BajaNomad

Laptop on the road

baron - 1-19-2010 at 06:29 PM

Planning on carrying my laptop this trip. Any suggestions on what service to get is appreciated!

Udo - 1-19-2010 at 06:38 PM

There are many internet cafes with wifi all over Baja.
Wireless cell will be incredibly expensive.

El Comadante Loco - 1-19-2010 at 06:40 PM

I carry mine and have found plenty of free wifi in most major areas.. Also there a many Internet cafes even is remote areas that are very reasonably priced and fast... I have seen some people use these for skype and magicjack to make phone calls..
Where will you be traveling to...

Get a Telcel 3g card

Keri - 1-19-2010 at 06:59 PM

You buy the card for about $61.00 then you can pay as you go for 1 day 50 pesos, 2 days 79 pesos, 7 days $199pesos 15 days $349.pesos and 30 days for $649. pesos. the card is yours and when you return to baja you just pay whatever time you want on your card and your good to go. You can also get this as a monthly plan for $499 or $999. pesos . I'm getting mine to use is San Quintin. Works great there,k:yes:

baron - 1-19-2010 at 07:59 PM

So Keri....is this telcel 3g card an piece of hardware that plugs into my USB port on the laptop? Sorry....I'm kinda lame in this arena. Where does one purchase this service?

Udo - 1-19-2010 at 08:06 PM

Keri...


Looks like the Telcel wireless card is (US)$50.00+- per month. About the same as a regular 3G card in the US by any carrier. Just don't try to use it in Mexico. The bill will shock you. These are the ones that plug into one's USB port.

monoloco - 1-19-2010 at 08:14 PM

The 3g Telcel works well but you have to deal with Telcel and they suck! They find some bogus reason to cut me off at least twice a month, then I have to call them up spending about an hour on the phone each time while they try and figure out why. It took about a half dozen trips to the Telcel(HellCel) office standing in line to get it to work initially. They have been a major pain.

oxxo - 1-19-2010 at 08:22 PM

The Telcel card only works where you can get cel service. It wont work out in the middle of the desert.

baron - 1-19-2010 at 08:37 PM

roger roger. sounds like card is out. As mentioned before in another thread I have a Hawking Hi Gain wireless 108G antenna that plugs into USB port for extended wi fi (pirate- ing) I guess I will go with that and look for free sites.

Casey67 - 1-19-2010 at 09:30 PM

To name a few I've found so far:
San Felipe-> Rice y Beans (On the main drag, ask for the logon code and a cerveca)

Gurrero Negro -> Malarrimo Hotel/Restaurant (as a hotel/RV/restaurant guest, ask for the logon code at the front desk)

Bahia Asuncion -> Campo Sirena (as a beach bum in a rented cabinita, no code, no dress code either)

I'm actually a bit disappointed that there is 'too much' wifi here. I came to escape (detox) from internet/movies/TV/couch/work and get reacquainted with the real world. Now I'm tempted to mainline (whatever that means) a telcel card :o

dtbushpilot - 1-19-2010 at 10:38 PM

I can always find an internet connection wherever I go, if my magicJack doesn't provide adequate service my skype will. Have called family and friends from places that would have been impossibble a few years ago. If I can't get an internet connection I probably don't need (or want) one.....I am in Baja after all......dt

motoged - 1-19-2010 at 11:10 PM

Another consideration for when you are plugged in to the wall....get a b]SURGE PROTECTOR....just to be safe. I fried a $2000 electronic device in a condo in San Jose del Cabo two years ago....the owner said...."Oh, yeah....that happens sometimes" :O:O.

