Best USA prepaid SIM for very occasional data use?

horology@horology.com · **Best USA prepaid SIM for very occasional data use? -** 02-01-2013, 17:21

I just got a highpowerd unlocked GSM tablet computer.

It will be used mainly with the wi-fi connections at my two residences and my office.

But occasionally when I travel domestically (I live in the USA) it would be nice to utilise the 4G connectivity for uses where my smart phone screen is to small, so I need to get SIM card card for it.

What is my best option for an occasional use data plan? Are there any No fixed monthly fee data plans that charge only based on data usage? I have not found any so far.

inquisitor · 02-01-2013, 17:26

What tablet do you own? Your choice of carriers is probably very limited due to the frequency bands supported by your device.

Stu · 02-01-2013, 17:44

If you are in cities where TMobile has refarmed its HSPA+ to 1900mhz, you might want to think about their $3 a day for 200 megs per day of HSPA+ with unlimited EDGE. By a TMobile prepaid SIM, put $100 on it to get gold status, and use this plan. $10 a year in recharges keeps the SIM alive and rolls your balance forward.

davidtheprof · 02-01-2013, 19:29

I've lent out my Truphone sim to visiting family in the US, 15c/MB. OK for occasional use, and prepaid credits don't expire, for at least a year. Cost of sim is around $30, compared with the $100 you have to load onto TMo to keep it active for the year.
Of course, the Tmo data rate is much cheaper, comes in at only 1.5c/MB once you have loaded up the card, and you do have the 100 to use, unlike Tru, where you still have to load credit after buying the Sim. I imagine tablets gobble data faster than phones, due to larger screens and full function websites.

horology@horology.com · 02-01-2013, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by inquisitor

What tablet do you own? ....

A Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 GT-P6800

Stu · 02-01-2013, 19:59

Remember that with TMobile, it is $100 for the first year and $10 for every year thereafter. Truphone isn't a bad idea. Another idea (and again it turns on consumption) is a portable hotspot device from ting.com. Ting uses CDMA (EVDO and WiMax or LTE) so you'll need the hotspot. You can't simply pop the SIM in the Galaxy.

Truphone isn't a bad deal.

rfranzq · **Where in the Us are you going to be using it? -** 02-01-2013, 20:04

Are you sure you have 4G?

Tru at 15c/MB [17c/MB with tax] costs $30 & includes $15 credit.
Uses T-Mobile at 3G [see below] and AT&T at edge speeds.

T-Mobile is 'refarming' its bands to allow 3G in many parts of the USA.
The below will tell you the good or bad news about where you want to use it.
Sightings of T-Mobile 3G/4G/HSPA+ coverage on 1900MHz (PCS/UMTS band II)

Having it available will probably result in more usage--probably a good thing.

Whatever you get, we would be interested in your results and impressions.

Stu · 02-01-2013, 20:10

I'll put aside the discussion of whether HSPA+ is 4g or not.

inquisitor · 02-01-2013, 20:12

That one supports UMTS on 850, 900, 1900 and 2100 Mhz, of which only 850 and 1900 MHz are used in the US. Apart from few regional carriers only AT&T and T-Mobile run UMTS on these frequencies, though T-Mobile has only recently started deploying UMTS to their 1900MHz spectrum and so coverage is limited. For an indicative coverage map of T-Mobile's UMTS1900 network see Sightings of T-Mobile 3G/4G/HSPA+ coverage on 1900MHz (PCS/UMTS band II)

Stu · 02-01-2013, 20:16

Many of those locations just went live within the last ten days. TMobile is making this refarming operation a priority.

It is hard to say what is acceptable for this individual. He is talking about occasionally use and he'll probably be ok with it if he lives in Florida and unhappy if he lives in Indiana.

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	(#1)
horology@horology.com (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 02 Jan 2013 Country:	Best USA prepaid SIM for very occasional data use? - 02-01-2013, 17:21 I just got a highpowerd unlocked GSM tablet computer. It will be used mainly with the wi-fi connections at my two residences and my office. But occasionally when I travel domestically (I live in the USA) it would be nice to utilise the 4G connectivity for uses where my smart phone screen is to small, so I need to get SIM card card for it. What is my best option for an occasional use data plan? Are there any No fixed monthly fee data plans that charge only based on data usage? I have not found any so far.

