Phone use in States

freak scence · 18-08-2019 2:35pm

silly question can you select what network you want with the 3uk sim over in the states ?

Slippin Jimmy · 18-08-2019 3:10pm

freak scence wrote: »

silly question can you select what network you want with the 3uk sim over in the states ?

No, you are automatically assigned a network. Can't remember which one. Possibly t mobile.

freak scence · 18-08-2019 3:18pm

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

No, you are automatically assigned a network. Can't remember which one. Possibly t mobile.

ah ok thanks alot

eamondunphy · 21-08-2019 12:38pm

got a 3 uk sim car for going the states tomorrow, ordered from mymeroy 3 weeks ago but it only arrived today.

I've put the sim into my phone but nothings happening, says emergency calls only and i get an error when trying to manually search for a network.

Do i need to do something first to get it activated and working?

Slippin Jimmy · 21-08-2019 12:55pm

eamondunphy wrote: »

got a 3 uk sim car for going the states tomorrow, ordered from mymeroy 3 weeks ago but it only arrived today.

I've put the sim into my phone but nothings happening, says emergency calls only and i get an error when trying to manually search for a network.

Do i need to do something first to get it activated and working?

When I ordered my sim I had to pick an activation date. When you arrive in the states just pop the sim into your phone and it should automatically find a network. If it does not, then you may need to refer to the documentation that you received to manually set it up.

eamondunphy · 21-08-2019 12:57pm

i ordered the sim from my memory.co.uk, it didnt offer an activation date. I've had the sim in the phone here in dublin for about 45 mins now, but cant get a signal

landlord · 21-08-2019 1:16pm

eamondunphy wrote: »

got a 3 uk sim car for going the states tomorrow, ordered from mymeroy 3 weeks ago but it only arrived today.

I've put the sim into my phone but nothings happening, says emergency calls only and i get an error when trying to manually search for a network.

Do i need to do something first to get it activated and working?

Your phone needs to be unlocked even if you’re on the three Ireland network

eamondunphy · 21-08-2019 1:29pm

sim card is unlocked, i switch networks every few months to get good sim only deals

DuffleBag · 21-08-2019 3:59pm

Can anyone tell me what the difference between these two is besides the fact you have minutes on one and data and just data on the other.

If I'm using only data then the cheaper one with minutes and data is a no brainer? Or am I missing something

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

https://www.mymemory.ie/3-payg-4g-trio-sim-pack-aio20-3000-minutes-3000-texts-12gb-data.html

landlord · 21-08-2019 4:05pm

DuffleBag wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what the difference between these two is besides the fact you have minutes on one and data and just data on the other.

If I'm using only data then the cheaper one with minutes and data is a no brainer? Or am I missing something

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

https://www.mymemory.ie/3-payg-4g-trio-sim-pack-aio20-3000-minutes-3000-texts-12gb-data.html

The cheaper one which is out of stock anyway only lasts for one month where as the other one the data is good for a whole year.

fast_eddie · 21-08-2019 4:31pm

@Eamon,

try registering the SIM card at https://www.three.co.uk/My3Account2018/My3Register?intid=my3_login_register

That's what I did for the SIM cards I got for our holiday, they worked fine when tested in Ireland and worked fine when we got to the US.
All automatic, no messing with manual network selection.

Cheers,
Eddie

eamondunphy · 21-08-2019 11:08pm

Finally got it working,l after about 5 hours after putting the sim in the phone. I got in to customer service in UK and they said that putting the sim into the phone starts a request to activate the sim and the number and it can take 2 to 4 hours for it to work. After about 5 hours, got a text saying that the sim was being activated, then got another text saying to slrestart the phone and sim would them be OK for use.

Tested it here and seems fine so far, heading ststes in morning so should work straight away now that the sim is up and running

Doodah7 · 22-08-2019 9:25am

2-year 24GB version reduced back down to £32.30 on Amazon today. Great deal!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-Pay-Broadband-Data-Black/dp/B01M3VJ2B2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=three+data+sim+24gb&qid=1566462301&s=gateway&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&sr=8-3

the perfect ten · 22-08-2019 9:30am

Works in 71 countries. Unfortunately for me it doesn't cover Canada!

Ten Pin · 22-08-2019 9:59am

The small print says roaming is capped at 9GB on the 24GB 2 year SIM.

Go Roam.

