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Spearo
Nomad
Posts: 153
Registered: 11-30-2010
Location: Moscow, Idaho and Pescadero, BCS
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questions about buying a cell phone
I was considering buying a cell phone this trip. Never had one before but I am making the drive to Mulege solo this year. I am kind of clueless
about this...
How hard is it to buy a cheap cell phone and minutes to call home?
Any tricks to this?
Gracias
Were it not for the abdomen, man would easily reckon himself a god.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Maybe you should ask also....is the cell phone coverage on the way down there. 
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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very easy to buy and recharge BUT, you will need a CURP card (the national registration number for nationals and for foreigners who request one) to do
so, so maybe not so easy. if you don't have one I don't know where/how you do that in Mulege. or how you would do it en route if you want it for the
trip down.
maybe someone further north can answer that?
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Spearo
Nomad
Posts: 153
Registered: 11-30-2010
Location: Moscow, Idaho and Pescadero, BCS
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Cant you just buy an unlocked phone and SIM card? I just want to call the states occasionally.
Were it not for the abdomen, man would easily reckon himself a god.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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bent-rim
Nomad
Posts: 294
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Marin County
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Mood: Living la vida mota
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I bought a buddy a cell phone at La Tienda in Mulege about 6 years ago, it came with pre-paid minutes which were doled out at about 15 mins a month,
but he was able to buy extra minutes easy enough. He had injured himself on his dirtbike and wanted to let his family know he was ok. I use my ATT
phone in Baja, it's about 85 cents a minute.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Amigo Phone by Telcel
I have a Mexican phone which I use when traveling in Baja. I bought it 2 years ago for $24 US. I got it at a liquor store in TJ, but I recommend you
buy it at the Telcel store, as I had trouble loading the card with minutes on it the first time. I usually get a 300 peso card and that is more than
enough for my use for 2 weeks. Last trip I used it was in October of 2010 and I bought minutes and had no issue with registration as mentioned by
another poster. It works great both in Baja and for calling home to the US.
Ken
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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hola, you can buy a cheap phone with telcel service for around $ 50.00 U.S. i have one and just buy about 200 pesos worth of minutes at a time.
however, i am charged about $ 1.50 U.S. per minute to call the states.
my ATT phone does work calling the states as well but costs me $ 1.00 U.S. per minute.
you should check with the different american phone companies to see if they have a plan they used to call the amigo plan and was much cheaper.
if you're going to be carrying a lap top, sign onto skype as it only costs 2 cents a minute to call the U.S. and most hotels and motels have wifi.
however
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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I am hooked up to AT&T. Just give them a call to tell them to put you on roam in Mexico. No problem. However there are many dead spots south of
the border. Reception only in towns.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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CONTINUATION: however, if you call mexico from the states, it's 39 cents a minute.
one benefit of having a mexican cell is if you have an emergency, the mexican equivalent of 911 is " 066 " but if you don't get an english speaking
agent, you'll have to hold on until they can get you one which took me over 20 minutes.
there are areas that do not have service.
i hope this helps you in your decision.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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Barbarosa
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Posts: 188
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: Jackson, CA
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Mood: "On th' road again..."
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Spearo
I was considering buying a cell phone this trip. Never had one before but I am making the drive to Mulege solo this year. I am kind of clueless
about this...
How hard is it to buy a cheap cell phone and minutes to call home?
Any tricks to this?
Gracias |
Piece o' cake! In fact, I'm convinced that my cellphone (ATT GoPhone from WalMart) is really marketed to Mexicans in th' US.
It's been awhile since I'd been down there and I didn't know what to expect. A few years ago my wife got a standard ATT contract up here. And I got
a cheapo GoPhone for guys like me who don't use the technology.
Just before we headed down there, I checked on both services. Mine was already all set up. No further activation required. My wife (std ATT
service) needed some activation.
Thereafter, hers was $.50 / minute. Mine was $.25. And mine worked very well whenever there was a tower. Hers? Not so much. Really. That
GoPhone worked great and hers frequently did not.
My GoPhone ($25 every 3 months from which you draw your $.25 per minute) worked great (well, not so much from Catavina <g>. Whenever there was
cell service, that GoPhone worked flawlessly.
Just go get one. I doubt you'll be sorry.
Barbarosa
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Spearo
I was considering buying a cell phone this trip. Never had one before but I am making the drive to Mulege solo this year. |
well, for 90% of the drive you will have no service, there is only reliable service in or near towns. where you do have cell service, you are within
shouting distance of assistance.
so, you don't need a phone for security on road, and if you wanted such, your existing roaming on US phone will do in a pinch.
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surfdoc
Nomad
Posts: 235
Registered: 8-18-2009
Location: Bahia Asuncion BCS
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I have both... My AT&T Viva Mexico plan is for my familia
and is NO roaming charges in BCS..
Also I have a 299 Peso phone I purchased in Vizcaino for local call.. as said I put 200P on the card and no prob!!!!!!!!!
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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GoPhone from AT&T is .25 cents a minute in Baja with a daily charge (one time a day when you use it) of $1.20. Works everywhere TelCel does, pay
as you go.
