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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2128
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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iPhone, internet and Baja
Can you get online with an iPhone in Baja?
If you can add something beside a "yes" or "no', please do!
Gracias!
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."
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goldhuntress
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 1-28-2010
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Yes you can but if you use the cell signal it will cost major bucks. At the border we always put it on Airplane Mode and make sure our Data Roaming is
off and we leave it that way until we are again NOB. We use wifi exclusively to get online, make calls with the Skype App and to text on Textfree.
The reason we put it in Airplane Mode is that you get charges for the voicemail because the iPhone has visual voicemail and that is considered data.
We don't want to incur any extra charges and once had $25 in charges just for voicemail. Also I just get worried about bogus charges when I'm hooked
to 3g in a foreign land. If you do this though, you cannot use the phone to make 3G calls or text. If you do want to use the phone for calls I
recently figured out you can turn the Cellular Data off instead of the Airplane Mode on to avoid the voicemail charges but I haven't tried that myself
yet so I can't say for sure but theoretically it should work. Then you could use Viber too for free iPhone to iPhone calls. We are trying this senario
in the next few days so I will know more then. By the way my carrier is ATT.
You asked for more than a yes or no answer
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Riom
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Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
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(updated) I wrote a bit here about using it with a Telcel sim - then realised that most US iPhones are probably locked to a carrier, so that won't
work.
In the unlikely event you do have an unlocked non-Verizon iPhone , a Telcel Amigo sim will give you 3G, sometimes 2G, access at a reasonable price,
see
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet
Otherwise, turn off 3G when in Mexico and use only wi-fi.
[Edited on 2011-12-6 by Riom]
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Joelt
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Posts: 131
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Tahoe Nv.
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I don't really understand how it all works but I have heard that the roaming fees add up fast if you don't disable the roaming. I know of 2 people who
ended up with huge bills in the hundreds of dollars. So if you are going to use it for internet I would turn the roaming off again as soon as you are
done. Call your service provider and they shoul be able to tell you how it all works and the charges.That is if you have time. I would make sure you
know how it all works and what the fees are before using it.
Joelt
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latina
Nomad
Posts: 210
Registered: 3-19-2011
Location: La Paz
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I have an unlocked iphone and last year in La Paz I got Movistar chip for the phone which gave me a Mexican phone number, and I just buy phone time or
phone plus data. I found that the phone plus data for emails etc. ran out pretty quickly and added up, so now I just use my data where I have
wireless access. If you put Skype on your phone you can talk to anyone anywhere with your wireless signal instead of 3G or Edge. Hope that helps.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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yes...people use it here all the time
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2128
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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| Quote: | Originally posted by goldhuntress
Yes you can but if you use the cell signal it will cost major bucks. At the border we always put it on Airplane Mode and make sure our Data Roaming is
off and we leave it that way until we are again NOB. We use wifi exclusively to get online, make calls with the Skype App and to text on Textfree.
The reason we put it in Airplane Mode is that you get charges for the voicemail because the iPhone has visual voicemail and that is considered data.
We don't want to incur any extra charges and once had $25 in charges just for voicemail. Also I just get worried about bogus charges when I'm hooked
to 3g in a foreign land. If you do this though, you cannot use the phone to make 3G calls or text. If you do want to use the phone for calls I
recently figured out you can turn the Cellular Data off instead of the Airplane Mode on to avoid the voicemail charges but I haven't tried that myself
yet so I can't say for sure but theoretically it should work. Then you could use Viber too for free iPhone to iPhone calls. We are trying this senario
in the next few days so I will know more then. By the way my carrier is ATT.
You asked for more than a yes or no answer |
Thanks, that was a big help once I had phone in hand. Yes I see where by going to settings, general, network, you can disable data roaming, or
cellular data. Also I looked at a text from ATT and found the data rate is $20 per MB in Baja. I then went to usage, cellular usage, reset, took the
phone off wi-fi, opened 3 web pages. Looked at usage and it was about 600KB. Which means you can open about 5 web pages for $20.
No wonder people run up huge bills!!!
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
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Check your ATT online account. You should be able to add/buy International Data Roaming to your phone, which will save you some money. If you don't
see this in your phone options online, then you probably have a new account and you will need to call ATT Customer Service to get it added..
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goldhuntress
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 1-28-2010
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We did some experimenting with the Cellular Data off. The Viber and Textfree apps won't work. I called ATT and was told we'd still be charged for
voicemail even if we don't retrieve it. If you just want to get online and don't mind spending a little time finding and hanging out somewhere that
has WiFi then the easiest thing is to just leave it in airplane mode and your bill will be your usual amount. Otherwise, if you want more flexibility
definitely sign up fore a Mexico data plan before you go.