Use your data allowance to get online at no extra cost in 71 destinations worldwide. Limits apply, PAYG requires an add-on. For holiday use only. Limits apply including a fair use data limit of 9 GB in Three Mobile go roam destinations. See manufacturing website/feel at home.

sharkman · 22-08-2019 10:11am

Doodah7 wrote: »

2-year 24GB version reduced back down to £32.30 on Amazon today. Great deal!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-Pay-Broadband-Data-Black/dp/B01M3VJ2B2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=three+data+sim+24gb&qid=1566462301&s=gateway&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&sr=8-3

Would this be suitable for my car , there is a sim slot which provides a hotspot and live traffic plus car net service. Also can it be activated in Ireland?

landlord · 23-08-2019 7:51am

Doodah7 wrote: »

2-year 24GB version reduced back down to £32.30 on Amazon today. Great deal!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-Pay-Broadband-Data-Black/dp/B01M3VJ2B2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=three+data+sim+24gb&qid=1566462301&s=gateway&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&sr=8-3

In the info of this deal it says....
“Limits apply including a fair use data limit of 9 GB in Three Mobile go roam destinations.”
????

basill · 23-08-2019 12:17pm

Is that 9gb per week/month or per country so once the 9gb is used in the US for example then the balance of your 24gb would have to be used elsewhere?

Ten Pin · 23-08-2019 12:58pm

It seems like it's 9GB of the 24GB is the roaming limit, so the balance is only usable in UK.

So it's actually a 9GB roaming SIM.

The full 12GB seems available for roaming on the 1 year SIM

magher · 08-09-2019 9:28pm

Just tried topping up for another trip and its now requesting I enter an address to make payment, and I can only enter UK postcodes, it says it must match card address. Any way around this?

Technocentral · 10-09-2019 11:18am

Whatever you do, do not get Simple Mobile prepaid sim, complete crap, only 2g signal all over New York. I asked for T Mobile and the guy slipped me Simple Mobile only noticed when was miles from shop.

banchang · 30-09-2019 10:40pm

banchang wrote: »

Apparently GK Travel Sim covers US, Canada & 35 other countries.

Has anyone had any experience of them ?

Bought one of these from the GK TravelSim website.

https://gktravelsim.co.uk/

They're also on Amazon.

It didn't work in either US or Canada. Seriously screwed up my holiday. Got full refund.

Supposed to work in 37 countries.

Avoid.

ED E · 02-10-2019 9:07pm

Is the consensus that the Three SIM is still the best option? West coast USA (should have AT+T GSM coverage). Ting gets good press stateside but doesnt do PAYG.

landlord · 02-10-2019 9:30pm

ED E wrote: »

Is the consensus that the Three SIM is still the best option? West coast USA (should have AT+T GSM coverage). Ting gets good press stateside but doesnt do PAYG.

I am in the states approximately four times a month all through the year and I have had no problems using the three Sim in my mobile hotspot in destinations all over the states. My only recommendation is make sure you buy an unlocked 4g sim, not an unlocked 3G Sim as I made the mistake of buying. Still works in the 3G Sim just a bit slower.

sioda · 03-10-2019 1:35am

Currently using the 3 sim and can't fault it. Limited only by my phone tbh 3g here in Arizona and lte in California

ED E · 03-10-2019 6:08pm

Thanks folks.

DuffleBag · 06-10-2019 9:54pm

So i got one of the MyMemory ones there and will be using it next week. I've put it into the phone and its unlocked. Activated it online and logged into mythree. I see the balance on it is £0.00. How do i know i have data roaming abroad?? Do i need to spend another 20 odd and top up?

Atlantic Dawn · 06-10-2019 10:01pm

DuffleBag wrote: »

So i got one of the MyMemory ones there and will be using it next week. I've put it into the phone and its unlocked. Activated it online and logged into mythree. I see the balance on it is £0.00. How do i know i have data roaming abroad?? Do i need to spend another 20 odd and top up?

The data allowance should show the GB amount remaining.

The Ayatolla · 06-10-2019 10:01pm

I got this. Heading to the states in a few weeks.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079S2HHXX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems far better and you can get the SIM delivered to you before travel.

_dof_ · 07-10-2019 12:13am

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I got this. Heading to the states in a few weeks.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079S2HHXX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems far better and you can get the SIM delivered to you before travel.