Each call ends with the cost of the call and balance on your account. Upon sign up the phone was only $15 and came with $15 worth of minutes.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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......making the drive to Mulege solo
| Quote: | Originally posted by Marc
I am hooked up to AT&T. Just give them a call to tell them to put you on roam in Mexico. No problem. However there are many dead spots south of
the border. Reception only in towns. |
Point I was making, thanks Marc.
Cell phone for "help" services may not be much use when one is out there with the donkies and road runners. Some folks actually think there's cell
service 100% of the land.....and I want to make sure that Spearo understands that is not true.
I advise her to carry the following list of item, this list comes off the AA Roadside Web site. Some stuff on this list (such as Vise Grips) she may
not know what to do with...but a passing by helper would!
Some of the basic items include:
* 12-foot jumper cables
* Four 15-minute roadside flares
* Two quarts of oil
* Gallon of antifreeze
* First aid kit (including an assortment of bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and
aspirin)
* Blanket
* Extra fuses
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Flat head screwdrivers
* Phillips head screwdrivers
* Pliers
* Vise Grips
* Adjustable wrench
* Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
* Tire pressure gauge
* Rags
* Roll of paper towels
* Roll of duct tape
* Spray bottle with washer fluid
* Pocketknife
* Pen and paper
* Help sign
* Granola or energy bars
* Bottled water
I always keep something like a BIG set of scissors in my open storage area of the truck door when traveling. One never knows when a bad guy needs a
little surprise. Even an old fashion can opener on your key chain...works wonders for protection.
[Edited on 3-2-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Verizon USA phones do not do well in Baja on roam, despite what Verizon will tell you. I tried several times to use mine and only got spotty
reception in Ensenada and La Paz.
[Edited on 3-2-2011 by tripledigitken]
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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you can buy a telcel phone...i love my little Nokia for 400 pesos and I got 100 peos of free minutes. Get the people at the Tel Cel store to not only
activate it...but ask them nicely to register it for you...you dont need a CURP and can register with your passport number...then ask them sweetly to
put your phone in english too...you can buy a card with minutes where you scratch with a coin to see the number...you call *333 and press option 2 for
putting minutes on your phone...really not too difficult....keep your receipt for the phone for future reference.
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Spearo
Nomad
Posts: 153
Registered: 11-30-2010
Location: Moscow, Idaho and Pescadero, BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
| Quote: | Originally posted by Marc
I am hooked up to AT&T. Just give them a call to tell them to put you on roam in Mexico. No problem. However there are many dead spots south of
the border. Reception only in towns. |
Point I was making, thanks Marc.
Cell phone for "help" services may not be much use when one is out there with the donkies and road runners. Some folks actually think there's cell
service 100% of the land.....and I want to make sure that Spearo understands that is not true.
I advise her to carry the following list of item, this list comes off the AA Roadside Web site. Some stuff on this list (such as Vise Grips) she may
not know what to do with...but a passing by helper would!
Some of the basic items include:
* 12-foot jumper cables
* Four 15-minute roadside flares
* Two quarts of oil
* Gallon of antifreeze
* First aid kit (including an assortment of bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and
aspirin)
* Blanket
* Extra fuses
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* Flat head screwdrivers
* Phillips head screwdrivers
* Pliers
* Vise Grips
* Adjustable wrench
* Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
* Tire pressure gauge
* Rags
* Roll of paper towels
* Roll of duct tape
* Spray bottle with washer fluid
* Pocketknife
* Pen and paper
* Help sign
* Granola or energy bars
* Bottled water
I always keep something like a BIG set of scissors in my open storage area of the truck door when traveling. One never knows when a bad guy needs a
little surprise. Even an old fashion can opener on your key chain...works wonders for protection.
[Edited on 3-2-2011 by mcfez] |
Thanks for the advice. I carry a full tool box as well as spare parts, coolant, oil, compressor, baseball bat...
I also happen to be 6'2", 185 and male.
Were it not for the abdomen, man would easily reckon himself a god.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: |
I also happen to be 6'2", 185 and male. |
BIGGER set of scissors then 
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Hi Spearo...I get my friends cell phones down here from Movistar. As Shari said, the Nokias go for around $400 pesos, and they can be recharged at
any Tienda Popular (and lots of other stores). Just show your phone number to the clerk and give them some pesos, and you'll get a text showing that
you have time.
I use Movistar because it's the one that works best down here at the hot springs. I'm sure Telcel is just as good.
Mexican calls run about a peso per minute. To the US runs about a dollar a minute. Carrying charge is about $100 pesos per month, and they will text
you with 2 for 1 recharge days, so actually it's really cheap.
Also, either Movistar never got into the registration crap or they just don't care. I've never shown an ID for my phones.
Be sure to go through all the options on your phone to change it to English for texting, or your messages end up really weird...OK, maybe weirder than
usual
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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Movistar has the best rates for calling back to the states in Baja Sur, but the coverage is not as good as Telcel. So if you want the best coverage
in the most areas saving a dollar or two is not a smart option. Shari gave you the best advice of how to get this all done.
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