topic Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan? in Get Support

Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

fuGGet321 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:12:12 GMT

Hi all,

New here in the Public Mobile world, and haven't quite yet pulled the trigger because I'm undecided on which plan I would like. I only discovered this company very recently, and I'm definitely eager to get on board but I am trying to do it the right way as best as possible!

I understand that the Data Add-On is "restricted" to the speed at which you have your plan on, which is essentially means that it is virtually impossible to have an "LTE Data Add-On". Unless I'm missing something, even the lowest level $15 "Talk and Text only plan" sort of "comes" with data if you set up AutoPay for the $2 discount. Even here, the website clearly states the 250MB of Bonus Data is 3G speed with AutoPay on.

Hypothetical: what if I elected not to use AutoPay, which therefore means I do not "give" myself 3G data to be limited by? Is it then not possible to get the $15 plan, without data, and then give myself 1GB of LTE data via Add-On in order to effectively "build" myself a limited Talk plan with 1GB of LTE data?

This may seem silly because (again I should reiterate that I am new here), this gives me:

$15 base plan + $15 1GB LTE Data Add-On = $30 (i.e. more $ for less, but faster data)

Instead of:

$15 base plan + $15 1GB "3G" Data Add-On - $2 AutoPay & 250MB 3G Data = $28 (i.e. less $ for more, but slower data)

Or, would me getting the Data Add-On cause the Bonus 250MB to get throttled up to LTE speed? Since it is after-all a Bonus? Seems like wishful thinking, but I want to be totally clear on this! 🙃

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

RossN — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:12:59 GMT

@fuGGet321 the 1gb data add is at 3g speed only the 1gb data plan at 30 dollars is 4g lte speed

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

LovesToPM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:15:34 GMT

@fuGGet321 good thinking.

If you are on autopay and receive the 250 mb, your 1 GB add-on will also be at 3G speed.

If you opt out of autopay and do not receive the bonus data, your 1 GB add-on will be a LTE speed.

Please note that the current price for 1 GB add-on might be a temporary measure. The regular price for this add-on is usually $30.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

dabr — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:23:41 GMT

@fuGGet321 wrote:
Hi all,

New here in the Public Mobile world, and haven't quite yet pulled the trigger because I'm undecided on which plan I would like. I only discovered this company very recently, and I'm definitely eager to get on board but I am trying to do it the right way as best as possible!

I understand that the Data Add-On is "restricted" to the speed at which you have your plan on, which is essentially means that it is virtually impossible to have an "LTE Data Add-On". Unless I'm missing something, even the lowest level $15 "Talk and Text only plan" sort of "comes" with data if you set up AutoPay for the $2 discount. Even here, the website clearly states the 250MB of Bonus Data is 3G speed with AutoPay on.

Hypothetical: what if I elected not to use AutoPay, which therefore means I do not "give" myself 3G data to be limited by? Is it then not possible to get the $15 plan, without data, and then give myself 1GB of LTE data via Add-On in order to effectively "build" myself a limited Talk plan with 1GB of LTE data?

This may seem silly because (again I should reiterate that I am new here), this gives me:

$15 base plan + $15 1GB LTE Data Add-On = $30 (i.e. more $ for less, but faster data)

Instead of:

$15 base plan + $15 1GB "3G" Data Add-On - $2 AutoPay & 250MB 3G Data = $28 (i.e. less $ for more, but slower data)

Or, would me getting the Data Add-On cause the Bonus 250MB to get throttled up to LTE speed? Since it is after-all a Bonus? Seems like wishful thinking, but I want to be totally clear on this! 🙃

@fuGGet321 That's an interesting question and I'm not really sure about which speed data you would get if you chose not to add autopay to get the bonus data. Generally it defaults to the plan speed as you noted. I remember on the $10 plan (no longer offered), which didn't include data that any add-on data was at 4G. The only 4G 1/GB data plan at $30 doesn't have any calling or texting features and you would not be able to add any calling add-ons to it either.

