Last edit by: Silver Fox
This is a stub Wiki for this thread - the idea is that any member can edit it to keep it up to date as a distillation of the best info from the thread.
3 - 200MB Free data SIM
3 - 15 pounds for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited 3G data for a month (http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=112) The deal might not be dead but to buy the addon you need to switch WiFi off (!!) and open http://three.co.uk/my3 on your device as this unlinked support page says. Three customer service and store both says this doesn't work with tablets -- however customer service are idiots and doesn't know what is a tablet only knows phones and iPads (both phone and chat -- this is apparently company level). Tread carefully. Anyways, this method still worked on January 13, 2015.
Note the GBP15 all you can eat deal has now been pulled(Note 8/3/16: All in one with All you can eat data is now GBP25): http://www.threemicrosites.co.uk/AIO20B
If you don't want to buy a bundle or a plan, Three's flat rate for calls is now 3p per minute. The expiry time of one month or three months for topups has now been removed. So you pay only 3p per call minute for what you use.
Three's data is only 1p per MB, and you can buy packages (eg 500MB for 5 pounds). The packages ("add-ons") may not save money directly, but those data packages are eligible for use in "Feel at Home" countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Macau, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, USA) at no extra charge. See http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...se=EXT(EM11925)
EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/price-plans/free-sim
Vodafone: https://freesim.vodafone.co.uk
O2: https://www.o2.co.uk/freesim/
giffgaff: www.giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/nfh (Ł5 free credit) or www.giffgaff.com/orders/free-sim (no free credit)
Three: https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order
How do I top up with an overseas card, or can I use PayPal?
Strangely, some firms insist that you must use a UK issued credit card to topup. Some do take PayPal:
Giffgaff
Vodafone
But it is not as prevalent as it should bein this day and age admittedly. There is a firm that some people have reported success with and they are:
https://www.mobiletopup.co.uk/
What frequencies are used in the UK?
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
Here's a chart for iPhones and which bands each model can use. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
If you're not sure which model you have, look on the back of your iPhone or go into Settings-->General-->About-->Legal-->Regulatory
iphone 5 users note that: iPhone 5 cannot get 4G/LTE on the 800MHz or 2600MHz frequencies but it can on the 1800 frequency.
For other users there are a number of resources to check the frequency your phone supports including:
Global Certification Forum
As an example this is the data for a Samsung J1 Ace SM-J111F
GSMARENA
What frequencies do the different operators use?
Each operator in the UK utilises different frequencies to deliver their mobile networks with the core networks being EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Then there are also operators, called mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), who utilise the backend of the core networks to offer their own services.
The frequencies used by the major UK networks are:
EE (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz & 2600MHz
O2 (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Vodafone (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 2600MHz
Three (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHZ
The frequencies used by UK’s MVNO’s are listed below:
Asda Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
BT Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
iD Mobile (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz
Freedom Pop (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHz
GiffGaff (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Lebara Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
LycaMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
TalkMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
TalkTalk (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Tesco Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
The People’s Operator (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
Virgin Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz, & 2600MHz
Please add and edit!
3 - 200MB Free data SIM
3 - 15 pounds for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited 3G data for a month (http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=112) The deal might not be dead but to buy the addon you need to switch WiFi off (!!) and open http://three.co.uk/my3 on your device as this unlinked support page says. Three customer service and store both says this doesn't work with tablets -- however customer service are idiots and doesn't know what is a tablet only knows phones and iPads (both phone and chat -- this is apparently company level). Tread carefully. Anyways, this method still worked on January 13, 2015.
Note the GBP15 all you can eat deal has now been pulled(Note 8/3/16: All in one with All you can eat data is now GBP25): http://www.threemicrosites.co.uk/AIO20B
If you don't want to buy a bundle or a plan, Three's flat rate for calls is now 3p per minute. The expiry time of one month or three months for topups has now been removed. So you pay only 3p per call minute for what you use.
