coverage across the country.
I currently use a MVNO carrier on the Verizon network and it works well.
I am curious as to which Canadian MVNO would be my best bet for Canada wide coverage based on someone's experience of actually using them.
A phone is not of much use if you can't get a signal.
 
Best bet would be to contact a few Canadian mobility retailers and ask some questions. I'm sure they could set you up with what you want.

The largest coverage companies IMO around NB etc, are Bell and Rogers. Click on the link I provided and scroll down to where it says "In this guide" on the right side of the page. Then click on some of the carriers to see their map, to see what locations each company covers. Click on
"bells coverage map" , then click on "Click to activate interactive map" Here's a screenshot below of what the map looks like.
Have fun!

www.whistleout.ca

Who has the best coverage in your area? Compare top Canadian mobile carriers

Need to know which of Canada's mobile networks offers the best coverage in your area? We got you!
www.whistleout.ca www.whistleout.ca

1660249543127.png
 
There are 3 major networks in Canada. Telus, Bell, & Rogers. Most of the smaller ones piggy back onto the big guys networks and you can incur costs when you get out of their "centers". Of the 3, Telus and Bell have the most coverage, each with their own strong and weak points.
I am a Telus user and find its coverage pretty decent but, like a lot of things, the further you get from civilization, the less reliable it becomes. I have not used it east of PQ or north of YT however. I think you will find that once you are on one of the Big3 networks, your service will pretty good most everywhere (except the far north) and isolated areas.

For your trip, I would say Telus is the better choice as its coverage tends to be better in the north (actual experience travelling with a Bell companion).
Rather than trying to top up your card in the US, it will probably be best if you just stop ASAP, at the nearest location, once you cross the border, and top up your card or simply buy a prepaid one.

I think you pay a fee of about 10%, but things like
www.recharge.com

TELUS prepaid plans | Buy Pay As You Go from $10 | recharge.com

Buy TELUS prepaid plans online ✓ Receive your Telus top up instantly by email ✓ Payment by PayPal or Credit Card
www.recharge.com www.recharge.com
may work for you.

Once you get to AK where (if) AT&T or T-Mobile work, Telus will pick up their network but then your Verizon card may work as well.

Bell Canada Network Coverage & Service | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Check Bell Canada's network coverage for fast mobile service. Enjoy reliable connections across Canada. See availability near you.
www.bell.ca www.bell.ca

5G and 4G LTE, HSPA+ & LPWA network coverage map | TELUS

TELUS offers faster and reliable network coverage to more Canadians than any other provider. See how we got you covered with our interactive coverage map.
www.telus.com
 
Over the years I've been with Bell, Rogers and Telus. Canada has some of the highest cell phone and internet rates of the G20, partly due low low population density. Telus is probably the least odious of the 3 telcoms we love to hate and has decent coverage. Can't speak for BC and the Yukon, but for ONSTOC you'll have connectivity most of the time. There will be some remote back roads on the routes which will be dead zones for all 3 providers, but you'll likely be part of a group ride so there will be resources to help, or go get help, if necessary.

When we head south to the U.S. I just buy a U.S. travel pack for talk, text and very limited data. We turn off cellular data and use hotel and restaurant wifi for data. It might be cheaper and more convenient for you to source this from your cell phone provider vs. trying to arrange for a plan here.
 
drrod said:
Rather than trying to top up your card in the US, it will probably be best if you just stop ASAP, at the nearest location, once you cross the border, and top up your card or simply buy a prepaid one.
Click to expand...
Hi Phil:

I agree with @drrod on this one - just buy a card once you cross the border into Canada, either at a 7-11 or by going to a large shopping mall and finding a phone store. When I am travelling in Europe or Africa, that is what I do. When you buy a SIM in-country, it doesn't matter that your address is out of country.

The problem you are encountering is that the various networks have not set things up to establish accounts (sell cards) to non-residents, probably because there is very little demand for this service. There are companies that sell prepaid European phone cards to non-residents, but they cover an area with 350 million people, same as the US companies that sell cards to non-residents (also 350 million folks in the USA). We only have about 35 million folks up here, hence not much of a demand.

Michael
 
Alternate idea.... I've used this with mine when in the US..... Roaming data off, no roaming charges. You can receive calls, it only costs you when you answer or make a call or check your voicemail..... have your voicemail go to text (I don't have to call in to see what the message is)... no charge to receive texts...... only costs you when you send a text... $0.75. Calling rates are like $1.50/minute..... limit your calls to a minute or two....... do the math and you may find it's not worth buying a plan or a sim card with minutes..... I've been on 3-week long trips and spent like $30. I can't buy a plan for that.
Check with your carrier and see what texting and calling charges are.... I'm just quoting what Bell charges me on your side of the border, in C$.
 