Be VERY careful about using T-Mobile SIM cards. Their 4G service isn't necessarily compatible with our devices, they use frequency bands and features not supported by all devices. I just returned from the states and used a T-Mobile SIMcard, and I could only get 2G service with EDGE data (around 135kbps throughput).

The reason is that my device (a Motorola g6 plus) isn't compatible with their 4G service.

You can check if your device is supported by putting the IMEI into the following web page.
https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/bring-your-own-phone

Note, doesn't seem to be working at the moment, but it did work when I tried it over there, and it told me my phone wasn't compatible with their 4G service, so I was stuck with 2G.

The Ayatolla · 07-10-2019 9:30am

I’ve an iPhone XR so presume I’ll be safe enough. That link doesn’t work too well, pasted my IMEI and nothing seems to happen.

MB05 · 07-10-2019 11:09am

DuffleBag wrote: »

So i got one of the MyMemory ones there and will be using it next week. I've put it into the phone and its unlocked. Activated it online and logged into mythree. I see the balance on it is £0.00. How do i know i have data roaming abroad?? Do i need to spend another 20 odd and top up?

Try putting it in your phone here and turning off your wifi. Being in Ireland you would technically be roaming so if you have mobile data here it should work in the US too.

sioda · 07-10-2019 11:44am

That t mobile one is only valid for a certain amount of days I get 12 months from the 3 one once I don't use all the data 12 GB is fine once not using it for any video maps whatsapp email are all tiny data wise

DuffleBag · 07-10-2019 4:04pm

magher wrote: »

Just tried topping up for another trip and its now requesting I enter an address to make payment, and I can only enter UK postcodes, it says it must match card address. Any way around this?

Did anyone find a solution to this?

Siobh73 · 07-10-2019 10:53pm

To top up I used Ding website. They charge an admin fee but cheaper than driving up north to buy a voucher

KAGY · 20-10-2019 12:34pm

_dof_ wrote: »

Be VERY careful about using T-Mobile SIM cards. Their 4G service isn't necessarily compatible with our devices, they use frequency bands and features not supported by all devices. I just returned from the states and used a T-Mobile SIMcard, and I could only get 2G service with EDGE data (around 135kbps throughput).
...

I just got this, I checked my phone OnePlus3 online and it said it supported band 2 & 4, but I was looking at the US model

So my phone does have band 2, but not 4. Does anyone know which of the bands T-Mobile use in NYC?

slave1 · 22-10-2019 10:23am

Currently using this lad in Florida and 4g coverage, just a short trip so fits my data needs perfectly
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B23ZK94/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

robz18 · 16-11-2019 9:07am

Siobh73 wrote: »

To top up I used Ding website. They charge an admin fee but cheaper than driving up north to buy a voucher

Any idea how much you have to top up by to get the 12gb data again or at least a decent amount?

landlord · 16-11-2019 10:48am

robz18 wrote: »

Any idea how much you have to top up by to get the 12gb data again or at least a decent amount?

I was wandering the same thing.
Firstly I use the 3 uk sim with a personal hotspot in the US approx once a week when in the US and it always works perfectly. (I Work for an airline)
My 12 months worth of data won’t expire till the middle of next year.
I have signed up and logged in to the 3 uk website using the assigned mobile number that comes with the sim, which allows me to check my data balance remaining. You can top up on that site too, but unless I am missing something the only choices are for 1 months worth of data and not the 12 months worth of data that came with the original sim on my memory.ie. There is also an option to enter a voucher code?
I guess I will have to start again and buy a new 12 month sim and get a new phone number next year?

Just a reminder for those who don’t know. This is the original sim I bought.
https://www.mymemory.ie/3-payg-4g-trio-data-sim-pack-with-12gb-data.html
I think you can get it on amazon too.

quokula · 16-11-2019 10:58am

Supposing I’m an idiot and left it too late thinking about this to order online (used to live in the UK and my regular phone was 3 so never had to think about roaming, that SIM card is deactivated now though)

Are there any good options for a sim I could buy in Dublin today, or else on arrival in the US? For 2 weeks worth of medium use, mostly google maps and looking stuff up, certainly no netflix or anything.

22-11-2019 8:46am

Three Mobile Pay As You Go Mobile Broadband 12 GB Data SIM https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CMD4VKC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Kg51DbJMHPJB4

Currently down to £21.50, decent price.

I'm off to the States today, ended up going for MostSIM, so hopefully all goes well with it. Have the SIM activated, so should work when I step off the plane.

SeamusFX · 17-12-2019 12:01am

Hi,
I just saw this from Tracfone, the data is a bit low, but it may be of use to someone. No Activation Fees. No Cancellation Fees.

90-day wireless plan for $19.99 includes 60 talk, 60 text and 60MB for 90 Days or

1-year wireless plan for $49.99 includes 1200 talk, 1200 text and 3GB for 365 Days.

Wanton · 09-01-2020 12:13pm

Hi Folks,

Just want to double check. I am riding across America in March (Orlando-> New Orleans -> Austin -> Terlingua -> El Paso -> Payson -> Vega - LA).

I have a dual sim Oneplus 5T.

I am thinking of buying one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CMD4VKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I am correct in saying I just activate it via there website in advance of leaving, put the SIM in my phone and set that SIM to data only and roaming on?

Is this the best option do you think? Or any better suggestions? We will want data for GoogleMaps, WhatsApp etc.

Thanks

swampy353 · 09-01-2020 12:29pm

Wanton wrote: »

Hi Folks,

Just want to double check. I am riding across America in March (Orlando-> New Orleans -> Austin -> Terlingua -> El Paso -> Payson -> Vega - LA).

I have a dual sim Oneplus 5T.

I am thinking of buying one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CMD4VKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I am correct in saying I just activate it via there website in advance of leaving, put the SIM in my phone and set that SIM to data only and roaming on?

Is this the best option do you think? Or any better suggestions? We will want data for GoogleMaps, WhatsApp etc.

Thanks

That works but also download the map data through Google maps ahead of going away

sioda · 09-01-2020 1:28pm

Wanton wrote: »

Hi Folks,

Just want to double check. I am riding across America in March (Orlando-> New Orleans -> Austin -> Terlingua -> El Paso -> Payson -> Vega - LA).

I have a dual sim Oneplus 5T.

I am thinking of buying one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CMD4VKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I am correct in saying I just activate it via there website in advance of leaving, put the SIM in my phone and set that SIM to data only and roaming on?

Is this the best option do you think? Or any better suggestions? We will want data for GoogleMaps, WhatsApp etc.

Thanks

Yup will work fine just pop it in sim2 set data to default to sim 2 and away you go. Some coverage in texas is spotty but should be fine. Make sure 4g on both sims is off

Wanton · 10-01-2020 10:41am

swampy353 wrote: »

That works but also download the map data through Google maps ahead of going away

sioda wrote: »

Yup will work fine just pop it in sim2 set data to default to sim 2 and away you go. Some coverage in texas is spotty but should be fine. Make sure 4g on both sims is off

Thanks!

paulhardman · 10-01-2020 12:31pm

Wanton wrote: »

Thanks!

You might want to consider getting a US SIM on arrival - sometimes it is very handy to have a proper US phone number, as not everywhere is set up for international numbers. EG I was in a restaurant where they would text you when your order was ready, but only accepted 10-digit US phone numbers.

Wanton · 12-01-2020 7:28pm

paulhardman wrote: »

You might want to consider getting a US SIM on arrival - sometimes it is very handy to have a proper US phone number, as not everywhere is set up for international numbers. EG I was in a restaurant where they would text you when your order was ready, but only accepted 10-digit US phone numbers.

That had been my original plan till I read this thread.

Any recommendations on what SIM/provider I should think of for the best coverage and value (data is really prob the most important thing)

Riesen_Meal · 12-01-2020 8:40pm

Wanton wrote: »

That had been my original plan till I read this thread.

Any recommendations on what SIM/provider I should think of for the best coverage and value (data is really prob the most important thing)

I'm going for 6 days in April and I think I might just grab the 3 UK one with the 3GB of data, I'm stopping off in UK anyway so can activate the sim in UK if needs be...

theguzman · 12-01-2020 8:46pm

Fieldog wrote: »

I'm going for 6 days in April and I think I might just grab the 3 UK one with the 3GB of data, I'm stopping off in UK anyway so can activate the sim in UK if needs be...

I got a 3 UK sim from the North for a recent trip and it works nicely, landed at the airport, swapped sims and had service before leaving the plane. Just tell the cashier you just want it for roaming and I got 12GB for £15, US simcards can cost $50 to $60 which is robbery in comparison to Ireland, especially if your only going for a week or less.

Phone use in States

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