topic Using US roaming data in Canada in Get Support

Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 10:47:34 GMT

Can a US roaming data add-on be used in Canada? If I am going to use the data within 10 days, it is cheaper to buy a gig of US roaming data ($20) as opposed to a gig of "Canadian" data ($30). I realize that the Canadian data carries over but if I use it all within 10 days the US roaming data is obviously the better deal.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

bravo_md — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:23:57 GMT

Us roaming data can't be used in Canada

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

ShawnC13 — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:24:27 GMT

@Ecky wrote:
Can a US roaming data add-on be used in Canada? If I am going to use the data within 10 days, it is cheaper to buy a gig of US roaming data ($20) as opposed to a gig of "Canadian" data ($30). I realize that the Canadian data carries over but if I use it all within 10 days the US roaming data is obviously the better deal.

No, the US data roaming is only active when in the US

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:27:37 GMT

Thanks bravo_md! That was quick!

Cheers.

@bravo_md wrote:
Us roaming data can't be used in Canada

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:28:47 GMT

Thanks ShawnC13! That was quick!

Cheers.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

stonechucker — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:37:38 GMT

Technically, you’d need to be connected to a tower in the US. It could be possible in a border town, but you’d have to enable data roaming, and be connected to the AT&T or T-Mobile.

Too complicated for me to do on a regular basis.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:49:15 GMT

@stonechucker wrote:
Technically, you’d need to be connected to a tower in the US. It could be possible in a border town, but you’d have to enable data roaming, and be connected to the AT&T or T-Mobile.

Too complicated for me to do on a regular basis.

Thanks stonechucker! Interesting. Certainly not an option for me. It is a little disappointing that the "Canadian" data is 50% more expensive - even allowing for the fact that it can be carried forward. However it is not something that I would need to purchase often so I guess I will either forego the data till my next block or suck it up. :^)

Thanks for your time!

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

bravo_md — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:55:27 GMT

ECKY your money would be better spend upgrading to plan that has more data EVERY month.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

stonechucker — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:59:13 GMT

@bravo_md wrote:
ECKY your money would be better spend upgrading to plan that has more data EVERY month.

I’m not so sure about that. The 1GB data add on will not expire at the end of a cycle. If used sarringly, it could last more many months, even years. At today’s rates, the big 3 and middle 3 carriers are or were charging the équilibrent of $80+ in $8/100 MB portions.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:08:11 GMT

@bravo_md wrote:
ECKY your money would be better spend upgrading to plan that has more data EVERY month.

Hi bravo_md

Actually this is a rare situation that would only happen in the summer when I am up at our cabin. The rest of the year I use maybe a gig of the 12 (3 month plan) that I have. Definitely not worth upgrading but thanks so much for the suggestion. There is no doubt in my mind that PM is a great deal for me (and most others). I am very pleased.

At the end of the day I just lay off my data use for the one block or I buy a gig or two to carry me over till my next block. The need for data is hardly critical. :^)

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:11:29 GMT

@stonechucker wrote:
@bravo_md wrote:
ECKY your money would be better spend upgrading to plan that has more data EVERY month.
I’m not so sure about that. The 1GB data add on will not expire at the end of a cycle. If used sarringly, it could last more many months, even years. At today’s rates, the big 3 and middle 3 carriers are or were charging the équilibrent of $80+ in $8/100 MB portions.

Hi stonechucker!

If I used my data sparingly I would not "need" to buy extra data. This is all a matter of "treating" myself while up north so I can do some researching on various topics. No biggie. Nothing is that critical up at the cabin! :^)

Agreed that the pricing is not bad but compared to the US I thought it a bit steep. :^)

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

bravo_md — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:13:07 GMT

ECKY I hear what you are saying and you're right.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:16:10 GMT

@bravo_md wrote:
ECKY I hear what you are saying and you're right.

Words I have never heard from my wife. ;^)

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

srlawren — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:18:50 GMT

@Ecky wrote:
Agreed that the pricing is not bad but compared to the US I thought it a bit steep. :^)

@Ecky fair enough. They really are different things though. The US Roaming 1 GB add-on is time limited to 10 days, whether you use 1 KB of data or the whole 1 GB, whereas you can gradually chip away at the domestic 1GB add-on indefinitely and the leftovers never go away. Thus, PM price it accordingly as it provides more value.

If you don't anticipate needing much data you could look at picking up a pair of 200 MB data add-ons at $10 each for the same $20 you wanted to limit your spend to. They also would not expire, but you'd be paying the equivalent of $50 / GB rather than $30 / GB when you buy the 1 GB. So, spend less, but also get significantly less. But it's another option.

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 01:29:22 GMT

@srlawren wrote:
@Ecky wrote:
Agreed that the pricing is not bad but compared to the US I thought it a bit steep. :^)
@Ecky fair enough. They really are different things though. The US Roaming 1 GB add-on is time limited to 10 days, whether you use 1 KB of data or the whole 1 GB, whereas you can gradually chip away at the domestic 1GB add-on indefinitely and the leftovers never go away. Thus, PM price it accordingly as it provides more value.

If you don't anticipate needing much data you could look at picking up a pair of 200 MB data add-ons at $10 each for the same $20 you wanted to limit your spend to. They also would not expire, but you'd be paying the equivalent of $50 / GB rather than $30 / GB when you buy the 1 GB. So, spend less, but also get significantly less. But it's another option.

Thanks srlawren. Yes I fully agree that they are different and I realize that the big diff is that one expires (US roaming) and the other does not. In my case, I would use the data within that 10 day window and so didn't need to pay the $10 "premium" to have my data carry over. That would be of no use to me. However for some it would make sense and I recognize that. I appreciate your thought of buying a smaller bundle of data which of course is valid but has a higher unit cost. As I have stated earlier though, at the end of the day, this is just me spoiling myself and I really don't need to buy any extra data. Thanks for your contribution though. It is appreciated. :^)

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

srlawren — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 16:55:59 GMT

@Ecky wrote:
As I have stated earlier though, at the end of the day, this is just me spoiling myself and I really don't need to buy any extra data. Thanks for your contribution though. It is appreciated. :^)

@Ecky no worries. 🙂 And hey, it's okay to spoil yourself every now and then!

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

Ecky — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 01:55:59 GMT

@srlawren wrote:
@Ecky wrote:
As I have stated earlier though, at the end of the day, this is just me spoiling myself and I really don't need to buy any extra data. Thanks for your contribution though. It is appreciated. :^)
@Ecky no worries. 🙂 And hey, it's okay to spoil yourself every now and then!

True enough. It is also good to deny oneself now and then and show some restraint. :^)

Re: Using US roaming data in Canada

srlawren — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 21:08:12 GMT

@Ecky wrote:
It is also good to deny oneself now and then and show some restraint. :^)

@Ecky overrated!