zach4
Newbie
Posts: 20
Registered: 1-20-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
phone reception in Baja
Hi,
I consider asking T-mobile to open my phone so I will be able to make calls in Baja.
Is there reception in many regions of Baja so it will be worthwhile?
thanks..
|
|
|
BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 5001
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: INTP-A
|
|
Here's a coverage map from the T-mobile site:
http://q87.us/tmobile-mexico2014
If that doesn't work, go here and select Mexico from the drop down box:
http://www.t-mobile.com/International/RoamingOverview.aspx?t...
I traveled from San Diego to La Paz and back earlier this month and found the coverage to be inconsistent - with both the cell/text and/or the data
coverage. When it worked, it was great. There's a lot to still be improved upon however.
Most of the T-mobile coverage in Baja is through Movistar.
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
|
|
sequoyah
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 11-13-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Despite both companies using TelCel towers, we have found that AT&T provides much better coverage than Verizon.
But I don't know about T-Mobile.
Service is pretty good in cities, but between cities it can disappear long periods of time.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
This is because Verizon only allows the use of Telcel's old CDMA towers, which are only in Tijuana, Rosarito, central Ensenada and parts of other
cities further south. AT&T uses Telcel's much more built-out GSM towers. Even if you have a GSM-enabled phone, like an iPhone, Verizon will not
permit you to roam on GSM towers, which means you're stuck if you're in Tecate or the Valle de Guadalupe.
(CDMA and GSM are competing cell phone communication technologies.)
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19324
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by dasubergeek
This is because Verizon only allows the use of Telcel's old CDMA towers, which are only in Tijuana, Rosarito, central Ensenada and parts of other
cities further south. AT&T uses Telcel's much more built-out GSM towers. Even if you have a GSM-enabled phone, like an iPhone, Verizon will not
permit you to roam on GSM towers, which means you're stuck if you're in Tecate or the Valle de Guadalupe.
(CDMA and GSM are competing cell phone communication technologies.) |
thats what i heard.
i also heard you can use your vz handset in mexico if you remove vz sim card and insert telcel sim card, and you will be able to use gsm (assuming you
got gsm capable phone).
i have never tried this, but curious if anyone has tried it with iphone???
|
|
|
pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1734
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
|
|
I'm currently in Pescadero and have had no trouble using my U.S. T-Mobile phone. Between Cabo and Pescadero, reception was spotty to non-existent.
Data speeds here are 2G at best, although I was getting consistently brisk 4G speeds up in Todos Santos.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by dasubergeek
This is because Verizon only allows the use of Telcel's old CDMA towers, which are only in Tijuana, Rosarito, central Ensenada and parts of other
cities further south. AT&T uses Telcel's much more built-out GSM towers. Even if you have a GSM-enabled phone, like an iPhone, Verizon will not
permit you to roam on GSM towers, which means you're stuck if you're in Tecate or the Valle de Guadalupe.
(CDMA and GSM are competing cell phone communication technologies.) |
thats what i heard.
i also heard you can use your vz handset in mexico if you remove vz sim card and insert telcel sim card, and you will be able to use gsm (assuming you
got gsm capable phone).
i have never tried this, but curious if anyone has tried it with iphone??? |
Only Verizon iPhone 5, 5c and 5s work this way out of the box. The issue is that you will need to get a nano-SIM from Telcel, or else take the very
brave chance of cutting down a Telcel SIM yourself. Telcel will sell you a SIM only, but not immediately; they have to take your passport copy (no,
SENTRI card will not work) and fax it to Mexico City for approval. Be very careful switching nano-SIM cards as there is no room for you to err like on
a normal SIM; there is no part of the card that is not metal contact on one side.
|
|
|
aster
Newbie
Posts: 24
Registered: 12-15-2013
Location: Portland, Oregon
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you have the T-Mobile "Simple Choice" plan (I think it's the most common these days) you can do USA calls in many foreign countries including
Mexico for free. I believe local Mexican calls were 20 cents per minute. Data was unlimited.
There's actually no action required to enable this feature for that plan, but I did call to verify I indeed had the right one so not to get hammered
with roaming charges.
It worked pretty well, as BajaNomad says through Movistar. Outside of the towns it was nonexistent as you might expect, though most settled places
service was ok (don't expect 4G speeds though). Was definitely a nice convenience on our trip.
|
|
|
zach4
Newbie
Posts: 20
Registered: 1-20-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
thanks!
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
