Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

Lori J

Aug 8, 2005, 7:10 PM

Post #1 of 11 (3582 views)

Shortcut

Which dual band is mostly used

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi,
We will be traveling in the central part of mexico: Queretaro, Guanajuato and so on. Which of these Technology & Frequency will service the best in the cemtral part of mexico.. i am having a hard time trying to pin down an answer through my research so if someone can tell me I would appreciate it.

First there is CDMA 1900 and CDMA 800 and also whatever is AMPS 800. Then there is GSM 1900 and TDMA 800 & 1900,
GSM 1900. These are all with Mexico cell phone networks.
thanks

johanson / Moderator

Aug 8, 2005, 9:36 PM

Post #2 of 11 (3571 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Lori J] Which dual band is mostly used

Can't Post | Private Reply

I have heard that the cell phone company giving the most or best coverage in most of Mexico is TelCel. From personnal experience I know it is the company that gives me the best coverage lakeside. I live in Ajijic. My first TelCel phone was analog and and it got and still does get better coverage than my second, a motorola V300 which is GSM, especially when I am inside my house. Sadly, I don't know which frequency this GSM phone operates at. I left the GSM in Mexico. I bet though that most GSM's avialable in the states are multi zone, like the new Motorola GSMs I have been looking at, and that they would work in Mexico.

It's too bad E T isn't still around he would be able to answer your question.

I bet someone out there will have a better answer.

Oh, for around Lake Chapala. TelCel seems to give the best coverage.

simon

Aug 8, 2005, 11:34 PM

Post #3 of 11 (3566 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Lori J] Which dual band is mostly used

Can't Post |

Hi Lori,

I go to Queretaro and always have good service with GSM and CDMA technologies. My GSM carrier in the States is Cingular and my CDMA carrier in the States is Verizon. CDMA, GSM and TDMA phones are almost always "dual band". That is a CDMA phone will normally operate at 800 and 1900. Similar with TDMA and GSM. Alot of carriers that deployed TDMA years ago are now deploying GSM and phasing out TDMA services, at least here in the states. I would expect similar in Mexico. With respect to AMPS, it refers to the first generation analog technology deployed between the mid-80s and early 90's.

You ought to check out Cingular's North American plan, its really a pretty good deal if you will be travelling alot in MX but based in the US. They offer GSM service and on their website you should be able to find some coverage maps of MX (or at least Cingular roaming partner in MX).

Good Luck,

Brian

Aug 9, 2005, 5:41 AM

Post #4 of 11 (3559 views)

Shortcut

Re: [simon] Which dual band is mostly used

Can't Post | Private Reply

Telcel GSM operates at 1900 Mhz nationwide. Although a Cingular or Tmobile subscriber can use his/her phone in Mexico by roaming on the network, there is a cheaper solution which I use. Either buy an "unlocked" GSM phone or, for existing subscribers, ask your service provider for the unlock code for your handset. Tmobile will do this for you after subscribing for 90 days..don't know about Cingular's policy. Then when you come down to Mexico, simply purchase a SIM card at a Telcel office which will give you a local number at prepaid rates. If you need to call the US, an inexpensive calling card can be utilized. When you return to the US, you remove the Telcel SIM and replace it with the original one. The only downside to this plan is that since you will have a Mexican phone number, callers to you from the US will be billed at international long distance rates. Hope this helps.

Brian

Lori J

Aug 9, 2005, 7:20 PM

Post #5 of 11 (3528 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Lori J] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi All,

Thank you so much for replying to my on going cell phone dilemma.
Cingular North American plan with a CSM phone, like the cool Motorola Razr and a purchased SIM card would be ideal and solve the problem when traveling to Mexico. The problem with Cingular's coverage in the Bay Area where I live and in California in general is that it is spotty, my friends all complain of this.
I checked out Telcel, the Verano Amigo Kit looks like it's $40 with air time and a cheap phone included on pay as you go type of plan. I can buy this at the Telcel booth at the airport, the website is in Spanish so this is what I think I read. This seems to be the best short term solution.
For incoming calls from the US probably the best thing to do is to provide an international calling card for my boyfriend if he needs to reach me. Here is Telcel's website, http://www.telcel.com:13124/telcelinternet.nsf/frmDisppromo?OpenForm&amigo . I wanted to post this incase anyone else find themselves in the same situation.
This article that has been posted and is from this website is also very helpful if one has an old analog phone not being used, the problem for me is getting my hands on one in time and one that still has a charger and so on.
http://www.mexconnect.com/...on/rfcellphones.html
I guess I will wait for Verizon to come with GSM phones until then I will keep my crappy useless phone at home and get the prepaid one in Queretaro and keep it for future visits until Verizon comes out with GSM dual band phones that won't lock out a SIM card.

Again, all the information was very helpful and thank you.

sfmacaws

Aug 10, 2005, 1:13 AM

Post #6 of 11 (3518 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Lori J] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Why don't you use Verizon's North America Plan? It works great in both Mexico and the Bay Area.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

bournemouth

Aug 10, 2005, 6:36 AM

Post #7 of 11 (3512 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Verizon's plan for Mexico has a very limited footprint and that on line map is almost impossible to read. It's fine if you're in DF, the Guad area and some other well populated areas but roaming charges apply elsewhere. I keep hoping they'll match Cingular. Cingular, apparently, does not have roaming charges for Mexico which is a big plus if you are travelling and not in one particular spot.

sfmacaws

Aug 10, 2005, 9:24 AM

Post #8 of 11 (3501 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hmmm, we must have stayed in their footprint last year. I had service in Zacatecas, GDL, Ajijic, SMA, through Colima and up the coast north until Mazatlan. In Maz I was roaming but that's the first time I saw a roaming indicator. I had no signal at times out along the coast in rural areas but I had a good signal in Melaque and towns of that size. We just got rid of a Cingular account that had been ATT, it went downhill fast when they took over.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson / Moderator

Aug 10, 2005, 10:55 AM

Post #9 of 11 (3492 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hey folks for a cool program, click on Jonna's "here" link at the bottom of her post. It actually shows where she's at and lets you zoom in.

sfmacaws

Aug 10, 2005, 11:05 AM

Post #10 of 11 (3490 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

and we're getting closer to you Pete! We are leaving Bend today for Seiku, WA. We're meeting friends who are salmon fishing there and we're hoping to have salmon in our larder when we head back to Mexico in October.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson / Moderator

Aug 10, 2005, 4:31 PM

Post #11 of 11 (3471 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Which dual band is mostly used/THANKS!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Yep that is getting up there towards the most northwestern part of the continental US some 100 miles and one saltwater waterway from my home 20 miles SE of Mount Vernon on Lake Cavanaugh. I too am getting ready to head back to Mexico, about 4 weeks from today.

I hope I said enough about Mexico, not to get deleted. Oh that's right, I'm the moderator, here.

Oh, I know how to make this legal. I own a Motorola V-300 Telcel GSM phone that takes reasonable pictures. The trouble is, there was no way for me to download my pictures from the phone to my laptop. Well I stopped by a couple of the local cell phone outlets last week and found a cable and software combination for $31+ that allows me to directly download these photos to my laptop or PC.