Whether or not Skype works on a particular carrier is not a Skype issue it is a service provider issue. The service provider can, at will, block the Skype ports that Skype needs to transmit and receive, ergo no Skype. I have had no problem with Skype in Mexico, but that could be location/provider dependent.
It depends on the speed of the RV Park internet & how many are using it at the same time. Bandwidth declines fast as a lot of people use skype and some RV parks ask you not to use it. Get yourself a cheap AT&T GoPhone on your way through the US at a Walmart. It works in the US, Mexico & Canada & is cheap ($15). You then have a US Number so people do not have to call Mexico, and if you have an LD plan, have someone go over to your house & forward your home number to it once you have the number. It roams on TelCel. Works on most major highways in Mexico which is a safety feature you won't get with Skype.
What I do is also have a magicjack (get them at London Drugs). I forward my home phone which does not cost anything since the magicjack number is local, then I forward the magicjack to the cell (that is free as MJ has free North America calling). Even with the double hop, it passes caller ID info. Since you can change the forwarding on the magicjack on-line from anywhere, I simply de-forward it if I find it is working fine where I am camped, If not, I forward it back to the cell. Magicjack also has voicemail & it will email you a wave file. I pre-load the GoPhone with a $100 card which is good for 1 year. You can also get a $50 card good for 6 months. You have to activate the phone while inside the US.
Here are the rates:
10 cents a minute US to US or receiving calls from Canada or Mexico while in the US
35 cents a minute from US to Canada
25 cents a minute incoming & outgoing in Mexico to US or Canada
39 cents minute in Canada calling the US or in Canada & receiving calls from either
Cell service in Canada is expensive and 39 cents a minute is only 4 cents a minute more than Telus's pay as you go product.
Snow River TC wrote: What I do is also have a magicjack (get them at London Drugs). I forward my home phone which does not cost anything since the magicjack number is local, then I forward the magicjack to the cell (that is free as MJ has free North America calling). Even with the double hop, it passes caller ID info. Since you can change the forwarding on the magicjack on-line from anywhere, I simply de-forward it if I find it is working fine where I am camped, If not, I forward it back to the cell.
Why bother with a home phone at all? magicJack follows us and costs WAY less. We make most of our calls from our Verizon North America Plan. That plan does not care where you are, all minutes are the same.
Quote: Why bother with a home phone at all? magicJack follows us and costs WAY less. We make most of our calls from our Verizon North America Plan. That plan does not care where you are, all minutes are the same.
I have to have a home phone for my internet service. I worked for Telus for 30 years so I get a huge discount on my home phone & internet. So getting it via cable makes no sense. Until last year they offered digital VOIP phone, so I used that at home over a Dark DSL line ( a phone line with no dial tone & a pseudo number to ID it). I took the modual (about the size of an old style dial up modem) with me to Mexico. It worked better than the magicjack does, less jitter & dropouts & clearer. Probably because it plugged into the ethernet port on the laptop & not the USB. However, for some unknown reason, they decided to drop that so I had to get an old fashioned land line & so I got a magicjack. I live 50 miles out of Vancouver and it's long distance to call me from there, so I got the magicjack with a Vancouver number & leave it call forwarded to my land line when at home, so people can call me toll free from there.
Roaming charges on Canadian cell phones in Mexico are $1.75 a minute. There is no plan that is cheap. I leave it at home with a message to call my US one.
Now AT&T GoPhone works in Canada I am almost thinking of ditching my Canadian cell & forwarding my Vancouver numbered magicjack to it. I only use it for emergencies at home anyway. That way I would save the monthly charges on my Canadian cell which amount to $120 a year.
Quote: Why bother with a home phone at all? magicJack follows us and costs WAY less. We make most of our calls from our Verizon North America Plan. That plan does not care where you are, all minutes are the same.
I have to have a home phone for my internet service. I worked for Telus for 30 years so I get a huge discount on my home phone & internet. So getting it via cable makes no sense. Until last year they offered digital VOIP phone, so I used that at home over a Dark DSL line ( a phone line with no dial tone & a pseudo number to ID it). I took the modual (about the size of an old style dial up modem) with me to Mexico. It worked better than the magicjack does, less jitter & dropouts & clearer. Probably because it plugged into the ethernet port on the laptop & not the USB. However, for some unknown reason, they decided to drop that so I had to get an old fashioned land line & so I got a magicjack. I live 50 miles out of Vancouver and it's long distance to call me from there, so I got the magicjack with a Vancouver number & leave it call forwarded to my land line when at home, so people can call me toll free from there.
Roaming charges on Canadian cell phones in Mexico are $1.75 a minute. There is no plan that is cheap. I leave it at home with a message to call my US one.
Now AT&T GoPhone works in Canada I am almost thinking of ditching my Canadian cell & forwarding my Vancouver numbered magicjack to it. I only use it for emergencies at home anyway. That way I would save the monthly charges on my Canadian cell which amount to $120 a year.
That does explain it. Seems so complicated. The Verizon North American deal isn't available where you are? Too bad, because it's a great deal and easy for everybody.
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