A friend is visiting the UK for 2 weeks and needs a PAYG SIM to use
for data only. He'll have reasonably heavy usage during those couple
of weeks. No video streaming or massive file downloads but a lot of
emailing with attachments and web browsing. I'm guessing 50-100MB a
day, so probably 1GB for the entire period would be enough.
Can someone suggest a convenient no-contract PAYG SIM he could just
buy on arrival or order in advance that he could get and add a bundle
of data allowance to? The SIM would be just thrown away when he
leaves.
Have a look at 3 - there may be an all you can eat P&G, or all you can eat
if you buy a big top up (even if you don't use it).
3 is a bit restricted to urban areas where wi-fi (often free) is pretty
pervasive now.
"Chris Blunt" <mail@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:lqjmr7h144kdjo9brj7elt7m8m6prdh20b@4ax.com...
>A friend is visiting the UK for 2 weeks and needs a PAYG SIM to use
> for data only. He'll have reasonably heavy usage during those couple
> of weeks. No video streaming or massive file downloads but a lot of
> emailing with attachments and web browsing. I'm guessing 50-100MB a
> day, so probably 1GB for the entire period would be enough.
>
> Can someone suggest a convenient no-contract PAYG SIM he could just
> buy on arrival or order in advance that he could get and add a bundle
> of data allowance to? The SIM would be just thrown away when he
> leaves.
>
> Chris
R. Mark Clayton <nospamclayton@btinternet.com> wrote:
> Have a look at 3 - there may be an all you can eat P&G, or all you can eat
> if you buy a big top up (even if you don't use it).
>
> 3 is a bit restricted to urban areas where wi-fi (often free) is pretty
> pervasive now.
I'd recommend a 3 voice SIM. Then you can buy an 'internet monthly' addon
for £5 for 500MB, or a 1GB 'mobile broadband' addon for £10. Don't buy a
'mobile broadband' SIM, because that doesn't give you access to the
'internet monthly' tariff.
In my experience urban wifi is either extortionate, strangled or just plain
doesn't work. It might be fine if you're prepared to sit in coffee shops
all day but I find 3G to be cheaper and far less faff.
Chris Blunt wrote:
>
> A friend is visiting the UK for 2 weeks and needs a PAYG SIM to use
> for data only. He'll have reasonably heavy usage during those couple
> of weeks. No video streaming or massive file downloads but a lot of
> emailing with attachments and web browsing. I'm guessing 50-100MB a
> day, so probably 1GB for the entire period would be enough.
>
> Can someone suggest a convenient no-contract PAYG SIM he could just
> buy on arrival or order in advance that he could get and add a bundle
> of data allowance to? The SIM would be just thrown away when he
> leaves.
>
> Chris
"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90 http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
In message <4fbb75e3$0$2196$c3e8da3$460562f1@news.astraweb.co m>, at
12:17:49 on Tue, 22 May 2012, Steve <me@privacy.net> remarked:
>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
--
Roland Perry
On Tue, 22 May 2012 13:52:58 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <4fbb75e3$0$2196$c3e8da3$460562f1@news.astraweb.co m>, at
>12:17:49 on Tue, 22 May 2012, Steve <me@privacy.net> remarked:
>>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>
>I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
Most micro-SIMs I've bought come supplied as part of a larger
conventional sized SIM, which itself comes as part of a the original
old style credit card sized SIM. You snap out whichever part of the
SIM you need to fit the device you're using it in.
In message <s08nr7drc3fu13d7ht0tc5ve757dqmpn4k@4ax.com>, at 22:21:26 on
Tue, 22 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>
>>I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>
>Most micro-SIMs I've bought come supplied as part of a larger
>conventional sized SIM, which itself comes as part of a the original
>old style credit card sized SIM. You snap out whichever part of the
>SIM you need to fit the device you're using it in.
Do you think this one is like that. Prepared to wager £4 on it?
--
Roland Perry
On Tue, 22 May 2012 15:50:45 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <s08nr7drc3fu13d7ht0tc5ve757dqmpn4k@4ax.com>, at 22:21:26 on
>Tue, 22 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>
>>>I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>
>>Most micro-SIMs I've bought come supplied as part of a larger
>>conventional sized SIM, which itself comes as part of a the original
>>old style credit card sized SIM. You snap out whichever part of the
>>SIM you need to fit the device you're using it in.
>
>Do you think this one is like that. Prepared to wager £4 on it?
I don't know what it's like. I was just relating my previous
experience. Do you know the answer?
In message <iaknr75fl9qst7uhtuha9tk5nutqgn3ait@4ax.com>, at 01:49:58 on
Wed, 23 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>>>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>>>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>
>>>>I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>
>>>Most micro-SIMs I've bought come supplied as part of a larger
>>>conventional sized SIM, which itself comes as part of a the original
>>>old style credit card sized SIM. You snap out whichever part of the
>>>SIM you need to fit the device you're using it in.
>>
>>Do you think this one is like that. Prepared to wager £4 on it?
>
>I don't know what it's like. I was just relating my previous
>experience. Do you know the answer?
All I know about it what they say in the advert - which is that's a
micro-SIM. If it was also usable as a normal SIM I'd expect them to say
so.
--
Roland Perry
Roland Perry wrote:
>
> In message <4fbb75e3$0$2196$c3e8da3$460562f1@news.astraweb.co m>, at
> 12:17:49 on Tue, 22 May 2012, Steve <me@privacy.net> remarked:
> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>
> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
on ebay quite cheaply.
On Tue, 22 May 2012 20:51:33 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <iaknr75fl9qst7uhtuha9tk5nutqgn3ait@4ax.com>, at 01:49:58 on
>Wed, 23 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>>>"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>>>>Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>>>>http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>>
>>>>>I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>>
>>>>Most micro-SIMs I've bought come supplied as part of a larger
>>>>conventional sized SIM, which itself comes as part of a the original
>>>>old style credit card sized SIM. You snap out whichever part of the
>>>>SIM you need to fit the device you're using it in.
>>>
>>>Do you think this one is like that. Prepared to wager £4 on it?
>>
>>I don't know what it's like. I was just relating my previous
>>experience. Do you know the answer?
>
>All I know about it what they say in the advert - which is that's a
>micro-SIM. If it was also usable as a normal SIM I'd expect them to say
>so.
Even if it was a micro-SIM it could still be used in a standard device
by using one of the plastic carriers. I have a few of those which I
carry around when I travel.
Three seems to be the recommendation of choice here so I'll order one
for my friend to pick up and we'll know the answer in a couple of
weeks.
In message <4fbc1db3$0$417$c3e8da3$4db35a27@news.astraweb.com >, at
00:13:51 on Wed, 23 May 2012, Steve <me@privacy.net> remarked:
>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>
>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>
>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>on ebay quite cheaply.
I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be able
to try this out.
--
Roland Perry
Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
> Three seems to be the recommendation of choice here so I'll order one
> for my friend to pick up and we'll know the answer in a couple of
> weeks.
In message <UmhcbBcWqIvPFAPA@perry.co.uk>, at 07:58:30 on Wed, 23 May
2012, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>
>>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>
>>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>>on ebay quite cheaply.
>
>I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be able
>to try this out.
Arrived just now (both of them) and it's a normal SIM!
Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
--
Roland Perry
On Thu, 24 May 2012 12:35:29 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <UmhcbBcWqIvPFAPA@perry.co.uk>, at 07:58:30 on Wed, 23 May
>2012, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>
>>>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>
>>>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>>>on ebay quite cheaply.
>>
>>I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be able
>>to try this out.
>
>Arrived just now (both of them) and it's a normal SIM!
>
>Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
were selling it as.
In message <ur7sr7h595n736cftc7nfh8rlsfcgmmhkn@4ax.com>, at 19:49:40 on
Thu, 24 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>>
>>>>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>>
>>>>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>>>>on ebay quite cheaply.
>>>
>>>I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be able
>>>to try this out.
>>
>>Arrived just now (both of them) and it's a normal SIM!
