Using Dual Sim to Use Telecoms Coverage and 2Degrees Prices

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lissie

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Topic # 160271 30-Dec-2014 23:12

Will this work? I have a a dual sim Moto E mobile. I've just moved - and the house has terrible coverage for 2 Degrees. This is unfortunate because I'm a happy customer of 2 degrees - but I use my mobile for business and I need decent coverage. I bought a $5 Telecom SIM and the coverage is a lot better with it.

So I'm thinking if I port my current well known number (back) to Telecom I can take advantage of the better coverage from Telecom, for incoming calls, while using the existing 2 degree card for data and calls when out and about? Does that make sense?

Cheers
Lis

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

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Reply # 1206292 31-Dec-2014 02:14

Most dual sim phones are only GSM on the second sim, but it means you cant use it for data, if you swap so the data is on the 2 degrees, then the spark sim will get nothing because spark dont waste time providing a 2g network.

I cant find anything specifically saying that the motorola does 3g/4g on both sims, and as dual sim is usually aimed at the third world where 2g is still used in a big way its not something they will be rushing to add.

Richard rich.ms

lissie

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Reply # 1206302 31-Dec-2014 08:12

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Unfortunately I think you are right - I noticed the Spark sim became unavailable when I forced it to 2G - and yes it appears impossible to have 2 x 3G cards. How inconvenient.

I actually generally get give a 3 g or 4g sim for free on arrival in Asia (both Thailand and Malaysia do it from time-to-time) - it's NZ that has the 3rd world network! I'm hardly in the backblocks - suburbian Porirua!

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Behodar

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Reply # 1206304 31-Dec-2014 08:30

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Backing up a step, have you taken a look at Skinny? The pricing is similar to 2degrees (at least for some options) but it uses Spark's network so has good coverage.

Dulouz

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Reply # 1206306 31-Dec-2014 08:39

Behodar: Backing up a step, have you taken a look at Skinny? The pricing is similar to 2degrees (at least for some options) but it uses Spark's network so has good coverage.

Agree - I switched from 2degrees to Skinny and have never looked back. 2degrees reception at our house was limited, Skinny works heaps better. The only downside is Skinny don't do carry over data.

Amanon

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Reply # 1206307 31-Dec-2014 08:50

Dulouz:
Behodar: Backing up a step, have you taken a look at Skinny? The pricing is similar to 2degrees (at least for some options) but it uses Spark's network so has good coverage.

Agree - I switched from 2degrees to Skinny and have never looked back. 2degrees reception at our house was limited, Skinny works heaps better. The only downside is Skinny don't do carry over data.

They will be shortly. Have a read here

Lannah - find me on twitter.

Hiamie

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Reply # 1206312 31-Dec-2014 08:56

The only downside is Skinny don't do carry over data.

I heard a rumor that Skinny will be doing carryover data starting around Jan 20th. on their $16 combo plans. Have a peak at this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=137&topicid=160094

Tony

lissie

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Reply # 1206573 31-Dec-2014 16:37

Skinny hadn't even occurred to me - and now I look - yes the $16 combo will work just fine - and the data roll over starts just about when my current month on 2Degrees runs out - looks like I'm buying a skinny SIM

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lissie

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Reply # 1206577 31-Dec-2014 17:03

Hmmm not entirely impressed filled in the form to get a SIM and when I click on the payment page I go to a fancy 404 - oops!

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lissie

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Reply # 1209969 7-Jan-2015 15:54

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OK have got a skinny sim - and yes there is coverage all over the house!

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CeeGee

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Reply # 1269115 27-Mar-2015 16:00

I got a Skinny SIM at Christmas to get better coverage in the back of beyond (South Western shores of Lake Taupo), but reception is poor here in Hamilton East. Never had that problem with Telecom, Vodafone or 2 degrees. I would have thought Skinny would have had same coverage as Spark, yet doesn't appear that way. Data appears a lot slower too, although nothing scientific about my measurement - I'm not continually swapping SIMs to check :-)

Behodar

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Reply # 1269127 27-Mar-2015 16:30

Skinny does have the same coverage as Spark. Are you using the same phone that you'd previously used with Telecom?

CeeGee

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Reply # 1269291 27-Mar-2015 21:30

It's not the same phone (iPhone 4s) as the Telecom SIM, but it's another iPhone 4s, same one the 2 degrees & Vodafone SIM has been used in. Can't put it in a newer iPhone because of SIM size change. Have to wait for another (non Apple) smartphone before I try again. Never mind, got a bit off topic there sorry - will start a new post if problem persists once I've been a bit more methodical in my comparison.

Cheers

Yabanize

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Reply # 1269342 27-Mar-2015 22:44

CeeGee: It's not the same phone (iPhone 4s) as the Telecom SIM, but it's another iPhone 4s, same one the 2 degrees & Vodafone SIM has been used in. Can't put it in a newer iPhone because of SIM size change. Have to wait for another (non Apple) smartphone before I try again. Never mind, got a bit off topic there sorry - will start a new post if problem persists once I've been a bit more methodical in my comparison.

Cheers

If you just buy a new Skinny NanoSim and don't activate it you can easily move from your old sim to a new nano sim using the skinny website at https://www.skinny.co.nz/dashboard/phone-details/movesim

Behodar

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Reply # 1269349 27-Mar-2015 22:57

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A 4S won't have any frequency problems, which is what I was wondering about. You may need to go into Settings > General and do a Reset Network Settings; sometimes iOS doesn't notice the SIM swap and doesn't reconfigure the correct APNs etc.

Ruphus

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Reply # 1269351 27-Mar-2015 23:02

richms: I cant find anything specifically saying that the motorola does 3g/4g on both sims, and as dual sim is usually aimed at the third world where 2g is still used in a big way its not something they will be rushing to add.

Dual SIM phones are targeted at markets where carriers have cheep calling rates but expensive data charges and vice versa e.g. China. There's no dual sim phone with 3G/4G for both SIMs cause the battery drain on the phone would be horrendous.

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