Phone use in States

dodzy · 02-04-2017 6:21am

bk wrote: »

Good question, I'm not 100% certain. It does look like it has a UK number. But as I mentioned above I normally put my Irish SIM in a second phone and I leave Uber set to that number, so when they ring they call my Irish phone.

Unlikely that you could receive calls I'd say. Purely dats.

BK, just a quick question: you probably have not had the need to as yet but assuming you ate the 12gb on that three U.K. Card that you got from mymemoryik, could you top it up online with Irish bank card while in th U.S?

cormie · 02-04-2017 6:30am

Any idea if it lasts a whole year every time you top up with that one BK?

I'm actually thinking to use it for different purposes, to have it in a vehicle for GPS/Tracking/Photo feed etc, €29 for a full year of data without having to give it any attention with monthly top ups is pretty good, then if going away it's there if you need it too

Access · 03-04-2017 2:29am

I have to work in the UK for a couple of weeks in May... would that three uk sim that's been mentioned be the best sim to get while I'm there?

Need calls to Ireland and data for maps etc. while I'm there. I have an unlocked phone.

Thanks for any ideas.

dodzy · 03-04-2017 7:03am

Access wrote: »

I have to work in the UK for a couple of weeks in May... would that three uk sim that's been mentioned be the best sim to get while I'm there?

Need calls to Ireland and data for maps etc. while I'm there. I have an unlocked phone.

Thanks for any ideas.

You can't make regular calls with this one. It's purely for data, so you'd have to call via what's app, Viber FaceTime or the like.

cormie · 03-04-2017 7:53am

Access wrote: »

I have to work in the UK for a couple of weeks in May... would that three uk sim that's been mentioned be the best sim to get while I'm there?

Need calls to Ireland and data for maps etc. while I'm there. I have an unlocked phone.

Thanks for any ideas.

Maybe the business unlimited plan here would suit you?

https://business.eir.ie/shop/shop-bundles/sim-mobile/

Maps won't use too much data and it's 1gb a month, you don't need to worry about using a new number or carrying a second phone. You need to be a registered business to sign up though, but you don't have to be VAT registered.

bk · 03-04-2017 9:34am

dodzy wrote: »

BK, just a quick question: you probably have not had the need to as yet but assuming you ate the 12gb on that three U.K. Card that you got from mymemoryik, could you top it up online with Irish bank card while in th U.S?

No, not with an Irish card, but it looks like you can with a Revolut card, which is tagged as a "UK" card.

Revolut card is free anyway and pretty brilliant for travel, a must have IMO.

cormie wrote: »

Any idea if it lasts a whole year every time you top up with that one BK?

I'm actually thinking to use it for different purposes, to have it in a vehicle for GPS/Tracking/Photo feed etc, €29 for a full year of data without having to give it any attention with monthly top ups is pretty good, then if going away it's there if you need it too

Good question, I'm not certain, but I think it does work for another year.

However it won't work for what you are thinking of. If you use it in Ireland for more then two months constantly, then they can deactivate it as they realise you aren't really in the UK.

Access wrote: »

I have to work in the UK for a couple of weeks in May... would that three uk sim that's been mentioned be the best sim to get while I'm there?

Need calls to Ireland and data for maps etc. while I'm there. I have an unlocked phone.

Well the one I link to is Data only. No calls and texts. You would need to use whastapp or similar to do texts and voice over IP calls back to Ireland.

One option for you would be to do the following:
- Get this Three UK data sim and use it in your primary phone.
- Move your Irish number to lycamobile and sign up to their €15 per month Ireland Plus plan (€7.50 for the first month at the moment).

This plan gives you free calls and texts back to Ireland for free when roaming in the UK (but not data). and it also gives you a virtual UK number so that people in the UK can call and text you.

You could then use your lycamobile sim in a second phone or a dual sim phone if you have one.

http://www.lycamobile.ie/en/roaming-sim-card

BTW if you want to avoid the trouble of two sims, you can buy 1GB of roaming data for use in the UK for €12 on the above lyca sim.

sioda · 03-04-2017 9:52am

When travelling in the UK have a 3 mifi which I load with credit and keep in my pocket gives data and use irish one for calls and texts

rob316 · 03-04-2017 10:05am

Christ, why didn't I see this thread before I went away last year to the states for 3 weeks. The €400 phone bill was a serious shock to the system when I got it.

cormie · 03-04-2017 12:12pm

bk wrote: »

Good question, I'm not certain, but I think it does work for another year.