>>
>>Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
>
>So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
>SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
>were selling it as.
That's right, no push-out. So either they've shipped the wrong thing, or
it's been mis-described.
Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
--
Roland Perry
On Thu, 24 May 2012 13:47:12 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <ur7sr7h595n736cftc7nfh8rlsfcgmmhkn@4ax.com>, at 19:49:40 on
>Thu, 24 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>>>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>>>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>>>
>>>>>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>>>>>on ebay quite cheaply.
>>>>
>>>>I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be able
>>>>to try this out.
>>>
>>>Arrived just now (both of them) and it's a normal SIM!
>>>
>>>Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
>>
>>So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
>>SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
>>were selling it as.
>
>That's right, no push-out. So either they've shipped the wrong thing, or
>it's been mis-described.
>
>Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
>might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
>therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
They're probably just being cautious so that people don't order one
believing they can use it as it comes in a regular phone/dongle.
I must have bought five or six different micro-SIMs while traveling to
various countries and every one of them has come as part of a normal
sized SIM so that you have the option of which format to use.
In message <18ntr7l76lvkhf0ft6s7kibnn5pt0s42ls@4ax.com>, at 09:26:34 on
Fri, 25 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
>>might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
>>therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
>
>They're probably just being cautious so that people don't order one
>believing they can use it as it comes in a regular phone/dongle.
In this case, the one they sent *was* a standard size SIM, no press-out
etc. Maybe they just picked one from the wrong bin?
--
Roland Perry
On Fri, 25 May 2012 08:03:35 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <18ntr7l76lvkhf0ft6s7kibnn5pt0s42ls@4ax.com>, at 09:26:34 on
>Fri, 25 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
>>>might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
>>>therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
>>
>>They're probably just being cautious so that people don't order one
>>believing they can use it as it comes in a regular phone/dongle.
>
>In this case, the one they sent *was* a standard size SIM, no press-out
>etc. Maybe they just picked one from the wrong bin?
I have one on order for a friend. We'll find out what they send us in
a few days from now.
On Fri, 25 May 2012 15:31:32 +0800, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com>
wrote:
>On Fri, 25 May 2012 08:03:35 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>In message <18ntr7l76lvkhf0ft6s7kibnn5pt0s42ls@4ax.com>, at 09:26:34 on
>>Fri, 25 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
>>>>might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
>>>>therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
>>>
>>>They're probably just being cautious so that people don't order one
>>>believing they can use it as it comes in a regular phone/dongle.
>>
>>In this case, the one they sent *was* a standard size SIM, no press-out
>>etc. Maybe they just picked one from the wrong bin?
>
>I have one on order for a friend. We'll find out what they send us in
>a few days from now.
Just to follow up on this, the SIM my friend received was a
conventional sized SIM, the same as you got. Looks like this is
definitely incorrect advertising rather than a mistake.
In message <v8cqs7hu7jcfgmc6r5pksru8f0jb2hitn2@4ax.com>, at 23:05:39 on
Mon, 4 Jun 2012, Peter <occassionally-confused@nospam.co.uk> remarked:
>>Just to follow up on this, the SIM my friend received was a
>>conventional sized SIM, the same as you got. Looks like this is
>>definitely incorrect advertising rather than a mistake.
>
>There are £10 tools on Ebay which will cut them out.
A £10 toll to cut a £3 SIM, now that makes sense...
I used a pair of scissors, and while the iPad recognises the SIM I've
yet to get it to transfer any data.
Thanks for reminding me to find out why.
--
Roland Perry
On Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:05:39 +0100, Peter
<occassionally-confused@nospam.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> wrote
>
>>On Fri, 25 May 2012 15:31:32 +0800, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 25 May 2012 08:03:35 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>In message <18ntr7l76lvkhf0ft6s7kibnn5pt0s42ls@4ax.com>, at 09:26:34 on
>>>>Fri, 25 May 2012, Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> remarked:
>>>>>>Apart from the size, which could be fixed with an adapter, why else
>>>>>>might a [micro]SIM be "iPad only? Rather than perhaps "Data only", and
>>>>>>therefore suitable for use in a dongle.
