- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
BI've been using and recommending T-Mobile to those going on Camino and other international travelers for years, since it has been working so well for me. However I just got this "warning" from T-Mobile:
"The majority of the last two months of T-Mobile usage on line XXXXXXX has been roaming internationally. If this line continues to roam extensively abroad over the next month, the use will violate our terms and conditions, and your roaming usage will be blocked on October 22 2018. See details: t-mo.co/roaming"
I didn't spend any more time abroad this year than in the past two years, however I may have used data much more this time for a couple of reasons:
I used an app with mapping a lot this time, and I tended to just use my data rather than connect to wifi because it's a hassle to ask for wifi codes all the time, and often the wifi was poor anyway. And something that's really annoying is that a T-Mobile rep suggested that I pay a little extra for the One Plus plan so that I could have faster wifi, and the ability to make my phone into a hotspot while abroad. So there I am with my faster data or crappy wifi, of course I'm going to use the data!
So, Googling around a bit, it seems that it's not really the amount of data that I used abroad, but the fact that the ratio of roaming to domestic data was so high. So I think that the best thing to do is to turn off my wifi, and use data exclusively while I'm at home, so that I can tip the ratio. So, other T-Mobile users be aware of this. Only use your data when you have to when you're on the Camino, and perhaps try to use your data more than wifi at home.
we experienced the T-mobile speed throttling pretty quickly while on the Camino. We had a t-mobile sim phone and an unlocked iPhone. So we picked up an Orange data plan in Pamplona (summer sale = 9 GB $20 euro). We used that when wi-fi was no good, and t-mobile was slow. One trick we learned was to just take a picture of wi-fi password when going into a cafe, and then sharing it with the table. Many had a piece of paper on the bar or wall. Seems like a combo of things gets you through but mapping software chews up data!Still the best data plan in the US. My daughter moved to Canada and she got the same warning. Which made me call customer service and they basically said boiler plate message, but to better use WiFi when possible. They just throttle speed after a while.
But I specifically paid extra so that I could have faster data speeds in Spain on the suggestion of the T-Mobile rep!B
we experienced the T-mobile speed throttling pretty quickly while on the Camino. We had a t-mobile sim phone and an unlocked iPhone. So we picked up an Orange data plan in Pamplona (summer sale = 9 GB $20 euro). We used that when wi-fi was no good, and t-mobile was slow. One trick we learned was to just take a picture of wi-fi password when going into a cafe, and then sharing it with the table. Many had a piece of paper on the bar or wall. Seems like a combo of things gets you through but mapping software chews up data!
I have the same plan, and signed up for Plus before I left for the Camino, so that I would have faster speeds and the ability to use my phone as a hotspot abroad. I had excellent coverage while in Spain, so saw no reason to sign on to public wifi networks, which we are always being told can be risky. I have used my T-Mobile phone this way the past two years on the Camino. It's funny, because I didn't receive any warning messages while I was in Europe - the first warning text appeared when I turned on my phone after landing at JFK. I arrived in Europe on July 3rd, and back home in the States on August 16th. My data usage for the billing period July 8 - August 7 was 6.03 GB. By contrast typical monthly usage at home April 8 - May 7 was 3.24 GB, since I use my home wifi network when I'm at home. But the year before while I was on the Camino I used 3.38 GB during one billing cycle.My USA plan, T-mobile One Plus Unlimited 55+ has unlimited data and streaming, I signed up about 18 months ago. The only restriction is after using 50 Gigs in the 30 day period they can throttle down the speed if the network is busy. I'm giving this detail just in case it is useful in comparing experiences (apples to apples).
I was gone for 6 weeks in May/June this year. I got a welcome msg from T-Mo when arriving in France, then Spain, then France again and maybe when arriving home...can't remember that. I did NOT get any warning or communication from T-Mo during my 6 weeks out of country and never bothered looking for WiFi because I was always connected for voice and data throughout the whole camino.
I signed up during an active recruiting period by T-Mobile. My brother signed up about 6 months prior and got an even better deal in the form of a free mobile hot spot device. When looking at their current offer, I see the plan I signed up for has changed from 50 Gigs down to 20 Gigs before slow down for the same price.
Maybe I slipped through the "warning" crack or maybe the date each of us signed up and the specific package we each got determines when we get warned about our international usage?
I'm sorry, but that seems like an abuse of the service, which is for people who are traveling in other countries, not living in them. Perhaps it's because of that type of use that they are cracking down more on everyone? And I have read of several cases where either roaming privileges were canceled, or the account was closed altogether.Still the best data plan in the US. My daughter moved to Canada and she got the same warning. Which made me call customer service and they basically said boiler plate message, but to better use WiFi when possible. They just throttle speed after a while.
My data usage for the billing period July 8 - August 7 was 6.03 GB. By contrast typical monthly usage at home April 8 - May 7 was 3.24 GB, since I use my home wifi network when I'm at home.
Wow, that's a lot of data that you use! Yes, I think that it's based on a ratio. So since you are a heavy use at home, your usage abroad doesn't approach more than 50% of your domestic usage. I actually just called T-Mobile, and was reassured that I'm not going to get cut off of unlimited roaming, that in general the cut off is if you are abroad for more than two months.My data usage at home is radically different...maybe their algorithms compare average monthly data abroad to average monthly date stateside. I always exceed 50 Gigs/mo stateside as it is my hotspot used for streaming TV, movies, internet, texts etc... I cut the cable completely when I signed up for T-Mobile. It was the first "reasonably" priced plan in my opinion making this option viable for my needs and my budget. My data usage while traveling abroad was minimal, probably below 10 Gigs in 6 weeks. Since my usage dropped radically from the norm, maybe the red flag for international usage was overridden by the low relative usage while abroad?
....was reassured that I'm not going to get cut off of unlimited roaming, that in general the cut off is if you are abroad for more than two months.
Just send the Sim card.When I signed up for T-Mobil I was planning a 6 month trip to South America and T-Mobil had the best coverage for the areas I was planning to travel. The sales people at the counter assured me I would have no problems with a 6 month trip out of country. They might have said something like, call T-mobil before you leave to tell them about your trip plans...I can't remember but I was specifically changing carriers for cord-cutting AND the international coverage for an extended 6 moths trip to South America.
Maybe I'll have to fedx my phone home to the states every two months for some domestic usage and then have it sent back to me for the next two months of usage.
I don't think that the sales people are fully versed on all the restrictionsWhen I signed up for T-Mobil I was planning a 6 month trip to South America and T-Mobil had the best coverage for the areas I was planning to travel. The sales people at the counter assured me I would have no problems with a 6 month trip out of country. They might have said something like, call T-mobil before you leave to tell them about your trip plans...I can't remember but I was specifically changing carriers for cord-cutting AND the international coverage for an extended 6 moths trip to South America.
Maybe I'll have to fedx my phone home to the states every two months for some domestic usage and then have it sent back to me for the next two months of usage.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?