Global sims for mobile phone communications

[madian2]

We are planning to liveaboard from April, hope to cross Biscay early June, cruise Spain and Portugal then either go to Lagos next winter or cross to the Caribbean.

We are currently researching our mobile phone communications and getting a global sim seems to be a good solution, for example Truphone. Just wondering if anyone had any experience of using a global sim (particularly Truphone), or could recommend an alternative provider? Or is it easier to just get a local sim when you arrive?

For internet we were thinking of getting our own mobile wi-fi unit, a Huawei E5330 (model recommended by Huawei for us), and then buying a local data sim when we arrive at wherever we end up. Again feedback, experiences etc on this approach would be most appreciated.

Thanks for any help and advice.
Jackie, Yacht Rivalady
www.rivalady.wordpress.com

 

[duncan99210]

We use a Gymsim (Gloabl Yachting Mobile) which gives us free incoming calls and texts but costs about £0.34 a minute for outgoing ones. Given the falling cost of roaming within Europe, we're on the point of giving up on it as the cost savings over simply using our UK based mobile have just about vanished. However, you're heading across the pond, so the saving may be better. The calling mechanism is also a bit clunky: you make the call, the phone tells you the call has failed and then calls you back with the call.... Doesn't work with a smart phone either. Check that before you buy if you're intending to use a smart phone.
As to using a mifi with a local data sim, that's exactly what we do. Works well.

 

[telford_mike]

Firstly, getting the Huawei MiFi device is a great idea. We've had one for a few years and it's really good.

Global SIMs are good but very, very expensive if you use them frequently - we tried using them for employees who travel and the costs were ruinous. Use Skype or your IP telephony of choice, or better still get a local SIM if you're in a country for more than a couple of weeks.

There's no signal while you're crossing the pond....

 

[madian2]

Thanks for replies.
We're getting a Delorme Inreach Tracker with unlimited texts just in case we cross the pond.... Friends that have just crossed said it was brilliant and they sent loads of texts all the way across.
But I do feel we need a phone as well just in case. Perhaps when we are liveaboards, and living a different lifestyle, we might realise we can live without a smartphone but just can't imagine it at the moment!

 

[rivonia]

The best one that we could find for world wide use is GYMSIM. It gives the lowest rate in which ever country you are in. We have been using it for the last 6 years. Never a problem. (So far)

 

[madian2]

Thanks so much, GYMSIM looks like the perfect solution for us - exactly what I was looking for.

 

[dslittle]

Check out Three. My contract includes my use in USA, France, Italy and Sweden flawlessly. Soon I will be able to use it in Spain too. There are other Countries available. Works for me as we do return to UK relatively often so I am not sure how Three would view (or police it) long term.

 

[madian2]

We have spoken to Three and they advised their contract is for holiday use abroad, not full time liveaboard (we won't be returning to the UK very often) and they did say it would be stopped if we tried. How they police it I'm not sure and am happy to be told otherwise by a forumite....?

 

[Monique]

Thanks for replies.
We're getting a Delorme Inreach Tracker with unlimited texts just in case we cross the pond.... Friends that have just crossed said it was brilliant and they sent loads of texts all the way across.
But I do feel we need a phone as well just in case. Perhaps when we are liveaboards, and living a different lifestyle, we might realise we can live without a smartphone but just can't imagine it at the moment!

I just procured one of the above. However, given the satellite messaging capability, we found it unnecessary to go to a SATPhone. I have replaced the "end of life" Icom 700 (HF) with a new Icom 801E with Pactor 4 modem.

There are very few people in this world I would want to reach from mid Ocean on my dosh!

 

[affinite]

We have GymSIM.
As previously said, no real advantage in Europe because of falling roaming costs but pop over to Turkey and the roaming costs soar making it viable.
Theres a whole can of worms re registering your phone in Turkey but I see thats not on your schedule so moot.
BTW Ive never had any success in checking my GYMSIM account on-line. The website just doesnt work for me. Dont know why

 

[trevorr]

We too have a GYMSIM which we use mainly for emergencies or in those fir few days before you can get to buy a local sim card.

Never had a problem with the website.

 

[tcm]

Thanks for replies.
We're getting a Delorme Inreach Tracker with unlimited texts just in case we cross the pond.... Friends that have just crossed said it was brilliant and they sent loads of texts all the way across.
But I do feel we need a phone as well just in case. Perhaps when we are liveaboards, and living a different lifestyle, we might realise we can live without a smartphone but just can't imagine it at the moment!

