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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I am being charged stupid amounts when im texting. I found myself spending £10 in one day and realised i couldn't have been being charged the right amounts! I just sent a text message (which ran into 2 messages) and it charged me 50p!! It is supposed to be 10p a text! I have changed SPB so that it minimises my inbox rather than closing it but still have no idea how to fix this. I phone O2 and they say they can;t do anything because they dont see a difference on their system and say it is prob. a handset problem. I did have similar troubles when on my orange simcard as well
Anyone else experienced this problem / know a way round it? Thanks
Strange :? They seem to be charging the MMS rate of 25p a message
just a thought is the person your are texting on a uk network as i found this out when i sorted my missus out with a 02 sim so she could text her mate in cyprus for free but u have to pay carnt do it on the free texts to overseas networks.
On Tesco sim which is O2 network, you get 3 favorite numbers, can be any mobile or landline. I registered 3 numbers and checked that they were correct, the system read them back to me and all was fine. I made a call to one of the numbers which should cost half price which is 10p per minute, checked my credit and saw that I was charge almost £5 which was the full rate. I rang them and they said it was a system error and although the system read back the numbers to me they werent actually registered. The guy on the phone sorted it but didnt give me any credit to cover the loss. This is a warning to Tesco users, check you are being charged the correct rate. Tesco is the best value at 20p per minute cross networks, but check you are being charged the correct rate for your 3 favorite numbers.
Why didn't they credit you the difference? It wasn't your fault, after all. These damn people :evil:
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.
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.
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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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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.
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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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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??
In the UK, is it possible to purchase a true PAYG SIM card for use solely with data? I've learnt that SIM cards advertised as 'PAYG' are misleading as they are in fact 1 month contracts. I narrowed my search down to a PAYG SIM card from Three, I put £10 on there only to discover that Three prohibit it being used solely for data, it has to be used for phone calls only. Waste of time and money that was. I want to put a PAYG SIM card in a 3G dongle connected to a car stereo / head unit. It will be very low usage - maybe £10 or £20 per year, hence why I do not want to spend out on monthly top-ups.
You could try GiffGaff, they run on O2's network.
Iv'e actually used GiffGaff on my phone for a couple of years now (although I've used it with a monthly "goodybag" but these are optional, you wouldn't need one for light usage).
You could probably get a GiffGaff SIM Card, pop some money on it, don't buy a goodybag, and then...
Mobile Internet:
Mobile Internet is charged at no more than 20p a day (up to 20MB). If you go over 20MB, you'll be charged extra at 20p/MB.
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Cheers,
Shockfire.
shockfire said:
You could try GiffGaff, they run on O2's network.
Iv'e actually used GiffGaff on my phone for a couple of years now (although I've used it with a monthly "goodybag" but these are optional, you wouldn't need one for light usage).
You could probably get a GiffGaff SIM Card, pop some money on it, don't buy a goodybag, and then...
Cheers,
Shockfire.
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Thanks, I'm now the happy user of a GiffGaff SIM card in my 3G dongle
I did a search and couldn't find a good spot to ask about plans so hopefully this fits here.
Recently upgraded from N4 to N5, since I now have have access to LTE (and T-Mobile has recently rolled out Band 2 coverage just about state wide in my state) it has opened up my service provider options. Currently on ST (AT&T) $45 a month, was hoping to be able to switch to something else and gain LTE speed (I have an early sim card and no LTE speed) and maybe save $5 or so a month.
Came across an ad for MetroPCS (MVNO for T-Mobile) offering a free LTE phone with porting of a non T-Mobile # (since I'm on AT&T right now I should be eligible). Figured I could pick up a free phone, drop the sim card into my N5 and keep the phone has a spare/give it to my son/sell it.
I have 2 questions:
1. If I were to give it to my son, would I have to use MetroPCS for service or could I use it on T-Mobile or any of its MVNOs (eyeing the $30 text/data plan). From what I have read I think it would be stuck on MetroPCS unless I unlock it, which is apparently a little difficult for their GSM devices.
2. Not sure if anyone would know the answer for sure, but the large majority of my data is used streaming music on pandora to my car radio (Android headunit running pandora app that connects to my phone via wireless tether). The appeal of MetroPCS vs. other MVNOs was even tho I lose 2GB of data (3 vs. 5) I save $5 a month and if my pandora steaming doesn't count then my monthly usage goes from about 4.5GB down to 2GB. I assume that MetroPCS just looks at the servers on the web the data is coming from and then flags anything from Pandora has not to be against my quota, it doesn't care if my phone then shares that data via wifi to another Android device.
Anyway thanks for any answers or feedback.
Well I have working tether now, I'll report back about the answer to 2. And I will steal a t-mo sim from another phone and check 1. but I believe the answer is it will only work with metropcs sims and not any t-mobile mvno.
OK to answer #2 it appears that A. MetroPCS is lying just streaming pandora on my phone seems to eat up data (or something is eating it up at an alarming rate with my phone idle and just playing pandora) and it most certainly is counted towards my data cap when its on a tethered device, in fact their whole data usage seems to be a big scam. According to the MyMetro app I have used 800mb in 3 days, this is with playing about 2 hours of pandora (which shouldn't count) 3 short trips of navigation, about 20 emails (none with attachments, just short text only emails) and about 10 minutes of web browsing. On ST that wouldn't have been more than a few hundred MB.
And lastly their coverage map isn't even remotely close, 3 separate times I have been outdoors on a main road in an area that is solid dark purple even at the most zoomed in level and I can travel a good mile in every direction before I get any kind of signal, let alone a 4G LTE signal.
/Rant