XFILE36 said:
So, here's a question for everyone, maybe I should start a new thread. If I bring my laptop, would there possibly be wifi in an area that doesn't have cell service?
Also, if there's no cell service can you still text?
Babe, if you dont have cell service you wont have wifi..and you would have to have 'tethering' active on your phone to even have wifi to the laptop. Again, its a remote area out there in far West Texas...it is still one of the most remote areas in the USA.
Very low population density, few cell towers, light traffic, long distances between towns, and 80 mph speed limit...quite enjoyable actually! In fact, McDonald's Observatory is out there in the Big Bend Region of West Texas because it IS so remote...no lights at night to cause light pollution, because the cities are small and very far apart.
http://www.darksky.org/idsp/parks/bigbend/
If you are in an area with wifi like at a McDonalds or a Walmart then yes, you can get wifi and cell data in those areas...
The McDonalds in Van Horn has free wifi if you stop there.
In years past, many Texas roadside rest areas had free wifi but that's mostly gone now.
It is possible to send a text in a dead zone and it might get thru IF you are still moving. (but texting and driving is not safe either!) If you are parked and you have no cell signal a text will usually not go thru either.
Just don't be worrying about this...you will be driving 1500 miles or so, and the likely-hood of a breakdown in a cellular dead zone is pretty small.
People have been traveling for years without cell service...a few dropouts is not a big deal. And your phone may work fine for the entire route...you never said what carrier you are on.
Now...if you want to take a more 'connected' route home, you should think about re-routing thru Amarillo and take I-40 all the way to California.
US-287 to Amarillo and then I-40 to California has very few dead zones till you get into California and there are a few there too.
But...I hate I-40 because it is so heavily traveled...it is a major transport route across the USA. You are constantly passing or being passed by large trucks and other travelers in a hurry.
It can be a mess! But on a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday time frame, it wont be that bad.
It's just up to you.