Editing Grand Canyon (section)

==Communications==
 - Updated 3/1/13 

'''Cell phones:'''
DO NOT ASSUME THAT CALLING 911 WILL WORK:

IF you have cell signal and IF your call connects your call may be answered by dispatchers as far away as Kanab (Southern Utah) or Flagstaff (Northern Arizona) depending on what cell tower your call connects through. E911 and location aware 911 services may not be available, so don’t expect the dispatcher to be able to find out where you are. The park is a big place, telling the dispatcher that “I’m lost at Grand Canyon” (1902 square miles) is about as useful as saying that you’re lost in the state of Rhode Island (1545 square miles)

'''Assume your cell phone WILL NOT WORK!'''. Ignore your carrier’s coverage map for the area (and for most of Northern Arizona). The maps have little to no connection to the real world usable cell signal.

*Below the rim: No cell carrier works in the canyon/below the rim. You might get a spot here or there where you have service, but assume that your cell phone will be nothing but a brick once you start hiking.

*Above the rim (South Rim): Do you have Verizon? If so you can assume that you’ll have basic cell coverage at most developed areas above the rim. Any other carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Qwest, etc) should assume that you won’t have service. There are spots here and there where you can get signal, but they are not reliable.

*Above the rim (North Rim): Do you have Verizon? If so, you should have cell service in most of N. Rim village. If you have any other carrier the only place you MIGHT find service is at the North Rim lodge patio facing South Rim. I think that there is also a Verizon signal booster set up at the lodge, but don’t count on it to work.

'''Internet:'''

The hotels and lodges at the park tend to have Wi-Fi in public spaces. As far as I know there is no in room internet access anywhere at South Rim.

Known locations within the park for free Wi-Fi:

*Park Headquarters courtyard/lobby (free public computer also available in library off of courtyard)

*El Tovar Lodge lobby.

'''Payphones:'''

Payphones in the park are located at Mather Campground and Market Plaza. There are also rumors of plans to install courtesy phones throughout the park that provide free local calls, or allow long distance calls collect or with a calling card, there are no firm plans or implementation timelines currently. There may still be a few payphones in Tusayan (the small town outside of South Rim Village.) There will be (Estimated late 2014) a payphone at the South Kaibab trailhead for hikers to call their rides. 

'''Satellite Phones:'''

Satellite phones do work in some places in the canyon, but not all. It’s hit or miss whether you can get connection on them from inside the canyon. When you do it tends to be really short (<2min) because you lose satellite coverage again.

'''Radios:'''

The park staff uses radios as their primary means of communication within the canyon. Reception is hit or miss in most locations. Walkie-talkies and other personal radios may work over short distances but will not help when deep in the canyon. Many tourists use walkie-talkies to communicate above the rim, so be prepared for lots of chatter on every single channel if you plan to use them.

'''Emergency locator beacons:'''
SPOT or other emergency beacons don’t work everywhere in the canyon, but they can be a lifesaver. If you’re going into the backcountry I recommend taking one along.