Three's data is only 1p per MB, and you can buy packages (eg 500MB for 5 pounds). The packages ("add-ons") may not save money directly, but those data packages are eligible for use in "Feel at Home" countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Macau, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, USA) at no extra charge. See http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...se=EXT(EM11925)
EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/price-plans/free-sim
Vodafone: https://freesim.vodafone.co.uk
O2: https://www.o2.co.uk/freesim/
giffgaff: www.giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/nfh (Ł5 free credit) or www.giffgaff.com/orders/free-sim (no free credit)
Three: https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order
How do I top up with an overseas card, or can I use PayPal?
Strangely, some firms insist that you must use a UK issued credit card to topup. Some do take PayPal:
Giffgaff
Vodafone
But it is not as prevalent as it should bein this day and age admittedly. There is a firm that some people have reported success with and they are:
https://www.mobiletopup.co.uk/
What frequencies are used in the UK?
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
Here's a chart for iPhones and which bands each model can use. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
If you're not sure which model you have, look on the back of your iPhone or go into Settings-->General-->About-->Legal-->Regulatory
iphone 5 users note that: iPhone 5 cannot get 4G/LTE on the 800MHz or 2600MHz frequencies but it can on the 1800 frequency.
For other users there are a number of resources to check the frequency your phone supports including:
Global Certification Forum
As an example this is the data for a Samsung J1 Ace SM-J111F
GSMARENA
What frequencies do the different operators use?
Each operator in the UK utilises different frequencies to deliver their mobile networks with the core networks being EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Then there are also operators, called mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), who utilise the backend of the core networks to offer their own services.
The frequencies used by the major UK networks are:
EE (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz & 2600MHz
O2 (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Vodafone (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 2600MHz
Three (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHZ
The frequencies used by UK’s MVNO’s are listed below:
Asda Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
BT Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
iD Mobile (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz
Freedom Pop (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHz
GiffGaff (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Lebara Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
LycaMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
TalkMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
TalkTalk (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Tesco Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
The People’s Operator (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
Virgin Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz, & 2600MHz
Please add and edit!
Prepaid SIM - UK/Great Britain/England/Scotland/Wales
#151
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA GLD, Marriott PLT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,900
Ok..Thanks for the heads up. I am in to rush to get the USA number to keep this thing going. Though I do need to get the Data Bundle renewal shutoff. Hopefully, I can get them to do that without setting up the USA number first.
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Three can be hit and miss. Loads of people complain about their substandard coverage and even in London I had numerous issues with them.
But if they happen to let you roam for free wherever it is you're going (Voda an T might have something similar with some destinations) then that might tip the balance in your favour.
But if they happen to let you roam for free wherever it is you're going (Voda an T might have something similar with some destinations) then that might tip the balance in your favour.
In the UK I can receive coverage >95% of the time in London (except for some parts of the tube and in some buildings.)
#153
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Toggle mobile report
Like jsmeeker I used a toggle sim, but in the Netherlands, germany, austria, slovakia, hungary, and London. I had a local number for Netherlands and germany, and obviously London. I also got a US number. I could not pay for the sim on line so they sent me one. Topped up with 30, got my local numbers before we left, and put it in my phones. As I was testing, i had my old galaxy nexus, and a BLU dash 4.5 dual sim. The BLU worked great in the first slot, not so much on the nexus. I am not sure why. It registered after about 5 minutes at LHR and i checked emails. It very often would lose the APN so be sure to write it down or memorize it, as I had to put the APN 5 or 6 times on the trip. (google keep is your friend). After I put in the APN again in Amsterdam it worked fine for data and voice. Data speed ok for google maps. Germany was a bit of a problem as it didn't want to connect but after rebooting the phone and putting the APN in again it worked fine. It roamed nicely in Austria, Bratislava, and Budapest. Back in London I did not have too much trouble with data, as was mentioned upthread. Overall it worked ok for us and I plan to keep the sim alive for our trip to france in a few months.
Last edited by boerne; Jan 1, 2014 at 3:28 pm Reason: spelling
#154
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Did they drop this other international plan since your post, or am I just missing it?
#155
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
Hi - will be in the UK (London, GB, Scotland) for two weeks next month.
Lots of info here... what I'm most concerned about is data quality (and not price) through GB and Scotland.
I'll have my unlocked iPhone 5S (VZW).
Who has the best coverages? Is there any chance of LTE?
I figure i'll use about 2GB of data in those two weeks.
Lots of info here... what I'm most concerned about is data quality (and not price) through GB and Scotland.
I'll have my unlocked iPhone 5S (VZW).
Who has the best coverages? Is there any chance of LTE?
I figure i'll use about 2GB of data in those two weeks.
#156
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Anwhere ex-MAN
Programs: A3 *G, BA Silver
Posts: 2,706
Hi - will be in the UK (London, GB, Scotland) for two weeks next month.
Lots of info here... what I'm most concerned about is data quality (and not price) through GB and Scotland.
I'll have my unlocked iPhone 5S (VZW).
Who has the best coverages? Is there any chance of LTE?
I figure i'll use about 2GB of data in those two weeks.
Lots of info here... what I'm most concerned about is data quality (and not price) through GB and Scotland.
I'll have my unlocked iPhone 5S (VZW).
Who has the best coverages? Is there any chance of LTE?
I figure i'll use about 2GB of data in those two weeks.
As for data, it really depends on where you are and the network coverage. If you're in urban areas 3 is as good as anyone. Further out you may struggle to get 3G - even with O2 and Vodafone.
#157
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 720
Take a look at http://blog.three.co.uk/2013/02/20/s...-is-confirmed/
And
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE
Other providers may not be fully supported since the VZW 5s doesn't have LTE 2600
#158
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
#159
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 720
#160
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Anwhere ex-MAN
Programs: A3 *G, BA Silver
Posts: 2,706
That's not necessilary true. The Verizon 5s should support LTE on 3 UK.
Take a look at http://blog.three.co.uk/2013/02/20/s...-is-confirmed/
And
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE
Other providers may not be fully supported since the VZW 5s doesn't have LTE 2600
Take a look at http://blog.three.co.uk/2013/02/20/s...-is-confirmed/
And
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE
Other providers may not be fully supported since the VZW 5s doesn't have LTE 2600
#161
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
Pretty large rollout in London, followed by small rollout in Reading, Birmingham, and Manchester.
http://www.three.co.uk/support/Coverage?postcode=london
Has anyone actually used 4G/LTE on the 3 network?
#162
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SNA, LAX, PHL, NYC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 663
When I go to the 3 UK website, and look at coverage maps, it shows 4G in a bunch of places...
Pretty large rollout in London, followed by small rollout in Reading, Birmingham, and Manchester.
http://www.three.co.uk/support/Coverage?postcode=london
Has anyone actually used 4G/LTE on the 3 network?
Pretty large rollout in London, followed by small rollout in Reading, Birmingham, and Manchester.
http://www.three.co.uk/support/Coverage?postcode=london
Has anyone actually used 4G/LTE on the 3 network?
Lives in EC1 and works in WC2 - very central.
#163
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
It can be very impressive. I recently measured 24.66 Mbps download with 73 msec ping time on an LTE connection. This was at home, where my landline DSL is not so impressive -- 1.85 Mbps download. Landline broadband is generally not great in the States. I live at the far end of DSL service, in a spot where the local cable company hasn't extended its service, so I pay for two nominally 3 Mbps DSL lines and use a load-balancing router to make them as useful as possible.
Last edited by ajGoes; Jan 21, 2014 at 7:45 am
#164
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SNA, LAX, PHL, NYC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 663
Oh wow - DSL?! You must have the patience of a saint. As for 4G/LTE, it's funny how we take things like that for granted here in the States where it is becoming pretty common. I thought my coworker was making up fairy tales until another coworker confirmed that the UK is a bit behind the US in that regard.
#165
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Oh wow - DSL?! You must have the patience of a saint. As for 4G/LTE, it's funny how we take things like that for granted here in the States where it is becoming pretty common. I thought my coworker was making up fairy tales until another coworker confirmed that the UK is a bit behind the US in that regard.
We can usually stream Netflix at HD resolution, and we just schedule big downloads to run when they don't hog too much bandwidth.