prepaid broadband for ipad
Jul 24th, 2017, 02:47 PM
#1
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prepaid broadband for ipad
We are travelling to the US with our special needs son next week. He relies on is ipad as a comfort when things get stressful etc .Can anyone please recommend what would be the best (cheapest) prepaid broadband sim card/data package that I could buy? We will be travelling for about three weeks so I'm guessing we would need about 40GB but happy to buy smaller amount and top up, what ever is easiest.
I know there is plenty of wifi around but we will be driving a bit so the ipad can help keep him occupied. That is assuming of course, that ipads are the same world wide?
Thank you
I know there is plenty of wifi around but we will be driving a bit so the ipad can help keep him occupied. That is assuming of course, that ipads are the same world wide?
Thank you
Jul 25th, 2017, 02:12 AM
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If your iPad is set up for Verizon or ATT you can sign up with either as dfrostnh has mentioned. There is a limited amount of data that you get with the $20 option, so if you/he are frequently downloading you will run out of data fairly quickly.
I use this and have some games like solitaire, suduko, etc. that I can play in airplane mode so I don't have to download every time I want to use them.
I use this and have some games like solitaire, suduko, etc. that I can play in airplane mode so I don't have to download every time I want to use them.
Jul 25th, 2017, 07:08 AM
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>
Let's be clear. Your iPad cannot be "set up" for Verizon or ATT because you're Aussies and those companies don't have broadband in the South Pacific. That option is only available in the US.
Tricia: We're assuming you're looking for wireless broadband that junior can access anywhere, not just wifi at your lodging. To that end, what YOU need to do is determine what broadband bands your son's iPad can use. The US has four major wireless carriers that are responsible for well over 90% of the wireless access in the country: Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile and Sprint. The major carriers all use different broadcast wavelengths. [Note that if you're just concerned about broadband wifi at the hotel, then this is all irrelevant because the ipad will work on any of the wifi transmission wavelength standards, 802.11 a/b/g.
Various companies resell access to those four main carriers' networks (see here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...lers/86655052/).
This means you need to determine which carriers in the US are compatible with the bands that junior's iPad can use and, if you want to buy a sim card from a reseller, which major carrier's network the reseller grants access to.
In the past, Verizon has been the worst choice for foreigners (and foreign travel from the US) because of the transmission frequencies it uses and a lack of international compatibility. Verizon's reliability and speed tend to be #1 but AT&T isn't far behind if at all. AT&T and T-Mobile are usually better choices for furriners and international travel. Sprint's reputation is sh-t, which is why it did a big upgrade on its transmission capabilities and has been running innumerable ads (adverts in Aussie) claiming it has 99% of Verizon's reliability but costs less.
Ultimately, based on your prior posts, this may be something you look into when you arrive at LAX. You'll be in the Tom Bradley International terminal on arrival and will not go outside security. That terminal has a TON of shopping and will have wireless carrier outlets that allow you to purchase a sim card (and likely install it for you - takes less time than reading this post).
Let's be clear. Your iPad cannot be "set up" for Verizon or ATT because you're Aussies and those companies don't have broadband in the South Pacific. That option is only available in the US.
Tricia: We're assuming you're looking for wireless broadband that junior can access anywhere, not just wifi at your lodging. To that end, what YOU need to do is determine what broadband bands your son's iPad can use. The US has four major wireless carriers that are responsible for well over 90% of the wireless access in the country: Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile and Sprint. The major carriers all use different broadcast wavelengths. [Note that if you're just concerned about broadband wifi at the hotel, then this is all irrelevant because the ipad will work on any of the wifi transmission wavelength standards, 802.11 a/b/g.
Various companies resell access to those four main carriers' networks (see here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...lers/86655052/).
This means you need to determine which carriers in the US are compatible with the bands that junior's iPad can use and, if you want to buy a sim card from a reseller, which major carrier's network the reseller grants access to.
In the past, Verizon has been the worst choice for foreigners (and foreign travel from the US) because of the transmission frequencies it uses and a lack of international compatibility. Verizon's reliability and speed tend to be #1 but AT&T isn't far behind if at all. AT&T and T-Mobile are usually better choices for furriners and international travel. Sprint's reputation is sh-t, which is why it did a big upgrade on its transmission capabilities and has been running innumerable ads (adverts in Aussie) claiming it has 99% of Verizon's reliability but costs less.
Ultimately, based on your prior posts, this may be something you look into when you arrive at LAX. You'll be in the Tom Bradley International terminal on arrival and will not go outside security. That terminal has a TON of shopping and will have wireless carrier outlets that allow you to purchase a sim card (and likely install it for you - takes less time than reading this post).
Jul 25th, 2017, 08:51 AM
#5
Oh -- I'm so glad BigRuss posted! I was reading the first two responses and was scratching my head since you are from OZ. But Big Russ explained things better than I was about to (try at least) . . .
Jul 25th, 2017, 01:09 PM
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Implied in my post, but not stated as clearly as it should have been, is that you'll need a local sim card - that's going to be a cheaper option for you than using the data from an Aussie sim card here.
Note that airport vendors may have better data deals than what you find online. Your results may vary, but I obtained a full-use sim (calls, texts, data) at Heathrow for way less than I could have online because at the terminal the network gave 10 GB of "free" data.
Note that airport vendors may have better data deals than what you find online. Your results may vary, but I obtained a full-use sim (calls, texts, data) at Heathrow for way less than I could have online because at the terminal the network gave 10 GB of "free" data.
Jul 25th, 2017, 08:34 PM
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Thanks BigRuss, really appreciate your reply. I have been told (since I posted) that I should use AT&T and that I also need to get a US Visa card. Im guessing that I can buy a prepaid Visa card and hoping that I can use the address of our hotel as we need a US address. I will endeavour to find out our broadband band!
Janisj, our lastfamily trip to the US was about 13 years ago and I remember that you were so helpful then as well, thank you for all you have done to make life easier for we travellers.
Janisj, our lastfamily trip to the US was about 13 years ago and I remember that you were so helpful then as well, thank you for all you have done to make life easier for we travellers.
