Phone use in States

n!ghtmancometh · 11-05-2018 5:19pm

Yevon wrote: »

If I order one of these 3 UK data sims can I just pop into my Samsung S8 when I land? Or do I need a Dual sim or something... Thanks.

I just inserted the sim, selected a network and it worked straight away. You don't need a dual sim, but you won't be able to call or text anyone as this is a data only sim. Of course you can just use WhatsApp/Messenger/Viber etc to call and text people instead.

sioda · 11-05-2018 6:01pm

Just add credit to a Skype or viber out account and call over the data connection. Has worked flawlessly for me once the coverage is good

Lenny · 11-05-2018 10:16pm

I bought mine here, slighty cheaper than my memory and it has mins and texts too
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F311750610913

unkel · 12-05-2018 12:46am

Cheers Lenny. Mins and texts valid in the USA too?

Lenny · 12-05-2018 12:59am

unkel wrote: »

Cheers Lenny. Mins and texts valid in the USA too?

i havent used mine yet, but i think the mins/texts will only be to UK numbers,
what my plan to do was divert my mobile to my virgin landline, then divert my virgin landline(i have unlimited calls to uk numbers) to the uk mobile

Toast · 12-05-2018 7:54am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I was the same when I was in New York. Couldn't get a LTE connection due to having a European phone as they use different bands over there. You can get international phones but they are rare. All the most popular phones sell to different regions.

The bands are different but phones that can use both are not as uncommon these days.

https://willmyphonework.net/ will let you know. AFAIK iPhones 6 up are good for LTE anywhere.

The bigger issue these days is 4G roaming agreements between carriers are still lagging behind. If your phone can do 4G in the States and you're not getting it in NYC it is likely because your sim carrier and roaming network carrier haven't an agreement (or you're not on a plan that supports it.)

I've said it before in this thread but local sims are the best choice for speed in the states (though roaming 3g will do most).

sibersha · 12-05-2018 3:40pm

Heading to the NY for a few days next month then off to the Dominican Republic.

DR not listed as the 71 available countries available to roam with three.
Assuming if I get a card, it will work in US and I won't be able to connect to a network in DR?

johnnykilo · 12-05-2018 3:49pm

Lenny wrote: »

I bought mine here, slighty cheaper than my memory and it has mins and texts too
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F311750610913

Just to note the one listed above only lasts for 30 days, and I think as mentioned the free texts and calls are only to UK Numbers as far as I know. Pretty sure this one is listed on MyMemory too.

But it's probably the data only one (which I believe lasts 12 months so you might get a second trip out of it) that most people are interested in, it's the one which has been discussed for most of this thread and I used it myself last summer with no issues.

ozmo · 12-05-2018 4:05pm

OP offer offer says Domestic only- we will have some Irish mobiles with us in the group- are there other similar offers that will let you phone roaming mobiles.
For use in Florida and really need the data- even 1g- for maps and stuff.

theoneeyedman · 12-05-2018 5:46pm

Does the 3 data sim have to be activated or anything, can it be activated here or outside the UK?

Atlantic Dawn · 12-05-2018 5:55pm

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Does the 3 data sim have to be activated or anything, can it be activated here or outside the UK?

Can be activated here, basically works out of the box. I'd recommend registering it on Three.co.uk so that you can see how much balance is left on it.

Kenny Powers · 12-05-2018 9:30pm

Vodafone 2.99€ per day 200MB data and 1000min/SMS per day. Worked for me in Canada a few years back no issues.

shamrock65 · 15-05-2018 8:20pm

Hi

Whats the best sim to get to make calls from the USA and send texts and use Data can i get a sim in Ireland or do i need to get one from the Uk sorry if this has been posted before but i just keep reading about Data Sims none that has all

Regards
John

Atlantic Dawn · 15-05-2018 9:23pm

shamrock65 wrote: »

Hi

Whats the best sim to get to make calls from the USA and send texts and use Data can i get a sim in Ireland or do i need to get one from the Uk sorry if this has been posted before but i just keep reading about Data Sims none that has all

Regards
John

A standard Vodafone SIM when opted in to Red Roaming will give you unlimited calls and texts and 200MB per day data for €3 a day, probably best option for an Irish SIM.

https://n.vodafone.ie/support/mobile/travelling-abroad.html

wavert · 12-06-2018 8:10pm

Lenny wrote:

I bought mine here, slighty cheaper than my memory and it has mins and texts too

Did you manage to get this working? Just wondering how you purchased the add on. I see it days to dial 444 but I assume this only works in the UK.

bliger · 13-06-2018 4:07am

Lenny wrote: »

i havent used mine yet, but i think the mins/texts will only be to UK numbers,
what my plan to do was divert my mobile to my virgin landline, then divert my virgin landline(i have unlimited calls to uk numbers) to the uk mobile

Did you manage divert from virgin to uk mobile? I tried most networks but its only possible to divert to irish number.

raytaxi · 13-06-2018 4:15am

Using simple mobile bring your own phone sim kit at moment in states. 99c for sim top up by 25$ gives 3Gb of data unlimited calls and texts plus I can call home to 15 different numbers landline or mobile all included.
https://shop.simplemobile.com/shop/en/simplemobile/simcards/sm-byop-mini-sim-tri-punch is the sim and just bought 25$ topup which was to include 1 Gb data but offer increased to 3 and seems to be part of t-mobile.

unkel · 13-06-2018 6:23pm

In the USA now. Got EUR50 't mobile unlimited 4G data and calls and texts for a month and its perfect. The whole family tethers on it, I had 7 devices connected to it yesterday

Have it in my dual sim phone so I can still make ant take business calls on my Irish number

jimmycrackcorm · 13-06-2018 11:02pm

unkel wrote:

In the USA now. Got EUR50 't mobile unlimited 4G data and calls and texts for a month and its perfect. The whole family tethers on it, I had 7 devices connected to it yesterday

Can you give a link to this? I see a prepaid $75 plan but tethering is 3g only.

unkel · 14-06-2018 12:00am

Sorry no link but go into any tmobile store and they'll suggest this plan (they knew full well the other 4 would be tethering on me)

deiseindublin · 14-06-2018 12:17am

Brilliant, thanks.

deiseindublin · 29-06-2018 12:05am

unkel wrote: »

In the USA now. Got EUR50 't mobile unlimited 4G data and calls and texts for a month and its perfect. The whole family tethers on it, I had 7 devices connected to it yesterday

Have it in my dual sim phone so I can still make ant take business calls on my Irish number

Wondering what's the official name of this plan? Can't find it on their website? What does it cost in $$?

unkel · 29-06-2018 12:20am

Right. Back home now. I don't know the name of the plan, but beware. It is unlimited alright, but the fast 4G is limited to 10GB (it says this nowhere not even in the small print. And I specifically asked the people in the shop and they assured me it was unlimited 4G). After that was taken up (and it doesn't take that long with myself and 4 other people tethering off me with Netflix, youtube, etc.), speeds were severely reduced. Just enough for some very basic browsing and for SatNav (which I obviously needed most)

n!ghtmancometh · 29-06-2018 1:13am

Better off using the 3UK 12GB data sim posted a few pages back. The 12GB lasts for a year and can be topped up if you use the 12GB. You also can use whatever network you like in the states. T-MOBILE had the worst speeds in Boston, NYC & DC by a mile, so chose Verizon or AT&T instead.

It also has the bonus of being able to lash the sim into your phone the minute you land and instantly have data, as some airports in the states have very short time limited free WiFi, or none at all. Saves you having to go to a phone shop and buying a sim, and having to avoid being ripped off too!

https://www.mymemory.ie/3-payg-4g-trio-data-sim-pack-with-12gb-data.html

wotzgoingon · 29-06-2018 1:21am

n!ghtmancometh wrote: »

Better off using the 3UK 12GB data sim posted a few pages back. The 12GB lasts for a year and can be topped up if you use the 12GB. You also can use whatever network you like in the states. T-MOBILE had the worst speeds in Boston, NYC & DC by a mile, so chose Verizon or AT&T instead.

It also has the bonus of being able to lash the sim into your phone the minute you land and instantly have data, as some airports in the states have very short time limited free WiFi, or none at all. Saves you having to go to a phone shop and buying a sim, and having to avoid being ripped off too!

https://www.mymemory.ie/3-payg-4g-trio-data-sim-pack-with-12gb-data.html

I used one of these before Christmas in NY and with my European phone I could not get a 4G connection over there and on H+ or more often 3G the speed were so bad I just used the phone on the hotel wifi.

unkel · 29-06-2018 1:58am

Aye. Same experience I had last year in NY with my Eir mobile (normally perfect anywhere in Europe)

Thephantomsmask · 29-06-2018 7:06am

European phones work on a different 4G frequency to the US. Unless you have a quadband phone it cannot pick up 4G unfortunately.

theoneeyedman · 29-06-2018 8:57pm

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

European phones work on a different 4G frequency to the US. Unless you have a quadband phone it cannot pick up 4G unfortunately.

I'm in NY /USA at the moment.

The 3uk works fine. Not much 4g access in the city, but good 3g coverage, fine for social media and stuff.
The lad tried the T Mobile tourist sim. They couldn't get it to work properly, on a Motorola Moto G5. Tried in 2 different shops, no go.
He got the AT&T sim, works fine. 40e for a month with USA calls/text and 2GB of data. Seems to be working OK.

unkel · 29-06-2018 11:11pm

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

European phones work on a different 4G frequency to the US. Unless you have a quadband phone it cannot pick up 4G unfortunately.

Aye. My S7 didn't have 4G last year, but this year my S8+ had 4G no problem. The guys in t-mobile can check the phone model against a database and can see if their 4G sim will work with your phone.

I was initially going for the 2G tourist sim (for satnav), but went for the unlimited package so my family could tether and we'd all have fast internet where ever we were. It worked great, but unfortunately unlimited wasn't unlimited

wotzgoingon · 30-06-2018 2:44am

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

European phones work on a different 4G frequency to the US. Unless you have a quadband phone it cannot pick up 4G unfortunately.

I know that which is why I specified European in the post.

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I used one of these before Christmas in NY and with my European phone I could not get a 4G connection over there and on H+ or more often 3G the speed were so bad I just used the phone on the hotel wifi.

Thephantomsmask · 30-06-2018 5:12am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I know that which is why I specified European in the post.

I didn't quote you in my post nor were you the only poster to mention the topic :rolleyes:

Sneachta · 30-06-2018 12:11pm

Anyone help me out please. Thread is very long. Going to Boston for two weeks. We need two SIM cards preferably be able to make calls in USA when there but could live without too. Could someone please link to what you think I should go for.

Simi · 30-06-2018 10:05pm

Sneachta wrote: »

Anyone help me out please. Thread is very long. Going to Boston for two weeks. We need two SIM cards preferably be able to make calls in USA when there but could live without too. Could someone please link to what you think I should go for.

+1
I'm travelling cross country in August & would like to know which option people would recommend. Can I use the above Three data sim from mymemory in a phone? Will that have reliable access outside major cities or should I opt for a package from a US carrier? Thanks.

Atlantic Dawn · 30-06-2018 10:17pm

Sneachta wrote: »

Anyone help me out please. Thread is very long. Going to Boston for two weeks. We need two SIM cards preferably be able to make calls in USA when there but could live without too. Could someone please link to what you think I should go for.

Simi wrote: »

+1
I'm travelling cross country in August & would like to know which option people would recommend. Can I use the above Three data sim from mymemory in a phone? Will that have reliable access outside major cities or should I opt for a package from a US carrier? Thanks.

If it's calls only and very low data of 200mb or less per day the Vodafone Red Roaming deal of €3 per day may be what you need.

Three data sim will work fine in a phone, remember though that it will not be able to make calls or send or receive texts.

Thephantomsmask · 30-06-2018 10:18pm

If you need to make calls/texts as well as data then I would recommend at&t gophone plans. I use the $45 top up which is 6GB of high speed data (supposedly data is at throttled speeds after that but I haven't noticed) and unlimited calls and texts. If it is data only then someone else may be able to weigh in with a better option.

raytaxi · 01-07-2018 10:09am

I used this sim deal when I was in states in June
https://shop.simplemobile.com/shop/en/simplemobile/simcards/sm-byop-mini-sim-tri-punch
Comes with all calls text and 3gb of data also allows calls to ireland as well. Was dollar for sim and 25 dollars for deal dearer ones give more data. Its on t-mobile network.

theoneeyedman · 03-07-2018 2:49pm

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

If you need to make calls/texts as well as data then I would recommend at&t gophone plans. I use the $45 top up which is 6GB of high speed data (supposedly data is at throttled speeds after that but I haven't noticed) and unlimited calls and texts. If it is data only then someone else may be able to weigh in with a better option.

This is what my son is using around ny at present. Works OK,as does my 3uk sim for data only

Garfin · 17-07-2018 11:26pm

Looking for help with a 3 UK sim my son has brought with him to L.A. he can get internet coverage but can't make calls or texts.
He has contacted 3 and they are telling him he can only call UK numbers??? Anyone got any ideas all the posts on here suggest there is no problem using the sim as you would here at home (Ireland). He called me on it before he left and it made calls and texts no problem.
Any suggestions what the issue is?

wiz569 · 17-07-2018 11:46pm

Garfin wrote: »

Looking for help with a 3 UK sim my son has brought with him to L.A. he can get internet coverage but can't make calls or texts.
He has contacted 3 and they are telling him he can only call UK numbers??? Anyone got any ideas all the posts on here suggest there is no problem using the sim as you would here at home (Ireland). He called me on it before he left and it made calls and texts no problem.
Any suggestions what the issue is?

Afaik it's data only so tell him to use WhatsApp or messenger for calls or texts.

Atlantic Dawn · 17-07-2018 11:48pm

Garfin wrote: »

Looking for help with a 3 UK sim my son has brought with him to L.A. he can get internet coverage but can't make calls or texts.
He has contacted 3 and they are telling him he can only call UK numbers??? Anyone got any ideas all the posts on here suggest there is no problem using the sim as you would here at home (Ireland). He called me on it before he left and it made calls and texts no problem.
Any suggestions what the issue is?

Has he called you from the US on that phone before? Could be incompatible with the bands used over there.

MB05 · 17-07-2018 11:57pm

Garfin wrote: »

Looking for help with a 3 UK sim my son has brought with him to L.A. he can get internet coverage but can't make calls or texts.
He has contacted 3 and they are telling him he can only call UK numbers??? Anyone got any ideas all the posts on here suggest there is no problem using the sim as you would here at home (Ireland). He called me on it before he left and it made calls and texts no problem.
Any suggestions what the issue is?

It's a 3 UK Sim so the feel like home element is calls and texts back to the UK or to other UK numbers. It's not US to Ire etc. It's US to UK, Ire to UK etc. He could use it here because for the moment the UK is part of the EU and they brought in legislation that says we can use our mobile packages within the EU in the same way we use them in our home country (roughly speaking) but that's only applicable when in the EU.

Garfin · 18-07-2018 12:18am

wiz569 wrote: »

Afaik it's data only so tell him to use WhatsApp or messenger for calls or texts.
Thanks yes that's what he's using

Garfin · 18-07-2018 12:20am

MB05 wrote: »

It's a 3 UK Sim so the feel like home element is calls and texts back to the UK or to other UK numbers. It's not US to Ire etc. It's US to UK, Ire to UK etc. He could use it here because for the moment the UK is part of the EU and they brought in legislation that says we can use our mobile packages within the EU in the same way we use them in our home country (roughly speaking) but that's only applicable when in the EU.

Thanks yes I can see that now.

Garfin · 18-07-2018 12:22am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Has he called you from the US on that phone before? Could be incompatible with the bands used over there.

No he used it in Ireland to call Irish numbers but as someone else pointed out that comes under the EU roaming regs

Justin10 · 01-08-2018 11:45am

I had a 3 sim last year which I'd got when I was in the UK and worked great in America.

My understanding is that because I haven't used that sim I'll have to either reactivate it in the UK or buy a new one.

Handier to buy one off amazon, these aims that come preloaded, can I activate them in Ireland and then use them in America perfectly fine or are they already activated?

acquiescefc · 01-08-2018 11:59am

Rochey18 wrote: »

I had a 3 sim last year which I'd got when I was in the UK and worked great in America.

My understanding is that because I haven't used that sim I'll have to either reactivate it in the UK or buy a new one.

Handier to buy one off amazon, these aims that come preloaded, can I activate them in Ireland and then use them in America perfectly fine or are they already activated?

once activated, turned on, it will work for 12 months or after using 12 Gb if its the same as mine. You can use it now if you want. Ive one in my 2nd slot ready for my trip to US

Berty · 01-08-2018 12:15pm

I bought my from mymemory(awaiting delivery). One on the link from Amazon is cheaper, sorry I didn't buy it there.

Last year I had a 12GB 12 Month Data only sim. Used about 3gb and sold it to a boardsie when I got back. I won't be inserting the Sim into the phone until the day I depart as the one I just bought is a 30 day version.

When I had last years version I activated here in Ireland and it worked fine, went through the UK and onwards to the USA. Other than the fact my Oneplus(at the time) didn't have all the US bands it was a nuisance but on an S8 now with better US bands.

Whats happening · 01-08-2018 1:06pm

Question from someone without a dual sim phone.. 1) If you place a new SIM card in does your whatsapp continue to work without issue.. 2) with the three UK Sim can you put sim in a different phone and use it as a hotspot while in USA, or anyway around it?

MoyVilla9 · 01-08-2018 1:18pm

Whats happening wrote: »

Question from someone without a dual sim phone.. 1) If you place a new SIM card in does your whatsapp continue to work without issue.. 2) with the three UK Sim can you put sim in a different phone and use it as a hotspot while in USA, or anyway around it?

Yes regarding Whatsapp, it will work as normal once it's connected to any internet source.

Not sure about using the Three sim as a hot spot.

Berty · 01-08-2018 1:30pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Not sure about using the Three sim as a hot spot.

I used it as a Hotspot when my wife needed it on my Dual Sim phone.

Phone use in States

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