Multi-country Prepaid Mifi/Wireless Hotspot Solution
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,311
Don't forget there are "normal options" for those who only visit countries covered by network "Feet At Home" plans.
For example, a 1GB per month mobile broadband plan from 3 in the UK costs me £8 a month. The Mifi dongle was £49 I think. I can use it for free in:
Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Isreal, Italy, Macau, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
For example, a 1GB per month mobile broadband plan from 3 in the UK costs me £8 a month. The Mifi dongle was £49 I think. I can use it for free in:
Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Isreal, Italy, Macau, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC (usually YLW)
Programs: WS Platinum 18K so far this year
Posts: 418
If you travel to lots of countries or travel with multiple people this saves you buying different sims, and means locked iphones can use data internationally.
That's the theory - it works in Canada but will be heading to Greece next week and the states in 3 weeks.
I like the idea of only paying for the data I use when I travel instead of a package because wifi is becoming easier and easier to find.
Last edited by tlvancouver; Aug 10, 2015 at 3:42 pm
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,311
#37
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
A disadvantage with a hotspot is your data consumption on a phone can be higher when connected to one of these devices. On Android phones, I've found a deep setting which will let you set an incoming wifi signal as a "cellular hotspot" and limit what it downloads. On iPhones, I haven't found an equivalent. Also, thus far I haven't found a way to do a Bluetooth connection to a data device from these units which means USB tethering is your only way not to burn through battery life.
Last edited by Dubai Stu; Aug 12, 2015 at 3:45 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 578
I totally agree. Plus, some of the mifi devices out there do not necessarily have all the bands that may be found on a phone. Plus, with a mifi device, it's one additional thing to carry with you.
#39
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I can tell you that when I suggest to friends that they should take one of my old smart phones instead of their brand new shiny iPhone, I get a "what are you smoking look."
The catch is to tweak everything for foreign use I've spent a lot of time rigging up the phone and can't take the time to do that to each of my friend's phones. First, one of my SIMs requires manual APN configuration, another requires jailbreaking if you want to tether (which the SIM company is fine with), third I use data compression software to keep the megs down and to give the people a US internet connection with a foreign SIM, then there is a VOIP dialer tweaked for low bandwith, then there is the Google callback being set to deeply integrate into the dialer, etc. I came to the conclusion that it is easier to plug in your email information and Facebook on my phone than for me to reprogram your phone. I have the setup backed up and wipe the phone when I loan it.
My last friend decided it was easier to just use Verizon and pay them the roaming money than deal with the complications. They invoked that old burden shifting line -- "I just want it easy. Ugh.
Last edited by Dubai Stu; Aug 12, 2015 at 5:58 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: DL PM/1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 117
I think this kickstarted is somewhat larger than the standard hotspot.
A disadvantage with a hotspot is your data consumption on a phone can be higher when connected to one of these devices. On Android phones, I've found a deep setting which will let you set an incoming wifi signal as a "cellular hotspot" and limit what it downloads. On iPhones, I haven't found an equivalent. ...
A disadvantage with a hotspot is your data consumption on a phone can be higher when connected to one of these devices. On Android phones, I've found a deep setting which will let you set an incoming wifi signal as a "cellular hotspot" and limit what it downloads. On iPhones, I haven't found an equivalent. ...
#41
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: DL PM/1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 117
After posting last night I went ahead and funded the Kickstarter campaign for $99 as a "super early" adopter of the Glocalme G2. They say it will ship in September.
I'm pinning my hopes on it working well as I've got an around-the-world trip planned for the second half of December and it sure would be handy not to have to acquire data SIM cards at every stop.
I'm pinning my hopes on it working well as I've got an around-the-world trip planned for the second half of December and it sure would be handy not to have to acquire data SIM cards at every stop.
#42
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I accidentally just bought the G1 which looks similar to the G2. I like the device, but the absence of SIM slots is definitely a detractor. I have a TMobile SIM I'd love to put in it when I am flying out or into the US (and hopefully Canada) soon that I could use. the unit is definitely thicker than a typical hotspot.
#43
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Portland
Programs: UA 1K, AK Gold 75K, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,660
I accidentally just bought the G1 which looks similar to the G2. I like the device, but the absence of SIM slots is definitely a detractor. I have a TMobile SIM I'd love to put in it when I am flying out or into the US (and hopefully Canada) soon that I could use. the unit is definitely thicker than a typical hotspot.
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,311
For the EU, you can get Three mobile PAYG sim card in the UK and use the data and texts from that in any EU country in their "feel at home" programme, for free.