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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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Cell Phone in Baja California?
What are some good options for cell service in the TJ to Rosarito corridor?
Preferably something that allows us to call the US, but if there are other options that work better, I'm all ears. We'll consider pre-paid, plans,
anything... just looking for some good options.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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woody with a view
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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ATT gives the best reception in baja.
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BajaGeoff
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Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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I have an Iphone with AT&T with the Viva Mexico plan added on to it. It makes it really easy to call back to the US. I believe it is an extra
$10/month for the plan. Reception is typically really good....it usually switches to Telcel or Movistar when I am down there.
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Udo
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I have the same plan, but in my instance, my service would not work when roaming in the Movistar areas. It only worked in the Telcel areas.
So I bought a prepaid plan with Telcel with one of their disposable phones. It's been great in the last year.
Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
I have an Iphone with AT&T with the Viva Mexico plan added on to it. It makes it really easy to call back to the US. I believe it is an extra
$10/month for the plan. Reception is typically really good....it usually switches to Telcel or Movistar when I am down there. |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Travelinleah
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Location: North Idaho
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How much is the plan for Telcel, is it contract or month to month, and how much is the phone? Will it work in LA Lax, Santispac, Mulege etc??
Thanks!
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Travelinleah
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Location: North Idaho
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La Paz
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Udo
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Yes, so far it has worked anywhere between Cabo to Tijuana, La Paz included.
Just stop at any town in Baja. They all have a a TELCEL store. They have a large blue banner and they advertize TELCEL.
Pick any phone you want from their inventory. Pay $300 pesos, and you get the phone and about 3 hours talk time.
When your minutes run low, you can go to a TELCEL store and buy more time. You can also buy time on the web, when you set up a free account on their
WWW.
Don't worry about the Spanish menu.
For Mexican phone numbers, just dial the area code and number, and you get right through.
Just go to the settings menu on the phone, and there is an option there to select your preferred language.
There is also a setting to turn off the UNONOTICIAS messages (spam) that TELCEL sends out three times a day.
The phone also works to call the US, and when in the US, you can call Mexico.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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phoenix2121
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Posts: 85
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Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
I have an Iphone with AT&T with the Viva Mexico plan added on to it. It makes it really easy to call back to the US. I believe it is an extra
$10/month for the plan. Reception is typically really good....it usually switches to Telcel or Movistar when I am down there. |
This is what we'd like, ideally... We just called AT&T and we were quoted $120 per line (we pay $80 per line right now) to add this.
Maybe we talked to the wrong person at AT&T... If it's $10, i'd gladly pay that.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
I have an Iphone with AT&T with the Viva Mexico plan added on to it. It makes it really easy to call back to the US. I believe it is an extra
$10/month for the plan. Reception is typically really good....it usually switches to Telcel or Movistar when I am down there. |
Does the additional $10 a month cover your data? And how much data is included if you don't mind me asking.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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Whale-ista
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Posts: 2009
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Location: San Diego
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If you use TMobile: they offer free international data, no additional fees for most plans.
Coverage in Baja/BCS has been good for my travelling needs so far this year.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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We use At&t currently... we're just looking for a way to keep our iPhones and not have a US phone and a Mexico phone each (for 3 of us).
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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The additional service fee from AT&T, is only for the service, not your airtime minutes.
The minutes from the US to Mexico are (or were), .59c per minute. Calling within Baja was about .29c per minute. Calling the US was a little more than
.59c per minute.
Don't even go there with the data plan...it's outrageous!
That is why I purchased a Mexican phone.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
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Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
The additional service fee from AT&T, is only for the service, not your airtime minutes.
The minutes from the US to Mexico are (or were), .59c per minute. Calling within Baja was about .29c per minute. Calling the US was a little more than
.59c per minute.
Don't even go there with the data plan...it's outrageous!
That is why I purchased a Mexican phone. |
Disappointing...
I guess we can always just give up our phones and go Telcel.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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Whale-ista
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Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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I also use an Iphone, but w/Tmobile.
How long will you be SOB?
One option: get a monthly Tmobile acct, and swap the SIM card in your Iphone while in Baja. Benefit may depend on how much you plan to call vs. use
data.
TMobile also offers family plans for additional lines at low cost, month to month, no contracts.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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rts551
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T-Mobile only works where there is Movistar coverage. For example. no longer works in Punta Abreojos or La Bocana...but is fine in Vizcaino.
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
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Quote: | Originally posted by Whale-ista
I also use an Iphone, but w/Tmobile.
How long will you be SOB?
One option: get a monthly Tmobile acct, and swap the SIM card in your Iphone while in Baja. Benefit may depend on how much you plan to call vs. use
data.
TMobile also offers family plans for additional lines at low cost, month to month, no contracts. |
We're packing up the family and heading down south permanently on May 1st. We'll still be back in the states visiting semi-regularly, but most of our
calling, Facebooking, Angry Birds playing, etc. will be done from Mexico.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Warning on the AT&T data in Mexico...
I have seen and heard of bills being in the $1000, dollar range for data usage.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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honda1013
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 1-9-2014
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A better option is to have tmobile, you get FREE rext messages to us and internet while roaming on movistar and uisacell, $0.20 a minute to receive or
make calls. Witb internet it is 2g but it at least connects you to fb, email, news, google maps.
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phoenix2121
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Quote: | Originally posted by honda1013
A better option is to have tmobile, you get FREE rext messages to us and internet while roaming on movistar and uisacell, $0.20 a minute to receive or
make calls. Witb internet it is 2g but it at least connects you to fb, email, news, google maps. |
That's not a bad option. Thanks.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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honda1013
Newbie
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Registered: 1-9-2014
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Quote: | Originally posted by phoenix2121
Quote: | Originally posted by honda1013
A better option is to have tmobile, you get FREE rext messages to us and internet while roaming on movistar and uisacell, $0.20 a minute to receive or
make calls. Witb internet it is 2g but it at least connects you to fb, email, news, google maps. |
That's not a bad option. Thanks. |
http://www.mexicocellular.com/us_phones.shtml Here is a website which may help you out more.Remember t mobile has free wifi calling a plus
[Edited on 3-19-2014 by honda1013]
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