Pre-paid SIM Card UK
Jul 21, 2016, 12:53 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Like everything tech related when you travel, this seems complicated. Mobile hotspots seem to be called mi-fi (mobile wi-fi). Here's a primer:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/buying-ad...guide-3637018/
I haven't yet found somebody who's done the extensive research and can point me to what I want to buy -- and how to buy it -- if I'm just a traveller to the UK and want, say, 5gb of data.
EDIT: This seems to be about what I need. At Ł50 for 6gb, it's not cheap, though. I'm wondering if I could do better.
http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-as-...tsrc=Affiliate
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/buying-ad...guide-3637018/
I haven't yet found somebody who's done the extensive research and can point me to what I want to buy -- and how to buy it -- if I'm just a traveller to the UK and want, say, 5gb of data.
EDIT: This seems to be about what I need. At Ł50 for 6gb, it's not cheap, though. I'm wondering if I could do better.
http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-as-...tsrc=Affiliate
Last edited by iahphx; Jul 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Jul 21, 2016, 6:41 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,199
That sounds like exactly what we need. Thanks. So Ł24 includes 2gb? Is there any way to get a bit more data for about that price? And is there an easy way to figure out who has the best in-store deal? I guess I'll google "Pay as you Go Mobile hotspot UK" and see what comes up.
I'm not really a techy person so 2gb of data means very little to me. I just know it was way more than enough for my usage over the near three weeks I used it. I'd be surprised if you needed more as most accommodation has free wifi anyway...both our cottage rentals had good wifi.
It might be a good idea to find out which network has the best coverage especially in Scotland. Mine was on Vodafone other networks might have better.
Jul 22, 2016, 12:44 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,546
Where are you headed for? Major towns and cities have 3G/4G coverage, which is great for data. Rural areas have 2G (which is fine for calls and text but won't support services such as mapping apps that need a live feed). And in some mountain areas (such as parts of the Lake District or Scotland) you'll have no signal at all.
Jul 22, 2016, 9:46 am
#19
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Where are you headed for? Major towns and cities have 3G/4G coverage, which is great for data. Rural areas have 2G (which is fine for calls and text but won't support services such as mapping apps that need a live feed). And in some mountain areas (such as parts of the Lake District or Scotland) you'll have no signal at all.
It does seem like I need a company with as much geographic 3G/4G as possible. And then I need a pay-as-you-go mobile wifi device that works on that company's system at a decent price. This doesn't seem like the easiest question to have answered.
Jul 22, 2016, 11:13 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Hmmm, maybe my family won't need as much data as I think. Since we are going be spending 4 or 5 days in the Highlands, and a couple days in rural Wales, and most of the time not in cities, maybe I don't need as much data as I think.
It does seem like I need a company with as much geographic 3G/4G as possible. And then I need a pay-as-you-go mobile wifi device that works on that company's system at a decent price. This doesn't seem like the easiest question to have answered.
It does seem like I need a company with as much geographic 3G/4G as possible. And then I need a pay-as-you-go mobile wifi device that works on that company's system at a decent price. This doesn't seem like the easiest question to have answered.
Aug 22, 2016, 6:20 pm
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Well, after doing a bit more research, I wandered into a Three telecom store in London to buy a SIM card with data, voice and text for my AT&T phone. They promised me it would work -- I just had to wait a few hours for activation. But it didn't work, and they couldn't figure out why. At least they refunded me my money. I made do with wifi and downloadable google maps.
Aug 23, 2016, 8:53 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
Well, after doing a bit more research, I wandered into a Three telecom store in London to buy a SIM card with data, voice and text for my AT&T phone. They promised me it would work -- I just had to wait a few hours for activation. But it didn't work, and they couldn't figure out why. At least they refunded me my money. I made do with wifi and downloadable google maps.
Aug 23, 2016, 5:05 pm
#23
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Nope. I had it unlocked and gave them the code. That wasn't the problem. After they put in the SIM, I was supposed to get a text message confirmation in a few hours. When it didn't work and I returned to the store, they muttered something about the "frequency" of the phone. I don't know, but it didn't work. As I didn't have time to do further research, I just gave up.
Aug 23, 2016, 7:42 pm
#24
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
A phone can have many variations depending on the market it is sold in. A brand X type Z phone can be different if sold in anther country.
http://willmyphonework.net/
Aug 31, 2016, 10:39 am
#25
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
We were trying to use a Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime. Under that chart, I think it should have worked. Annoying. I'm sure one day, probably not too far into the future, using your phone overseas will be less hassle.
Sep 1, 2016, 9:20 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
Carrier locking seems to be on the way out, but the spectrum differences aren't going anywhere soon.