However it won't work for what you are thinking of. If you use it in Ireland for more then two months constantly, then they can deactivate it as they realise you aren't really in the UK.

Ah what a pity! I think Meteor had some decent data plan for 3 months too which might have to do so!

Berty · 03-04-2017 3:09pm

I bought the 12 months 12GB option as I've dual Sim on my phone so can continue to use my Irish Sim at the same time. Deactivate Roaming on one and Activate roaming on the other.

£1.95 shipping to Ireland which is okay. Still cheaper than using a Virtual Address

errlloyd · 03-04-2017 3:55pm

I didn't realise Dual Sim phones were that flexbile. Really cool. Might try to make sure my next phone is DS.

Kurtosis · 03-04-2017 5:41pm

Cheers for the tip, heading to the US later in the year so this will come in handy.

I'm also going to be heading north of the border to Ontario, Canada for a few weeks, has anyone come across any good deals to avoid roaming charges there?

Toast · 03-04-2017 9:18pm

FYI to anyone considering roaming plans over local operators anytime you roam your data is handled by the home network of the sim. This means added latency to your data as each and every request gets sent back to Ireland to be dealt with which can result in a poor user experience.

bk · 03-04-2017 10:58pm

Toast wrote: »

FYI to anyone considering roaming plans over local operators anytime you roam your data is handled by the home network of the sim. This means added latency to your data as each and every request gets sent back to Ireland to be dealt with which can result in a poor user experience.

No, that isn't true at all!!

That isn't how network routing or roaming works. It would be a complete waste and extra cost for the operators to actually do that.

How it works is operators have an agreement with usually at least one operator in each country to handle data from their SIM's when someone is roaming in the country. They only exchange information on how much information is used and bill one another for the usage.

GoWhest · 03-04-2017 11:05pm

Last year I got an Ultra Mobile SIM card from B&H Photo for about $35 delivered to Ireland. It was the $39 SIM card and came with one month of unlimited data, unlimited landline calls home, unlimited US calls and texts and they have some sort of call forwarding where if someone from Ireland calls an Irish number and puts in your US number they get through to you for the price of a local call here, which is free in most cases. AFAIK you can get these in the US airports but they charge a premium. I seen them in some of the city centre shops for RRP.

dodzy · 04-04-2017 6:25am

GoWhest wrote: »

Last year I got an Ultra Mobile SIM card from B&H Photo for about $35 delivered to Ireland. It was the $39 SIM card and came with one month of unlimited data, unlimited landline calls home, unlimited US calls and texts and they have some sort of call forwarding where if someone from Ireland calls an Irish number and puts in your US number they get through to you for the price of a local call here, which is free in most cases. AFAIK you can get these in the US airports but they charge a premium. I seen them in some of the city centre shops for RRP.

Plenty of options but nothing I see has unlimited data.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/prepaid-service-plans/ci/24815/N/3899452590

bk · 04-04-2017 9:04am

dodzy wrote: »

Plenty of options but nothing I see has unlimited data.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/prepaid-service-plans/ci/24815/N/3899452590

Some of the options have "unlmited" data in a very restrictive and sneaky manner common in the US.

Basically you get something like 5GB of full speed data, once that is used up, you then get "unlimited" data, but it is restricted to severely slow speeds. Might be just about fast enough for a few whatsapp messages, but even websites would be painfully video and completely forget about video and streaming music.

I suppose it isn't a bad idea and better then nothing, but it does feel a bit like false advertising to fool people.

Toast · 04-04-2017 6:04pm

bk wrote: »

No, that isn't true at all!!
That isn't how network routing or roaming works. It would be a complete waste and extra cost for the operators to actually do that.

I'm basing this on experience but for the sake of a source this is from the GSMA's website (they're the guys who would know).

http://www.gsma.com/aboutus/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/smsdataroamingexplained.pdf

When abroad and accessing the mobile internet, including
push e-mail, handset internet and mobile broadband
services, also called Packet Switched Data (PSD), your
connection is established by the visited operator’s network
back to your home operator’s network.
• The visited operator’s network passes your internet traffic
via international data transit to and from your home
network.
• Your home network connects you to the internet, your
e-mail account(s) and other data services.

Next time you are roaming go to whatsmyip.org or similar and it will have you still on your home carriers network.

As you've realised this is not cheap hence why there are heavy costs on data roaming. Also you've probably realised it is inefficient which is why I posted as people here are thinking roaming data will be of equal quality to a local sim which it increasingly won't be the further from home you are.

