PAYG or Sim Only for Parents iPhone

rscosworth · 3 Jan 2017 at 20:39

Guys,

My parents have an iPhone currently with a three payg sim card, they typically use about £20 a quarter via topup and for that they get an amount of data that they use sparingly when out and about. Typically most of the data is used using Find my friends to track their location.

The three network just doesn't suit them and get poor signal where they live.

Can anyone reccomend a very cheap sim only, or PAYG that will give them some data (250-500 would do) and reasonable calls - they wouldn't mind paying for their calls as usually I would be calling them, and any messages would usually go via imessage (so only using the data connection)

Can anyone suggest anything please?

Thanks

pull2808 · 3 Jan 2017 at 20:52

BT mobile have reasonable sim only deals if you have bt broadband.

Works off EE network so check that for coverage.

rscosworth · 3 Jan 2017 at 20:55

EE and Vodafone are great for the areas, but unfortunately they have VM broadband.

RJC · 3 Jan 2017 at 21:01

Virgin mobile have some deals on, which uses the EE network.

http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html

Wang · 4 Jan 2017 at 19:48

RJC said:
Virgin mobile have some deals on, which uses the EE network.

http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html

Any idea if the 25Mbps will be quick enough for most use? I currently have EE 4G and my contract is up in a couple of weeks so this couldprove to be an ideal replacement (£15 for 20GB is quite reasonable, monthly contract too) but I'm currently getting around 48Mbps with EE.

Orcvader · 4 Jan 2017 at 20:03

Wang said:
Any idea if the 25Mbps will be quick enough for most use? I currently have EE 4G and my contract is up in a couple of weeks so this couldprove to be an ideal replacement (£15 for 20GB is quite reasonable, monthly contract too) but I'm currently getting around 48Mbps with EE.

Depends on your usage, even on giffgaff's slow 4mb speeds I was still able to browse the web, use WhatsApp, social media and emails without issues. It was only if I tried to stream videos which started to have problems.

Myshra · 5 Jan 2017 at 10:14

Wang said:
Any idea if the 25Mbps will be quick enough for most use? I currently have EE 4G and my contract is up in a couple of weeks so this couldprove to be an ideal replacement (£15 for 20GB is quite reasonable, monthly contract too) but I'm currently getting around 48Mbps with EE.

That's 4MB a second throughput at max, there's very few mobile webpages that are bigger than 1MB on initial load, most are majorly under this too. The use cases for >25Mbit are mostly around mass data download. You'd be able to stream 720p60 fairly OK on this too.

Wang · 5 Jan 2017 at 19:26

Orcvader said:
Depends on your usage, even on giffgaff's slow 4mb speeds I was still able to browse the web, use WhatsApp, social media and emails without issues. It was only if I tried to stream videos which started to have problems.

Myshra said:
That's 4MB a second throughput at max, there's very few mobile webpages that are bigger than 1MB on initial load, most are majorly under this too. The use cases for >25Mbit are mostly around mass data download. You'd be able to stream 720p60 fairly OK on this too.

Cheers guys. I phoned EE last night to cancel an swap to the Virgin sim above, they immediately offered 20GB (double speed 4G), unlimited text, unlimited call for £10.

Happy with that

beh · 5 Jan 2017 at 20:09

rscosworth said:
The three network just doesn't suit them and get poor signal where they live.

rscosworth said:
EE and Vodafone are great for the areas

EE and Three share infrastructure so the signal should be similar for both :confused:

It's a shame if they don't get on with Three because the 200mb (free) data reward sim on their 321 payg tariff is perfect for the the scenario you describe.

Myshra · 5 Jan 2017 at 22:29

beh said:
EE and Three share infrastructure so the signal should be similar for both
.

Yes and no. While both get support and network through MBNL it's more complicated than that due to frequency use, directional antenna setup and some masts being exclusive still etc...

Mr_Cool · 5 Jan 2017 at 22:31

Nvm I see Threes signal isnt good where they are