BajaNomad

Verizon in baja service quality report 2019

tobias - 1-2-2019 at 06:48 PM

Please feel free to add.
Service is getting a bit better every year it seems.

San Felipe - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Guerrero Negro - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Mulege - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Loreto - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video


Todos Santos- horrible signal , no G in sight , you can barely check your email.

Guess where I spend most of my time down here?

JZ - 1-2-2019 at 07:19 PM

at@t is the best international carrier hands down.

Has been the best and most affordable in MX for a very long time.

tobias - 1-2-2019 at 07:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
at@t is the best international carrier hands down.

Has been the best and most affordable in MX for a very long time.



I am sure thats true , but I am married to Verizon because its the only game in town for my little neck of rural NM.
My only other option would be a sim card but I have not gotten fed up enough to research that option seriously .

PaulW - 1-2-2019 at 08:23 PM

Good to know where Verizon has towers.
150 peso per month for a telcel sim card and service everywhere in Baja - not the big cities. I forget what the sim card cost, but not expensive. Telcel now offers a modem for home internet.

tobias - 1-2-2019 at 09:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Good to know where Verizon has towers.
150 peso per month for a telcel sim card and service everywhere in Baja - not the big cities. I forget what the sim card cost, but not expensive. Telcel now offers a modem for home internet.


In all of the towns I mentioned , when the service was good, I was roaming on TELCEL.
Down here, I am roaming on two different networks and they SUCK

WestyWanderer - 1-2-2019 at 09:18 PM

I had T mobile and in the Ensenada area and from mexicali to puertocitos it was great. We now have AT&T and on our last trip (our only trip so far with it) we had full bars but would have to dial calls multiple times before they would go through and the data was very slow even though it showed LTE in the same Mexicali-San Felipe corridor.

Not to steal the thread, just reporting and am very curious to see how Verizon works because we are considering switching as we are very unhappy with AT&T.

55steve - 1-3-2019 at 12:47 AM

My T-Mobile works great wherever the Telcel signal works.

Howard - 1-3-2019 at 08:50 AM

Well, time be a changing now that other U.S. carriers appear to work in Baja other than AT&T. I have with AT&T for over a decade and according to this thread there are now options for Baja or anywhere Telcel is.

My AT&T plan is $55 a month, unlimited calls to and from Mexico, I think 10GB of data and maybe some other features.

With the above being said, which of the carriers that work down here have the best deals? I, probably like most Bajaites need to:
Call North from Baja
Call Baja from NOB
Use some Data both North and South of the border

Who has the best current program now that I can switch?

Thanks

David K - 1-3-2019 at 08:57 AM

After nearly 20 years with Sprint (which had no service in San Felipe and only worked in big cities on Hwy. 1), we switched to Cricket. Anyone know what service it matches with in Baja?

pacificobob - 1-3-2019 at 10:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
at@t is the best international carrier hands down.

Has been the best and most affordable in MX for a very long time.


i agree it is affordable. however, when someone calls me from the US, there is about a 50/50 chance of it working. the data works well.

Howard - 1-3-2019 at 10:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
at@t is the best international carrier hands down.

Has been the best and most affordable in MX for a very long time.


i agree it is affordable. however, when someone calls me from the US, there is about a 50/50 chance of it working. the data works well.


Agreed but I only get around 25% of incoming calls in The Baja and no problem for outgoing or data from Baja.
This problem has only started in the last year or so.

[Edited on 1-3-2019 by Howard]

tobias - 1-3-2019 at 11:45 AM

Ok , I just forced my phone to only accept TELCEL network and now life is good!
I am pretty sure I violated my contract somehow and Verizon wanted me on whatever network gives them the best rate in this area so we will see if I get some crazy roaming charges.

AKgringo - 1-3-2019 at 01:00 PM

I have a 'no contract' ATT Gophone that I bought quite a while back when my Tracphone no longer worked in Mexico. The ten cent a minute plan that I have is discontinued, but is good for me as long as I have this number, so I will keep using it for occasional calls and texts (I don't use it for data).

Having said that, my experience with my CA ATT/Direct TV and internet has been so bad that today I am in the process of dumping them, and never intend to use them again!

They make Comcast look good!

