Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.
Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › USA mobile data options


7 posts

Wannabe Geek


Topic # 199059 2-Aug-2016 21:31
Send private message

Hi all, I hope this is the correct place to post.

 

Am off to LA at the end of the month and was just wondering what the best option is to have mobile data on my phone while I'm there. Will mostly be using it to help me get around maps/uber/etc. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

Thanks!

View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2
3444 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 955


  Reply # 1603243 2-Aug-2016 21:55
Send private message

How long are you there for?



7 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 1603255 2-Aug-2016 22:10
Send private message

11 days

1047 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 216

Trusted

  Reply # 1603271 2-Aug-2016 23:51
One person supports this post
Send private message

this seems to be the best options. I'm currently also looking for the same.

 

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-international-tourist-plan but I understood t-mobile is not good outside urban areas :(




helping others at evgenyk.nz

BDFL - Memuneh
61509 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12234

Administrator
Trusted
Geekzone
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603274 3-Aug-2016 00:45
Send private message

That T-Mobile Tourist plan is about NZ$41... What operator you have in NZ? Vodafone does the $5/day so it could be worth depending on how long you staying (you said eleven days, so put in context a trip to the local store to get a SIM, time, etc).

 

If it's a week only I'd go with roaming at $5/day (I think Spark is $10/day but not sure as I haven't checked their site).




Backblaze cloud backup (personal and business) | Geekzone broadband switch | Amazon (Geekzone aff) | MightyApe (Geekzone aff) | 

 

My technology disclosure  | Business Transformation | Enterprise Content Management | Customer Relationship Management

 

 

27149 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6581

Moderator
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603288 3-Aug-2016 07:19
One person supports this post
Send private message

I only ever roam when I'm in the US now. $5 day on Vodafone is a no brainer when it also includes all SMS and calls.

 

The only exception to this would be if data requirements where high such as over a few GB. Buying a local SIM would stack up.

 

Obviously if you're on Spark or 2d then roaming prices will potentially cost a lot more.

 

 

 

 

402 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 225

Trusted

  Reply # 1603292 3-Aug-2016 07:34
Send private message

$5 daily roaming from VodafoneNZ includes Data and also all calls and SMS in the US and back to New Zealand

793 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 76

Trusted

  Reply # 1603300 3-Aug-2016 07:50
Send private message

I grabbed a T-mo SIM for data only to share with a group, can't recall exactly the cost or size, but it was more than the data I had on my VF plan hence buying the local SIM. I found the network a bit patchy, when it worked, it worked well. Was a straight forward process to pick up, would probably try AT&T next time.

 

As others have mentioned, it's about what you want it for, for me it was Data only, and plenty of, so local SIM was the choice, for a similar time that you are planning.

3548 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 653

Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603302 3-Aug-2016 07:55
Send private message

Not long back from a trip to Washington DC. I am on Spark pay monthly, so added their $49 zone 6 roaming package for one month. Didnt use all of it because wifi is everywhere but enough each day to have made it the cheapest option in the end.




Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

349 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 61

Trustpower

  Reply # 1603303 3-Aug-2016 08:02
One person supports this post
Send private message

You have a few options as mentioned above

 

  • Roaming (Specifically Vodafone with their $5 a day deal)

  • T-Mobile - If you don't care about Minutes - I would recommend T-Mobiles Walmart Sim (Only available at WalMart and the plan is better then their normal prepaid plans)

     

  • AT&T - Just grab a Go-Phone Sim (You can find these at most convenience stores, Best Buy, even the best buy vending machines at the airports)

     

    • $30 - No Data ($5 per 100MB) - Unlimited Talk/Text in the US - Unlimited International Messaging
    • $40 - Unlimited (First 3GB at 4G) - Unlimited Talk/Text in the US - Unlimited International Messaging
    • $60 - Unlimited (First 6GB at 4G) - Unlimited Talk/Text in the US - Unlimited International Messaging
    • Extra data is $10USD per 1GB
    • https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/gophone-plans.html

 

 

I've used both AT&T and T-Mobile

 

- T-Mobile - Used this in Hawaii and had no problem with 4G coverage, speeds weren't "super fast" but since then I know they have done a lot of work on their network. Only issue was getting to a walmart so that we could get the specific sim as you can't use a normal t-mobile sim on that plan. Coverage around LA looked very promising with it showing 4G almost everywhere (but didn't use it there)

 

- AT&T - Used this multiple times in the past 3 months in Houston, Orlando and Los Angeles - Service was good pretty-much everywhere we went, never had any problems with the data speed. This had far better coverage then Verizon did, especially at some of the bigger areas like Warner Brothers Studios where verizon had almost no service. The only place we did have problems was at the Cheesecake Factory at the Grove, but Verizon also didn't get service there.. so possibly just a black spot.




Any comments made are my personal views and does not represent those of my employer

27149 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6581

Moderator
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603304 3-Aug-2016 08:03
One person supports this post
Send private message

If you are going to buy a SIM make sure your phone supports the network you're using. Issues with band support in the US went away for quite a few years but are now back. A lot of low - mid range handsets will not support some of the bands used by US networks (which is why there are 2 models of many phones)

 

T-mobile in particular is an issue with it's refarming of 3G on AWS 1700/2100 to 1900MHz 3G and the reuse of AWS for 4G.

 

 

2495 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1219

Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603327 3-Aug-2016 09:07
Send private message

I have plans to go to California and then East Coast early next year, including travelling to some National Parks and rural places... not hiking, but not necessarily on main roads. So, just to clarify... 

 

If I was in the US using Vodafone roaming, would the $5/day deal mean I could use my Vodafone contract minutes/data on any US network I could find? Or are there only some networks that Vodafone has agreements with?

 

 

2864 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 491


  Reply # 1603332 3-Aug-2016 09:14
One person supports this post
Send private message

For your mapping requirements put Here Maps on your phone and download the maps for where you're going before you leave. Here works in offline mode and or outside of data coverage. There's no need to worry about data consumption.




Sony Xperia X running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS 
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Nokia N1
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

27149 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6581

Moderator
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1603348 3-Aug-2016 09:32
Send private message

frankv:

 

If I was in the US using Vodafone roaming, would the $5/day deal mean I could use my Vodafone contract minutes/data on any US network I could find? Or are there only some networks that Vodafone has agreements with?

 

 

Yes your minutes and data work on any networks. Vodafone has roaming steering enabled (this has switched between T-mobile and AT&T in the past, I'm not sure who it prefers at present) but you can override the steering with manual network selection.

 

 

511 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 123


  Reply # 1603415 3-Aug-2016 10:57
Send private message

Depending on your handset, you could try Cricket Wireless which have slightly cheaper plans. They use the AT&T network and they're my go-to option whenever I'm in the US and required a large amount of data.

 

The SIM's are available at (most) Walmart's or from resellers throughout the major centres. There's a store locator on the Circket Wireless website.

Minimalist
5497 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 431

Moderator
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1788462 26-May-2017 03:29
One person supports this post
Send private message

A new product in the market, AT&T $45 for 6GB and calling texting including Canada and Mexico roaming.

I'm using it now, free SIM from AT&T store, was slow around LAX but fine in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal so far.

https://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/plans/voice/sku7420265.html

 1 | 2
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic

Twitter »

Follow us to receive Twitter updates when new discussions are posted in our forums:



Follow us to receive Twitter updates when news items and blogs are posted in our frontpage:



Follow us to receive Twitter updates when tech item prices are listed in our price comparison site:



Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.


Updates »

Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.

Alternatively, you can receive a daily email with Geekzone updates.