Florida coverage/data question

[stevenanto]

Hi everyone, 

we are planning a trip to Orlando and of course we would visit Disney. We would need to use the phone for data at Disney as we will use a Disney app to book our rides. We would need something dependable and reliable. I am not sure if anyone has had experience at disney wihile using Genie+, it can get competitive and stressful haha. Their wifi in the parks isnt the greatest. 

So back to the question, I know that you can addons with publicmobile but have read mixed feedback in terms of verizon and at&t following through with their end of the contract. Is it just better to buy a sim and plan in the states? We are literally just usuing it for the purpose of Genie + . 

[stevenanto]

Thank you so much everyone for your responses. 

[maximum_gato]

@stevenanto 

Currently Public Mobile only has working US roaming partnership with T-Mobile. If you must use the 2G network for voice calls then Florida does not have great coverage and having a voip provider app like textnow as back up plan will ensure you have access to voice services on the 4G LTE network. However T-Mobile's 4G LTE network coverage in Florida is excellent at 88.1% of the state. Basically unless you are on an airboat in a remote area of the everglades you will have coverage with the 4G LTE network.

Texts and data will use the 4G LTE network. Data speed is the same as your current plan. ("3G" plan data speed will be throttled 3mbps and "4G" plan speed is up to 100mbps but T-Mobile's subscribers typically get between 19 - 76mbps download speed, upload between 4 - 20mbps and latency between 24 - 40ms.) Newer and higher end devices will get the higher end of the download  speed estimates.

VoLTE calling is dependent on your device and if your account has been provisioned already for VoLTE. You can check on most devices by dialing *#*#INFO#*#* on your phone apps dialpad. Check "phone info" and look for your IMS to be "registered" and VoLTE enabled. If it is still not registered about a week before your trip you can contact customer support and explain your intention to purchase US Roaming add ons and ask if they can manually provision it in your account (and any other member of your family traveling with you to Florida.)

BTW....the Disney World resort has about 80 T-Mobile cell towers/sites within the resort grounds with bands 2 and 66 most predominant along with bands 12, 41 and 71 . For reference for both T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 2G networks use the cell mapper network cell tower coverage map for specific info on local connectivity.

https://www.cellmapper.net/map?MCC=310&MNC=260&type=LTE&latitude=28.378615964475912&longitude=-81.54...

[gpixel]

many customers assume that local sims just magically work on any device in the US. this is highly incorrect. the device needs to be unlocked and compatible with volte for those providers, not all devices work... its the same scenario we have in canada

[Flyingfinn1982]

That’s incorrect, 3G speeds are being negated in the US due to 5G upgrades. Expect mostly 4G. Cheers. Read the U.S. data roaming add on for clarity. 

[hTideGnow]

HI@Flyingfinn1982   Roaming speed based on your plan.  If you have a 4G speed plan, then expect 4G speed.  

But of course, if you have 3G speed plan, then expect 3G speed

HI @stevenanto  Data roaming in Florida should be good

[Flyingfinn1982]

T-Mobile is the network and expect 4G speeds. Coverage will be more than adequate while in Orlando. 

[softech]

@stevenanto   Disney itself has Wifi , so it could help

Orlando data coverage for using Roaming seems good according to a experience from another customer:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/Has-anyone-tried-the-US-roaming-add-on-wi...

Not sure if you need voice roaming, but definitely download TextNow as well as a backup as voice roaming on 2G might be an issue, but VoLTE is now enabled, it could have improved a lot  (and this customer also confirmed data roaming itself works greak)

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/Calls-not-working-in-florida/m-p/957989

In terms for local data sim or not, I would say it is certainly cheaper if you buy it in States and more data for local sim card 

[hycm53]

@stevenanto PM US add on is only connect to T-Mobile, no longer to connect to AT&T or Verizon any more. I tried to connect to AT&T or Verizon as one community member asked, after connected to AT&T or Verizon, "SOS only" showed on phone screen.

$30 US data, talk & text add on worked for me very well when I was in Boston. 

Add: this is T mobile 5G or 4G coverage map, you can check it out:

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map

[HALIMACS]

@stevenanto 

Data with T-Mobile is adequate while in the USA with the US add-ons from here.

If you want superior coverage, definitely purchase a pre-paid US SIM card which can have much better data allotment and better calling.