BajaNomad

chip amigo cell phone chip

joerover - 12-8-2016 at 12:22 AM

If memory serves, there used to be people in Tecate selling chips that made my gringo phone a Mexican phone. I never brought a phone with me before. With the baja divide bike route posted on google drive, will my g3 phone show me my location on a map? Are they still selling chips? How does that work?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDi7eHN6z6w

[Edited on 12-8-2016 by joerover]

Udo - 12-8-2016 at 12:47 PM

Yes, the TELCEL stores all sell Mexican phone chips. They can either issue you a number, or transfer another Mexican number to the chip.

The chips are available in either time purchase or contract purchase.

There are TONS of TELCEL stores all over Baja.

gnukid - 12-9-2016 at 11:55 AM

Some devices and some phones (iPhone 5s-6-7) have gps built in on a chip that checks in to satellites periodically while also using other factors like cell tower, or movement and you can download maps that will work full time without cell coverage. Cell coverage often is unavailable when you are off road and not a necessary part of GPS.

GPS APPS THAT WORK EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OFFLINE
https://www.wired.com/2015/04/offline-gps-apps/

Use Google Maps navigation, search and more without data connectivity
http://trendblog.net/how-to-use-google-maps-navigation-offli...

[Edited on 12-9-2016 by gnukid]

Fernweh - 12-9-2016 at 01:36 PM

Those chips are called SIM cards in the real world. You have to make sure, that your phone is not locked to a specific Tel provider, in order to use a different card.
You purchase an "unlocked" phone, and use the "pay as you go" Amigo SIM card, or get the standard Telcel SIM card with a monthly charge of $199 Pesos, with unlimited free calls within Mexico, to the US and Canada, and even back to Mexico from the US and Canada - all ulimited free calls. Unlimited text is included as well, Data service is extra....

mrfatboy - 12-9-2016 at 05:30 PM

Nice offline Maps with turn by turn directions.

HERE WeGo - City navigation & Offline maps by HERE Apps LLC
https://appsto.re/us/PYo-4.i

surabi - 12-9-2016 at 08:54 PM

Why would you pay 199 pesos/month when you can get the Sin Limites Plan for 100 pesos for 23 days?

PaulW - 12-9-2016 at 09:59 PM

Hmmm
I just recharged my Telcel phone
100 pesos and 31 days of service no data
Amigo accomplished on the web at Mi telcel

BajaMama - 12-10-2016 at 07:01 AM

If the GPS is what you're shooting for, keep in mind that LTE, 4G and 3G data is really sparse in Baja. Near Loreto, Ensenada, TJ, bigger towns and such it will work fine, but not so much as soon as you're not near a city/town. I have AT&T, phone almost always works, but in most little towns you need wi-fi to get any sort of data use. My hubby says GPS may work since it is off satellite and not just data.

joerover - 12-11-2016 at 11:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
My hubby says GPS may work since it is off satellite and not just data.

The GPS receiver is independent from the celular network and should be able to determine your physical location from anywhere your phone has a clear view of the sky. The MAPS may depend on a network connection, though...


what will they think of next?

all of them have independent gps? or just the new ones? Wow, my map is made of paper.