Guru Maith Agut · 07-04-2017 9:55am

bk wrote: »

No this is the one:

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/SIM-Cards/3/3-PAYG-4G-Trio-Data-SIM-Pack-Incl.-12GB-Data

Soooo, this SIM card hasn't arrived in time for my trip :mad:. What options should I look at when I get to the US? Has anybody an idea of the best U.S. Data/Calls SIM card option to use please?

If it makes a difference, I will be in Florida state.

Thanks in advance.

raytaxi · 07-04-2017 9:59am

I'm heading to the states soon as well and going to use
https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-international-tourist-plan
as linked in first post seems the best I could find, not sure about t-mobile coverage in Florida though.

masterboy123 · 07-04-2017 10:10am

I used T mobile 21 days tourist sim. It costed 42$ or so including taxes.
2GB 4G Internet and after that unlimited 3G for uptil 21 days.
Free msgs and local calls.
Good network, used in SFO, Los Angeles and Vegas. Happy with this deal.

j_mo · 07-04-2017 11:25am

Guru Maith Agut wrote:

Soooo, this SIM card hasn't arrived in time for my trip . What options should I look at when I get to the US? Has anybody an idea of the best U.S. Data/Calls SIM card option to use please?

It largely depends on what you need. Do you need lots of data? Are you calling back home to mobiles or landlines? TMobile seems to be a good all round option.

Guru Maith Agut · 08-04-2017 10:27am

j_mo wrote: »

It largely depends on what you need. Do you need lots of data? Are you calling back home to mobiles or landlines? TMobile seems to be a good all round option.

I'd cope with lots of data. I can use the data to make Whatsapp calls rather than cellular calls. Also use it for messages instead of sms.

muttnjeff · 08-04-2017 9:21pm

We have free wifi in our US accommodation I am with eir bill pay with unlimited data.. would whatsapp etc be enough for out and about and google etc back in the house? am clueless and have been burned before with a huge bill after three day visit

bk · 09-04-2017 12:14pm

muttnjeff wrote: »

We have free wifi in our US accommodation I am with eir bill pay with unlimited data.. would whatsapp etc be enough for out and about and google etc back in the house? am clueless and have been burned before with a huge bill after three day visit

Your "unlimited data" on Eir is for Ireland only, you would be charged very expensive rates for using whatsapp, google etc when out and about in the US on Eir.

If you want to save money, you will need to get one of the other SIMs mentioned in this thread. Either a Three UK data sim or a local us sim like the T mobile one. Note if doing this your phone needs to be unlocked.

muttnjeff · 09-04-2017 5:17pm

Thanks for that,good to know

raytaxi · 11-04-2017 9:06pm

In states at the moment and just got this package AND got CHARGED for the sim even after I challenged the sales person. Got onto customer services on chat and they logged me off after showing them website, which clearly states free sim card. So I'd say be advised or send to someone in states because then it is only $30 plus tax.

Berty · 12-04-2017 12:43pm

Received my Sim Today. It was delayed as I assumed with a .co.uk website it was coming from the UK. Came from the Netherlands.

Lima Golf · 13-04-2017 10:02pm

bk wrote: »

No this is the one:

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/SIM-Cards/3/3-PAYG-4G-Trio-Data-SIM-Pack-Incl.-12GB-Data

The one you linked to will only last 30 days from first use, while this one will last 12 months (or until 12GB runs out). No calls or texts from this one, data only, but I'm fine with that when travelling, just use whatsapp.

Yup just whacked it into my phone and it worked straight off. However note I've an unlocked phone, you will need to unlock your phone first if it is currently locked.

BTW to add to what messinkiapina says above, my Irish number is on that Lyca deal. So what I do when I get to the US, is stick the Three UK sim in my iphone and put my Irish sim in an old dumb phone so that I can still get and make calls and texts from it too.

Alternatively a dual sim phone would get rid of this need.

Does anyone know if I can turn on tethering/hotspot with this sim. I was thinking of putting it in an old iPhone and connecting my new phone to it so I could get calls as normal but have constant wifi.

wiz569 · 19-04-2017 12:32pm

Have read through the whole thread but still cannot find a definitive answer lol,probably just me,
So my daughter is heading to Germany for a few days next month,whats the best option for calls,texts and data for her?

Berty · 19-04-2017 1:28pm

Lima Golf wrote: »

Does anyone know if I can turn on tethering/hotspot with this sim. I was thinking of putting it in an old iPhone and connecting my new phone to it so I could get calls as normal but have constant wifi.

