USA/Mexico mobile data options

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BraeNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#205996 6-Dec-2016 08:35

Hi everyone - I'm new here.

Next year I am off to Mexico (10 days, January) and the US (3-4 weeks, May 2017) and need to be able to use my IPhone 6 as a hotspot for my laptop as well as mobile data. In Mexico I will be in a rural location where TelCel provides the service (such that it is). (I am on a Winston Churchill Fellowship to witness the astounding monarch butterfly migration and source ideas for the conservation of butterflies generally.)

Here in New Zealand I am with Spark. Their roaming charges are $5/MB data, $4.49 minute for outgoing calls and $1 minute for incoming calls – which sounds expensive. Texts are $0.80.

I manage a website for the butterfly trust… Sounds like I’ll have to divert my NZ numbers somehow so that I don’t get people calling me about “how to save a caterpillar” or why their seeds aren’t growing.

Would be grateful for your suggestions. Maybe I should look at this as two things (Mexico, USA) rather than one issue?

BraeNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1686755 12-Dec-2016 22:18

Hey folks, would be grateful of some tips here... Not sure how to get your attention... :) Probably everyone is too busy with Christmas.

lchiu7

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#1687429 13-Dec-2016 23:11

You could try to get this card when you're there

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-monthly-plans?icid=WMD_PD_Q316SMPLYP_A2JDV3G2OP5670

US$40 for 3G of LTE data or $50 for 5G per month. Then you add Mexico roaming for $5 and use your US data.

Not sure if TMO block tethering but I suspect not given the plans have data caps on them.

You can sign up in a TMO store.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

hairy1

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#1687464 14-Dec-2016 00:31

I have used goredpocket.com a couple of times in the US which has been great. No mexico roaming unfortunately.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

BraeNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1687515 14-Dec-2016 08:55

Thanks so much, this is great. All should be sorted!

Much appreciated.

Jacqui

Shadowfoot

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#1687639 14-Dec-2016 12:03

The $60 AT&T prepaid GoPhone plan permits roaming in Mexico (and Canada). You need to be in the US to activate it, so it will work if you travel from US to Mexico, but it's of no use if you arrive in Mexico first, even if you get a SIM card sent to you.

https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/gophone-plans.html

Blue Sky: shadowfoot.bsky.social

BraeNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1687669 14-Dec-2016 12:38

Thanks Shadowfoot, much appreciated.

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Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

knoydart

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#1687762 14-Dec-2016 15:34

Just be aware that in rural US (less than 90 minutes from downtown Atlanta), T mobile coverage can be patchy to say the least. Brother in law on an ATT sim getting excellent service when I was lacking coverage.

I'm not sure if the US operators publish coverage maps but if you can find them, it might be worth while if you do need to get a connection in the middle of nowhere.

The T mobile plan was streets ahead on cost however. Enjoy the trip, sounds like an amazing opportunity.

BraeNZ

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1687775 14-Dec-2016 15:59

Hey, thanks for that, I'd not given that much though. I'll look into it.

Cheers and best wishes.

Jacqui