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 (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
Jan 21, 2016, 7:39 pm
#271
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 1,302
Are there are shops someone can recommend by the Hyde Park station? I will be coming from LHR via the Piccadilly line. If not any other tourist locations
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
Jan 22, 2016, 2:27 am
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Are there are shops someone can recommend by the Hyde Park station? I will be coming from LHR via the Piccadilly line. If not any other tourist locations
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
Jan 23, 2016, 3:36 pm
#273
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BA, Virgin, Lufthansa
Posts: 183
Are there are shops someone can recommend by the Hyde Park station? I will be coming from LHR via the Piccadilly line. If not any other tourist locations
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
I will be needing a sim card for two weeks that provides at least 3 gb of data with roaming in EU area. Don't need much air time or text.
Thanks
Jan 25, 2016, 4:18 am
#274
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 545
https://www.google.no/maps/search/hy.../data=!3m1!4b1
Jan 26, 2016, 11:41 am
#275
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 244
I have a couple of 3 UK prepaid SIMs that aren't yet activated that I plan to use for 10 days in March/April in Sweden and Denmark.
Ideally, I'd like to use them again when I go back to the UK in September. Will these remain active or will I need to buy another set when I arrive in the UK again? Ideally, I'd like to just keep them active and maintain the UK number. They won't ever actually be used in the UK until that trip, but I can occasionally use them from the US if that would have them remain active.
Ideally, I'd like to use them again when I go back to the UK in September. Will these remain active or will I need to buy another set when I arrive in the UK again? Ideally, I'd like to just keep them active and maintain the UK number. They won't ever actually be used in the UK until that trip, but I can occasionally use them from the US if that would have them remain active.
Jan 26, 2016, 11:53 am
#276
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum/OW Sapphire, Delta Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 89
I have a couple of 3 UK prepaid SIMs that aren't yet activated that I plan to use for 10 days in March/April in Sweden and Denmark.
Ideally, I'd like to use them again when I go back to the UK in September. Will these remain active or will I need to buy another set when I arrive in the UK again? Ideally, I'd like to just keep them active and maintain the UK number. They won't ever actually be used in the UK until that trip, but I can occasionally use them from the US if that would have them remain active.
Ideally, I'd like to use them again when I go back to the UK in September. Will these remain active or will I need to buy another set when I arrive in the UK again? Ideally, I'd like to just keep them active and maintain the UK number. They won't ever actually be used in the UK until that trip, but I can occasionally use them from the US if that would have them remain active.
Jan 26, 2016, 1:08 pm
#277
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 244
Jan 26, 2016, 1:47 pm
#278
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
If within a 6 month period you have not (i) activated a Pay As You Go
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Last edited by ajGoes; Jan 26, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Jan 27, 2016, 8:20 am
#279
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 722
Three's terms and conditions specify that they can suspend your account if it's inactive for more than six months. You might want to set up a recurring event on your calendar to remind you every 25 weeks, to be on the safe side.
If within a 6 month period you have not (i) activated a Pay As You Go
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Credit (1)
Credit Valid until Remaining
Top-up credit Won't expire
Jan 27, 2016, 8:22 am
#280
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 244
Three's terms and conditions specify that they can suspend your account if it's inactive for more than six months. You might want to set up a recurring event on your calendar to remind you every 25 weeks, to be on the safe side.
If within a 6 month period you have not (i) activated a Pay As You Go
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Voucher on your account or (ii) made any chargeable events or
activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo
messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three
Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our
Services or disconnect you.
Jan 28, 2016, 1:06 pm
#281
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 189
I did leave a 5 pound voucher in the account this time, as I imagine I'll be back again in the next year or 2, and it's still alive now.
Jan 29, 2016, 9:53 am
#282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,115
Jan 29, 2016, 2:39 pm
#283
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 244
Jan 29, 2016, 3:23 pm
#284
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum/OW Sapphire, Delta Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 89
They don't disconnect you for that but they do cut off the somewhat new Three At Home program. Which is totally understandable. I send my US number a text from the Three number every few months. I've this number for a few years now.
Jan 29, 2016, 3:38 pm
#285
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum/OW Sapphire, Delta Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 89
But I moved to T-Mobile when the iPhone 6 came out and I have free roaming now so I don't even really need the Three SIM anymore. It's slower than 4g but works well at no additional cost to me.