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mulegejim
Nomad
Posts: 470
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by goldhuntress
We did some experimenting with the Cellular Data off. The Viber and Textfree apps won't work. I called ATT and was told we'd still be charged for
voicemail even if we don't retrieve it. If you just want to get online and don't mind spending a little time finding and hanging out somewhere that
has WiFi then the easiest thing is to just leave it in airplane mode and your bill will be your usual amount. Otherwise, if you want more flexibility
definitely sign up fore a Mexico data plan before you go. |
Good stuff - I was just trying to figure this out before going to Mexico in January and you saved me a lot of time. Thanks, Jim
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
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I just did the first step to unlock my Verizon iphone 4S. Verizon said I'm good to go. I just need to get a mexico sim card to do the final unlock.
I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area?
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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BTW:
iPhone works via ATT & Telcel, but without a plan from the US, I would not want to get the data roaming charges in the US. You'd croak!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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yellowklr
Senior Nomad
Posts: 507
Registered: 4-14-2006
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Hey Bill
Yeah I agree with what everyone says here........
One thing you have to get for the IPhone is the Navionics App for boating its awesome
Its a mini chartplotter and works without cell coverage
Its the best 10 bucks I ever spent!!!!!
See ya at Salina!!!
Derek
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goldhuntress
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 1-28-2010
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Another good app that doesn't need cell or wifi service is iBird Explorer Pro. It's 14.99 and it's like having a 4000 page birding book right on your
phone and it includes Baja.
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Riom
Nomad
Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area? |
Telcel is the only one with 3G coverage, use their Telcel Amigo (prepaid) sim, not a contract. Lots of San Felipe specific Telcel info at my site:
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet
Rob
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Riom
| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area? |
Telcel is the only one with 3G coverage, use their Telcel Amigo (prepaid) sim, not a contract. Lots of San Felipe specific Telcel info at my site:
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet
Rob |
Thanks for the info. I bummed that these sims have a time period (deadline) on them. I would like to buy one and just used it until it runs out.
Maybe I will just use the wifi at the Bar Miramar
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Riom
Nomad
Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
Thanks for the info. I bummed that these sims have a time period (deadline) on them. I would like to buy one and just used it until it runs out.
Maybe I will just use the wifi at the Bar Miramar |
The sim doesn't really have a time limit (if you buy a recharge at least once every two months) but each data packet does. Still, you can just buy a
1-2-7 day packet during a trip, then save the sim (recharging each two months) until the next trip and buy another short-term packet of data.
But I agree, it's a lot of bother compared to just using wi-fi somewhere. I spent a few months travelling in the US and Canada last summer and never
found the need for gsm/3g data at all, there was always somewhere like a hotel or McDonalds with free wifi. Not too different in Mexico, in the
tourist towns.
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latina
Nomad
Posts: 210
Registered: 3-19-2011
Location: La Paz
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Movistar also works with the 3G coverage (in La Paz anyway) and Edge in Cabo San Lucas... You do not need a contract, you just top up the card
whenever you need to. After 5 months away in Canada I put my Movistar sim card back in my phone when I returned and just carried on as before, buying
time when I need it, BUT with a different phone number. If your card is inactive for too long you will lose your phone number, as I did...
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
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What is the easiest way to to purchase a telcel sim? Telcel store? I would be crossing in calexico. Can I purchase on the web and have it mailed to
me?
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Riom
Nomad
Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mrfatboy
What is the easiest way to to purchase a telcel sim? Telcel store? I would be crossing in calexico. Can I purchase on the web and have it mailed to
me? |
Normally I'd say wait till you're in San Felipe and go to CSI, a computer/TV store south on Mar Cortez. They have English-speaking people who can
help register it for you (you'll need a passport). Not sure of the current price, a while back it was US$20 for a sim with a small amount of money
on it (you'd need to recharge it immediately).
But CSI, and the other dealers in town, might not have microsims, so you may need to go to a company store in Mexicali (there are none in San Felipe).
See if you can ask CSI in advance: http://www.csibaja.com/
It's difficult, probably impossible now, to get a sim online since they have to be registered to a user. Any sims online would also be from the wrong
area, so a non-local number (wouldn't matter for just data).
Unless you have a really strong need for data while out of town (but not too far, as the mobile signal runs out), wi-fi is much simpler for a short
stay.
[Edited on 2011-12-12 by Riom]
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