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German tourist cell call and data plan

Ok, here's the deal. My Girlfriend is going to Germany in less than a month for 2 weeks with her school. I'm the paranoid type, and seeing the movie Taken has not parlayed my fears one bit.
I want her to have a cell phone while she's there, but also want something that can run Mologogo or another similar GPS tracking program. I'm not infringing on her privacy and she has control on when to turn on the program (unless there's a way to have it run in the background secretly... just kidding... but seriously)
So, I'm looking at 2 options. 1) Get her current plan upgraded for international for this month while she's away. Not the best prices, but it's simple. or 2) The better plan is to find a local carrier (vodafone, cello, etc.) and have her swap out the Sim on a phone I get here....
I have NO idea how cell service works across the pond and I've been getting conflicting stuff left and right. Basically, if you've done option 2 before, just let me know what you did, and I'll probably do that. The GPS tracking is NOT a priority, I just want her to have a phone there.
thanks

first you need a Quadband phone then some trust
When traveling internationally you need an UNLOCKED tri or quadband GSM phone. My favorite travel work horse is a Treo 750v. If receiving calls to your current USA cell number is a priority simply add international calling to your current account (if GSM carrier like At&t) and it is enabled automaticly on your sim card. Non GSM carriers like Sprint will issue you a SIM card to put in your phone while away. Rates are high for this convenience, expect to pay around $1.75 to $1.99 per minute or more for USA calls. Data support is sometimes available, expensive or other times data is non existant.
Once abroad you can purchase a local SIM card that gives you a local number in the foreign country and now you must either use a prepaid phone phone card (excellent for short term) or subscribe to a monthly billing account (good for long term) to have usable calling minutes on the phone. I like the $10 cards and most of them can be re-charged using a credit card. Rates are cheaper to the USA, around $1.40. Unlike the USA data rates are expensive, often billed per 1k! This is ok to check email occaisionally but forget about browsing the net for hours. The negative of all this is you have to switch SIM cards depending on if you want to receive USA inbound calls or make calls to the USA and check you voicemail. Now you know why there are "dual sim" made in china phones on ebay.
Recent phones now offer WIFI so it is possible to use skype for calls if you have an account and find an open WIFI network. I have accomplised this on my Treo 800w. There can be reduced call quality on WIFI depending on available bandwidth.
Tracking a person's phone would either rely on a USA based service that unlikely functions abroad or raw GSM data from foreign towers that may or may not yield valid data.
Seriously re-examine your need to track someone and the level of your trust. If this is a person you want in your life then allow them the freedom to be away and miss your quality companionship. If they really care for you then you have nothing to worry or track about.

Actually, the tracking is an on-board Java applet that accesses the Phone's internal GPS module and sends the coordinates to an off-site server for viewing on PCs, etc. www.Mologogo.com if you're interested. Yes, I do have trust issues, but not with her, more of other people. Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. I always err on the side of over-preparedness... worst-case-scenario type of thing.
Yes, my plan is to use the "local sim card installed on an unlocked tri/quad-band cell phone bought locally here in the US" method. However, I've heard of companies that actually ship those sims to you ahead of time, so that you can do all the set-up here, instead of fiddling with it in the middle of your already hectic trip.
My thing too is One or both of us will be calling international. It would probably be cheaper for me to use a land-line and a phone card to call her local german number, no? Or maybe even use Skype's Skype-out service (which is basically VoIP-to-Landline/Cell service)
But again, Which company do I use. I know the mechanics, I need the specifics.
Oh, and thanks for the heads-up on the data plan, ix-nay on that on account of costs. I think I'll just spring for a can of pepper-spray instead of gps tracking.

dual sim + prepay data?

