Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Best cell phone coverage?
I have had AT&T for many years and have been very happy with the Baja coverage as well as the coverage NOB. I think I am grandfathered in on a $40
plan that has worked well for me.
I now frequent a location in So Cal that has terrible AT&T cell coverage. Friends with other providers such as T/Mobil seems to work great at
that location.
Please chime in with your opinions about Baja coverage, especially Loreto, and what works which is at least comparable to AT&T coverage.
Please, no the tree is drowning, ripped off at the gas pumps or police bribery on this post. 
PS: Maps are not needed unless it's a cell phone coverage map.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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ATT service varies with different plans
When I bought a replacement pre-paid ATT phone at a Target store in October, the sales person told me that even using the same tower, there were three
levels of service.
ATT contract service plans were on top, followed by other company contract phones using ATT towers, followed by pre-paid plans from ATT or other
carriers.
I confirmed that info with my local ATT store, which by the way does not sell their own pre-paid phones. Is your $40/month a pre-paid plan?
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!
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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline
Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
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T Mobile has in my opinion, the best Mexico (BC & BCS) coverage of any US carrier. They also have a $40 plan if you pre-pay.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1715
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
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My carrier is Google Fi, which uses T-Mobile, which in turn uses Telcel when in Mexico. My coverage in Todos Santos is excellent, but a little spotty
in parts of Pescadero. My wife's carrier is AT&T. When we were last in Baja (early February) I'm not sure if she ended up roaming on Telcel or
AT&T Mexico. I do know that she paid a daily data charge.
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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My AT&T works fine in Loreto. In SoCal (Palm Springs} not great. Go figure. Haven't been to BOLA in years. I wonder if cell service has arrived
there.
[Edited on 3-18-2023 by Marc]
Exercise regularly. Eat sensibly. Die anyway.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Quote: Originally posted by Marc  | My AT&T works fine in Loreto. In SoCal (Palm Springs} not great. Go figure. Haven't been to BOLA years. I wonder if cell service has arrived
there.
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In late October I visited a friend who is about five miles north of B.D.L.A. and my ATT phone did not work there. I was only able to make calls using
his internet connection.
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!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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An odd phone connection
As I mentioned before, my phone is a pre-paid ATT Android. On my way north last October, I tried to call the guy who was house sitting for me from a
location just north of San Felipe.
I don't remember the exact wording of the failure notification that popped up (in English) but it was to the effect of "Voice service not available,
text only"
Paul had an itty bitty pre-paid flip phone (consumer cellular), and I knew he hated receiving texts, and would never send one. As I was contemplating
my next move, I received a call from another friend in the same neighborhood who was just checking to see how things were going.
The call was clear, and strong, and I asked her to give Paul a message. A few minutes later, he called me, and that service was also clean and clear!
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!
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | Quote: Originally posted by Marc | My AT&T works fine in Loreto. In SoCal (Palm Springs} not great. Go figure. Haven't been to BOLA years. I wonder if cell service has arrived
there.
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In late October I visited a friend who is about five miles north of B.D.L.A. and my ATT phone did not work there. I was only able to make calls using
his internet connection. |
I figured soon after electrical power happened in BOLA cell service would soon follow. I remember having to place calls from the mercado on the left
going into town. Also called from the mercado across from the Gecko turn off near the tire shop.
But then....I spent years in Baja & central Mexico without a phone.
Kinda adds to the adventure?
Exercise regularly. Eat sensibly. Die anyway.
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WideAngleWandering
Nomad
Posts: 414
Registered: 3-13-2012
Location: US-Based but traveling
Member Is Offline
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I buy a telcel sim when in Baja and put it in an unlocked phone. It is cheap and easy and gets good coverage (as measured by my thumb in the air).
I have an mvno plan backed by T Mobile for my US service and it has poor coverage compared to my telcel service when in Baja.
Traveling the Americas via my old land cruiser
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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I also live in an area (east bay, Nor Cal) with terrible AT&T service - Verizon only slightly better. I just turn on WI-FI calling and it works
great. I have had AT&T for 20+ years and am fine with their service otherwise, especially since it works free in Mexico and Canada.
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