The comms you use ashore I suppose will be different from those at sea of course... and I think a satphone is a sensible option so you KNOW that someone has your message, txts inbound are free and outbound cost small fractions of a dollar. You also get a tracker facility for people watching on the web, although this can be a bit weird as they watch every move and if the satphone fails they assume the worst.

Yes, not having a smartphone is just one of the adjustments i think might be made at some point. For starters, what if it fall in the water? Not easy to replace the sim, really?

It might be less hassle to have local sims, and a Skype number. That way people can call you always on the same number, and you can divert it to whatever number you want. It costs inbound callers only a local uk phone cal to contact you if you get a +44 Skype number, and it's whatever an inbound local number costs you on the sim, not much.

 

[Mudisox]

Check out Three. My contract includes my use in USA, France, Italy and Sweden flawlessly. Soon I will be able to use it in Spain too. There are other Countries available. Works for me as we do return to UK relatively often so I am not sure how Three would view (or police it) long term.

+1

 

[oldvarnish]

We're getting a Delorme Inreach Tracker with unlimited texts just in case we cross the pond.... Friends that have just crossed said it was brilliant and they sent loads of texts all the way across.

Yes, InReach is great. But I had problems sending texts to UK mobile phones. Check that they've sorted that. It was 2 years ago. No problems with emails.

 

[Garry & June 'Friendship']

Check out Three. My contract includes my use in USA, France, Italy and Sweden flawlessly. Soon I will be able to use it in Spain too. There are other Countries available. Works for me as we do return to UK relatively often so I am not sure how Three would view (or police it) long term.

Have just spoke to 3 and have ordered a sim deal from them. Explained that would be spending a good deal of time in Europe but travelling back and forth occasionally and wished to keep a UK contract running. £15 a month for unlimited UK data, 200 min, unlimited txt, when abroad data is capped at 25gb ! also you get 4gb to use your device as a hot spot. As dslittle states above Spain is another country that will be added to the list of participating countries from this April.
When we set off this spring SWMBO will ditch her UK sim and purchase local one as we travel south. This is because one country not yet covered by 3 is Portugal so once past the RIAS will need to buy a local Portuguese one which will cover us until we reach S Spain.

 

[Garry & June 'Friendship']

+1

again having spoken to 3 they state it is not really designed for long term use abroad but that nothing would really flag up a problem unless you go over your monthly limit. Which means in real terms they would not investigate (police) how much time you spent using it abroad unless you were silly and started going over your limit. Having a 25gb monthly allowance you would be unlikely to do unless you were downloading full length feature films every week !!

 

[Garry & June 'Friendship']

3 mobile has had me intrigued for days now... however I have been studying their small print in a little more detail... it states that if you use their service abroad in a single country, for more than a month! , more than twice a year!, then they may withdraw their roaming service.
Mmm suddenly doesn't look so attractive.

 

[affinite]

3 mobile has had me intrigued for days now... however I have been studying their small print in a little more detail... it states that if you use their service abroad in a single country, for more than a month! , more than twice a year!, then they may withdraw their roaming service.
Mmm suddenly doesn't look so attractive.

Yep its not the "be all and end all" of roaming deals
particularly if, like us, you currently cruise in Greece and Turkey
We'll sign up when we move on to Macau though

 

[bobsail2]

Saw the thread below first and posted (well, subject to moderator approval), but probably should have posted here. In summary, interested in hearing about others experiences. We are Australians, will be cruising in UK (only a couple weeks), then Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Greece. Need voice (limited usage) for new iPhone (nano sim) or full size sim for old Nokia and data for NetGear Aircard 762s (est 3-5gb/month). Not keen on the "buy a local simcard in each country" approach. Tried it last year, don't want to waste time (in most often unsuccessful) forays into local shops in each country. Will use marina wifi where possible, but haven't had great luck with that either, even in UK!

Thanks for help!

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ittle-concerned-about-GymSim&highlight=gymsim

 

[keelbolt]

Y

There are very few people in this world I would want to reach from mid Ocean on my dosh!

Same here. But unfortunately, MRCC is one of them. So Sat phne for ocean work is still on the list.