My guess would be that the data would default to 3G but maybe not. Someone here will definitely have a better idea though. Good to know you're doing your homework first before activating 🙂

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

dabr — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:24:06 GMT

@LovesToPM wrote:
@fuGGet321 good thinking.

If you are on autopay and receive the 250 mb, your 1 GB add-on will also be at 3G speed.

If you opt out of autopay and do not receive the bonus data, your 1 GB add-on will be a LTE speed.

@LovesToPM Good to know 🙂

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

gblackma — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:19:44 GMT

Excluding the $30 1GIG data only plan @fuGGet321 , all the other PM plans are 4g LTE data throttled to 3 mbps and 3g data unthrottled max between 21 and 42 mbps depending on the band. The $15 1 gig of data is normally priced at $30 and at some point will go back to that price. A better fit for you would be the $25 plan with autopay you would get a whole 1 gig of data. This plan

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

LovesToPM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:17:22 GMT

@dabr wrote:
@LovesToPM wrote:
@fuGGet321 good thinking.

If you are on autopay and receive the 250 mb, your 1 GB add-on will also be at 3G speed.

If you opt out of autopay and do not receive the bonus data, your 1 GB add-on will be a LTE speed.
@LovesToPM Good to know:)

I remember Alan_K explaining all this in a previous community post. 🙂

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

computergeek541 — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:19:50 GMT

@LovesToPM wrote:

If you opt out of autopay and do not receive the bonus data, your 1 GB add-on will be a LTE speed.

I don't have first hand expeirence, but I'm no so sure about this. My belief is that Public Mobile considers this as a 3g plan regardless of autopay status.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

dabr — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:20:51 GMT

@LovesToPM wrote:
@dabr wrote:
@LovesToPM wrote:
@fuGGet321 good thinking.

If you are on autopay and receive the 250 mb, your 1 GB add-on will also be at 3G speed.

If you opt out of autopay and do not receive the bonus data, your 1 GB add-on will be a LTE speed.
@LovesToPM Good to know:)
I remember Alan_K explaining all this in a previous community post. 🙂

Ahh, okay thanks, so in fact it the add-on data does work similar to the expired $10 plan.

Edit: or not according to @computergeek541 ...

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

LovesToPM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:20:50 GMT

@gblackma wrote:
Excluding the $30 1GIG data only plan @fuGGet321 all PM data 4g LTE throttled to 3 mbps or 3g unthrottled max between 21 and 42 mbps depending on the band. The $15 1 gig of data is normally priced at $30. A better fit for you would be the $25 plan with autopay you would get a whole 1 gig of data. This plan

@gblackma you are correct. The only differences are:

1. Data with $25 plan is at 3G speed.

2. Any unused data from the 1 GB add-on will remain on the account until it is fully consumed.

Whereas with the $25 plan, the 1 GB of data is reset at each renewal.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

Triguy — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:26:40 GMT

Data Add-Ons to supplement a Data Plan will be provisioned at the data speed selected in your plan. If you have a Talk and/or Text Plan only with no data, the Data Add-Ons available to you will be defaulted to 4G LTE speed.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

Luddite — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:28:30 GMT

@fuGGet321 Why not "take one for the gipper."! Risk $2 and get the $15 plan/1 GB add-on without autopay.

If you can come out to western Mississauga I will donate a SIM for the experiment in person from 6' away; otherwise send me a private message & I'll mail it out. https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Getting-Started/Private-Messages-viewing-and-creating/m-p/56161#M9215

Let's discover something, eh?

Experiment! What could go wrong?

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

fuGGet321 — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:28:54 GMT

@LovesToPMInteresting that I've gotten three different answers saying three different things already, but I would like to agree with you since this is basically the answer I want to hear! Lol

Is it poor Community etiquette to summon a Mod here to confirm or deny which of these answers is the correct one??

I also realize the $15 Add-On is a temporary price point. As I'm continuing to do my homework, I'm also learning how Add-Ons are sort of their own separate entity since they roll over and don't renew like a plan does.

I'd imagine that the Add-On is bound to return to its original $30 price point sooner or later. So, this kind of makes my little strategy a little less effective as my sneaky little $30 AutoPay-less Talk and Text "only" (+LTE Data) plan would really end up becoming $45, correct?

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

LovesToPM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:33:08 GMT

@fuGGet321 Btw I'm curious what do you plan to do with 1 GB of data on LTE (that can't be done with 3G speed). I would fully understand if we were talking about larger plans (like 4 GB and higher), but 1 GB only goes so far. Just saying, a lot of people here are more than happy with their $25 1 GB plan.

No point contacting mods regarding this issue as they are busier than usual.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

Luddite — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:36:00 GMT

@fuGGet321 Since you plan to use very little data it's unlikely you will find LTE much advantage over PM's 3G:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Plans-Add-Ons/Share-Your-3G-Real-World-Experience/m-p/174974/highlight/true#M19036

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

fuGGet321 — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:36:20 GMT

@RossNAre you sure about that? That's not what I read at number 7 in the Terms & Conditions:

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

NDesai — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:51:35 GMT

@fuGGet321 What says on that screenshot is correct. If you're on a 3G speed plan, data add-on speed will be 3G. However, you will rarely notice any difference if you are using for normal browsing or checking emails. It will be troublesome only if you use for playing hd videos or downloading. If actual 3G/HSPA signal is good in your area, you will likely get higher speed and i recommend only if data is essential for you.

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

LovesToPM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:54:32 GMT

@fuGGet321 wrote:
@RossNAre you sure about that? That's not what I read at number 7 in the Terms & Conditions:

This is how it's supposed to work according to the terms and conditions.

In reality, it's a bit of a coin toss. Unfortunately I for one, don't really want to test it out as the autopay 250 MB data is working well for me.

Here's the post from Alan_K (Public Mobile) describing how it works:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/UPDATED-10-ready-made-plan-staying-for-a-limited-time-only/m-p/431500#M31904

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

gblackma — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:54:47 GMT

@fuGGet321 yes it will be $45. The only way you can get 4g LTE unthrottled data at PM is by buying the $30 data only plan. This plan

In order for you to add this data option to your $15 plan you would need a dual SIM phone, 2 SIM cards and 2 unique email addresses and 2 different accounts.

All other PM plans and add ons are essentially unthrottled 3g data. The only difference being that the data add ons do not expire monthly. If you are willing to spend $45 , then the $40 with 4.5 gigs of 3g data with autopay is a better fit. Or bump up to the $50 hybrid plan with 8.5 gigs of 3g data and free calling to the US from within Canada. This plan

Re: Speed of 1G Data Add-On if I get $15 plan?

darlicious — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 02:02:57 GMT

@fuGGet321 To my best recollection and the unofficial fact that all plans currently offered are programmed with the auto pay bonus regardless if you have auto pay or not means your add on would default to throttled LTE speed. This is my understanding and to the best of my memory what @Alan_K had to say....only grandfathered 4G LTE plans, the 1gb data only plan and the no longer offered $10 50/50 plan get 4G LTE with data add ons.

In regards to choosing a plan would depend on your data usage and your outgoing calling usage. If you have variable data usage month over month and don't need to talk a lot by calling out choosing the $15 plan and stacking several discounted 1gb data add ons and the $5/500min calling add on makes a lot of sense with an upfront investment. For $30 you get 1.25 1gb of data of which 1gb of unused data will roll over every month. Instead of $25 for 1gb of plan data that resets used or not. Simply put unlimited texts and incoming calling, 200 min outgoing (100 min roll over) and 350gb of data (100gb roll over) would raise the $15 plan to $17.50 ($15.50 w/autopay) with each additional 100gb of data costing $1.50 per month. This would make a great variable data/calling plan averaged w/autopay $20 650mb/200 outgoing minutes. A nice DIY plan!