So I'm cheap. I do not want to pay an extra $30 for data on my fuze. Shortly after buying my fuze, I immediately called up AT&T and asked them to turn off data, because my phone was constantly trying to connect to 3g, and from previous experiences I know it will rack up my bill since I am without a data plan.
Anyway I've been searching around because data on this phone would be nice to have when I am outside of wifi. I noticed how at&t offered prepay data on select go phones for between $10-20 per month (Link http://www.phonenews.com/att-gophone-prepaid-adds-data-only-option-3381/. I thought sweet! But then what about voice and texting? I need voice and texting, and it would be nice to stay on my family's plan since I am not paying for it.
Then I started reading about dual sim's and dual sim adapters and thought what if I could have my current sim (unlim. voice, unlim. text, no data) and add in the 2nd sim card of one of those special prepay data phones and have my fuze run off of that for 3g data.
I have read with dual sim adapters it sounds like you have to switch between the 2 of them, so would that mean I could use only one at a time? Meaning if I am on the second data only sim, I could not receive texts or calls until I switch back to my main sim?
If this configuration could work simultaneously than it would be PERFECT. But if theres anyone out there with more insight, please let me know. Thanks

first of all. 3g is not only data. 3G is basically a faster connection (that also includes phone calls). [unless i'm wrong, this is how I understand 3g]
second. I don't think there is a dual sim adapter for the touch pro, but it also kind of makes the phone look horrible (assuming it's connected to some port since there is no room for another sim card).
Only specific phones can handle dual sims like KIRF iphone nano so it's not really worth it to save 10 bucks a month since you'll be spending money anyways, to get this adapter of yours.

I think there is finally a dual sim adapter for the touch pro...
Check this out:
http://www.simore.ch/en/two_sim_cards_in_one_mobile/dual_sim_card_gold_1.php

wow. That's kinda crazy to see that you have to cut up your sim card to fit it inside the dual sim adapter...

mike3000 said:
So I'm cheap. I do not want to pay an extra $30 for data on my fuze. Shortly after buying my fuze, I immediately called up AT&T and asked them to turn off data, because my phone was constantly trying to connect to 3g, and from previous experiences I know it will rack up my bill since I am without a data plan.
Anyway I've been searching around because data on this phone would be nice to have when I am outside of wifi. I noticed how at&t offered prepay data on select go phones for between $10-20 per month (Link http://www.phonenews.com/att-gophone-prepaid-adds-data-only-option-3381/. I thought sweet! But then what about voice and texting? I need voice and texting, and it would be nice to stay on my family's plan since I am not paying for it.
Then I started reading about dual sim's and dual sim adapters and thought what if I could have my current sim (unlim. voice, unlim. text, no data) and add in the 2nd sim card of one of those special prepay data phones and have my fuze run off of that for 3g data.
I have read with dual sim adapters it sounds like you have to switch between the 2 of them, so would that mean I could use only one at a time? Meaning if I am on the second data only sim, I could not receive texts or calls until I switch back to my main sim?
If this configuration could work simultaneously than it would be PERFECT. But if theres anyone out there with more insight, please let me know. Thanks
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Interesting thought. Bad news is they won't work simultaneously - however you can have the autoswitch every hour or so if you wanted.
Personally I'm not sure its really worth the effort. First off, you have to buy the adapter - which is going to cost you close to 100 bucks, then you'll need the gophone and it's sim-chip and the monthy prepay on that. By the time you add all this up you might as well just blow the 30 bucks on a data plan and save yourself the headace.
However the ability to now have dual sims in the FUZE is great. I suppose if you traveled a lot it could prove quite handy.

Why not 3g Tmobile download, at least?

I have an x7510 and have used it successfully with a Telcel (Mexico) 3g sim card down there, though since Mexico isn't in the Connections country presets, I had to use web-provided parameters. I suspected that I wasn't on quite the same network as when I put the Telcel sim into the purchased ZTE626 usb 3g aircard and everything was automatic, and a dealer tech guy there agreed, but who knows. (By the way, if you're vacationing in Mexico and want economical 3g, look up the Internet Amigo plan on the Telcel web site. It's 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days blocks of time, not annual subscription. Perfect for tourists. The Customer Service places typically have the old brochures lying around, so print the current pricing off the web before you go. They do all this for USB or Express cards, and for smartphones of all types.)
SO, here I am in the USA again, and for kicks, I took the X7510 into my Tmo dealer and they reassigned me a newer sim (the difference? she said it was 3g capable) and we put it in the X7510 and tried it. I couldn't believe they were willing to try it. And of course, using the Connections automatic setting, I got Edge. However, I couldn't help wondering about some things:
1. Why can't I get downloading on 2100 3g, just downloading? Is it because the upload handshaking etc can't switch to Edge?
2. Is it true that if I had a Tmo 3g phone, such as the 3g Dash, this 'no difference but it's newer and has 3g on it' (which they let me keep, I should add) my data plan (el cheapo grandfathered 20$ for unlimited incl hotspots) would now do Tmo 3g? I actually asked her about this and she indicated the 3g aspect of this or that data plan is not more costly.
3. When looking at the automatically configured Tmo Connections settings, the setting for type of connection had very little available, just CellularGPRS&3G. When I'd been working with the Telcel sim, all sorts of combinations of frequencies popped up. The preset still says wap.voicestream.com. Is there another group of Manual settings I could use to get my half 3g on the X7510?
4. Perhaps the most interesting, since the X7510 has USB host capability, is there a way to use my 4in1 cable, a Tmo USB aircard and my new Tmo 3g sim to make the X7510 recognize and use the USB card? I do like the X7510 for its huge screen...
Thanks to anyone who will help, or who finds the Telcel info useful.

LTE on T-mobile upload issues

I am on T-mobile 5GB/month prepaid plan and would like to know if any of you have the same issue. What I found out is that download speed using ookla's speedtest app will show at around 10 to 25 mbps but I never got upload speed to ant stable level and average around 2 mbps regardless of cell tower, reception, or time of the day! It also seems that upload speed starts at 10mbps and after 1 -2 seconds will just stop, and then do like 1 mbps. Sometimes, ookla speedtest will not be able to finish the test using LTE and report network problems. I tried using different bandwidth test apps with similar results. HSPA+ does as usual, around 10mbps down 3 to 4 mbps up, no interruptions. Something is not working right and I sure don't like it. Yesterday, while connected on LTE my music streaming got interrupted and buffered every 20 minutes or so, like I am on EDGE, LOL (no actually... it's not funny at all). Hangout video chat (while on LTE) interrupted few times as well.
Update: Switching SIM cards didn't help. Upload speed is still extremely slow or will show network error. There are at least 6 other members reporting this issue with T-mobile LTE.

T-Mobile LTE here in Houston, TX. I'm don't have any issues that you mentioned above. Had the phone for 2 days.

peteus said:
I am on T-mobile 5GB/month prepaid plan and would like to know if any of you have the same issue. What I found out is that download speed using ookla's speedtest app will show at around 10 to 25 mbps but I never got upload speed to ant stable level and average around 2 mbps regardless of cell tower, reception, or time of the day! It also seems that upload speed starts at 10mbps and after 1 -2 seconds will just stop, and then do like 1 mbps. Sometimes, ookla speedtest will not be able to finish the test using LTE and report network problems. I tried using different bandwidth test apps with similar results. HSPA+ does as usual, around 10mbps down 3 to 4 mbps up, no interruptions. Something is not working right and I sure don't like it. Yesterday, while connected on LTE my music streaming got interrupted and buffered every 20 minutes or so, like I am on EDGE, LOL (no actually... it's not funny at all). Hangout video chat (while on LTE) interrupted few times as well.
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you get throttled on prepaid to make way for the postpaid plans. its like this on every carrier.

Is this a new device / activation with a new(er) T-Mo micro-Sim card?
What device were you using before the N5? Try powering down the N5 and restarting it?
Reminds me of the old cable broadband days - turbo speed for that initial burst of extra speed, then it's back to same old, same old. Perhaps a lot of N5 on the special plan getting activated & seizing LTE's bandwidth ??
But, even HSPA+ speed is better than our soon-to-be history VZW 3G data with its lousy coverage at our home.

Zepius said:
you get throttled on prepaid to make way for the postpaid plans. its like this on every carrier.
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I don't have prepaid but $30 month to month.