>>>>>
>>>>>They're probably just being cautious so that people don't order one
>>>>>believing they can use it as it comes in a regular phone/dongle.
>>>>
>>>>In this case, the one they sent *was* a standard size SIM, no press-out
>>>>etc. Maybe they just picked one from the wrong bin?
>>>
>>>I have one on order for a friend. We'll find out what they send us in
>>>a few days from now.
>>
>>Just to follow up on this, the SIM my friend received was a
>>conventional sized SIM, the same as you got. Looks like this is
>>definitely incorrect advertising rather than a mistake.
>>
>>Chris
>
>There are £10 tools on Ebay which will cut them out.
In message <O9BqdtjmLczPFAM4@perry.co.uk>, at 09:27:18 on Tue, 5 Jun
2012, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>Just to follow up on this, the SIM my friend received was a
>>>conventional sized SIM, the same as you got. Looks like this is
>>>definitely incorrect advertising rather than a mistake.
>>
>>There are £10 tools on Ebay which will cut them out.
>
>A £10 toll to cut a £3 SIM, now that makes sense...
>
>I used a pair of scissors, and while the iPad recognises the SIM I've
>yet to get it to transfer any data.
>
>Thanks for reminding me to find out why.
Well, it turns out it was working, just incredibly slow.
--
Roland Perry
> In message <UmhcbBcWqIvPFAPA@perry.co.uk>, at 07:58:30 on Wed, 23 May
> 2012, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> >"3 Original Broadband Ready to Go 1GB Preloaded Data Sim Card for
>>>> >Mobile Devices". 1 GB/1 month GBP 3.90
>>>> >http://tinyurl.com/d74dh2u
>>>>
>>>> I was just about to buy one, then I saw it's a micro-SIM for an iPad.
>>>
>>>I didn't notice that. If it is a micro-sim, adapters can be bought
>>>on ebay quite cheaply.
>>
>> I've bought the micro-SIM (and an adapter) from Amazon, so I'll be
>> able to try this out.
>
> Arrived just now (both of them) and it's a normal SIM!
>
> Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
You can normally get them free from the networks website.
Chris Blunt <mail@nospam.com> writes:
>
> So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
> SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
> were selling it as.
>
The O2 micro SIM I have is pushed out from within a standard SIM card,
but not the 3 SIM.
In message <87fwa9zb4t.fsf@yahoo.com>, at 22:45:06 on Tue, 5 Jun 2012,
Phil <trigpointuk@yahoo.com> remarked:
>> So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
>> SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
>> were selling it as.
>>
>The O2 micro SIM I have is pushed out from within a standard SIM card,
>but not the 3 SIM.
From the same online dealer, or was this a more general comment?
--
Roland Perry
In message <87k3zlzb8t.fsf@yahoo.com>, at 22:42:42 on Tue, 5 Jun 2012,
Phil <trigpointuk@yahoo.com> remarked:
>> Someone else is selling the same thing for 1p (but £3.95 delivery).
>You can normally get them free from the networks website.
>
>That how I got my 3 and O2 microsims.
On Wed, 6 Jun 2012 07:35:37 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:
>In message <87fwa9zb4t.fsf@yahoo.com>, at 22:45:06 on Tue, 5 Jun 2012,
>Phil <trigpointuk@yahoo.com> remarked:
>>> So there's no micro-SIM that you can push out from within the normal
>>> SIM card? If not, that doesn't seem to be in accordance with what they
>>> were selling it as.
>>>
>>The O2 micro SIM I have is pushed out from within a standard SIM card,
>>but not the 3 SIM.
>
> From the same online dealer, or was this a more general comment?
I see there a notice inside the package which reads "Not to be resold.
Property of Hutchison 3G UK Ltd.".
I suspect this dealer might be a bit dodgy and has probably got these
SIMs from a package which included a dongle as well. He might have
unlocked the dongle and resold both items separately.
Data only SIM needed for 2 week visit 
Linear Mode
