topic Re: US roaming rated in Get Support

US roaming rated

ron11 — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:02:02 GMT

I will be travelling in the US soon and looked at the plans ; talk/text/3G is for 15 days. If I need 30 days do I have to buy two?

Re: US roaming rated

Handy1 — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:04:50 GMT

@ron11 Honest if your going that long be cheaper and definitely more reliable to buy local SIM card in your destination

Re: US roaming rated

softech — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:05:19 GMT

@ron11 for 30 days, you CANNOT just buy two. You have to buy one first. Once the first 15 days roaming expired, you hvae to wait full 24 hours before buying the exam same roaming

But if you are going for 30 days, it is better to buy local data sim prepaid sim , then use VoIP app like textNow to make and receive calls and texts US has decommissioned 3G , PM TALK roaming will be using Tmobile 2G network, not very reliable. It is hit and miss. So, it is much better to use the workaround I suggested instead

Fixed: typos

Re: US roaming rated

Yummy — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:08:03 GMT

Usually you have to wait 12-24 hours before buying the same US add-on.

But be aware of (so do not come back to complain 😋 )

According to Public Mobile:

PM will have T-mobile 2G network for US talk. Try to manually connect to T-mobile.

Roaming is for Data only. Voice and SMS text will still work.

Data will work on LTE, but will switch over to 2G to make a call.

Re: US roaming rated

hTideGnow — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:17:22 GMT

Hi @ron11 if you are ok not to receive call and text, it is MUCH better to use US data sim there, and it is cheaper

Yes, get a TextNow to make calls on the app. I'm fact , you can set forwarding to the TextNow number before you go on the trip. Just make sure you remove the PM sim before you go to US or the forwarding might got reset

Re: US roaming rated

LoveNature — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:34:19 GMT

Hi @ron11

Add-ons is 15 days Roaming package, after the first purchase will be expire, then waiting for 24Hr to re-purchase again.

and connect to T-Mobile for voice 2G and data 4G.

Edit: to re-purchase after 15 days, contact to CS_Agent them can re-added right away to your account.

Re: US roaming rated

will_public — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:30:06 GMT

I signed up to Public pretty much with the understanding that I'd just buy a local SIM wherever I went for roaming purposes. The roaming options aren't that great. Though the US one does look decent, it's probably cheaper to just buy a US sim if you're there longer than 15 days and don't needs texting etc. Nobody seems to use SMS these days anyway.

Re: US roaming rated

darlicious — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:45:11 GMT

@ron11

Yes but not at the same time. US Roaming add ons start immediately after purchase. Once the first one expires after 360 hours you can either purchase a different add on bundle, wait 24 hours after expiry to repurchase the same add on bundle or contact customer support near the time of expiry with the funds preloaded onto your account and ask them to add the same Roaming bundle to your account.

With voice calls using T-Mobile's 2G network you may want to research whether or not your travel or destination in the US has good 2G network coverage. If you plan to be driving or traveling from place to place, spending much of your time in rural areas or in in certain states (especially in the western US) then using the textnow app as a back up plan for voice calling when there is no 2G network coverage and/or call forwarding your pm phone # to your textnow phone # (in Canada before you leave) and purchasing only a US Roaming data add on (setting your phone to 4G LTE only) is also an option.

Read the following post and it's update for more info and links to coverage maps (use the cell mapper link for specific 2G network cell tower info in your locale). Recent software updates for iPhones and Android 13 (noted by some Google pixel 5 users) may have eliminated the ability to use or select 2G (GSM) mode on your device with the presence of the 5G network leaving you without the ability to use your voice services with pm while Roaming in the US until VoLTE implemented for pm customers.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/US-Roaming-Add-ons-Decommissioning-of-US-3G-HSPA-Networks/td-p/843202#M569057