Yes, I've tested my 12GB Data one with my wifes phone for our US trip and it works fine. My Wireless Tethering on other phones had a tendency to time out after a certain length of time. I've never had it on long enough. I'm tethering now to my OP3T to my Laptop but when finished I switch it off.

Short answer, tethering works.

sioda · 19-04-2017 2:36pm

Berty wrote: »

Yes, I've tested my 12GB Data one with my wifes phone for our US trip and it works fine. My Wireless Tethering on other phones had a tendency to time out after a certain length of time. I've never had it on long enough. I'm tethering now to my OP3T to my Laptop but when finished I switch it off.

Short answer, tethering works.

Legend was hoping this would work thanks Berty

pilly · 19-04-2017 2:38pm

wiz569 wrote: »

Have read through the whole thread but still cannot find a definitive answer lol,probably just me,
So my daughter is heading to Germany for a few days next month,whats the best option for calls,texts and data for her?

You did read the title of thread didn't you?

:D

bk · 19-04-2017 2:42pm

wiz569 wrote: »

Have read through the whole thread but still cannot find a definitive answer lol,probably just me,
So my daughter is heading to Germany for a few days next month,whats the best option for calls,texts and data for her?

Which network and plan is she currently on? Some networks here have ok roaming plans for Europe.

For data, the 12GB Three UK sim should work great in Germany. Can use it for whatsapp texts and voice and video calls too. But no "normal" calls and texts.

The Lyca sim with the Ireland Plus plan will give you free calls and texts (but not data) back to Ireland while roaming in Germany:

https://www.lycamobile.ie/en/roaming-sim-card

If you don't want to bother with two sims/phones, you can also buy 1GB of roaming data on the Lyca SIM for Germany for â‚¬12:

http://lycamobile.ie/sysimages/mediamanager/Home_April_2015_IE2.pdf

wiz569 · 19-04-2017 3:35pm

pilly wrote: »

You did read the title of thread didn't you? :D

Yes I did but it went way of track ages ago so thought i might as well push it a bit further

wiz569 · 19-04-2017 3:39pm

bk wrote: »

Which network and plan is she currently on? Some networks here have ok roaming plans for Europe.

For data, the 12GB Three UK sim should work great in Germany. Can use it for whatsapp texts and voice and video calls too. But no "normal" calls and texts.

The Lyca sim with the Ireland Plus plan will give you free calls and texts (but not data) back to Ireland while roaming in Germany:

https://www.lycamobile.ie/en/roaming-sim-card

If you don't want to bother with two sims/phones, you can also buy 1GB of roaming data on the Lyca SIM for Germany for â‚¬12:

http://lycamobile.ie/sysimages/mediamanager/Home_April_2015_IE2.pdf

She is on the Guido plan with 48months but from what i can see you need to buy add-ons for roaming and they dont do roaming for data,

I have a spare Lyca sim myself so maybe that might work better, or can she use one of the 3UK sims that include calls,texts and data?

bk · 19-04-2017 3:59pm

wiz569 wrote: »

She is on the Guido plan with 48months but from what i can see you need to buy add-ons for roaming and they dont do roaming for data,

I have a spare Lyca sim myself so maybe that might work better, or can she use one of the 3UK sims that include calls,texts and data?

48months is pretty rubbish for roaming and just bad value in general.

I'd move her over to Lyca instead (you can port her number over) and get the Ireland Plus plan, which will give her free calls and texts back to Ireland while in Germany.

She can buy 1GB of data for that plan for Germany for â‚¬12 *

If that wouldn't be enough data, then the Three UK 12GB plan would give her more data.

I wouldn't bother with the Three UK plans that includes calls and texts. It gives you a UK number, not an Irish number and free calls and texts are only back to the UK on it, not to Ireland. So really not much use to us in Ireland.

* 1GB is fine for whatsapp, google maps and a bit of browsing, but video and streaming music or uploading lots of pictures would use it up very quickly. Also careful of facebook with the auto playing videos, can use a lot of data.

In other words, tell her to use the data for just keeping in touch and getting around. Stay off social media and enjoy the holiday.

Berty · 19-04-2017 4:26pm

If it was me I'd be moving to Meteor on a Sim Only Plan on a 30day contract, €25 a month for 6 months(you can leave after 30 days) and you get 15GB Data here(plenty) along with Unlimited Calls/Texts and when you roam you get to use all your calls and texts like normal and they give you 1GB of Data which is plenty for a few days so long as you're not streaming video and using Youtube.

It was fine for me for a week in France just using Facebook, e-mails, boards.ie and updating the news apps.

bk · 19-04-2017 4:38pm

Berty wrote: »

If it was me I'd be moving to Meteor on a Sim Only Plan on a 30day contract, â‚¬25 a month for 6 months(you can leave after 30 days) and you get 15GB Data here(plenty) along with Unlimited Calls/Texts and when you roam you get to use all your calls and texts like normal and they give you 1GB of Data which is plenty for a few days so long as you're not streaming video and using Youtube.

It was fine for me for a week in France just using Facebook, e-mails, boards.ie and updating the news apps.

Note, 1GB only for roaming in Europe, not roaming in the US (as per the thread title!)

Also the Lyca deal is much better value for money, just â‚¬7.50 per month, averaged over two months. Only downside being 3G rather then 4G. But if you are coming from 48months anyway, that is the same.

Berty · 19-04-2017 4:56pm

bk wrote: »

Note, 1GB only for roaming in Europe, not roaming in the US (as per the thread title!)

Also the Lyca deal is much better value for money, just â‚¬7.50 per month, averaged over two months. Only downside being 3G rather then 4G. But if you are coming from 48months anyway, that is the same.

Well the person who asked the question a few posts back which we're answering currently asked about her daughter heading to Germany for a few days.

bk · 19-04-2017 6:02pm

Berty wrote: »

Well the person who asked the question a few posts back which we're answering currently asked about her daughter heading to Germany for a few days.

True, but I clarified your answer in case it confused other people based on the thread title.

wiz569 · 19-04-2017 7:25pm

Berty wrote: »

If it was me I'd be moving to Meteor on a Sim Only Plan on a 30day contract, â‚¬25 a month for 6 months(you can leave after 30 days) and you get 15GB Data here(plenty) along with Unlimited Calls/Texts and when you roam you get to use all your calls and texts like normal and they give you 1GB of Data which is plenty for a few days so long as you're not streaming video and using Youtube.

It was fine for me for a week in France just using Facebook, e-mails, boards.ie and updating the news apps.

Cheers m8 but it only costs her a tenner a month on 48months at the moment and it does her fine,obviously not in this instance but she doesnt go abroad that often.

bk wrote: »

Note, 1GB only for roaming in Europe, not roaming in the US (as per the thread title!)

Also the Lyca deal is much better value for money, just â‚¬7.50 per month, averaged over two months. Only downside being 3G rather then 4G. But if you are coming from 48months anyway, that is the same.

Lyca seems to be the way alright or the 12GB 3UK and use the data for whatapp calls and texts.

Sorry if I dragged the thread offline guys

wolfyboy555 · 19-04-2017 7:41pm

Gone for the mymemory 12GB card. Paid €30 using Revolut. Going on a two week road trip in June so Google Maps will come in handy.

pm1977x · 25-04-2017 4:12pm

Bought the 12GB Three sim linked earlier, popped it in but no data - is this because I'm in Ireland?

bk · 25-04-2017 4:22pm

pm1977x wrote: »

Bought the 12GB Three sim linked earlier, popped it in but no data - is this because I'm in Ireland?

Did you turn on data roaming in the settings in your phone?

And is your phone unlocked?

Berty · 25-04-2017 4:23pm

Did you go to three.co.uk and register the phone number that came with the Sim? If you don't the account won't be activated and your 12 months won't start ticking.

pm1977x · 25-04-2017 4:48pm

bk wrote: »

Did you turn on data roaming in the settings in your phone?

And is your phone unlocked?

Yes, but only briefly.

Phone is unlocked.

pm1977x · 25-04-2017 4:50pm

Berty wrote: »

Did you go to three.co.uk and register the phone number that came with the Sim? If you don't the account won't be activated and your 12 months won't start ticking.

I did that too, but there were all sorts of errors on the website - got a text to the phone, verified my email etc...

Will try it again later with roaming on for longer.

Berty · 25-04-2017 4:57pm

I registered it whilst the SIM was in the phone and it took some time to get the text but did work. It had a little R over data when i had it on which i guess means Roaming.

Think it may have taken about 20mins for the data to become active. I remember looking at the website and it said, for a while, i had a top up card and needed to top up and after a while it said 12gb and ticking.

dunworth1 · 25-04-2017 6:17pm

i'm heading to canada for a week and then the states for a week can anyone recommend an option which would work for both?

data is the most important

Phone use in States

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