Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Return to IrelandYes.com Website -> Ireland Travel Forum -> Ask Michele: Ireland Travel Forum -> Sim card for data only "mifi" (mobile broadband router)
Post Info TOPIC: Sim card for data only "mifi" (mobile broadband router)
bobby_t1


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 7
Date:
Sim card for data only "mifi" (mobile broadband router)
Permalink  

I am headed to Dublin on business and my wife and 3 month old baby are tagging along.  We'll be spending Tues-Fri in Dublin, where I'll be working during the day, and my wife + daughter will be playing it lowkey and exploring Dublin while I'm working.  Saturday-Tuesday, we plan on leaving Dublin to explore the rest of the country before flying back to the US on Wednesday morning.  I found these forums on a link on Tripadvisor, and based on my read of the forums, it's much friendlier (and more helpful!) than Tripadvisor :)  So I'll be posting a few different posts asking different questions, hoping to get some insight from the experts here.

----

Lots of threads about sim cards for unlocked phones, but we don't have that problem. Only locked phones :)

Normally when we've traveled to europeans countries, we've brought along our "mifi" (aka mobile broadband router) which is a tiny cell-signal equipped device that you can connect via wifi to with your phones/tablets/computers, and then it connects to the cell carrier for data.  Great for making calls back home since we can use Skype, and we can get maps, etc.

When we were in Turkey last, it was super easy to get a 5GB sim card with data only (no voice) that I put in the mifi.  But I know not all countries are this easy... 

What advice do people have? Can I just walk into something like a vodafone and get a data only sim with some reasonable bandwidth limit? What would the expected cost be?



__________________
Itallian Chauffeur


Moderator

Status: Offline
Posts: 2187
Date:
Permalink  

If your MiFi unit is unlocked, Data Plan Sims are available from Most Mobile Phone provider companies.  Best coverage, based on recommendations from Locals and Personal Experience, would be Tesco or '3'.  The last I knew, Tesco actually used the '3' network, under contract, but that may have changed.  Both companies have a strong presence in both Dublin and Killarney, as well as Galway and Kilkenny. 

'3' offers: 

DurationData4G Access¹Price
1 day500MB 3
1 week2GB 10
30 days1GB 15
30 days (Most Popular)7.5GB 25
30 days20GB 35

http://www.three.ie/shop/broadband-plans/prepay-broadband/

 

Tesco details: You purchase a Data Sim for 2 Euro 50 and then, a 'Data Pack', based upon anticipated need.

http://www.tescomobile.ie/broadbandandinternet/broadband-data-sims/pay-as-you-go-data-plans.aspx

PlanDurationData AllowancePrice 
Heavy30day15gb15.00 
Light90days3 Gb over 90days15.00

 

Both Dublin and Killarney have wide-spread areas of Free WiFi access, so it might be possible to get by without a SIM, for so short a visit.



__________________

Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!
tony2phones


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1764
Date:
Permalink  

Tesco Ireland are still using 02 whilst Tesco UK use 3?.. not sure of the logistics with 3 now owning 02 but that's something above my pay grade..

I use Tesco in our mifi but 3 in the house and 3, much as I hate them are better.. Up here at least.. on the road in general Tesco is good and with widespread wifi access in the majority of locations then you should be fine using the Tesco plan.. just be aware that coverage in wild rural areas might not be great with either or any provider..(radio signal and hills&valleys never a good mix)

Also Remember to register the Tesco Sim card for "Data Only" with their customer services otherwise you could end up with 2g rather than 3g reception/usage..



-- Edited by tony2phones on Thursday 25th of September 2014 03:24:32 AM

__________________

Two rules for Ireland, Take your time & bring a sense of humour 
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Return to IrelandYes.com Website -> Ireland Travel Forum -> Ask Michele: Ireland Travel Forum -> Sim card for data only "mifi" (mobile broadband router)
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard