BajaNomad

cellphone coverage in Baja(?)...

micah202 - 1-19-2011 at 09:29 PM

...I'm wondering how widespread is cell coverage now?
....what are good carriers available in san diego or mexico?.
.....thanks for any info!

David K - 1-19-2011 at 10:45 PM

On the Pacific side, the last tower is in El Rosario... then there is a 200 mile gap before you pick it up again nearing Guerrero Negro.

On the gulf side, San Felipe by Punta Estrella... allows coverage part way to Puertecitos.

The ATT phones work, but Sprint doesn't on the gulf side.
On the Pacific, Sprint only works in the cities to Ensenada area then again in San Quintin.. last time I checked...

They say it is better to get a cell phone in Mexico that works on their frequency... You will get more answers than I can provide, as I am on Sprint.

goldhuntress - 1-19-2011 at 11:06 PM

I use my Iphone It's At&t service that turns to Telcel over the border. It works well, expensive though. So, to avoid that I have the Skype app and use that to make calls from any wifi location. I think there is a Skype app for most smart phones.

Marc - 1-19-2011 at 11:51 PM

My AT&T works great in Baja and in central Mexico. And Europe, and Beijing, Hong kong, Vietnam, etc etc.

micah202 - 1-20-2011 at 12:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by goldhuntress
I use my Iphone It's At&t service that turns to Telcel over the border. It works well, expensive though. So, to avoid that I have the Skype app and use that to make calls from any wifi location. I think there is a Skype app for most smart phones.


...thanks,,yeh I was actually wondering about laptop with mobile plug-I understand it works anywhere there's a cell signal(?)
.......otherwise,is wifi not hard t'find??

goldhuntress - 1-20-2011 at 07:59 AM

Check out this thread
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=49879&pag...

Cyanide41 - 1-20-2011 at 09:50 AM

My AT&T phone works great on TelCel. I am curious how well verizon works. I am considering making the switch.

CortezBlue - 1-20-2011 at 10:24 AM

I can only speak for Mexicali to San Felipe
AT&T works great all the way to SF from Mexicali with the exception of a few of the remote spots near the salt flats and some of the mountain passages. But all in all not bad.

Verizon works near Mexicali, but that is it, nothing once you get out of Mexicali south

I have the ATT Viva plan and it is great. It allows me to do biz while I am in mi casa in SF, however, my customers know when I have escaped to Mexico because when they here it ring it sounds like someone farting :biggrin:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 1-20-2011 at 12:11 PM

Hola,
i have at&t service in los angeles and i have used my cell in los barriles and get excellent reception but it is a $ 1.00 a minute to use to call l.a.

i also have a telcel mex cell and it works fine in los barriles all the way to the border in tecate but it costs $ 1.50 minute to call the states. i just buy minutes as needed while in baja and it's fine but i only use it when i am at stops along my way to and from the states and mostly in towns along mex1.

i don't know about reception in more remote areas.

i also use skype from los barriles and call the states at about 2 cents a minute but when calling baja from the states, it's about 39 cents a minute.

i hope this helps,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

osoflojo - 1-20-2011 at 10:36 PM

I had Verizon years ago and gave it up because of its Mexican coverage. Have had ATT eversince without a glitch. I was lucky to get on an old North American plan that they no longer offer but I have heard they now have something similar that can make the rates quite affordable. I would check with ATT for new plans.

Hook - 1-21-2011 at 06:31 AM

Check out the ATT Go Phones being sold at Walmart. They come with minutes that are good in the US and Mexico and work out to 25 cents a minute. We also have a 2nd older cell phone that we use a Telcel simm card in and buy 500 pesos at a time. It is now a Mexican cell phone with a Mexican number. This works out to about 25-30 cents/minute. We can call between the phones when down here in Mexico. We havent tried making calls between them in the US.

dtutko1 - 1-21-2011 at 06:47 AM

We have an ATT mexi-american plan $62/month for 450 mins. approx $.14/min. Allows the kids to dial from us toll free. good coverage by both telcel and movistar in mexico.

surfdoc - 1-21-2011 at 08:56 AM

I'm with the AT&T Viva Mexico plan... used Verison and Sprint both with less then great results.

AT&T allows great coverage all over Baja even my little casa outside of Todos Santos.
Here in Asuncion it's as good or better then when I lived in San Diego.
95$ for 700 anytime minutes, plus unlimited Mob to mob and afterhour/weekend...and have the family plan so have my kids on the plan with me for 9.99 per phone.

Have let any visitor with an emergency or homesickness use my phone to contact loved ones here.. No problem..

My Newbie centavo's..:)