55steve - 1-3-2019 at 03:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
After nearly 20 years with Sprint (which had no service in San Felipe and only worked in big cities on Hwy. 1), we switched to Cricket. Anyone know what service it matches with in Baja?


I believe Cricket buys space from T-Mobile. Select Telcel as your provider on your phone when you're down south.

StuckSucks - 1-3-2019 at 06:23 PM

Verizon was my provider until 6-8 years ago when I switched to AT&T -- they provide a seamless experience when crossing the border. No international dialing codes, txt and data works exactly like in the States. My cell signal SOB is significantly stronger -- a few years ago I received a good signal on the Punta Conejo Road before dropping down the hill to the coast.

Service aside, I still think AT&T is a morally void company.

JZ - 1-3-2019 at 06:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
at@t is the best international carrier hands down.

Has been the best and most affordable in MX for a very long time.


i agree it is affordable. however, when someone calls me from the US, there is about a 50/50 chance of it working. the data works well.


at&t is the best in MX and has been for 15 years.

And lol, at ppl using Sprint or friggin' Cricket.

JZ - 1-3-2019 at 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  


Agreed but I only get around 25% of incoming calls in The Baja and no problem for outgoing or data from Baja.
This problem has only started in the last year or so.

[Edited on 1-3-2019 by Howard]


They bought two MX carriers and are using less of the Telcel network. For a while I saw worse data performance in Sonora, but it's back up to being very fast.

David K - 1-3-2019 at 06:35 PM

I started with Sprint when Radio Shack sold their phones, lol! You were probably in high school still JZ?

It has always been fine here in SoCal for my needs. We just needed to find better deals and our daughter raved about Cricket service and pricing. We now have two new Moto phones and so far they work great and the battery doesn't wear out hardly at all compared to the older phones.

mtnpop - 1-3-2019 at 09:36 PM

Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. so they use AT&T time.
We have and worked great in Mulege for 2 years and now this year only 2 weeks after arriving. Was great voice and text to the US and from the US.
Their partner here is movistar, phones work in Loreto but not Mulege or Sta. Rosalia for some reason. They say they can see our phones but we only can use data thru internet. Not sure what happened but guess it has to do with movistar here.
4 phones unlimited Mx, Canada, US for $100 per month now if we could only figure out the problem in Mulege
gotta luv talking for hours to tech services using the land line...

defrag4 - 1-3-2019 at 09:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
After nearly 20 years with Sprint (which had no service in San Felipe and only worked in big cities on Hwy. 1), we switched to Cricket. Anyone know what service it matches with in Baja?


hey David,

I also have cricket and have been testing it down here, Cricket roams on Movistar and ATT MX towers only, it used to roam on Telcel but recently cut that out.

Can report that you will have good coverage in Tecate, 3G on Ruta3, good 4G in Ensenada

south of Ensenada you will be roaming on Movistar Edge(2G) mostly, you can make phone calls in the larger towns but data is basically unusable until you get south of Ciudad Insurgentes where I have just started picking up Movistar 3G again.


the upside is I have the unlimited data cricket plan, the downside is, cant use the data if you dont have coverage lol

I have heard ATT MX coverage is much better further south, we are headed to La Paz tomorrow and will report back

defrag4 - 1-3-2019 at 10:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtnpop  
Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. so they use AT&T time.
We have and worked great in Mulege for 2 years and now this year only 2 weeks after arriving. Was great voice and text to the US and from the US.
Their partner here is movistar, phones work in Loreto but not Mulege or Sta. Rosalia for some reason. They say they can see our phones but we only can use data thru internet. Not sure what happened but guess it has to do with movistar here.
4 phones unlimited Mx, Canada, US for $100 per month now if we could only figure out the problem in Mulege
gotta luv talking for hours to tech services using the land line...


hey mtnpop, do you have android or iphone? I am on iphone and wondering if I would be better off with an android phone down here where I have more control over the APN settings and carrier lock options,

couldnt get any internet data to work in Mulege or Loreto on Movistar, every once in a while I would get a facebook message but it was pretty much unusable for data, could make phone calls in both locations though

testing on an older iPhone SE and iPhone 6S

mtnpop - 1-4-2019 at 08:43 AM

We have a moto (motorola) and a samsung both androids. both work very well in Loreto and worked only 2 weeks after arriving in Mulege this year. worked for 2 years b4 that in Mulege.
never have talked with anyone about iphones in the area.
Last year a friend with T-mobile android had very good results in Mulege also...