After spending a lot of time researching a while back, that is the reason I chose a Telus sim card - coverage and price.
It appears that I would have to find a Telus store to top up since the SIM has no 'time' on it.
7-11 and Walmarts seem to push their own 'plans' and not Telus unless I missed something.
I looked at Kodo(?), a Telus MVNO, but their prices seemed to be higher than Telus directly.
The phone is not a particular network's phone, I bought it from an independent seller of used Canadian phones and it is unlocked.
 
You might try an app on your phone that gives the ability to have a Canadian number, voicemail, texting and ability to call anywhere in the world where you can find wifi. This is the app I have had for 15 plus years. The basic service is free, calling to the US costs Add $5 every few years to make international calls and any other premium features I may occasionally need. When I was in Montana I was out of cell service all afternoon but found a McDonalds with wifi and was able to make a few calls.

www.fongo.com

Fongo | Canada’s Affordable Communications Provider

Founded and based out of Waterloo, Ontario; Fongo provides Canadians with low-cost, personal and small business communication solutions.
www.fongo.com www.fongo.com

You need a Canadian address to open an account but doesn’t necessarily have to be your address

www.fongo.com

Fongo World Edition

Fongo World Edition gives international users a Canadian VoIP phone number and unlimited Canada-wide calling, available for iOS and android devices.
www.fongo.com www.fongo.com
This link gives you access from a foreign address for a one time charge of $4.99


The only disadvantage is that unless you are signed into wifi you don’t have phone service.
 
Is there Anything like “hangouts”,where you could call anywhere,free as long as you had wifi service.On your iPad or home computer.
 
I appreciate the wi-fi information but I'm thinking of next year there is not a lot of 'usable' wi-fi where I will be going.
(And in reality probably not a lot of cell service! ;))
I guess I'll just see what is available when I get up there.
 
I am not familiar with WhatsApp so can’t comment. Fongo basically a VOIP service so it works just like a phone the person you are calling or is calling you doesn’t require the app for it to work. The audio quality is pretty much on par with cell providers. The basic free service allows you to call Canadian numbers for free, most foreign numbers are 1 or 2 cents a minute texting is a monthly fee. I use it as a second number on my iPhone and as far as those calling me they don’t know it isn’t a normal phone service.
 
Like you I just wanted something for emergencies. The rest of the time I use my phone over wifi.
All the Canadian companies who offered pay as you go minutes (no contract) had a 30 day expiry period. Don’t use em ya lose em.
I finally found a product called SpeakOut, sold at 7-11. The minutes last up to 1 year.
They deduct a small amount monthly for licensing fees.
They sell you a SIM card you sign up online and away you go. Top ups are done online too, and you can add data if you want. Voice and text work nationwide, and prices are good.
 
Gerhard said:
I am not familiar with WhatsApp so can’t comment. Fongo basically a VOIP service so it works just like a phone the person you are calling or is calling you doesn’t require the app for it to work. The audio quality is pretty much on par with cell providers. The basic free service allows you to call Canadian numbers for free, most foreign numbers are 1 or 2 cents a minute texting is a monthly fee. I use it as a second number on my iPhone and as far as those calling me they don’t know it isn’t a normal phone service.
Click to expand...
Gerhard - So you have Fongo and a 'regular' phone service on your phone?
I wonder if that would work on an Android ... :think1:
 
Uncle Phil said:
...I'm thinking of next year...
Click to expand...
Hi Phil:

I didn't realize that you were planning so far ahead. That being the case, the answer is easy: Contact me about 2 weeks before your planned departure date, I'll go to a local phone store and get a prepaid SIM with sufficient talk, text, and data for you, and I'll then send it to your home in TN by FedEx. Problem solved.

Michael
 
Uncle Phil said:
Gerhard - So you have Fongo and a 'regular' phone service on your phone?
I wonder if that would work on an Android ... :think1:
Click to expand...
Yes, the two numbers play nice with each other. Incoming calls come in the same as the number on the SIM card. Years ago it didn’t work that smoothly, often the ring wouldn’t sound and you would later see a missed call but all those wrinkles have been ironed out. I don’t have an android device but I am sure it would work the same.
 
I know this has been visited before......
It may be time to investigate the use of a device like InREach. Expensive? comparitively, yes. Work virtually anywhere? yes.
If all you are looking for is emergency use, or simple txting to let someone know you are OK, then inReach will do that but at a cost. The one big advantage......no wifi or cell network needed. Works off the Iridium satellite system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom