Vodafone, Tesco, etc.

[joelinux]

Ok now...

I started this thread, and got the phone listed:

GSM/CDMA/Note Edge

So, now I have a few more questions about the actual logistics of said chip.

1)  I obviously need a non-plan simchip of some kind.  I likely only need about an hour's worth of minutes, and maybe about 200 texts, buuuut, I need a metric crap-ton of data.  It looks like the Red Freedom
TopUp is the way to go.  Is that correct? 

2)  I also notice that it has a "you'll get this for 30 days" disclaimer on top.  Does that mean that after 30 days, I will no longer have access to those minutes/texts/data?  I ask because I was considering buying it now to have, but if it will expire before I get there, there doesn't seem to be much point.

2)  I will be landing at EDI at 7AM, and immediately driving to Stonehaven.  Vodafone doesn't have many shops that are open before 9.  Plus, In the areas I'm going (Outer Hebrides), Vodafone doesn't seem to have shops in general.  Does/can Tesco sell me a Vodafone chip with all the related accoutrements?  Or will I suffer some loss of availability because it doesn't come from an "official" Vodafone shop?

[Nabs]

Hi @joelinux 

A Pay as You Go SIM as you have suggested would indeed be the best way to go.

The majority of shops here don't open until at least 9AM.

As far as I am aware the SIM packs available from Tesco would be automatically opted into the Freedom Freebee so as soon as you top up you would be good to go. Assuming youre driving up to Stonehaven your best bet would be the Tesco in Dundee, it's just off the A90 on the Kingsway.

The minutes, texts and data in a Freebee last for 30 days after which any unused will be lost. Assuming you have enough credit on the account the next months Freebee will be automatically started when the old one ends.

I think i've got that all right but our resident PAYG expect @Annie_N will be able to confirm anything i've missed for you though.

[Nabs]

Hi again @joelinux 

Just had a few more thoughts to consider;

I noticed from your previous thread that you have listed some of the places you plan to visit. Some of these are pretty rural so it would be worth checking the coverage in the area's you will be staying to make sure they give you sufficient data coverage for your needs.

Living in the North East of Scotland (working in Aberdeen) I know some of the mobile networks don't have  data access outside the large towns and cities. 

Having had a quick look at some of the locations around here, Stonehaven has 2G data access (think dialup speeds), Slains Castle has no data coverage at all on Vodafone!

I've only looked at 2 places there but it would be worth doing a little research before you arrive to make sure Vodafone is the best network for you. :smileyhappy:

[hrym]

Just to add to that, I've been all round the north of Scotland and over to Orkney.  Leaving aside black spots due to terrain (especially on the West coast), it's 2G all the way, though mostly with Edge, which does speed things up a bit.  In rural areas there are very few connections being made, so you won't be heavily in contention.

[Annie_N]

Hi @joelinux

I'm glad that Nabs and Hrym have discussed the availability of data, as I'd hate to think of you buying vastly more than you are likely to consume.

@Nabs is spot on about the Vodafone SIM cards at Tesco being already opted in to the Freedom Freebee, but I suspect that he may not have caught up with a document I posted elsewhere, in which I had to admit that, PAYG "expert" or not, I had a terrible time getting some SIMs from there correctly set up, and ended up needing assistance from Live Help.

I'm glad to see that the Dundee Tesco has a specialist Phone Shop, as you may need them to get everything set up for you. The Phone Shop is open 9am-8pm, although the store as a whole is apparently open 24 hours.

Enjoy your stay!

Annie.

[joelinux]

Thanks everybody. A few more points of clarification, if I may:

1) "...Assuming you have enough credit on the account the next months Freebee will be automatically started when the old one ends...." Does this mean that there will be a recurring charge? I'm only going to be there for two weeks. That's all I need. I plan on paying for this with my credit card.

2) Going from town to town, I'll just need it for the maps. Once in towns, I'll be using it for more diverse things (yelp, urbanspoon, etc.)

3) So to wrap it up, it sounds like I should de-plane/customs/etc. at 7AM, travel up to Dundee, and get it at Tesco. When I "top up", do I pay at Tesco, or do I input the details over the phone?

4) Are specific Freebee SIM cards only able to get certain plans, or are all Freebees capable of using all plans?

[Annie_N]

There are one-off Freedom Freebees and Automatic Freedom Freebees (ie renewing) so choose the former. See http://help.vodafone.co.uk/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION_ID=1&CMD=BROWS... for more details.

You won't be able to use a Non-UK credit card, so just pay Tesco for the Top-up. And just to be on the safe side, don't leave enough credit on yourpphone for them to give you a repeat Freebee if you get signed up to the wrong one in error.

But do talk to the shop staff about coverage, as they will be able to advise you about the other networks.

If you have a Freedom Freebee SIM, you should be able to opt for any of the 4 values and either one-off or renewing.

[Nabs]

@joelinux just to answer your second point;
There is pretty much zero Vodafone data coverage between towns and cities in Scotland. Where there is it won't be strong enough to load any maps. I would highly recommend downloading an app for offline use, HERE Maps or Navfree are both pretty good quality and up to date, more importantly both are free!
When you are in town it's hit or miss, sometimes data is usable but other times it just won't work. In a lot of pubs and hotels there is usually some form of WiFi connection though so you should be able to get online somehow