Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada

dAnceguy117 · 05-23-2013, 02:01 PM

So I just crossed the bridge entering Canada from around Detroit. Shortly after crossing, I lost cell service. Definitely should have seen this coming.

Any suggestions?

My service in the USA is through Virgin Mobile. Guess I'll check their website.

**Staiain** · 05-23-2013, 02:03 PM

if it's android just go to options, more, mobile netowrks and do a scan

**Razor** · 05-23-2013, 02:06 PM

Should've called up Virgin Mobile and told 'em to enable international roaming on your plan. Even though you'd be charged for everything, at least you'd have service.

dAnceguy117 · 05-23-2013, 02:14 PM

@Razor - guess I should have, huh? Live and learn.

@Stian - yeah, it's Android. I tried Settings -> Wireless & Network Settings -> Mobile Networks, but the only option there is enable/disable data usage. Stupid phone.

**bmah** · 05-23-2013, 08:04 PM

The ideal thing to do would've been to contact Virgin Mobile and have them set up a travel package for cell service in Canada. You probably would then have to choose a package with a length of time that'd suit your needs. It'd be cheaper than trying to call without such a package in Canada.

Maybe try to go to a mobile service in Canada and set things up from there? idk

cedolad · 05-23-2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPopadopalis25

Worse comes to worse you could always head to a Superstore/Loblaws/Wal-Mart/wherever else and get a pay as you go throwaway phone.

Which I think is waayyy cheaper than roaming fees.

dAnceguy117 · 05-23-2013, 11:39 PM

You guys read my mind. Definitely gonna grab the cheapest phone I can find and a little prepaid thing.

Thanks all! It's probably easy to tell I've never left the States before. I'll be more prepared next time.

Tokzic · 05-26-2013, 05:09 PM

DANCEGUY if you have successfully received this message and are hunting us at the sheraton we are chilling in the lobby~

dAnceguy117 · 05-4-2014, 11:11 AM

soo it's this time of year again. I called Virgin Mobile today; they said their USA/Canada stuff is completely separate and that I'd need to buy a Virgin Mobile Canada phone (and probably pay for a month of their service).

I'm probably leaning toward

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPopadopalis25

Worse comes to worse you could always head to a Superstore/Loblaws/Wal-Mart/wherever else and get a pay as you go throwaway phone.

but still thinking on it. any new ideas, anyone?

**rushyrulz** · 05-4-2014, 11:52 AM

Depending on how long you're planning on staying, I'd say getting a walmart phone would be your best bet.

**kommisar** · 05-4-2014, 12:30 PM

we have virgin in canada the towers shouldn't be cutting your service anyways haha

it'd just be roaming

**j-rodd123** · 05-4-2014, 12:46 PM

ya that's weird, I'm on virgin mobile and I never lose service when I go to the States

dAnceguy117 · 05-4-2014, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushyrulz

Depending on how long you're planning on staying, I'd say getting a walmart phone would be your best bet.

thinkin' so, ty

Quote:

Originally Posted by kommisar

we have virgin in canada the towers shouldn't be cutting your service anyways haha

it'd just be roaming

I think the person I talked to was saying that the towers aren't compatible with each other basically. there's a chance she didn't know what she was talking about though, I could always try again haha. I specifically mentioned enabling roaming and she said "we can't do that" because blahblahblah.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-rodd123

ya that's weird, I'm on virgin mobile and I never lose service when I go to the States

ok maybe I'll try one more time lol.

Arntonach · 05-4-2014, 07:36 PM

Seems kinda weird that cell phone companies still think Canada's some bizarre otherworldly land while Mexico just means "stronger cell towers." Also would not like to know how cell phone companies in Europe deal with all dem countries. D:

**arcnmx** · 05-4-2014, 08:34 PM

Virgin is a CDMA provider (no SIM card) isn't it? For the most part CDMA has been dropped here, makes roaming a bit of a pain for you. I think Bell and Telus still run their networks though, so roaming *should* work, albeit on an old network that might not have the best coverage and performance.

You could try it again, and just buy a prepaid phone if it doesn't work out. If you can't get a roaming plan it'll probably not even be worth trying though.