Quote: Originally posted by defrag4  
Quote: Originally posted by mtnpop  
Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. so they use AT&T time.
We have and worked great in Mulege for 2 years and now this year only 2 weeks after arriving. Was great voice and text to the US and from the US.
Their partner here is movistar, phones work in Loreto but not Mulege or Sta. Rosalia for some reason. They say they can see our phones but we only can use data thru internet. Not sure what happened but guess it has to do with movistar here.
4 phones unlimited Mx, Canada, US for $100 per month now if we could only figure out the problem in Mulege
gotta luv talking for hours to tech services using the land line...


hey mtnpop, do you have android or iphone? I am on iphone and wondering if I would be better off with an android phone down here where I have more control over the APN settings and carrier lock options,

couldnt get any internet data to work in Mulege or Loreto on Movistar, every once in a while I would get a facebook message but it was pretty much unusable for data, could make phone calls in both locations though

testing on an older iPhone SE and iPhone 6S

HeyMulegeScott - 1-5-2019 at 11:39 AM

Quote: Originally posted by tobias  
Please feel free to add.
Service is getting a bit better every year it seems.

San Felipe - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Guerrero Negro - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Mulege - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video
Loreto - Strong signal , 4G , easy to stream video


Todos Santos- horrible signal , no G in sight , you can barely check your email.

Guess where I spend most of my time down here?


To be clear you're saying this is Telcel using Verizon roaming? Do you have an unlimited plan with 500mb daily data cap in Mexico?

defrag4 - 1-5-2019 at 11:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtnpop  
We have a moto (motorola) and a samsung both androids. both work very well in Loreto and worked only 2 weeks after arriving in Mulege this year. worked for 2 years b4 that in Mulege.
never have talked with anyone about iphones in the area.
Last year a friend with T-mobile android had very good results in Mulege also...

Quote: Originally posted by defrag4  
Quote: Originally posted by mtnpop  
Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. so they use AT&T time.
We have and worked great in Mulege for 2 years and now this year only 2 weeks after arriving. Was great voice and text to the US and from the US.
Their partner here is movistar, phones work in Loreto but not Mulege or Sta. Rosalia for some reason. They say they can see our phones but we only can use data thru internet. Not sure what happened but guess it has to do with movistar here.
4 phones unlimited Mx, Canada, US for $100 per month now if we could only figure out the problem in Mulege
gotta luv talking for hours to tech services using the land line...


hey mtnpop, do you have android or iphone? I am on iphone and wondering if I would be better off with an android phone down here where I have more control over the APN settings and carrier lock options,

couldnt get any internet data to work in Mulege or Loreto on Movistar, every once in a while I would get a facebook message but it was pretty much unusable for data, could make phone calls in both locations though

testing on an older iPhone SE and iPhone 6S


interesting, im in Loreto now, Cricket only roaming on Movistar E which is basically unusable for data

verizon

ztrab - 1-5-2019 at 12:59 PM

FWIW, when I cross the border my Verizon plan, with Mexico, switches automatically and texts me to let me know. It will automatically hunt a different carrier if telcel isn't available. It works well at my house south of Puerto Penasco and I've had very good luck on the peninsula and all the way into Chiappas on the mainland. I carry an InReach SE, so if I ever really need to communicate, I'm covered - then again, I try not to use my phone when I'm I'm relaxing in Mexico :-). I've never maxed out my data but I'm not streaming movies or using it as a hot spot and I think I have 10 gb or something - jeez, I don't even remember.

ReTire - 1-5-2019 at 04:07 PM

So far Verizon has been good for me from Tecate towards San Felipe. A couple of dead zones. Seamless though. That’s how I’m posting here from my phone hotspot about 7 km from Hwy 5 heading towards SF.

