Wonder if *16 on a cellphone works in Desolation? *16 dials the CG rescue center.
Steve
There are places in Desolation with adequate cell coverage, where *16 works, and places without adequate coverage, where you are better served by VHF channel 16.
I use Telus, so am familiar with their coverage which, over the years has improved gradually to what it is now. Speaking generally, if you can see Sarah Point, you have coverage, if you can't see the tower, you are likely to have spotty coverage and if you are up any of the long, skinny channels, no coverage at all.
I can recall going out to Lewis channel from Teakern Arm to good service, but north of Teakern a few hundred yards lost service. Waddington channel south of Roscoe Bay is good, and further up if you hug the east shore, almost to Pendrell. That sort of thing.
Some other carriers provide service that is sometimes better than what I get, sometimes worse, always location specific.
VHF is better known for its line of sight service quality.
Mike:
I have been using my cellphone in Desolation since I had one that was a 12"x4"x2" silver box with a hand set attached. I think they have had decent service there since at least the mid 90s.
Any recent improvements are due to adopting new tech, like moving from analog to digital, from 4G to 5G, that sort of thing, but that doesn't seem to increase the area of coverage much, if at all.