And yeah, we have Virgin here but they generally run on GSM and are owned by Bell. Not really compatible much, and a completely different company.

dAnceguy117 · 05-4-2014, 08:56 PM

very insightful, thanks arc!

just called again and got the same answer. got a better explanation this time but not on the level of the above post haha.

05-23-2013, 02:01 PM	#1
dAnceguy117 new hand moves = dab Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: he/they Age: 33 Posts: 10,094	Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada So I just crossed the bridge entering Canada from around Detroit. Shortly after crossing, I lost cell service. Definitely should have seen this coming. Any suggestions? My service in the USA is through Virgin Mobile. Guess I'll check their website.

05-23-2013, 02:03 PM	#2
Staiain Can't handle my ÆØÅ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 4,544	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada if it's android just go to options, more, mobile netowrks and do a scan __________________ irc.rizon.net \| #kbo - Come chat!BlueXoon is back SM Wiki My

05-23-2013, 02:14 PM	#4
dAnceguy117 new hand moves = dab Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: he/they Age: 33 Posts: 10,094	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada @Razor - guess I should have, huh? Live and learn. @Stian - yeah, it's Android. I tried Settings -> Wireless & Network Settings -> Mobile Networks, but the only option there is enable/disable data usage. Stupid phone.

05-23-2013, 08:04 PM	#5
bmah shots FIRED Global Moderator, User Support, Judge Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edmonton, AB Age: 36 Posts: 8,448	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada The ideal thing to do would've been to contact Virgin Mobile and have them set up a travel package for cell service in Canada. You probably would then have to choose a package with a length of time that'd suit your needs. It'd be cheaper than trying to call without such a package in Canada. Maybe try to go to a mobile service in Canada and set things up from there? idk

05-23-2013, 11:39 PM	#7
dAnceguy117 new hand moves = dab Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: he/they Age: 33 Posts: 10,094	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada You guys read my mind. Definitely gonna grab the cheapest phone I can find and a little prepaid thing. Thanks all! It's probably easy to tell I've never left the States before. I'll be more prepared next time.

05-26-2013, 05:09 PM	#8
Tokzic FFR Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: TGB Age: 34 Posts: 6,878	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada DANCEGUY if you have successfully received this message and are hunting us at the sheraton we are chilling in the lobby~ __________________ ~very popular guitar streamer~ Last edited by Tokzic: Today at 11:59 PM. Reason: wait what

05-4-2014, 11:52 AM	#10
rushyrulz Digital Dancing! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 80 billion club, NE Age: 31 Posts: 12,980	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada Depending on how long you're planning on staying, I'd say getting a walmart phone would be your best bet. __________________

05-4-2014, 12:30 PM	#11
kommisar Dark Chancellor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Moncton, NB Age: 33 Posts: 7,301	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada we have virgin in canada the towers shouldn't be cutting your service anyways haha it'd just be roaming __________________

05-4-2014, 07:36 PM	#14
Arntonach Owlbears Rock! Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: The coldest place in hell Age: 33 Posts: 2,492	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada Seems kinda weird that cell phone companies still think Canada's some bizarre otherworldly land while Mexico just means "stronger cell towers." Also would not like to know how cell phone companies in Europe deal with all dem countries. D: __________________ pack of hard stuffs pack of my stuffs

05-4-2014, 08:34 PM	#15
arcnmx nanodesu~ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 503	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada Virgin is a CDMA provider (no SIM card) isn't it? For the most part CDMA has been dropped here, makes roaming a bit of a pain for you. I think Bell and Telus still run their networks though, so roaming should work, albeit on an old network that might not have the best coverage and performance. You could try it again, and just buy a prepaid phone if it doesn't work out. If you can't get a roaming plan it'll probably not even be worth trying though. And yeah, we have Virgin here but they generally run on GSM and are owned by Bell. Not really compatible much, and a completely different company. __________________ FMO AAAs (1): Within Life :: FGO AAAs (1): Einstein-Rosen Bridge Last edited by arcnmx; 05-4-2014 at 08:41 PM..

05-4-2014, 08:56 PM	#16
dAnceguy117 new hand moves = dab Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: he/they Age: 33 Posts: 10,094	Re: Need Advice - Lost Cell Service in Canada very insightful, thanks arc! just called again and got the same answer. got a better explanation this time but not on the level of the above post haha.

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