eguillermo
Nomad
Posts: 113
Registered: 10-10-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Cell phone in Baja?
Anyone have advice on a cheap option for cell phone usage in Baja?
I'm concerned that if I buy some international package from AT&T, it will end up not even working in Baja.
Aren't there cheap movistar or telcel phones you can buy in Mexico with prepaid minutes? I'd just be using it to contact a buddy on the road in Baja.
Thanks for any advice or ideas 
|
|
|
AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6025
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
|
|
I use an ATT Go-phone with a US number that gives me service in Mexico, and Canada. I don't text much, or use my phone for data, so I chose a
straight pre pay plan that costs 10 cents/min US, and 25 cents/min in Mexico.
It is mainly for emergency calls and to let my US contacts reach me if necessary. They don't have to dial any international numbers to reach me,
just the us area code and number.
Edit; I paid $28 dollars for the phone in Anchorage, and I have to add $25 dollars or more every 90 days to keep it active. They offer other options
as well, if you need more data, or want a monthly plan.
[Edited on 12-13-2015 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
|
|
|
JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10532
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by eguillermo  | Anyone have advice on a cheap option for cell phone usage in Baja?
I'm concerned that if I buy some international package from AT&T, it will end up not even working in Baja.
Aren't there cheap movistar or telcel phones you can buy in Mexico with prepaid minutes? I'd just be using it to contact a buddy on the road in Baja.
Thanks for any advice or ideas |
AT&T works GREAT in Mexico from a coverage stand point.
In response to T-Mobile they just added free roaming to Mexico: https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/international/mexico-roami...
Unlimited calling and text when in Mexico. 1G data usage. $20 per Gig after that.
We just went down and got all 5 of our lines setup. Kids could use their smartphones pretty much at will.
[Edited on 12-14-2015 by JZ]
|
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
I am with AT&T world wide roam. Go anywhere. Mexico, China, V.Nam, Burma, S Dakota.
|
|
|
eguillermo
Nomad
Posts: 113
Registered: 10-10-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks everyone! It sounds like my AT&T should work, even if I don't add a package (and I hope to not be calling very very much).
This coverage map doesn't look promising though; if that's the real deal, I don't think I'd be able to make the calls I need:
http://www.nextel.com.mx/legales/cobertura-nextel.html#fragm...
Do y'all ATT users get better coverage than that?
|
|
|
cliffh
Nomad
Posts: 325
Registered: 1-23-2010
Location: buena vista, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
telecell works great all over Baja and inexpensive, pay as you go.
|
|
|
JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10532
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you are on the Mobile Share plan you don't need to add a package anymore (i.e. buy data in increments).
Just call them to enable free roaming. Unlimited calls and texts and 1G of data free. That would have cost like $500+ in the past.
AT&T roams with Telcel. You aren't going to beat that.
[Edited on 12-14-2015 by JZ]
|
|
|
TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
I have T Mobile and it works near every city in Baja except San Ignacio and LA Bay. I can see a signal in SG but can't use it. LA Bay doesn't have
cell service as far as I know, maybe soon. I think AT&T has better service but I'm happy with T Mobile. I buy a $100 card about every 9 months for
my $20 cheap phone.
|
|
|
JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10532
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by TMW | | I have T Mobile and it works near every city in Baja except San Ignacio and LA Bay. I can see a signal in SG but can't use it. LA Bay doesn't have
cell service as far as I know, maybe soon. I think AT&T has better service but I'm happy with T Mobile. I buy a $100 card about every 9 months for
my $20 cheap phone. |
T-Mobile just launched a North America plan.
https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-23332
|
|
|
23S52N
Nomad
Posts: 135
Registered: 7-30-2015
Member Is Offline
|
|
I just put my movistar mini sim card in place of Canadian tel co card and buy more minutes when I cross into Mexico. Just have to buy a cheap unlock
code for your phone first.
Regards,
Keith
|
|
|
rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by TMW | | I have T Mobile and it works near every city in Baja except San Ignacio and LA Bay. I can see a signal in SG but can't use it. LA Bay doesn't have
cell service as far as I know, maybe soon. I think AT&T has better service but I'm happy with T Mobile. I buy a $100 card about every 9 months for
my $20 cheap phone. |
You have to change roaming from Movistar to Telcel. You are seeing the Telcel signal.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Go to Sanborns in Tijuana and buy a cheap phone and a Telcel prepaid ("Amigo") plan. You'll have to show your passport and you'll be given a 664 area
code number unless you request one differently.
It's much cheaper than roaming on AT&T, and the coverage is great. When you want data you send a text message (I've posted the codes elsewhere on
the site, will look later) and it subtracts from your saldo. When your balance gets low, you walk into absolutely any 7-Eleven or Oxxo or even most
abarrotes and just give them your phone number and how many pesos you want to top up with.
|
|
|
BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood:
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by dasubergeek |
When you want data you send a text message (I've posted the codes elsewhere on the site, will look later) and it subtracts from your saldo.
|
I never knew this. Is this why my e-mail is very spotty? When I dial *133#, it shows my account balance. If it says $0 data, does that mean I don't
get e-mail? (I do anyway, but it is unreliable.)
|
|
|
BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
Member Is Offline
Mood:
|
|
I found this list of codes on Telcel's website:
http://www.internet.telcel.com/paquetes.html#tab1
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
