Hey guys, kicking around getting a Blackberry, but worried about the cell phone range at my place in Haliburton.
I don't need the e-mail up there (but that could be fun too) but I don't want to switch everything over and not get cell coverage. Anyone have one??

Thanks!
ZR

I got em with Bell, they work half decent, but some areas are pretty bad.

They work perfect at our place. However since a new tower went up (thankfully cannot see it) we have full bar cell reception standing in the cottage.

I would confirm cell coverage from Bell or Rogers and then go with that. If you have full cell coverage your blackberry should be fine.

Right now it's one of those stand still signals at our place, but usually get a good signal on my Samsung. I'm with Telus for now, but they piggyback with Bell, so the coverage is ok. Just wasn't sure on the Berry's.
Thanks!

you can use it in Hali, but where are you in the area?

obviously there are dead zones, being that its the highlands and all..

Telus and bell seem to be good up there.

I use a blackberry on Telus, went on vacation this summer and lost all reception north of cottage country somewhere. I asked the reason at a telus store since i was sure there was reception right up through the hwy 11 corridor. Turns out there is two different types of signals. i think the one i am on is the mike system (blackberry has 2 way capabilities) and this type of service was not available past cottage country.

My boss uses his in Chapleau, I don't know how many dead zones are in between but hey if it works there it must work a bit further too.

as long as your not with Telus Mike... you'll be fine... I'm with Telus and mine works fine in town... at the cottage on Kennisis Lk, it's in and out of service

We use our cell phones in Haliburton Forest and a friend uses a Blackberry

I'm just west of Bryson's. I know I send text and what not on my cell, I was just worried about the lack of an extendable antanna. I think I will get one, worst case, take my wifes cel too! (keeps the bill down that way)

I use a BB curve and it works wherever my old Motorola did for voice. It is actually a great phone.

The difference is it uses EDGE for data transmission so if I get into an area without EDGE my data quits when is switches network types.

If your buying it more for the phone, it is a good as anything else out there. Data - verify coverage.

Now I've had a few Blackberrys and the Curve is the first one I did not absolutely hate. The curve is actually the opposite and is my favourite phone of all time.

I also have a Motorola Razor - sucks, Sony wi300 - great, Motorola T720 - awesome - I use it sledding as it runs forever on it's massive optional battery pack as well as a few older Blackberrys - crap.

I'm with Rogers and very pleased with their service.

Bell and Telus share towers in the east and west. Telus runs an additional IDEN network for there "push to talk" mike phones which does not have the same coverage int he north.

Blackberys do not receive any analog signals, so only didgital service will work up north. That being said I have been in HALI forest, Burks Falls, Apsley and many other northern locations and had full blackberry functionality. Most likley the digital will be 1X not the EVDO didgital but it still works. There will obviously be dead zones in most areas due to hills and bedrock.

It's funny how when taking a break and the cell phones come out while sleddin we often notice if BEll/TElus do not work ... rogers will, and visa vesa, but most areas all have coverage.

My 2 cents

I don't have a black berry but can say that Bell service in Haliburton is spotty....Dorset is excellent but at the cottage on Kawagama depends on were you are,....

I sent and received over 35 e-mails while in my treestand this morning 16km from the nearest tower in Gravenhurst. As long as there isn't big files attached e-mails will work on one bar of service with my BB. I am with Bell. Blackberry - one of this centuries greatest innovations, just wish I had of bought shares into it 4 years ago. DOGH!

Hey Guys,
I work for RIM and I carry multiple Blackberries as you could imagine. My suggestion is to to with a Rogers unit up north. All you need is GPRS signal and you are good to go. Further, with the store and forward technology, message will almost always get through due to the fact that data takes very little bandwidth and even if you just blip in and out of coverage, you will still be able to send and recieve emails.

I rider north of Baptiste, Lake St. peter, North of Aplsey and I have alwasy gotten a great signal.

And if you are looking, get a Curve, it has a good camera and zoom to take pictures on the trail as well as a 3.5mm headset jack and 2Gig sd card to use as an MP3 Player while you are riding.
let me know if you have any other questions.

We've been using RIM's for 6 or 7 years now. We started with the clamshell style that took 2 AA batteries every couple days. They sure have come a long way.

Haliburton and Muskoka region, Telus has no service most of the time, but Bell seems to be good.