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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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Cell phone in San Diego and Baja?
I don't own a cell phone and have almost no experience with them. I now need a phone that will work here in San Diego and when I cross the border into
Baja. Hopefully a phone that will just work without having to punch in any codes or make any notifications. Does a phone like that exist? I don't need
a smart phone, the damn things are smarter than I am and I can't even figure out how to answer the things.
thanks,
Larry
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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They all work like that. ATT has the best coverage but T Mobile has the best plan. Figure every town with a traffic light has coverage. Not much
coverage in the desert regions.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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Since you are online in Baja start looking around at Majic Jack and other low cost options that do not require a cell phone.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1715
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
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Coverage-wise, T-Mobile was only so-so when it uses Movistar as a carrier in BCS, but was great when using Telcel's network. The plan is quite good
for both voice and data.
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Cancamo
Nomad
Posts: 360
Registered: 4-5-2011
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If you will be using more in Mexico than NOB, TelCell flip phone, (Nokia), at any TelCell store. 300 to 500 pesos, includes 200 peso airtime. Better
coverage by far than Movistar now. Register on the Amigo Sin Fronteras plan. .98 centavos per minute, (about 5 cents) calls to US & Canada, &
long distance within Mexico. No commitment, no contract, pay on balance most corner grocery stores, OXXOs, etc...
Cell service anywhere it exists in Mexico for At&T, Verizon, and then some.
Works fine in San Diego. Airtime balance re-chargeable online as well.
No, I don't work for Carlos Slim.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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I use a Kyocera Dura XT a new flip phone from AT&T. And the Viva MX plan, Movistar SOB. No problems coverage most places. Replaced a
Rugby II best flip phone I've ever had.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I have a simple T Mobile flip phone that I buy a card for as needed. I got mine at Walmart for like $29. The card cost in different amounts I usually
get a $100 card every 8-9 months. Usage charge is 9 cents per minute in the US and $1.15 in Baja. Mine does not work in San Ignacio for some reason, I
see a cell signal but no service, pretty much works everywhere else.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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I use an ATT GoPhone that I bought at Walmart in Anchorage for under thirty dollars, with no contract. I then add time as needed ($25 gives me 90
days), and you pick which area code in the US that you want for your number based in.
Calls in the US cost ten cents per minute, or portion of one. Calls in Mexico use the Telcell network, and cost twenty five cents US. Calls from the
US to your phone don't require any extra cost to the the caller, and they would just use the same number as if you were still north of the border.
The phone will also work in Canada, but I think it is even more expensive there than in Mexico. My only complaint is that I frequently wind up
getting dinged for more time than I actually used, and some strange texts from numbers I never heard of have occasionally been charged to my time.
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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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18385
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by larryC  | I don't own a cell phone and have almost no experience with them. I now need a phone that will work here in San Diego and when I cross the border into
Baja. Hopefully a phone that will just work without having to punch in any codes or make any notifications. Does a phone like that exist? I don't need
a smart phone, the damn things are smarter than I am and I can't even figure out how to answer the things.
thanks,
Larry |
I recommend 2 phones. In usa i have my fancy smart phone. In mex i have a cheapy kyocera candybar phone with a pay-as-you-go deal where i add money
periodically. Cheaper approach than paying for intl roaming rates
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1715
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
I recommend 2 phones. In usa i have my fancy smart phone. In mex i have a cheapy kyocera candybar phone with a pay-as-you-go deal where i add money
periodically. Cheaper approach than paying for intl roaming rates |
I bring 2 phones too, but not so much because of the roaming rates, since Google Fi (like T-Mobile) doesn't charge them. I carry a cheap phone with a
Telcel SIMM so that my Mexican friends only have to make a local call to reach me. I use the U.S. phone for calls to and from the U.S. and for data.
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
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I am a DirecTV subscriber and currently have TMobile for phone. We are in AZ and San Felipe
So this weekend I went through the exercise to, possible, change to ATT.
