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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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Cell Phone
I've been bypassing BOLA last couple of trips. Is there cell phone reception now? My travel Bud had an emergency at home last year when we were in
Mulege. Would have been a disaster if we were out of signal at the time. Now he is reluctant to be out of contact.
In the past I would check in once a week, if I could, using the phone shops.
Exercise regularly. Eat sensibly. Die anyway.
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
Registered: 1-21-2017
Location: Here now
Member Is Offline
Mood: Abiding ..........
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If that important to be in contact, go for one of the satellite phone devices.
Will free you up to go anywhere...
https://www.findmespot.com/en-us/
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Having experiences with both Spot and inReach, the inReach is hands down a more user-friendly way to communicate back and forth.
Phone/Text messaging, emails, plus allowing your contacts to see where you are in near real time. The inReach also uses the Iridium satellites which
have far better coverage than what Spot uses.
There is also renting of satellite phones available if you need to talk.
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1722
Registered: 2-2-2010
Member Is Offline
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I´ve always experienced spotty cell in bola at best. Havn´t been since nov. but I doubt its changed.
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baja Steve
Nomad
Posts: 469
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Bend, or
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There is no cell service in Bahia de Los Angeles; calls can be made over (satellite) wifi or at places such as Deposito Lizeth👍
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10605
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by chippy  | | I´ve always experienced spotty cell in bola at best. Havn´t been since nov. but I doubt its changed. |
No cell service in BoLA.
There is Wi-Fi. You can make calls on WhatsApp or Wi-Fi based calls if your phone support that feature. Most do.
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1722
Registered: 2-2-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by chippy | | I´ve always experienced spotty cell in bola at best. Havn´t been since nov. but I doubt its changed. |
No cell service in BoLA.
There is Wi-Fi. You can make calls on WhatsApp or Wi-Fi based calls if your phone support that feature. Most do.
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You are correct. It was crappy wifi. I´ve had whatsapp for years. Thats how everyone communicates down here.
[Edited on 5-22-2020 by chippy]
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2308
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
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Or just stay home
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1922
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Sat phone
Our Iridium based satellite phone has never failed to connect. We did have one dropped call but immediately reconnected .
We think actually talking with a person on the other end provides a better way to convey the immediacy and details of a situation than texting.
We purchased a refurbished phone about six years ago, a one-year old model from Satmodo in San Diego and have the least expensive monthly plan. Still
it isn't cheap but it's been perfect for us.
John M
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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I tend to agree with "if you need a cell phone then stay home where your reception is great"
We end up in LABay almost every year
I go to one of the stores and spend a few pesos to call home when we arrive, and then a couple days later
WiFi is available all over town which I check for emergencies. (and a few selected sports scores, which are easily found after dark on your AM car
radio. KNX 1070 comes through loud and clear in the dark hours)
When I go to Baja I tell people "Hey, I will not be in regular contact. If it is urgent send an email. I will check in every few days for
emergencies. Otherwise talk when we get back."
I sometimes wonder what this world has come to, dependent as we have become to our devices and gizmos....
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by Marc | My travel Bud had an emergency at home last year when we were in Mulege. Would have been a disaster if we were out of signal at the time. Now he is
reluctant to be out of contact.
In the past I would check in once a week, if I could, using the phone shops. |
No cell phone in BOLA and probably won't be any for another 10 years.
Phone is available in 2 grocery stores, the big one is usually open during posted hours, the small one is open when senora Lizett wishes so. You
won't have a problem making a phone call once a week.
Same stores also offer WiFi. They run WiFi through satellite modem, not sure about phone - landline service does exist but it's a "land" in town
only, coming there through relay lines, you can't run DLS internet on it.
I've "heard" about public WiFi intermittently available across the town, but given how unreliable is paid WiFi in the said stores, have no desire to
try a worse version yet, since only use internet when it's really important and don't want dropped connections. You learn to ration your needs when
living there.
People who live there permanently or semi-permanently usually have their own satellite internet and VOIP phone.
[Edited on 5-23-2020 by Alm]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Scary to have an emergency at home while traveling in Mexico.
Whatsapp is indeed what every Mexican uses! And now, we do too.
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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 BajaBlanca | Scary to have an emergency at home while traveling in Mexico.
Whatsapp is indeed what every Mexican uses! And now, we do too. |
Exercise regularly. Eat sensibly. Die anyway.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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No, it's scary to have an emergency while traveling in Mexico.
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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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I have a satellite two way text unit. It works all over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Service is $10/Month and the unit was around $200. It has an
Emergency button that sends your location to a call center that dispatches help anywhere.
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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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Visit “findmespot.com” for more information.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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Spot will send a distress signal. Response center will contact local responders in Baja. They will arrive... some time later. When on the road, you'll
sooner get help from a passing local, or from town people if you're in town. "Traveling" for most of us means one day on a paved road and several
days or weeks (or months even) in a populated area.
I would consider Spot for trips on roads so poor that there can be no traffic for days.
[Edited on 5-25-2020 by Alm]
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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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We take those dirt or worse roads in Baja like San Ignacio to Scorpion Bay. It also lets us send email and trackInter info to our kids back in the
U.S.
As soon as Space X starts their new LEO system we’re signing up!
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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"Dirt or worse" is what Spot is for. And tracking - if somebody needs or wants to track you in those areas.
They are search and rescue rather than evacuation, in a populated area they probably won't come to your rescue. On a brief glance, Spot basic plan
includes only monitoring and SAR coordination, you'll need an upgraded plan to be reimbursed for actual SAR services if anything happens.
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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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They will respond in the U.S. & Canada. They check 1st to verify. We have insurance that covers medical evacuations too! Never had to use it. For
which I’m very glad!
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