WiFi and a strong cellphone signals have become easier to find around Sierra County, but there are no guarantees, especially in the wilderness areas.

So many hotels and restaurants offer wifi that we no longer list them here.

Turtleback Coworking in downtown Truth or Consequences offers strong wifi and a place to work or meet with colleagues.

For open connections, try Ralph Edwards Park at the eastern-most end of Broadway, next to the Rio Grande.

The Sierra County Computer Lab (formerly 4th Street Computer Lab, next door to the Civic Center on 4th street, east of Date), or the Truth or Consequences Library have in the past made computers available however the lab is closed due to the pandemic.

Elephant Butte Lake State Park has added WiFi in the main area of the park, meaning you can pick it up everywhere from the Dirt Dam to Lion’s Beach and the RV campgrounds. It was announced in 2019 that the state park’s WiFi will be a paid service.

Wireless is limited in small mountain towns but you’ll find it at Hillsboro’s Community Center, Black Range Vineyards, and the Hillsboro General Store, for starters. Kingston’s Black Range Lodge has wireless throughout.  There is a plan to bring fiber optics to Hillsboro and Kingston by the end of 2022 via a partnership agreement between Ethos and Sierra Electric Coop. Until that project is complete, expect moderate low to moderate bandwidth capability.

Cellphones: for now, signals are weak in mountain towns like Chloride, Hillsboro and Kingston, but you can sometimes get a signal by accessing high ground — you might get lucky at the Hillsboro Cemetery. The closer you are to Interstate 25, the better luck you’ll have. Service will always vary according to provider. Verizon is generally a safe bet; cellphone users report less success with AT&T.

A tip for when you’re out of range: switching your smartphone to “airplane mode” allows you to continue taking photos while preventing your phone from constantly searching for a signal, which can drain the battery.