Travelling to Australia, best SIM for iPad?

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Satch

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#129385 13-Sep-2013 14:01

Hi,

I did a bit of searching on GZ but found nothing current on the subject.

Will be travelling to Sydney next month (there for 5 days) and would like to get a data only SIM for my iPad (3rd Gen). I choose to do this rather than pay AUD$25 per day for WIFI at the Four Seasons there (this is on top of their premium room rate!). Which Telco is my best option?

Cheers.

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#895227 13-Sep-2013 14:04

How much data do you intend to use?

All of the networks have $2 SIM cards, but what plan and network I would recommend depends on your planned usage and where you will be? (Just Sydney urban?)

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Satch

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#895230 13-Sep-2013 14:07

Hey,

I'd only really be using my iPad at the hotel so Sydney CBD. And I'l probably look to get maybe a 5GB data pack? I'm after the best network performance for a reasonable price.

Cheers.

hairy1

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#895231 13-Sep-2013 14:10

I am on the Optus $2 per day sim which has been magnificent. No tethering allowed though and word on the street is that if you put it in your ipad it will be shut down as it is not to be used in a data device.

I have been through heaps of data on my phone with no issues (you tube of the Americas Cup) which is probably not what it is intended for either!

Cheers, Matt.

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Satch

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#895233 13-Sep-2013 14:12

hairy1: I am on the Optus $2 per day sim which has been magnificent. No tethering allowed though and word on the street is that if you put it in your ipad it will be shut down as it is not to be used in a data device.

I have been through heaps of data on my phone with no issues (you tube of the Americas Cup) which is probably not what it is intended for either!

Cheers, Matt.

Thanks, but this is of no help to me.

I would like the ability to tether too.

ajobbins

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#895234 13-Sep-2013 14:15

5GB sounds like a lot for a week. I struggle to use 1GB a month on my iPad. But if you are doing video or Skype I guess.

Amaysim have a 4GB data pack for $29.95, but the downside is all of their plans have 1MB rounding, so depending on how you use it, you may in fact get substantially less than that. Amaysim is a MVNO on the Optus network.

Another option might be Optus's $2 day plan, which gives you unlimited data on a fair use basis. If you are hitting 1GB+ per day, I'd say you might be at risk exceeding what they consider fair use - but you may well be fine.

Vodafone have a 3GB prepaid data pack for $29, and only 1kb rounding - so maybe pretty close to what you would get from Amaysim in reality.

Telstra probably have the best reputation, but 4GB will set you back $80 on prepaid.

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ajobbins

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#895235 13-Sep-2013 14:16

Satch:Thanks, but this is of no help to me.

I would like the ability to tether too.

Hmmm, be careful here. (iDevice) Tethering is often disabled on plans over here, and some plans that allow it will charge it outside of data packs.

Edit: Amaysim WILL allow you to tether on their data pack plans, but for iDevices you need to be able to send an SMS to have it enabled.

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Satch

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#895237 13-Sep-2013 14:18

Thanks for the suggestions ajobbins. I've found similar info via Google, but am wondering if anyone has used one recently and can recommend an option from experience?

5GB is a lot but I'd rather pay $30 once off than pay $20 twice if I run out. I also only want to walk into a telco, pay over some money, and leave with a SIM I don't have to do anything more with.

Pay and walk away! :)

Satch

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#895238 13-Sep-2013 14:19

ajobbins:
Satch:Thanks, but this is of no help to me.

I would like the ability to tether too.

Hmmm, be careful here. (iDevice) Tethering is often disabled on plans over here, and some plans that allow it will charge it outside of data packs.

Edit: Amaysim WILL allow you to tether on their data pack plans, but for iDevices you need to be able to send an SMS to have it enabled.

Interesting info, thanks. I will have my iPhone 4 with me too which I could chuck the SIM in if required.

hairy1

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#895239 13-Sep-2013 14:22

ajobbins:
Satch:Thanks, but this is of no help to me.

I would like the ability to tether too.

Hmmm, be careful here. (iDevice) Tethering is often disabled on plans over here, and some plans that allow it will charge it outside of data packs.

Edit: Amaysim WILL allow you to tether on their data pack plans, but for iDevices you need to be able to send an SMS to have it enabled.

I know it wasn't any help but just thought you might want to consider all options.

Yes. Tethering strictly against the TOS for the Optus $2 plan and for most plans I looked at. If you can get away with doing everything on your iphone then the $2 plan is great value for money. I am here for two weeks and for a $20 Optus Sim I got unlimited data / national calls / Texts. The Optus Sim gives you $30 of value so the $20 lasts for 15 days.

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ajobbins

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#895240 13-Sep-2013 14:22

Satch: 5GB is a lot but I'd rather pay $30 once off than pay $20 twice if I run out. I also only want to walk into a telco, pay over some money, and leave with a SIM I don't have to do anything more with.

Pay and walk away! :)

By law in Australia you cannot activate a prepaid SIM card without providing 100 points of ID and an Australian address. Make sure you take your passport, a credit card and a valid Australian address (your hotel address is fine) to the store with you. If you go with an MVNO (Ie. anyone but Optus, Telstra or Voda) they don't have stores and the validation will need to be done online.

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hairy1

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#895241 13-Sep-2013 14:24

I walked into OPTUS to buy a sim and was required to have a passport to buy a Sim so carry that with you. I ended up at a 7/11 which didn't require a passport. Activated over the phone with no ID required. I am not sure why the OPTUS required a passport but I would assume that Telstra and Vodafone may have similar requirements.

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#895242 13-Sep-2013 14:24

hairy1: Yes. Tethering strictly against the TOS for the Optus $2 plan and for most plans I looked at. If you can get away with doing everything on your iphone then the $2 plan is great value for money. I am here for two weeks and for a $20 Optus Sim I got unlimited data / national calls / Texts. The Optus Sim gives you $30 of value so the $20 lasts for 15 days.

Or a $2 Optus SIM plus a $10 top up will get you 5 days of unlimited for $12. But I doubt tethering would work.

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hairy1

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#895243 13-Sep-2013 14:24

Ah. Thanks Adam. That answered the question.

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hairy1

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#895245 13-Sep-2013 14:25

ajobbins:
hairy1: Yes. Tethering strictly against the TOS for the Optus $2 plan and for most plans I looked at. If you can get away with doing everything on your iphone then the $2 plan is great value for money. I am here for two weeks and for a $20 Optus Sim I got unlimited data / national calls / Texts. The Optus Sim gives you $30 of value so the $20 lasts for 15 days.

Or a $2 Optus SIM plus a $10 top up will get you 5 days of unlimited for $12. But I doubt tethering would work.

It depends on your tethering method ;-)

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

ajobbins

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#895246 13-Sep-2013 14:26

hairy1: I walked into OPTUS to buy a sim and was required to have a passport to buy a Sim so carry that with you. I ended up at a 7/11 which didn't require a passport. Activated over the phone with no ID required. I am not sure why the OPTUS required a passport but I would assume that Telstra and Vodafone may have similar requirements.

Technically this is against the law, but it does happen - I just wouldn't count on it. The law says that ID must be collected before the 'service activation', however the carriers often rely on the collection at point of sale. The ID form they have to fill out for ACMA isn't brief, so your average 7/11 clerk is unlikely to bother for a $2 SIM. But the SIM will still require online or phone activation.

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