I have a small one the size of a deck of cards....maybe good ones out there that are smaller.[

[Edited on 1-20-2010 by motoged]

Keri - 1-19-2010 at 11:46 PM

Baron, Yes It plugs into your usb port purchased thru telcel. We or had a rep come to us in San Quintin. 4 of us signed up that night.800 pesos for the card and 450 pesos a month cancel at any time or sign for 18 months and don't pay for the card. I found out about the rest myself at the office in Rosarito. As far as I know right now noone there in San Q is having problems, everything working great.Sounds like your not exactly a novice, like I am ,at this stuff if you have the high gain antenna already.
Udo, one of those fellows took his to the US and used it while there. He was turned off and fined $100 on return to mex.. I don't know the rest of that story yet.
Monoloco, I hope I have better luck than you as this is the only option that works for me right now, k:?:

BajaNuts - 1-19-2010 at 11:54 PM

Surge protector is good,

And also remember to be cautious about doing financial/credit card transactions on a "public" network. I know some establishments may have passwords, but if they haven't changed their password for the last ???months, how many others could be "listening" in on your online transactions?

And I know I'm being paranoid, but I saw a 60 Minutes show where hackers put a little gizmo into a USB port on a hotel computer, later retrieved it and they had all the account numbers and passwords of every hotel guest that logged on using that computer.


I'm just saying...BE CAUTIOUS! Read email, surf, blog, etc, no worry.



BTW, there's a FREE "TeamSpeak" program that's easy to set up for free unlimited talking via internet with a simple headset. You can have "conference calls" with MANY people if that's what's needed. All for free-

u2u me if interested.


Lots of wifi sites,but it's OK to unplug also! :bounce:

Have Fun!

mulegejim - 1-20-2010 at 09:49 AM

Most of the newer laptops have speakers that don't require you to use headphones - they send and receive just fine. I use mine for Skype all the time without headphones. That said, in a public place you may want to use a headphone for privicy reasons.

monoloco - 1-20-2010 at 10:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Keri
Baron, Yes It plugs into your usb port purchased thru telcel. We or had a rep come to us in San Quintin. 4 of us signed up that night.800 pesos for the card and 450 pesos a month cancel at any time or sign for 18 months and don't pay for the card. I found out about the rest myself at the office in Rosarito. As far as I know right now noone there in San Q is having problems, everything working great.Sounds like your not exactly a novice, like I am ,at this stuff if you have the high gain antenna already.
Udo, one of those fellows took his to the US and used it while there. He was turned off and fined $100 on return to mex.. I don't know the rest of that story yet.
Monoloco, I hope I have better luck than you as this is the only option that works for me right now, k:?:
The last time they cut me off they claimed I owed 60 pesos but couldn't tell me what it was for, I had to drive to the OXXO and pay them the 60P then it took them 24 hours to turn it back on. They send me 2 or 3 text messages a day with their ofertas, football scores etc. but they can't send me a message when we are about to be cut off. Telcel has to be the most lame company on the planet. Absolutely terrible customer service.

A question for the Techies

tripledigitken - 1-20-2010 at 02:29 PM

Is a surge protector needed for a laptop?

I was told that the transformer the converts 120v to 12v to run your Laptop will also shield it from surge issues.

Was this sage advice?

Ken

bkbend - 1-20-2010 at 06:49 PM

The laptop will definitely be protected from brown-outs as the battery will pick up the voltage slack. If the transformer fries from a surge, the laptop may have been protected, but it still won't work once the battery dies. Good surge protectors are cheap insurance.

motoged - 1-20-2010 at 11:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Is a surge protector needed for a laptop?......
Was this sage advice?
Ken


Yes, it is packed with incredible wisdom, oh, Ye doubter:lol:
example.... http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=400738


baron - 1-21-2010 at 02:19 AM

Well I am flattered that I posted an interesting topic. And I appreciate the intelligent and respectful suggestions. Sounds like for about a hunnert bucks I could have a telcel 3g device for the first month and about forty bucks for another month? Maybe a good deal if I want to access the internet alot.
Alternatively...... pirate a few hot spots if I am lucky to be within reach of them. I know it's Baja and all but wherever I go....there I always seem to be.

tripledigitken - 1-21-2010 at 05:51 AM

Quote:


Yes, it is packed with incredible wisdom, oh, Ye doubter:lol:
example.... http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=400738




Another item added to the Baja List....................

baron - 1-21-2010 at 11:30 AM

Just ordered the Belkin from Amazon for about $14. Good deal....