Big Bend National Park , Cell Phone?
 

I have a relative who will be working in Big Bend National Park. Is there a cell phone carrier that is dependable there? Thanks for any insight.

Where in the park? Virtually no signal by any carrier in the Basin, probably nothing down by Castolon or the Rio Grande Village. There is fairly reliable signal near Panther Junction and on the road leading into the Basin, but the latter usually fades away a mile or so before actually entering the Basin.

They will be primarily in Panther Junction. Could you recommend a carrier?

and thank you WhereWeAre.

If Sprint, for example, says that they have "roaming" in that area, does that mean that they are using the towers of a Mexican carrier?

We are still looking for a new phone carrier.

T-Mobile works for me but I don't think I'm on their network. No idea which network it was though. I've heard Sprint doesn't work well but Tracfones do.

I'd suggest calling the office down there and asking what their employees typically use or recommend around PJ. If it's a short term job it might be better to get some prepaid plan rather than a long term contract.

Thank you so much!

I'm not aware of any 'dependable' cell service in that area. My AT&T phone never even got a roaming signal when I was there for a week last year - neither in the park nor in Terlingua. Friends who live in Panther Junction do not have cell phones - one works in Terlingua and the other for the NPS. They have an internet phoneline and a radio provided by NPS.

I have been there two weeks ago. We found definitly no cell phone network, neither at Panther Junction nor elsewhere in the park and not in Terlingua. It's the end of the world.

What type of phone are you using? T-Mobile has good signal at PJ but I suspect it requires a newer phone. You can even get signal in the mountains in some locations.

Thanks for the input! They are going to go with a brand spanking new phone with T Mobile and skype.

I'll report back if they are able to contact the outside world.

Reports from the park:

No cell phone service in "the basin"

At Panther Junction: Virgin Mobile does not work, AT & T works with a new phone, TMobile works with a new phone, Verizon works on roaming.