Anyone have good Phone Data Speed in port with your cell phone plan?

[haslipe]

I have AT&T Prepaid, which is supposed to cover me in Mexico.  I was barely able to use it in Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, and had almost zero luck in Cabo.  I'm guessing that when a ship pulls into port that the local cell network takes a bit hit like how you can't use your cell data at a football game.  I'm just curious if others have had the same issue or are there plans where you still get good speeds when in port?  I've heard that Google Fi is good for international travel.  I don't need much in the way of data.  Just to be able to use Uber and look up some info online.  Just curious what experiences others have had and with which carriers / plans.

[Hlitner]

Our T-Mobile plan (just the normal Senior Plan) gives us 5 Gigs (per month) of high speed (usually LTE or 5G) at no extra charge.  That 5G is per month (based on one's billing date).  If you exceed that 5G limit than the speed drops to 256 K.   We live in Mexico for 10 weeks a year and we have few issues.  T-Mobile plans will generally use Telcel, but Movistar is also usable for T-Mobile accounts.  

 

Hank

[CruiserBruce]

Have AT&T unlimited data/talk/text plan. In Mexico right now. Was a little slow moving data in Puerto Vallarta, but eventually got going just fine, and has been fine in Ixtapa, Manzanillo, PV. About to turn it on in Loreto.  LaPaz and Cabo in the next couple of days. Have used it in Cabo, PV and Mazatlan with no problems in the past. However,  we don't try to watch TV on it. 4G is moderately widespread,  but there is not blanket coverage. 

 

As long as you are in port, or anchored in a tender port, the ship's cell is off, and no impact. 

[Mike45LC]

We use Verizon, and Mex and Can are part of our plan.  I have not used my phone (phone, text or data) extensively in Mex, but I haven't had any problems with low speeds.  I tend to check my email while in port, and make any necessary phone calls.  I don't try to stream or to upload large files.  

[haslipe]

Well now I don't know what to think.  I wonder why I was finding it unusable in Cabo.  We had plans that were to get an Uber to a certain beach, but I couldn't get anything to load on my phone.  I tried all the normal tricks of turning airplane mode on and off, restarting my phone etc.  I'm thinking in the future I'll just get an esim for the areas I'm going to just to be safe.  I know my AT&T prepaid phone plan probably doesn't have the best priority data like most prepaid plans, so maybe that is a factor too.  It's not like I'm wanting to watch video or anything.  I mainly just needed Uber to work, and I'm sure that isn't asking very much.