BajaNomad

"Suburban" Mulege phone service to U.S.?

bajateresa - 12-5-2008 at 07:03 PM

we live 15 mi so of Mulege at Posada Concepcion. no cell phone service out here. we have a HughesNet satellite Internet system based at our house and shared by 4 other households. my experiments with Internet phone services such as Skype have been unsatisfying -- i can hear my sister in Cleveland perfectly, but she gets about 1 out of every 5 words i say. does anyone know of any alternative to going into Mulege and using a pay phone there on the street or in a store, at about 50 cents a minute? all suggestions welcome...

Try Magicjack.com

Keri - 12-5-2008 at 09:59 PM

mulegemichael - 12-5-2008 at 10:02 PM

from all i've heard, hughesnet is screwed....just really slow and unreliable...sorry for the bad news...it's not what the ads say

Do you have any personal experience to speak from ??

beercan - 12-5-2008 at 11:07 PM

I have been using Hughes for five years and although it has A FEW problems, the alternative is much worse. I have used Net2phone for almost a year and if you work at it, it works well. I have an Arizona number and a regular phone with dialtone.
Perhaps, if you have 4 users, you are using too much bandwidth and need to look at upgrading your service. Also look at your usage , and signal strength.
Quote:
by mulegemike
rom all i've heard, hughesnet is screwed....just really slow and unreliable...sorry for the bad news...it's not what the ads say

Bajaboy - 12-5-2008 at 11:30 PM

Hey Beercan-

I look at your tagline and laugh....that's some funny stuff....

BajaNuts - 12-5-2008 at 11:55 PM

If you have a limited number of phone numbers you talk to to on a regular basis, try TeamSpeak. It won't work for someone who is calling different numbers all the time since it is computer-to-computer based.

It's a free program, I've posted about this before.
One computer (probably your computer, since you are the one calling the others) is set up as a TeamSpeak "server" and your friends and family log on as "users". Once everyone has the program on their computer, all you need is a microphone/headset. AND......
you can all be on the same channel at the same time talking with each other!
How cool is that! conference calls without MaBell-

When I was in MX I could talk literally for HOURS for free.

It should work ok with HughesNet, my hubby can play real-time online WWII flying games and talk to people all around the world all at the same time with no "satellite Lag". No distortion, IMHO better than a cell phone quality most of the time. If you have a good internet connection, you can also surf while talking, send and receive links for whatever you are talking about, look up the links while talking.......

http://www.hiredguns-hq.com/guns/index.php?option=com_wrappe...


There's a link to a download site.

capt. mike - 12-6-2008 at 07:34 AM

whom are you trying to call with any regularity? if it is stateside folks why not just buy a sat phone? they have really come down in price and rates.

Cypress - 12-6-2008 at 07:54 AM

Try Skype.;D

Bob and Susan - 12-6-2008 at 08:05 AM

i think the first problem is that 4 people are "sharing" one modem...

you probably get "FAPed" all the time...
your speed would be super slow if this happens...
your calls would suck

who knows when one or two people in your group
will download an upgrade for their computer
or watch some computer tv
or listen to some "streamed" music...
it only takes a few minutes of heavy use

first you need to take responsibilty
and get your own system...
dont "cheap out"
if you dont get the correct service you can't complain

then if you really need "better" phone service
pay for the upgraded service provided by the sat provider
not just "the base" rate service

having a profesional trained service tech
like "los frailes" in our area will help too

i wonder if your neighbor is just using local friends
to manage this 4 person system
it "may" be set up incorrectly for the fastest service

it may be your computer...
it may be a cheaper unit
or just old and SLOW...

there are lots of cheap slow computers down here
to get good service you need good equipment

we use yahoo messanger...
it's like skype but doesn't put alot of software on your computer
overall it's very similur

susan is able to do "threeway" conversations using yahoo messanger

computer to computer is free and calls are GREAT!!!
calls to usa and canada are a penny a minute and are ok
mexico calls are seven cents and are not too good

cell service here in the bay will be
about 2-3 years away using repeaters at first

there are some "hot spots" here and there
but they dont work all the time

its getting better and better

Diver - 12-6-2008 at 09:31 AM

My service has been adequate to good with Skype over Hughs and DSL.
As Bob said, I'd either check my service vs usage or call just Los Frailles.

If you get FAP--ED--you will not be able to use VOIP

beercan - 12-6-2008 at 10:04 AM

In fact you will be sitting still for 24 hours.
Good advise on the Professional. Fortunately we have a few people here in Puertecitos that that are computta savy nuf to work thru all the "problems". No professionals are available.
Quote:
by Bob & ....
i think the first problem is that 4 people are "sharing" one modem... you probably get "FAPed" all the time... your speed would be super slow if this happens... your calls would suck who knows when one or two people in your group will download an upgrade for their computer or watch some computer tv or listen to some "streamed" music... it only takes a few minutes of heavy use first you need to take responsibilty and get your own system... dont "cheap out" if you dont get the correct service you can't complain then if you really need "better" phone service pay for the upgraded service provided by the sat provider not just "the base" rate service having a profesional trained service tech like "los frailes" in our area will help too

losfrailes - 12-6-2008 at 10:39 AM

Terri

You can try MagicJack, however I have not heard of anyone using it successfully unless their computer is hooked up to ISDL.

If your service plan is Pro+, check the download/upload speeds.

With the 4 users sharing your system, check and see that your system is not FAPPED. The green circle will be bronze colored. OOOOPS! Suggest a more reasonable use schedule to your neighbors.

Try disconnecting the router from the system temporarily and go directly from the modem to the SKYPE equipped computer and see if there is any improvement. If you are using SKYPE thru the router, that could also be a small impediment.

And to the naysayers on Hughes. Its easy to point fingers when you are not off the grid and have access to such goodies as DSL, in Baja IDSL. However, there are a ton of folks who disagree with the statement that 'hughes is screwed'.

fishingmako - 12-6-2008 at 02:58 PM

I use Majic Jack it is somewhat of a problem, If you are using Sattelite internet? no problem with DSL, But In my playing around with this, I discovered you must be approx 10 feet away and you have to get use to the delay, this is the key, there is approx a 2 to3 second delay in the conversation, so you need to master the delay and not talk untill you hear the other person waiting for a response, It by no means is the best for satellite internet but it does work and is soooooooooooooo cheap!

I have used Magicjack for about a year

Keri - 12-6-2008 at 03:11 PM

maybe more. I do not have dsl ,I have wireless. Every once in a while I have a problem with a call on my desk top but it is something connected to a game I play all the time and my modem. On my laptop no problem at all. I have never had a delay in speaking. I did use skype and had that delay all the time. I love my magicjack. I should do a commercial for them. They have a 30 day free trial right now. Why don't you try it and see won't cost you a thing. k:yes:

Bob and Susan - 12-6-2008 at 03:26 PM

keri

you have wireless but where does the signal come from?

is the base unit (router) hooked to dsl?

Nope, Its satillite on one of my upper units rooftop

Keri - 12-6-2008 at 03:31 PM

The satellite takes care of all of plaza del mar and more,k

fishingmako - 12-6-2008 at 03:57 PM

Interesting you are using a signal that others use with good coverage? because of your location closer to the border and nothing to block it, being up hi your able to get the no delay on the Majic jack, I like that.