Letitride said:
Is this a new device / activation with a new(er) T-Mo micro-Sim card?
What device were you using before the N5? Try powering down the N5 and restarting it?
Reminds me of the old cable broadband days - turbo speed for that initial burst of extra speed, then it's back to same old, same old. Perhaps a lot of N5 on the special plan getting activated & seizing LTE's bandwidth ??
But, even HSPA+ speed is better than our soon-to-be history VZW 3G data with its lousy coverage at our home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Galaxy Nexus and cut SIM card to micro size. Do you think it may make a difference if I replace it with new T-Mobile micro card? Why? What could be different? I would assume something like that may be the problem if I couldn't connect to LTE band- but N5 does connect with this (old customized) SIM when signal is available. I at first thought it was overloaded T-Mobile tower, but then I drove around and tested with the same results.

peteus said:
I used Galaxy Nexus and cut SIM card to micro size. Do you think it may make a difference if I replace it with new T-Mobile micro card? Why? What could be different? I would assume something like that may be the problem if I couldn't connect to LTE band- but N5 does connect with this (old customized) SIM when signal is available. I at first thought it was overloaded T-Mobile tower, but then I drove around and tested with the same results.
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Click to collapse
I had a 3 years old PAYG T-Mo Sim card ("regular/standard sized) and it was getting worn out from being swapped around - just by looking at the metal contacts) so I grabbed extra ones for 99cents (or was it free, whatever last month) just in case - not feeling to make a run to a local T-Mo store to ask for one to be swapped out. T-Mo support site mentioned about Sim card exhausion after 2 years (that's a new one to me too, but whatever) & that a new one should be exchanged - I couldn't swap it out online by updating or changing the Sim card, so ended up calling 877-xxx-xxxx & got transferred to a live operator and was done in less than 10 minutes, no questions asked once I came up with the correct PIN (ended up changing it anyway) - CSR didn't even ask for device's IMEI #, just read those long digits to him.
Waited a few minutes, rebooted and received 2 SMS & made a quick test call confirming that everything seemed to be working. It's working for me as I only switched to the $3 per day plan to check out the speed & back on PAGO by the minutes plan now on this line - it's my emergency backup line for voice calls.
I thought about & was ready to cut down the Sim to micr-Sim size with a template, but realized that by matching it to other free micro-Sims that I might be damaging the contacts as they are oversized beyond the micro-sim's dimensions.
If you have a spare free unactivated T-mo sim around, call them to swap it out to see if it might be the root cause - supposingly, older Sims like yours (and mine) might not be properly "provisioned" for 4G/LTE and possibly max'd out at 3G/HSPA+ in those days in their system's profile.
My friendly UPS driver just dropped off another free/free micro-sim plus a data only micro-sim for the tablet, so I'm going to play with the tablet and see how lucky I can get with the "free" 200MB monthly data offer.

Letitride said:
I had a 3 years old PAYG T-Mo Sim card ("regular/standard sized) and it was getting worn out from being swapped around - just by looking at the metal contacts) so I grabbed extra ones for 99cents (or was it free, whatever last month) just in case - not feeling to make a run to a local T-Mo store to ask for one to be swapped out. T-Mo support site mentioned about Sim card exhausion after 2 years (that's a new one to me too, but whatever) & that a new one should be exchanged - I couldn't swap it out online by updating or changing the Sim card, so ended up calling 877-xxx-xxxx & got transferred to a live operator and was done in less than 10 minutes, no questions asked once I came up with the correct PIN (ended up changing it anyway) - CSR didn't even ask for device's IMEI #, just read those long digits to him.
Waited a few minutes, rebooted and received 2 SMS & made a quick test call confirming that everything seemed to be working. It's working for me as I only switched to the $3 per day plan to check out the speed & back on PAGO by the minutes plan now on this line - it's my emergency backup line for voice calls.
I thought about & was ready to cut down the Sim to micr-Sim size with a template, but realized that by matching it to other free micro-Sims that I might be damaging the contacts as they are oversized beyond the micro-sim's dimensions.
If you have a spare free unactivated T-mo sim around, call them to swap it out to see if it might be the root cause - supposingly, older Sims like yours (and mine) might not be properly "provisioned" for 4G/LTE and possibly max'd out at 3G/HSPA+ in those days in their system's profile.
My friendly UPS driver just dropped off another free/free micro-sim plus a data only micro-sim for the tablet, so I'm going to play with the tablet and see how lucky I can get with the "free" 200MB monthly data offer.
Click to expand...
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Thanks. I'll get to T-Mobile store.

