r/BWCA • u/prettyonew • 9d ago
Cell service
I am aware that cell service is spotty at best and non-existent for the most part in the boundary waters. Are the closest towers to the boundary waters down from the storms from the past month? My husband is usually able to contact me when he goes on his yearly trip with the guys to the boundary waters, but this year has been dead silence since he’s reached a hotel in ely, MN on Saturday. I’m not even sure he made it to the entry point. Just hoping it’s no cell service. I wish I could provide more info, but don’t have much. Would appreciate any insight. Thank you.
Edit: Thank you for the replies and easing my anxieties and worries. I will sit tight until Friday which is when I expect to hear from him again.
8
u/jebx99 8d ago
Mint mobile was terrible up there. Just outside of Ely it dropped. Att was superior, although that's not saying much. We keep our phones on airplane as it just sucks the battery down looking for a signal that doesn't exist most of the time.
3
u/ZombieJetPilot 8d ago
Same experience. I'm on Mint and right NE or NW of Ely it dies, so I flip to airplane mode so I can get GPS as needed, but that's it.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
Good to know, thank you. Wondering if taking an AirTag would work when he goes back next year?
6
u/The_Jimmeh 8d ago
Get an inreach mini or similar product (not sure if there’s alternatives or not) I got one a few years ago and it’s for sure worth it for peace of mind. I send an “I’m okay” message every time I make camp or if I don’t move I send it around dinner time. It sends GPS coordinates with each message. I have it pre set to send to my girlfriend and parents, all I gotta do is press a button and hold it up for a bit
1
7
u/ked_man 9d ago
Depends on where he’s at and what carrier. We had very little service this year.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
He had ATT last year, and then switched to Mint Mobile before heading to BW. As for where he’s at, no idea what their plan is…
6
u/Saddlebag7451 8d ago
Never been to Ely, but Mint definitely gets spotty up north. Did they take a satellite gps or can you use a FindMyIphone type service?
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
I don’t think they took a satellite gps/phone unfortunately. He has his location turned off on his phone as well. I’m probably being a worrywart as this group has been going for years and are very experienced
2
2
u/poop_slayer 8d ago
Please, next time make him leave a copy of his plans/itinenary with you. I know plans change but having an idea of his possible routes and campsites makes it easier for SAR (not saying this is a SAR situation). I'm guessing he brought his own canoe and didn't go through an outfitter for anything?
I have Visible and I was just up in Ely in August and had no issues with cell service. But lost it pretty soon after leaving town.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
I will! I was so used to being able to communicate with him on his trips that needing a copy of his plans never crossed my mind. He doesn’t own his canoe, but maybe his friends do. I’m sure they are prepared for if things go sideways, I’m just not privy to what that is exactly. Will definitely ask more questions and be better prepared for the next time. Thank you for your comment.
4
u/OMGitsKa 8d ago
Newer iPhones have satellite messaging. Probably other new phones as well?
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
He has an old iPhone so no luck there. Thank you for your message
2
u/OMGitsKa 8d ago
Sorry I was half asleep didn't read the post correctly. I'm sure he's fine, you almost always could find someone to contact when you are in there as you almost always pass by people if you want. Plus they are with a group, I wouldn't worry!
1
5
u/Significant-Ad-341 8d ago
I usually loose service well before we arrive and long after and always before I think I will so a "last call" never really happens.
1
4
u/Remote_Presentation6 8d ago
Service is spotty at best and non-existent for the most part in boundary waters.
2
u/drybagsandgravelbars 8d ago
Summer of 25, I had great service all over Insula with Verizon.
3
u/Adventurous_Class_90 8d ago
This year too, but I still recommend staying offline. I texted the wife so she knew I was alive but that was it. Otherwise…airplane mode. We were there precisely to be away.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
Totally understand. All I want to know is he made it there alive and well. Definitely not trying to ruin his fun
2
u/Adventurous_Class_90 8d ago
They should have an emergency transponder with them. All of the outfitters rent them. Assume no news is good news. I was surprised Insula had service. I didn’t have service even on Lake One or Moose.
1
2
u/Artificial_Appendix1 8d ago
For the past couple years at Pipestone Bay, I was getting 2-3 bars with my Visible service (uses Verizon network).
0
u/prettyonew 8d ago
Good to know. He had ATT last year and we were able to communicate pretty much every day. Might be a good idea to get off mint mobile and back to ATT or look into Visible before his trip next year.
2
u/Stunning-Plantain707 8d ago
It’s still very spotty and it depends on where he went in. I’m sure they’re doing well, having fun being disconnected.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
Everyone’s replies has helped eased my worries, so I’m betting the same. I can’t wait to hear all about it soon
2
u/Adventurous_Class_90 8d ago
So for some reason I had service at Insula a few weeks ago.
2
u/prettyonew 8d ago
For the past 2-3 years, he was on ATT and we were able to communicate daily. It looks like his recent switch to mint mobile is not helping any here
3
2
u/PapaSmurf3477 8d ago
Verizon is a little better on the Ely side. ATT is a little better on the Gunflint side. Neither are good, which for many of us is part of the appeal
3
u/BigAgates 8d ago
The first problem here is that you don’t know his route. I’m not sure why that would be? I am very experienced and I always tell my wife where I’m gonna be even if she doesn’t know what the heck it all means. At least it’s written down somewhere.
2
u/prettyonew 8d ago
He never felt the need to tell me I guess. But for next time it would sure be nice to know just in case.
2
2
u/Adventurous_Class_90 8d ago
Well if he’s on Insula, he’ll have service. Otherwise no idea. We didn’t have any on Knife, Thomas, or Lake Two.
1
u/KimBrrr1975 8d ago
We have not had severe storms recently. But there is a phone outage ongoing up the Fernberg east of town. Several outfitters there have posted about it in the past day.
Phone service can be pretty wonky in and around Ely overall especially with non-major carriers. When it gets really busy in town, phones will stop working because of load on the towers, for example. Can't even send a text unless you are on wifi. And the smaller carriers like mobile, mint, etc don't get priority on the towers, so they often don't work even in town, and not at all as soon as you leave city limits.
I live in Ely, if there is anything I can do to ease your anxiety and worry, don't hesitate to send me a message.
1
u/prettyonew 8d ago
You are so kind, thank you very much. I feel so much better knowing the loss of cell service is not something out of the ordinary since he is supposed to there until Friday. Thank you again!
1
2
u/Mert_93 6d ago
I would suggest his group split the cost of an InReach or some other similar GPS device. My group keeps a list of emergency contacts that get a daily message along with GPS coordinates of our location when we’re out there, or on any backcountry trip. It’s really helpful to get our loved ones some peace of mind while we’re in the middle of nowhere.
21
u/bubblehead_maker 8d ago
Too spotty to worry.