BAM, it is EXPENSIVE. I pay $100 per month for 2 smart phones with unlimited high speed internet. At first when we traveled down to San Felipe all
we could get is Movistar and as someone else mentioned, it sucked. But now we get Telcel all over Mexico. So we have internet at our home and
TMobile has a built in VOIP plan app on the phone. So when we are at the casa we turn on the WiFI based phone and when we leave it automatically
switches over to Telcel. 2g or 3g speed is free in Mexico, but I do have to pay $.20 per minute if I use the phone, but that is worth it for me for
the difference of what ATT wanted.
TMobile, does not have the best service in the states, but it has improved drastically over the past year. I have been from St.John's Virgin Islands
to the San Juan Islands of the coast of Canada and I never paid a nickel more for service. Also, no contract, that is great!!
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
Follow Cortez Blue
www.cortezblue.com
We put the FUNK in disFUNKtion |
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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Thanks everyone I think I have it figured out. I only need the phone for while I'm on the road since there is no cell service in BoLA. When in Bola I
use magicjack on my Exede system.
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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jecapl5599
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 2-11-2016
Member Is Offline
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Hi Folks,
I'm planning on bringing my old iphone 4 and getting a new sim for it in TJ. I have a telcel candy bar phone, but would like the smart phone for the
maps and reading your posts.
Does that all make sense for a week in Baja heading to Ojo de Liebre?
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KaceyJ
Nomad
Posts: 391
Registered: 10-7-2011
Location: there
Member Is Offline
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My suggestion , buy an unlocked dual sim phone
I experimented with ATT, Tmobile , Metropcs, then back to Tmobile
TMobile , when connected to TELCEL , worked the best hands down, but where I'm at currently , it is not working unless I'm in town. Bee..n down for 3
weeks
The reason I like Tmobile is that it is seamless , no codes , no roaming settings or charges , just service. Use like you always do.
.....Except for right now , it's paired with Movistar and service is scetchy , Data non exsisitant
My problem at the moment , I'm using an unlocked ATT S4 and with all their permanent BS bloatware installed , makes the phone inflexable.
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Lengua
Nomad
Posts: 203
Registered: 9-13-2011
Member Is Offline
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ATT has a plan now if you are on their US share plan. No roaming charges in Mexico and 1 go of data / month. Just call and gave them add it. Many
nomads have taken advantage of this NEW plan. All created to be more competitive w/ T mobile
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KaceyJ
Nomad
Posts: 391
Registered: 10-7-2011
Location: there
Member Is Offline
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ATT has too many limits , twists , plans ,additional charges and intentional confusion and thresholds to keep track of
Buy a plan with Tmobile , no contract ,see if it works for you in your area and you''ll be ahead
Simple, and once again, seamless.
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Lengua
Nomad
Posts: 203
Registered: 9-13-2011
Member Is Offline
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ATT has a plan now if you are on their US share plan. No roaming charges in Mexico and 1 go of data / month. Just call and gave them add it. Many
nomads have taken advantage of this NEW plan. All created to be more competitive w/ T mobile
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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I don't use text or data features much, not at all if I can help it, so the no contract ATT Go-phone works for me.
Because of the miserable experience I have had with ATT/Direct TV bundled service I signed up for at home this year, I would NEVER enter into a
contract service with them again!
Trying to get them to honor the price they originally quoted me, was like trying to get straight answers from a time share salesman!
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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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 have five lines on my AT&T plan - just switched to the Mobile share on which I was able to add for free being able to call and text for free
FROM Mexico. Also one GB of data per month per line. For me the cost per line is $40. Now we don't have to bother with the hassle of additional
phones/cards etc. in Mexico (was such a pain since driving to town is an hour each way experience. If someone in USA wants to talk, I have them text
us, and I call them back.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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I would consider Telcel. You can get a plan that works in the states and Mexico and is much cheaper than anything from AT&T or T Mobile. I pay 299
pesos a month for 200 minutes, including free roaming in the US and calls to the US from Mexico, 1.5 gb of data, and free fFacebook and WhatsApp
(doesn't count against data). That works out to slightly over $15 a month.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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