Baja_Traveler - 1-5-2019 at 06:14 PM

Verizon has a strong signal in San Quintin, the town of San Ignacio (not the lagoon however) and a good signal (signal drops off sometimes) in Punta Abreojos (and Campo Rene). I never stream, so have no idea if its possible...

tobias - 1-5-2019 at 06:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Three2tango  


To be clear you're saying this is Telcel using Verizon roaming? Do you have an unlimited plan with 500mb daily data cap in Mexico?


exactly correct

Hook - 1-6-2019 at 08:57 AM

Quote:

To be clear you're saying this is Telcel using Verizon roaming? Do you have an unlimited plan with 500mb daily data cap in Mexico?




Not in Baja (the mainland), but I have the 55+ plan through Verizon and have unlimited voice, text to the US and Canada and Mexico. 500 mg daily limit.

Sometimes I notice the phone is on Movistar but 90% of the time, I am using Telcel towers. Completely seamless crossing the border. I get a text message upon crossing that outlines the details of my plan.

Unlocked Samsung 7s. Bought it brand new on E bay about 18 months ago.

The days of Verizon being a disadvantage in my part of Mexico have ended. Verizon is king in the rural mountain areas of the western US, so that's why I have Verizon. Any service works if you are a city dweller.



[Edited on 1-6-2019 by Hook]

Bubba - 1-6-2019 at 09:49 AM

I've had zero problems with Verizon.

BajaMama - 1-6-2019 at 09:54 AM

Here is a question I know ya'll will have an answer to: When I am in Mulege or Santa Rosalia, my AT&T phone says I have full LTE or 4G service, but it still doesn't work for data. Is there some special secret agent trick that will enable my phone to actually work well? When I get Mexican AT&T service everything is fine (but I never get that in the area I spend time in), but TelCel and Moviestar are terrible for me.

Hook - 1-6-2019 at 10:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
Here is a question I know ya'll will have an answer to: When I am in Mulege or Santa Rosalia, my AT&T phone says I have full LTE or 4G service, but it still doesn't work for data. Is there some special secret agent trick that will enable my phone to actually work well? When I get Mexican AT&T service everything is fine (but I never get that in the area I spend time in), but TelCel and Moviestar are terrible for me.


Look in your settings menu, probably under Connections and make sure you have roaming data turned on. That's the most likely reason.

Also look at your network mode and try putting it on Global or choosing CDMA or GSM and see if that makes a difference.

If not, call your carrier. Verizon's help lines have always been good for me; when I was with ATT, not so much.

[Edited on 1-6-2019 by Hook]

BajaMama - 1-6-2019 at 11:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
Here is a question I know ya'll will have an answer to: When I am in Mulege or Santa Rosalia, my AT&T phone says I have full LTE or 4G service, but it still doesn't work for data. Is there some special secret agent trick that will enable my phone to actually work well? When I get Mexican AT&T service everything is fine (but I never get that in the area I spend time in), but TelCel and Moviestar are terrible for me.


Look in your settings menu, probably under Connections and make sure you have roaming data turned on. That's the most likely reason.

Also look at your network mode and try putting it on Global or choosing CDMA or GSM and see if that makes a difference.

If not, call your carrier. Verizon's help lines have always been good for me; when I was with ATT, not so much.

[Edited on 1-6-2019 by Hook]


Thank you for that info - apparently my iPhone 7 lacks some capability. Maybe I'll splurge for the XS after all and purchase it from Apple so it is unlocked...

floydo - 1-7-2019 at 09:01 PM

Verizon worked well in cities and a lot of countryside down to La Ventana. Data was good, but text is pretty weird all over. You get a text, then "download text" boxes and the first 3 text words appear after clicking then the text reappears after a short period in an associated thread. So you have to then search a bit for the text. This is mostly in group texts. We are now on third level support, and they are supposed to call back. Generally the support has been great, but this problem on 2 different phones same account. Anybody else had something similar?
Last year AT&T was better for local calls in LV, but this year so far VZW is great.

Screenshot_20190106-111301_Messages.jpg - 8kB

Hook - 1-7-2019 at 09:30 PM

Yes, I saw a lot of that type of download box over the holidays, when lots of people were in town. Now it has disappeared almost completely, except for some group messages. I assumed it was due to cell tower overload, because it disappeared once the holidays ended.

To minimize unnecessary downloading of images in text messages, I do have Data Saver turned ON, which allows me to decide whether an image is really that critical to the text message. I have to prompt a download, in this case. So, whenever I get a text message with an image, I get that box.