Going to Mexico for a week - with cell phone - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 01-25-2013, 03:13 AM

I've heard horror stories about people getting nicked for major bank in foreign lands because their data receiver somehow prompted a satellite to turn to stay open for a signal or the like. Anybody know how to avoid that? FWIW, my provider is T-Mobile.

Jim B. · #2 01-25-2013, 07:16 AM

If the trip is for pleasure then leave it at home!

I went to the French wine country, the Black Forest, ( looking for Cuckoo clocks to buy), from Frankfurt, to Munich, and all over Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria. Lichtenstein & Italy last summer for a couple of weeks and guess how many times I used a cell phone?

N O N E.

And those zre first world countries. Our coutry has literally gone stark, raving INSANE, and utterly MAD obsessing over the cell phone.

TX76513 · #3 01-25-2013, 08:50 AM

Some carriers like AT T will allow you to go online and set parimeters for your account. I am going to MX today for a meeting tomorrow and returning on Sunday so I set my World Access to a max of 50 Text, 80 Min of Voice and 100M of data. My max exposure is $50USD

elchivito · #4 01-25-2013, 09:19 AM

I use a separate phone and only for emergencies. It's an old phone I don't use here anymore. Leave the smart phone at home. You take the phone into whatever carrier's store is in the area where you'll be staying, movitel, telcel etc. and they'll set it up for you and sell you prepaid time.
I then call home with the number and I'm all set in case someone needs to reach me.
You could also just leave it home, or not worry about it.
Most of the horror stories I hear are from people who set up international calling with their provider here, and don't realize that every call, even local ones they make while in MX are costing a buck a minute or more as they're all billed as international.

strelnik · #5 01-25-2013, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I've heard horror stories about people getting nicked for major bank in foreign lands because their data receiver somehow prompted a satellite to turn to stay open for a signal or the like. Anybody know how to avoid that? FWIW, my provider is T-Mobile.

If you absolutely positively NEED a cell phone, take your cell phone and go to a Mexican walmart and buy EITHER a pay-as-you-go SIM chip for about 20.00 or buy a phone card where you dial a 1-800 to connect. They are never more than 15.00 and you'll never use them up unless ypou establish residence there.

cmac2012 · #6 01-25-2013, 12:17 PM

Good advice all, I'm not planning on making any or at least more than a couple calls while there. It's an unusual trip. An old friend lives in Todos Santos, just north of Cabo. Her son built a nifty vacation house on the beach and one nearby for her after she found she liked the area. He rents it as a weekly rental and she helps watch and manage it along with a few other ventures. Her daughter will have her first child and my friend's first grandchild in Feb. somewhere a bit north of the Bay Area. She was wanting to drive up to spend several months with her but was nervous about making such a long drive (1300 miles approx, just to the Bay Area) solo. We've been talking about me visiting her for the first time for awhile and she asked if I was into a several day trip/vacation followed by helping her drive up North. Driving the length of Baja sounds like an adventure to me plus this is perhaps the coolest woman of all time so I'm way up for it.

I'll want the cell for the land trip in the US - will be visiting my niece near San Luis Obispo. Texting is not too costly in Mexico and I like the camera on my cell. But I don't want to screw up. I did some searching and oddly enough am getting vague answers. I'll call customer service more and see what I can find out.

kerry · #7 01-25-2013, 12:25 PM

Doesn't sound to me as if your mind will be on the phone during this time.

elchivito · #8 01-25-2013, 12:29 PM

Edit. If you're going to drive the length of the Baja, never mind it's a great road, you'll want a phone, and I wouldn't do it in a nice high end "steal me first" SUV either. Cabo and Todos Santos are gringo friendly. In between there and La Linea is 1300 miles of "not so much".

jcyuhn · #9 01-25-2013, 12:40 PM

On a smartphone all you need to do is disable "data roaming" on the phone itself. Then the phone will not use any data while registered on a non-t-mobile network.

On an iphone you can find it under Settings -> General -> Cellular -> Data Roaming. Make sure it is off.

There is a similar method to configure an Android smartphone, though I don't recall the exact steps.

If you don't have a smartphone, then there really is nothing to be concerned about. You don't incur any charges by taking the phone and powering it up on the Telcel or Iusacell network. You incur charges if you make or answer a call, probably $1/minute give or take.

You likely incur charges for sending or receiving text messages. There is no method on the handset to disable receipt of text messages while roaming. Try calling TMO or googling to see what may be possible.

Palangi · #10 01-25-2013, 01:05 PM

On my recent trip to Rosarita, I just left my cell phone turned off. Three glorious days of no phone calls.

On minor point though, if you are driving. On the return trip, we failed to heed the locals advice not to cross at San Ysidro due to long delays. We ended up stuck in traffic for a bit over three hours and almost missed our flights out of SD.

They recommend to cross at the next border crossing to the east. Can't remember the name at the moment. Maybe Otay crossing. Costs you a few more pesos for the toll road, but no long delays.

spdrun · #11 01-25-2013, 04:37 PM

Turn it off ... or with many providers, int'l data is actually cheaper than int'l voice if you sign up in advance. Hack the phone to allow for VoIP calls over a data plan!

Hatterasguy · #12 01-25-2013, 07:05 PM

AT&T is better overseas, Verizon is BS.

Since I have Verizon I just turn my data off and use the sat phone on the boat since it cost the same per minute.

If you leave data on with Verizon and use it like you do in the states with texting etc, you will get a nice $400 plus phone bill.

cmac2012 · #13 01-26-2013, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

On my recent trip to Rosarita, I just left my cell phone turned off. Three glorious days of no phone calls.

On minor point though, if you are driving. On the return trip, we failed to heed the locals advice not to cross at San Ysidro due to long delays. We ended up stuck in traffic for a bit over three hours and almost missed our flights out of SD.

They recommend to cross at the next border crossing to the east. Can't remember the name at the moment. Maybe Otay crossing. Costs you a few more pesos for the toll road, but no long delays.

She says Tecate would be better. About 25 miles east. Sounds good to me. She described San Ysidro as being stuck in a long line of noxious fumes for a long time. Thanks for the heads up. I will indeed urge her to go with the Tecate route as she wasn't completely firm on that plan.

cmac2012 · #14 01-26-2013, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Doesn't sound to me as if your mind will be on the phone during this time.

Oh man, be still my foolish heart.

cmac2012 · #15 01-26-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Edit. If you're going to drive the length of the Baja, never mind it's a great road, you'll want a phone, and I wouldn't do it in a nice high end "steal me first" SUV either. Cabo and Todos Santos are gringo friendly. In between there and La Linea is 1300 miles of "not so much".

She says driving after dark is to be avoided. Not sure if it's owing to bad roads/unexpected hazards or banditos or both. Not sure about her rig, she used to have a minvan but is now talking about her RAV. She's not wealthy so I'm guessing it's an older model. She's having it gone over now. I'll pack a big vise grip and crescent wrench just in case I might be of aid along the way. It's 600 miles to the border, I'm guessing 300 a day might be doable, who knows.