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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
UK and USA Prepaid Mobile Data SIM Cards
Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 6:49 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> I am off to the UK and USA again on Sunday for a month in total and am after suggestions of a good provider in both countries for a prepaid sim for Data only on my USB modem.
Last time I was in England I relied on BT OpenZone however the coverage where i was staying was rather limited and dropped out often. In the USA I used hotel wifi but it became expensive and the speed being shared across an entire hotel wasn't great, plus i won't be staying in a hotel this time and the residence won't have internet set up yet.
I need something I can easily top up by visiting a store and not having to phone or use my credit card online preferably.
Since I'm asking for info I might as well pass on that Telstra is the best provider for such services in Australia. |
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Juerg Schreiter, Photographer
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 7:10 AM on 06.10.11 |
| ->> in the US just go to any McDonalds (fee Wifi) or Starbucks there are also multiple other places with free Wifi |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 8:38 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> Juerg,
I know about the free wifi, we have the same thing here in Australia but I prefer to have internet on demand both at my accommodation and whilst out and about without having to hunt down a free wifi spot. |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 8:54 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> Angus for some reason we in the U.S. don't seem to use sim cards as much as Europe does... we tend to change whole phones every year or so and in my searches this morning I couldn't find a single broadband sim card for a pay-as-you-go plan.
One other option to you is to get a wireless broadband device here and/or in the UK that does not require a long-term contract. Two such providers are Cricket:
http://www.mycricket.com/broadband ($40+ per month)
and Virgin Mobile UK (minimum 2-month contract):
http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/mobileBroadband.do
Virgin Mobile US (you can buy top-up PINs at Radio Shack and other retailers starting at $10):
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/broadband2go.html
I use the Virgin Mobile (US) device on occasion and I have been happy with it.
Where will you be in the US? |
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Martin McNeil, Photographer
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London | London | United Kingdom | Posted: 9:29 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> I'm in the UK and, in my opinion, Three is one of the best networks in terms of speed and reliability when using pre-pay options - take a look for yourself here
http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband?intid=topnav
Their pre-loaded dongles start at £20.99 - it's preloaded with 1GB of access (lasts for three months) and you can buy extra data as chunks starting at 500MB / 24hrs for £2.99 |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 10:06 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> Cheers everyone! Sounds like there isn't much point brining my USB modem dongle with me as it sounds like I need to buy a new one in each country.
I suppose I can ask the following in store, but if anyone knows off the top of their head. How long do each of them last when unused? IE: if I buy one in each country and use it on this trip how long should it last sitting idle before becoming unusable? I will be back in the USA in September and October (I assume if bought in NYC it should work in Hawaii?) and hopefully the old dongle can just be topped up and used again.
Thanks again! |
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Wesley Hitt, Photographer
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Fayetteville | AR | USA | Posted: 11:27 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> With most carriers in the US, there is a 30 day return policy on their data plans.
I have thought of getting a USB plug in and using it for a road trip and then returning it before the 30 days are up.
Just a thought. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 12:14 PM on 06.10.11 |
->> Few companies here offer SIMs with a top-up plan. T-Mobile has them, but I think they are phone-only and not for the data modems. You can check their site though.
Cell companies here have done a great job lobbying Congress to convince them that locking down phones is the best way to go -- at least for their profits.
The U.S. is one of the few countries that don't let consumers buy a SIM and simply put it in the phone they want. And you can then change phones at will, rather than having to wait until your contract is up to get something new. |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 6:25 PM on 06.10.11 |
->> From the Virgin Mobile (US) terms of service: "Your Broadband2Go account will remain active for one year from your last Broadband2Go Plan purchase."
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/legal/terms-of-service-virgin-mobile#bb2g
So even if you buy a ten-day plan, the account will still be active and you can add time to it for 355 days after those initial minutes expire. |
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Colin Heyburn, Photographer
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ARMAGH | NI | United Kingdom | Posted: 1:06 PM on 06.11.11 |
| ->> Im with Martin on this one. Im in the UK and use three at grounds where there is no wifi. The coverage is good and the speed is up there. |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 7:07 AM on 06.13.11 |
| ->> In London I ended up buying a Vodafone USB Dongle with 2GB for £15. The other networks seemed more expensive and for only 7 Days on this visit I decided not to go crazy. The device will expire if not used for 3 Months but i'll just pass it on to other visiting friends to keep it going, since I visit the USA more I will buy a better one there. |
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