	(#2)
inquisitor (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,399 Join Date: 15 Nov 2006 Country:	02-01-2013, 17:26 What tablet do you own? Your choice of carriers is probably very limited due to the frequency bands supported by your device. terminals: Samsung: Galaxy S5 DuoS (G900FD); BLU: Win HD LTE; Nokia: 1200; Asus: Fonepad 7 ME372CG; Huawei data: E3372, Vodafone R201, K3765, E1762; postpaid: O2 on Business XL; prepaid: DE: Aldi Talk, Lidl; UK: 3; BG: MTel, vivacom; RU: MTS; RS: MTS; UAE: du Tourist SIM; INT'L: toggle mobile VoIP: sipgate.de (German DID); sipgate.co.uk (British DID); ukddi.com (British DID); sipcall.ch (Swiss DID); megafon.bg (Bulgarian DID); InterVoip.com

	(#3)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	02-01-2013, 17:44 If you are in cities where TMobile has refarmed its HSPA+ to 1900mhz, you might want to think about their $3 a day for 200 megs per day of HSPA+ with unlimited EDGE. By a TMobile prepaid SIM, put $100 on it to get gold status, and use this plan. $10 a year in recharges keeps the SIM alive and rolls your balance forward.

	(#4)
davidtheprof (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Fan Posts: 159 Join Date: 05 Jun 2011 Country:	02-01-2013, 19:29 I've lent out my Truphone sim to visiting family in the US, 15c/MB. OK for occasional use, and prepaid credits don't expire, for at least a year. Cost of sim is around $30, compared with the $100 you have to load onto TMo to keep it active for the year. Of course, the Tmo data rate is much cheaper, comes in at only 1.5c/MB once you have loaded up the card, and you do have the 100 to use, unlike Tru, where you still have to load credit after buying the Sim. I imagine tablets gobble data faster than phones, due to larger screens and full function websites.

	(#6)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	02-01-2013, 19:59 Remember that with TMobile, it is $100 for the first year and $10 for every year thereafter. Truphone isn't a bad idea. Another idea (and again it turns on consumption) is a portable hotspot device from ting.com. Ting uses CDMA (EVDO and WiMax or LTE) so you'll need the hotspot. You can't simply pop the SIM in the Galaxy. Truphone isn't a bad deal.

	(#7)
rfranzq (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 774 Join Date: 21 Apr 2009 Country:	Where in the Us are you going to be using it? - 02-01-2013, 20:04 Are you sure you have 4G? Tru at 15c/MB [17c/MB with tax] costs $30 & includes $15 credit. Uses T-Mobile at 3G [see below] and AT&T at edge speeds. T-Mobile is 'refarming' its bands to allow 3G in many parts of the USA. The below will tell you the good or bad news about where you want to use it. Sightings of T-Mobile 3G/4G/HSPA+ coverage on 1900MHz (PCS/UMTS band II) Having it available will probably result in more usage--probably a good thing. Whatever you get, we would be interested in your results and impressions.

	(#8)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	02-01-2013, 20:10 I'll put aside the discussion of whether HSPA+ is 4g or not.

	(#9)
inquisitor (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,399 Join Date: 15 Nov 2006 Country:	02-01-2013, 20:12 That one supports UMTS on 850, 900, 1900 and 2100 Mhz, of which only 850 and 1900 MHz are used in the US. Apart from few regional carriers only AT&T and T-Mobile run UMTS on these frequencies, though T-Mobile has only recently started deploying UMTS to their 1900MHz spectrum and so coverage is limited. For an indicative coverage map of T-Mobile's UMTS1900 network see Sightings of T-Mobile 3G/4G/HSPA+ coverage on 1900MHz (PCS/UMTS band II) terminals: Samsung: Galaxy S5 DuoS (G900FD); BLU: Win HD LTE; Nokia: 1200; Asus: Fonepad 7 ME372CG; Huawei data: E3372, Vodafone R201, K3765, E1762; postpaid: O2 on Business XL; prepaid: DE: Aldi Talk, Lidl; UK: 3; BG: MTel, vivacom; RU: MTS; RS: MTS; UAE: du Tourist SIM; INT'L: toggle mobile VoIP: sipgate.de (German DID); sipgate.co.uk (British DID); ukddi.com (British DID); sipcall.ch (Swiss DID); megafon.bg (Bulgarian DID); InterVoip.com

	(#10)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	02-01-2013, 20:16 Many of those locations just went live within the last ten days. TMobile is making this refarming operation a priority. It is hard to say what is acceptable for this individual. He is talking about occasionally use and he'll probably be ok with it if he lives in Florida and unhappy if he lives in Indiana.