Cell Phones in the Zona

[Antonia K]

Yes, the International charges were just as donker indicated. The "Out of Area" notifications and billing statement charges was the main reason for my post. Just want to keep my Hobbyist brothers out of the dog house.

dirtemail

 

[Casey B]

more importantly, you don't have someone opening your cell bill asking what the fuck is this?

 

[Android]

I have a verizon. Whenever I use at tj, I got billed 99cents per minutes.and also they charge me 50 cents per outgoing text and 5 cent for receiving text.

 

[insomniac]

Were you billed at international rates? I've received Mexican cell coverage as far north as Point Loma (The ocean side of the point). When I saw that I turned the fucking phone off just incase someone called me and I'd be billed for international rates.

 

[prennk]

Old thread, new update. Did La Zona with a new Verizon iphone for the first time. Outgoing calls will show an "Out of Area" message to the receipient. Out of Area implies out of the U.S.. For those of you calling a S.O. or Boss, this could raise issues. As soon as you're back on the San Ysidro side, it will go back to regular roam and not show the "Out of Area" message. I always carry an emergency back-up pay-per-minute phone, so I tested it to myself.

Also, iphone had significantly better receiption from my last smart phone. No issues from inside the Cascadas, Rizo de Oro, or on Revolucion as I've experienced in the past.

Hope this helps?
dirtemail

 

[SIR CUSTAC CANT]

I have T mobile but it frequently switches to the Mexican carrier across the border. I even get the Mexican carrier once I come back on the US side after leaving customs.

 

[Cato]

I have a Verizon ENVY Touch phone by LG.
It picks up a US signal from San Ysidro CA fairly well when I am in La Zona.
But when I walk south, like to 1st street and farther south, it would lock onto a mexican network signal.

So I changed my phone settings (permanently).
On the phone menu I went first to my "Settings & Tools" area
Then within that section I selected "Phone Settings"
Then I selected "System Select"
It gave me a choice between "Home Only" or "Automatic"

Once I selected the "Home Only" setting, my phone stayed only on signals from the US towers, when it gets them.
and never again picked up a signal from a mexican tower.
And that has been my preference, and setting, at all times since.

 

[--s2--s2--]

Years ago I had Sprint. I changed carriers when I had to pay roaming charges with Sprint.

These days I have Cricket. The reception is good in the Zona, downtown, and other areas near the border. No roaming or international ring either.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Not everywhere in TJ, but near the border and in the Zona Norte you should have US signal.

 

[prince charming]

so i guess my cell should work without roaming charges.

 

[maxine g]

My friend uses Metro PCS and it works fine with no charges. He uses voice and text, no switching of carriers...

 

[jobromancer]

Bb Storm on Verizon works in La Zona, especially in the top floor of Hacienda Santiago. Or you can befriend a bar girl and have her register a local carrier SIM.

 

[Sailor Venus]

So if I use my Verizon phone in TJ, does it show that I am in TJ, or do I get a roaming signal, or does it assume I am in the US? Makes a difference for those of us who might not want to let others know where we are....

 

[Pompal 09.]

A few years ago I had Cingular and it worked alright in La Zona. Now I have Sprint but I've yet to make a call while in La Zona and haven't seen the reception bars. That and I turn off the phone because of all the annoying text messages I get when I'm in TJ.

 

[visualthailand]

Cricket wireless (Prepaid works well for me).

 

[Irish Girl]

Almost all US cells will have reception in the streets of Zona Norte...and normally not too good of reception in the bars....you are pretty damn close to the border when you are in the Zona Norte.

 

[Uk MonkeyFinger]

Im with AT&T and I dont get any reception normally, but when I get closer to the border I do get a bit, generally on my way back to the border my phone starts getting some reception... pain in the ass for sure

 

[flamesfanjosh]

I'd like to hear what carriers you guys are using and how the reception is in TJ. Among me and my buddies, we have ATT, Verizon, & Sprint. The first 2 work fine down there (using its own network but sometimes needing to switch to telcel) but the Sprint guy gets nothing.

What do you guys have and hows the reception? Especially interested in knowing anyone with prepaid plans such as Virgin, Boost, Tracfone, etc. Thanks.