These prepaid radio/cellphones sound like a good deal at $50 from MallWart. But, can you call U.S. from Baja? Can you buy something extra that
enables them to?Mango - 10-6-2007 at 12:50 PM
It looks like Boost Mobile is the service provider for those. I checked their website but didn't see anything about international service. There
coverage map did not include El Centro or Yuma, etc.. it was just major urban areas.
Personally, I just unlocked my Cingular V3 Razor. I have a pre-paid/pay as you go Tel-Cel SIM chip to put in it while in Mexico. Usually I am near
the border, etc.. and my regular Cingular service works on "Cingular Extended" So I usually just leave my normal SIM chip in it.
You should be able to unlock that phone if you really like it. It think it said it worked on 800Mhz and 900Mhz. I can't remember what frequency of
the Mexican networks use. I know my phone is GSM and uses 4 different frequencies.Minnow - 10-6-2007 at 12:56 PM
I used one for years. It used to be the normal dollar fifty per day and you could talk all you want then they started nicking you for an extra 25
cents a minute for calls originating in Mexico. You could however walkie talkie to Mexico for no extra charge. Regular nextel does not charge for
calls originating in Mexico. We no longer need it, so if anyone wants a boost phone I got one you can have. Just pay the shipping.
Oso, Yes you can call the US from Baja
Keri - 10-6-2007 at 03:44 PM
I live in La Mision between Rosarito and Ensenada. I have a i415 prepay phone and you can buy boost cards here in Baja. I don't know what it costs per
minute because I only use it for the US as I have a telcel for here. I have been thinking of buying a prepay nextel SIM chip to use here in Baja as I
do have many friends here that have nextel. I talked to a nextel provider here he said I can buy the chip for $30 and that gives me some time also.
I don't remember how much. Does that help any ? kOso - 10-7-2007 at 09:37 AM
Getting more interesting, but I wonder about the range and the availability of towers farther the peninsula.Roberto - 10-7-2007 at 09:49 AM
If they are Nextel like Minnow implies - forget it. Cingular (now ATT) has great coverage now in places you would never imagine because they are GSM.
So get that, or a "frijole phone" if you want coverage.
To rephrase, it's "ATT y nada mas".
[Edited on 10-7-2007 by Roberto]bajabound2005 - 10-7-2007 at 09:50 AM
There is a daily charge for the walkie-talkie part -- works with Nextel as well. I think it's $2 (at least it WAS) a day but then you could walkie
talkie (locally or to the USA) all you wanted that day with no extra charges. If you don't use it, no charge for that day.Oso - 10-7-2007 at 09:54 AM
OK, Roberto, as a favor to the clueless (including me), what's a "frijole phone"?
my guess is telcel
Keri - 10-7-2007 at 10:28 AM
And...
Dave - 10-7-2007 at 10:33 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
These prepaid radio/cellphones sound like a good deal at $50 from MallWart. But, can you call U.S. from Baja? Can you buy something extra that
enables them to?
Can you break them and shove them up the a$$ (sideways)of people who use them in public?Minnow - 10-7-2007 at 11:03 AM
Dave, I was having lunch the other day in a fairly crowded Mariscos Restaurant and the loudest conversation in the entire place was some trailero and
his walkie talkie.
For the reading comprehension challenged. Nextel and Boost Mobil are not the same.
Yes Roberto, no coverage past Maneadero.Oso - 10-7-2007 at 12:33 PM
OK, as to specific needs "talking all I want" is covered in about 3 minutes. I've never cared for chatting or visiting on the phone, even as a
teenager. That's why I like regular email, not IM and posting on BB's, not chat rooms. Just send the message and check for response later is fine
with me.
So, coverage is more important to me than amount of time allotted. I just need to say, "Everything's fine. Quit worrying." once every other day or
so, to San Luis, AZ, from wherever in the boonies I happen to be, so I won't have to listen to "Why didn't you call, I've been worried sick yada yada,
no consideration, yada yada, you only think of yourself, yada yada", when I get home.
What's the best choice for that?
A sat phone is best for that.
Keri - 10-7-2007 at 01:52 PM
You can even rent one from Discover Baja and probably other places. Other wise probably a telcel , if you are going into a town every couple of days
you should get a good signal. However the only sure thing out in the boonies is Sat phone,kRoberto - 10-7-2007 at 05:25 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
OK, Roberto, as a favor to the clueless (including me), what's a "frijole phone"?
Es un ciste. A mexican cell phone.Roberto - 10-7-2007 at 05:29 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
What's the best choice for that?
Get a phone from ATT - make sure you can roam in Mexico, and you'll be good to go. Coverage has improved by leaps and bounds since the last time you
tried this.
As for ordering takeout from El Datil (or calling me to tell me you got lost wandering the salt flats after going the way you were specifically
instructed NOT to go) --- gonna have to wait a few more years for that one.
Or, you could get a frijole phone from Telcel.
[Edited on 10-8-2007 by Roberto]Roberto - 10-7-2007 at 05:41 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Minnow
For the reading comprehension challenged. Nextel and Boost Mobil are not the same.
Guess that means me.
But, for the research challenged, Boost Mobile is owned by Nextel (which is owned by Sprint) and they use the same network, so they really ARE the
same aren't they?
Let's see you parry THAT one, o little fishy one.
[Edited on 10-8-2007 by Roberto]Bajaboy - 10-7-2007 at 06:36 PM
I get better coverage in Bahia Asuncion on my T Mobile phone than in San Diego. Many of the small communities are getting towers so be patient.
ZacMinnow - 10-7-2007 at 07:45 PM
Nope, I was not talking about you Roberto.
Once again, refer to my original post. My wife and I did the Nextel/boost dance for 3 years. Thank god thats over.Roberto - 10-7-2007 at 08:45 PM
It's ok even if you were Minnow. With all the SH*T I give people around here, I need to be able to take it, right?
Just messin' with you and tryin' to change the subject from the usual "how can I make a reservation ...." type of stuff.
The day that reservations are available all over the peninsula will be WAY past the last day I have interest in going down -- unless it's to hunt down
the Sculpin so I can p*ss in his campfire.
[Edited on 10-8-2007 by Roberto]CaboRon - 10-9-2007 at 10:01 PM
Got a t-mobile phone and account just before leaving for La Paz.............Told them I needed it for use in
Baja........It was off network the entire trip and is now resting peacefully
in the bay of La Paz.
-CaboRonRoberto - 10-9-2007 at 10:51 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by CaboRon
Got a t-mobile phone and account just before leaving for La Paz.............Told them I needed it for use in
Baja........It was off network the entire trip and is now resting peacefully
in the bay of La Paz.
-CaboRon
Hmmmm ... and how did T-Mobile make it into the discussion?
