Sim card for data

[scoge]

Hello to you all on this great forum for information etc.
Does anyone know if i can buy a Portuguese sim card for use in CVO for data use only in wifi modem rather than a phone?

At the moment I buy 1gb cards which last for 30 days when i need them occasionally, but I guess a portuguese card would give better value as it connects locally.

[Farol]

Not a problem. All the network providers sell them. Easiest to go into Shop Algarve at Guia as they have shops there so you can choose between them. I use Vodafone Pt in just this way. Details are also on vodafone.pt website.

[Michael Crane]

I have an iPad mini. Can this be used with a dongle . . . and if so, how?

[sam]

we recently purchased on for our dongle - got it from Worten. Worked well.

[kennycapes]

i assume that i could put a new Portuguese SIM in my iPhone then for data roaming but of course will have a phone number that no one knows (will be great for local calls to taxis and restaurants i guess)

is that right

[Farol]

Search the property part of the forum for"Internet facility in villa" and you should find suitable answers.

[scoge]

Thanks Farol. My MiFi gizmo is locked to 3 at the moment so I suspect I will have to unlock it to use the Vodaphone sim card?

Is Vodaphone the best provider for mobile coverage in CVO or TMN or Optimus a better bet?

I am hoping I can pick one up at the airport to save a trip, I assume there is probably a Vodaphone shop there.

I know you can also get international roaming sim cards - any experience of them - they seem a bit pricey though so a local card would be the cost effective option I think.

I will also use the preferred option of a cold glass or three in Hemmingways using their wi-fi facility.

[scoge]

This information I have just found trawling the wobbly web may also be useful to anybody looking to use Ipad or android tablet in Portugal:

"i had 2 options available to me, but there may be others, I purchased a Optimus Kanguru 1GB preloaded microsim, valid for 30 days, for €14.90, I had my new ipad with me and we set it up in the shop, started on its own no problems at all once the VPN settings were input. But I also asked in Vodafone, they do the same offer, same price, and they also have a shop just outside arrivals in Faro Airport, but this was closed as I arrived very late. The reception on Optimus was excellent, and I used just 450MB of the 1GB data, as I use it just for business/work when I am away. Just take the VPN settings from the internet with you for all the Portuguese networks, then you'll have everything you need to make the microsim work, whichever one you buy."

[scoge]

Hi Michael

I used a USB dongle last time I was in CVO and sometimes here in the UK but pricey on the amount of data used.

Bought myself a Huawei E585 mifi and then just use PAYG data sim cards at £4.99 per month or 1GB whichever is first.
Don't top up just dispose and buy another when you want.

Great when you're on the move or holiday in remote areas - I have no phone contract and for occasional use it is hard to beat.

[maccasa]

Don't know if this helps but I bought a 3.6mps wifi dongle some 4 years ago - uses Vodafone, but TMN does seem to have a slightly better coverage. That costs €10 for 600 mins. Then in jan I bought a 7.6mps dongle for €29.99 and have tried using both data and e mail options. The price is the same €10 for 1Gb or 600mins - at the moment you get a bonus so its 1000mins. If I was downloading programmes, tech drawings, photos etc the data option was the best but for normal e mails the mins option was best. One other point is that there is a time limit of usage - the data option is 1 mth and the e mail option is 3mths.

I have tested the 7.6 mps and do regularly get over 5 and occasionally over 6.

The other option was (is?) TMN offer a fixed phone + wifi modem installation for 14.99 month on a contract, however you need a PT cable connection. I believe the wifi is 20mps.