May 30, 2013, 7:52 pm
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 (£5 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 (£5 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
Dec 10, 2015, 6:14 pm
#256
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 154
UK Sim for Unlocked iPhone 6Plus
I have been using 3 for the last couple of years because it was the most compatible with my old Samsung Mega and they had great rates. However, the service wasn't the best, even in London.
I now have an unlocked iPhone 6 Plus that should work with just about any UK SIM. I'll be using my phone for data, local calls and calls back to the US. I was thinking of either EE International or O2 International but would welcome any suggestions.
Thanks.
I now have an unlocked iPhone 6 Plus that should work with just about any UK SIM. I'll be using my phone for data, local calls and calls back to the US. I was thinking of either EE International or O2 International but would welcome any suggestions.
Thanks.
Dec 13, 2015, 6:35 pm
#257
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
I have been using 3 for the last couple of years because it was the most compatible with my old Samsung Mega and they had great rates. However, the service wasn't the best, even in London.
I now have an unlocked iPhone 6 Plus that should work with just about any UK SIM. I'll be using my phone for data, local calls and calls back to the US. I was thinking of either EE International or O2 International but would welcome any suggestions.
Thanks.
I now have an unlocked iPhone 6 Plus that should work with just about any UK SIM. I'll be using my phone for data, local calls and calls back to the US. I was thinking of either EE International or O2 International but would welcome any suggestions.
Thanks.
I use Three and I live in London. Yeah, the service is bad... but the others are only marginally better to be honest.
Dec 23, 2015, 8:50 am
#258
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
3:
- buy a SIM for 99p in a corner shop, phone shop etc
- at same place or a tesco Express etc buy a top up voucher with a value of at least 15 pounds
- insert SIM in device
- reboot
- call 444 from the phone to top up using the voucher number you bought
- enter the 16 digit voucher number when prompted
- when you get a confirmation that you have the credit on the account, wait on the line, dont hang up
- you get asked if you want to buy an add-on
- type 1, and then 1 again
- select the All-in-one 15 pound add on ( http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=1129
- you now have unlimited 4G data for the month, plus 300 minutes and 3000 texts ( http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/P...=1220464365215)
- if you add on more money into your account before leaving the UK, you can also use the card while roaming in several other European countries for a flat rate per day
- buy a SIM for 99p in a corner shop, phone shop etc
- at same place or a tesco Express etc buy a top up voucher with a value of at least 15 pounds
- insert SIM in device
- reboot
- call 444 from the phone to top up using the voucher number you bought
- enter the 16 digit voucher number when prompted
- when you get a confirmation that you have the credit on the account, wait on the line, dont hang up
- you get asked if you want to buy an add-on
- type 1, and then 1 again
- select the All-in-one 15 pound add on ( http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=1129
- you now have unlimited 4G data for the month, plus 300 minutes and 3000 texts ( http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/P...=1220464365215)
- if you add on more money into your account before leaving the UK, you can also use the card while roaming in several other European countries for a flat rate per day
Details - 7 day trip in London, will be buying sims upon arrival. Definitely want data, probably want to be able to call between 2 phones (though could text if necessary). We have two android phones from the US (we've successfully used PAYG sims in Costa Rica and Germany) We'll have wifi in our apartment so mainly want the data for maps & searching when we're out and about - for 7 days I can't imagine we'll need unlimited data, but probably more than 3 or 5?
Last edited by Hoyaheel; Dec 23, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Dec 23, 2015, 9:44 am
#259
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
All in One 10
Now get 100 minutes, 3,000 texts and 500MB internet on your phone for just £10 (lasts 30 days).
£10.00
.
All in One 20
Now get 300 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for just £20 (lasts 30 days).
£20.00
Note that you also get 150MB of data free when you top up. Calls to the US are 3p/min if you use a code.
Dec 23, 2015, 11:28 am
#260
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
So if I do opt for a 3 sim & plan - do I need to go to a 3 store in London? Or, as described in the post I copied above - can I get a cheap sim anywhere and then buy a voucher to top up and do the rest over the phone?
(the three stores aren't really close to the apartment we're renting so that's not our ideal choice - but we can do it if it's the only way) Thanks!!
(the three stores aren't really close to the apartment we're renting so that's not our ideal choice - but we can do it if it's the only way) Thanks!!
Dec 23, 2015, 12:26 pm
#261
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 722
So if I do opt for a 3 sim & plan - do I need to go to a 3 store in London? Or, as described in the post I copied above - can I get a cheap sim anywhere and then buy a voucher to top up and do the rest over the phone?
(the three stores aren't really close to the apartment we're renting so that's not our ideal choice - but we can do it if it's the only way) Thanks!!
(the three stores aren't really close to the apartment we're renting so that's not our ideal choice - but we can do it if it's the only way) Thanks!!
Dec 23, 2015, 12:54 pm
#262
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
Dec 23, 2015, 1:01 pm
#263
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 722
When I did it last summer, it was a 3 sim with the(at the time) all in one 15 plan preloaded. It was £20 and was valid 30 days from first registration of the sim on the network(aka when I put the sim in my phone).
Dec 23, 2015, 1:05 pm
#264
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
That sounds ideal - we shall look for that! (presumably with the 10 or 20 plan at those prices)
Dec 23, 2015, 1:44 pm
#265
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 722
Dec 23, 2015, 1:55 pm
#266
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I believe that the sim you can get out of a machine at the baggage claim comes preloaded. You can also buy them at W.H. Smith with no airtime and purchase a top-up at the register. In the UK top-ups are sold as a code on the register print out. There is also a store land side which sells phones and sims but I'm not sure what the options are. You then follow instructions on the phone or online to use your credit to buy an add-on.
Dec 28, 2015, 11:37 am
#268
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 545
You're not going to find anything for the cheapest price at heathrow, whether than be a SIM or a bottle of water. Once you get in london there are a million cheap corner shops and phone shops where you can do this. The more obscure the better.
Also dont bother going to the 3 shops in London - they are inefficient, so you will wait a long time and line and not very friendly either. You can do all of this without even meeting them.
Also dont bother going to the 3 shops in London - they are inefficient, so you will wait a long time and line and not very friendly either. You can do all of this without even meeting them.
Last edited by osamede; Dec 28, 2015 at 11:50 am
Jan 2, 2016, 12:10 pm
#269
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
Went to ee store in Victoria Station (closest to our rental in Pimlico and we did some grocery shopping nearby as well). Two 15 £ sim cards, 2g data, unlimited texts and some amount of phone minutes as well. Took about 10 minutes total and working great so far. Very happy - thanks for the recommendations and guidance!
Jan 13, 2016, 5:09 pm
#270
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
I have a GiffGaff PAYG sim which I got about a week ago and I am leaving London tomorrow. Its still got three weeks left (package is 1GB data and 500 odd mins of calling, of which I've only used about 200MB of data and about 50 mins of calling). The card also has 5GBP of credit on it.
If anyone wants the sim card (its nano), can you PM me and I'll get my old man to pop it in the post on Friday (delivery only within the UK).
Just to add, heading to bed now, so will respond to PMs (if I get any) in the morning, first come first serve naturally.
If anyone wants the sim card (its nano), can you PM me and I'll get my old man to pop it in the post on Friday (delivery only within the UK).
Just to add, heading to bed now, so will respond to PMs (if I get any) in the morning, first come first serve naturally.