What does T-mobile say
There are at least 6 XDA members so far reporting issue with LTE upload speed on T-mobile. Switching SIM card to new one did not resolve the problem. One question for all with upload issues: Do you have 16 or 32GB version? I think it's vise to call T-mobile at this time in search for solution.

peteus said:
There are at least 6 XDA members so far reporting issue with LTE upload speed on T-mobile. Switching SIM card to new one did not resolve the problem. One question for all with upload issues: Do you have 16 or 32GB version? I think it's vise to call T-mobile at this time in search for solution.
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Click to collapse
I have this same problem. Nexus 5 here, and upload tests are abysmal, usually ranking at about .5mbps, whereas download is 12+.
Using a legit T-Mo micro-SIM. HSPA+ does NOT have these issues at all.
At some point soon, I'm going to go down to the T-Mobile store, and hopefully run a side-by-side test between their T-Mo branded Galaxy S4 and other devices, to compare with mine. If theirs doesn't show this issue, I'm filing a support ticket, as well as contacting Google.

I'm on the same plan and hadn't tested until you posted this. For me the results did matter what server I was on. I got close to the same download speeds you posted somewhere between 25-30 mbps down and upload went from .5 up to 20mbps when I switched servers. I have definitely noticed this phone faster but my old galaxy never slowed down in the middle of a dl. Like you mentioned after a period of time on a download it gets throttled maybe upload to IDK (havnt experienced it yet) but for me on a big(er) app like dead trigger 2 or HD wigets I get a fast dl to about 30-50% of the app with it saying something like 3 min left, then once it hits the throttle point to something like 30 min for the remainder of the dl. forcing me to cancel or use wifi. So T-mo is def. capping or watching ea dl on an individual basis and deciding off ea request a certain (what they feel to be) acceptable size for that ping, most likely to try to get rid of leach tethering. not really why it effects the LTE more than hspa +42 data tho??

XT926 in Europe

I want to update everyone on here since I had a difficult time finding the legit info I needed about traveling abroad with my xt926.
Germany (Munich)
Purchased a sim card at a small local shop that sold sims, tobacco, watches, sodas, etc.. It was through "Lebara" and included 500 minutes and 1gb data for 20 euro. This included 10euro activation, but that was applied to my Lebara account (so 30 euro total). I got around 6-7mbps while in Munich. Just inserted card and everything worked (after the clerk activated it).
Austria (Salzburg)
Same story, but the clerk didn't speak English so I had to activate the sim card online and it sent me a text message with activation number. After that I had to call the number on the card and "top up" with the given pin code. As I type I'm getting around 1.5mbps. --small edit: clerk only sold me a standard top-up so I was paying per MB and burned through it pretty quickly, make sure you ask for a package deal as paying per MB is ridiculous.
The only difference in Austria is that I had to manually add the APN. In Germany no APN was required.
Both places are operating on H+ (hspa I think)
So, have no fear when traveling with your xt926. All is well and working properly (voice, data, text)
EDIT:
Amsterdam
I went with another Lebara sim card here, but didn't realize that the guy at the shop in the train station sold me a data only top-up pin code (10 euro for 1gb). It was not really a problem tho as I didn't need to make any calls. Data speeds here were only clocking around .8 megabits. It was still plenty to get me around.
The only problem that I had on this trip was battery life. Turns out there's a battery drain from the modem fast dormancy service due to network conflicts. I downloaded a service killer (I have root access.) At first I thought my battery was going quick due to heavy GPS usage, but after turning off that service my battery life was back to normal.
Hopefully this helps someone out!
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