What US wireless telephone services work in Abaco?

[DrRalph]

I'm updating an article on cell phone use in Abaco; we haven't done this for a while. I would appreciate your input: what works, what doesn't, any comments?

Thanks very much in advance.

[DrGecko]

I can honestly say my Cingular phone from the states does work, although sometimes spotty. It works best from the crow's nest.
When we were down in November it worked well enough to cost me Just under
$300:( .
I will carry it down on Christmas but only use if for emergencies. My best bet is the pay phone by Guana Harbor Grocery - when it works - and an ATT calling card.

[AbacoChris]

We used our ALLTEL phone (albiet on analog) on Lubbers 2 or 3 times. Worked OK for short check-in calls. A little analog static but otherwise no problems.

[dbowman]

I had Alltel for about two years after Floyd. It worked well everywhere and only cost about $1.07/minute. I switched to Cingular which worked well everywhere, but the cost was $2.97/minute. After this years hurricanes, Cingular only worked well on Elbow near Abaco Inn. Sure it had to do with storm damage

[dbowman]

One additional detail. I had to downgrade my cell phone back to analog because GMS does not work yet in the Bahamas. I have heard some phones have dual and triple capacities, but mine is only analog

[tlwatts]

My Alltel works for outgoing calls, but I cannot receive calls. Not sure what it costs but I believe it is about $1 per minute.

[DrRalph]

Thanks to everyone; anything that anyone else can add is most appreciated!

[Floridaze]

Our Cingular one service works great (although EXPENSIVE!) from Old Bahama Bay through Guana. As a matter of fact, ever since we installed a cellular amplifier and antenna from Digital Antenna (http://www.digitalantenna.com - I think Shakespere offers them now, too) on the boat, we are able to make calls while crossing to OBB that get billed as local calls! On land, we've had no problems, even though the calls are not billed as local on GTC and Guana.

Hope this helps!

[DrRalph]

I'm still looking for info about US cell phone service in Abaco. I'd appreciate anyone's input. Thanks!

[It'lldo]

While in Abaco last month I was able to use my cheapy little $30.00 Nokia phone with my AT&Twireless service. The reception was very clear and I had NO problems. I live in central Florida (Orlando) I was able to call home and make local (Abaco) calls. I was pretty surprised it worked. The first try I was at the ferry dock in MH and the rest of my calls were from Elbow Cay. I have never signed up for any international calling plan and the largest charge was $4.25 for a 3 minute call!!

[big fish]

I have been told that Batelco does not have a roaming agreement with my carrier Sprint, although I haven't tried it lately.
Bruce

[Jack Frost]

no luck with my Nextel
Jack

[dp]

I tried Cingular and Sprint about a month ago - NEITHER worked, no surprise.

[theadmiral]

Anybody have any success with Verizon?

[Tai Tai]

Anybody have any success with Verizon?

Verizion works intermittantly, very low signal strength, no incoming calls. Depends where you are. Works best in downtown Marsh Harbour. It worked well when we were down in July. I think the damage to the cellular system during the hurricanes is the culprit.

[bon-esprit]

For reasons of their own, Verizon blocks all cell calls from U.S. to Bahamas, and we've never been able to get any connection whatsoever from Abaco to U.S. on our Verizon phones. Would recommend to anyone who plans to call Bahamas from their cell phone NOT to get Verizon. We're stuck with it for another year, then we're bailing, probably to AT&T or Cingular, whichever gives the best overall reception.

[new2abaco]

I carry both Cingular and Verizon and just returned from Marsh Harbour.

Verizon's default is to block all calls from the US to the Caribbean basin (including the Bahamas). One call to them from your cell phone and they will allow those calls. I call the Bahamas often from my Verizon cell phone in the states. The phone hardly ever works in Marsh Harbour and is usually a analog signal (meaning 30 minutes talk time, remember those days). So I leave it in my bag.

Cingular works well - provded you have an older TDMA model. The newer GSM phones theyhave been selling/pushing inthe US for the past 1+ year do not work. They still sell a TDMA phone through the internet website. Many rural areas of the US (especially the Rocky Mountain areas) do not have GSM service and won't for years. Just tell them you plan to use the phone there when you travel. Charges are $0.99 per minute to call back to the states.

Hope this is helpful

[DrRalph]

Thanks again to everyone who contributed. You can see the results at http://www.************/Askdex.html, it's at the bottom.

[new2abaco]

Cingular charges $1.99 per minute, not $0.99. Sorry.

[captrongreen]

When you are talking about these expensive (1.99) per minute charges from Cingular, are you talking about calls you made in the Bahamas to Bahamain phone #'s, or calls you made back to your local area in the U.S.

[new2abaco]

I have been charged the same rate for Abaco to US and Abaco to Abaco calls.

[lbud]

Wife and I spent Christmas week around lubbers, Elbow and manowar, My att phone worked well.

[johnsails]

Outgoing Version calls works for me most anywhere, Marsh, Guana, TC, ( find a high spot in hope town) but sometimes I have to dial a few times to get through. I'll call them an see If they let me receive calls next time I'm in Abaco.

[sandcastle-tcb]

I have an old Alltel Tdma PHONE. It is strictly analog and can be switched to Band B which was required last year at Treasure Cay. I went to Alltel before I left the states and had them reactivate it and they checked and still had a roaming agreement. I called Batelco in Nassau and was told the same.

I'm here now with an expensive battery replacement and I get a recording from Batelco saying that they are switching me to wireless. Then a recording comes on and says call cannot be completed as dialed check roaming agreements. I went to Batelco here at Treasure and the person said that it will not work.

What won't work, I'm not sure. She said the phone had to be TDMA, which this one is....she also said gthat there is no Batelco wireless.

Any ideas before I buy a phone here? (I should say that I cannot get Cingular nor AT&T at home, because SUNCOM (which stinks) has my area sewed up. I cannot buy a service elsewhere when they see my billing address.

[flyingdogs]

If you have an older Nokia, go into setup. I can't remember because my old phone is in Guana, but I had to change something in setup to out of area network. Batelco didn't even know how to do it. Just had to play with it until it finally worked. Good luck

[biggy]

You must have a tdma phone or a gait phone,with a provider that has a reciprocal roaming agreement with BATELCO.Cingular offers gait service and phones it works flawlessly,even forwards your voicemail.Grand Bahama and New Providence are on the gsm system,but it doesn't work in Abaco yet.Verizon does not allow you to make an international call from the US if you are out of your home area,and if you have an older tdma Verizon phone it may call out from Abaco last I tried.

[rainbow24fan]

We last visited in February of 2003, and my Verizon phone worked fine for outgoing calls. Made one to the states and a couple of local calls in Treasure Cay. Did not receive any incoming calls, but still today cannot dial direct to Abaco using Verizon. Don't know about the cost as I've yet to be billed.

[Melody Hale]

I have an AT&T Wireless cell phone.......will this work in the Lubbers Quarters area? Would it be wise to purchase a Verizon cell phone prior to going to the Bahamas as I need to be able to be reached for emergencies??

[biggy]

Cingular gait phones work flawlessly,as they operate on any available system"which is the old tmda system in Abaco".call forwarding and voice mail always work.I have been using this service since Verizon started to get rid of their tmda phones and they stopped working"about 2 years ago"GSM service was scheduled to be in Abaco by now and is in Freeport and Nassau,but hasn't reached Abaco yet.I am sure there are other carriers that still use the old tmda system,that may have reciporocity agreements with Batelco,but I know this one works. Big