Travelling to US from Canada - Best Options for short-term plan?

[tsapiano]

In the past I’ve always popped into an AT&T store and picked up a GoPhone SIM when crossing the border, but looking over all the material on that it looks like they’re now using a silly whitelisting system that likely won’t accept my Canadian phone (Samsung S22+ SM-S906W variant).

Any recommendations on another carrier that I can go into a retail store, pick up a plan/SIM/eSIM and be good to go? Not so much concerned about price, but want the best possible coverage (rural virginia and the carolinas for work in this case, but will be doing other trips to other areas in the future) and lots of data. I’ve not had a lot of luck with travel specific companies as they tend to focus too much on price and seem to use lower-tier carriers with spotty coverage so I’d prefer to go right to the source if possible. Ideally someone who doesn’t charge for the SIM card or any activation fees.

Have travelled a lot in the past and never had trouble finding service with a little digging to find the right bands for my phones at the time, but this is the first time I’ve run into synthetic limitations like this

[PaulCrawhorne]

MVNOs on the VZW network have the best coverage, but you need a phone designed to handle those radio bands.

AT&T has good reach too but the phone must pass the IMEI check.

5G compatibility really helps with overcoming congestion issues these days.

Those few providers saddled with B&M stores are not great value, but depends on what you mean by lots of data.

We go through 600-800GB/mo, is that what you mean? Or is say 35GB enough?

Best to order a SIM online even if you need to have it sent to a US drop address to pick up.

Or maybe Boost? but they are likely to hammer you with sales BS in a store, and most likely you get put on TMO service rather than ATT.

eSIMs now make the process more flexible, and lots of international roaming data providers are cheaper these days.

[Boz1]

Whitelist applies to Vzw, too, unfortunately.

T-Mobile seems to have the most lenient phone requirements.

But you'd have to check the T-Mobile coverage in the areas you expect to visit.

Wanting to buy from a B&M retail location limits your choices to some extent.

Otherwise, perhaps you'd have luck with buying a low-end AT&T or Tracfone (Vzw) prepaid phone and service at a Walmart.

[PaulCrawhorne]

Walmart not so cheap, and usually locked to one provider that may not be economical for "lots" of data

With VZW the issue is actually RF compatibility.

AT&T is more arbitrary, blocks phones that actually work (more or less)

Using the international eSIM services can be a decent workaround

but you really need a ballpark for your average GB/day required.

Or plenty of decent eBay / Swappa deals for Androids available for cheap once you know the provider you want.

[OG1502]

Considering you have an eSIM capable phone, filter through http://esimdb.com/canada

[sillyette]

OP, if you haven't already, you should look on https://prepaidcompare.net/#plans
You'll be able to search for your own specific data requirements. It's a very cool site!

[PaulCrawhorne]

Hot deal for best coverage
https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...k-Text-Data-60

[tsapiano]

Definitely open to ordering the SIM card, but my experience has been that they won’t generally send them to international addresses. Was hoping eSIMs would make that easier, but most seem to want to mail you to code rather than just email it so it falls into the same trap. If thereÂ’s any way to get it sent up here I’m definitely game - I’ve historically used B&M stores as they were the only way to physically get the card. Drive from the airport to the closest mall and be up and running quickly.

I will look into drop shipping services as that might be another option, but most of them cost more than the SIM card and service. If I could find a way to keep the SIM from expiring between trips itÂ’d be worth it, but IÂ’ve not found a plan that makes that viable.

As for lots of data, I’m in Canada so my perspective might be a little different; anything over 20GB should be sufficient. 600-800GB is not something that any amount of money will buy you up here :P

Will take a look at these options and what others have suggested here. Quick questions as we don’t have MVNOs up here:
- Do the MVNOs offer the same level of service as their host networks, or are they deprioritized when things get congested?
- For the host networks that have whitelisting, do their associated MVNOs share that requirement or can they sidestep it?

[PaulCrawhorne]

eSIMs are electronic, no physical mail ever afaik

VPN might work if geo restricted, but most of the international roaming ones seek customers worldwide, and some get down below $2-3 per GB pay as you go

I reco focusing on that market niche for convenience, goigle Reddit and other forums for Vegolink

also AIRALO, UBIGI, NOMAD, KEEPGO, DENT

A Dual SIM phone would allow you to use a data focused service that expires once you return to Canada

and a vry low cost T&T "permanent" US number, like $3/mo you don't mind paying year round, will continue to work in Canada over WiFi Calling.

[PaulCrawhorne]

Yes a USA pSIM generally needs to be sent to a US address and then either picked up by you or forwarded to you in Canada.

I'm surprised that is an issue for you, it's just a once-off. Maybe a member here would do it for a nominal fee or even free, $20 would be my bid.

- Do the MVNOs offer the same level of service as their host networks, or are they deprioritized when things get congested?

- For the host networks that have whitelisting, do their associated MVNOs share that requirement or can they sidestep it?

Depri is not a major issue unless you both

need really high speeds every day all day, AND

are often in very congested tower areas, stadium events, shopping centers, rush hour commutes.

MVNOs cannot bypass their host MNO whitelists, and in fact are often more restrictive, making profits off phone sales.

[PaulCrawhorne]

20GB/mo is nothing these days!

I'm thinking Tracfone is the way to go for your use case, $3-5/month on PAYGO to keep it active, then buy a UNL plan one month at a time

This would get you started

https://reddit.com/r/PickAnAndroidForMe/s/DiMzmAHTvI

B&M stores and MNOs are dead if you want value for money on Verizon

you did say the geographic coverage issue is your top priority?

[bmccull]

A 20Gb/month plan from Mint is $300 per year ($25/month) and is easy to sign up from Canada with eSim.

[robbyrobby]

if T-Mobile coverage works I would recombined a MINT Mobile 90 day promo offering

currently all plans are $ 15 / month for the 1st 3 months

[PaulCrawhorne]

I'm thinking Tracfone is the way to go for your use case, $3-5/month on PAYGO to keep it active, then buy a UNL plan one month at a time

This would get you started

https://reddit.com/r/PickAnAndroidForMe/s/DiMzmAHTvI

https://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=17258805

[CheapCharlie]

My recommendation is H20 Wireless: https://www.h2owireless.com/promo/ga...saAjGGEALw_wcB

They have cheap month-to-month plans or you can use their pay-by-minute/MB plans. All you need is a good GSM Phone with a sim card slot. Many of my Canadian Relatives use H20 Wireless when they come down south of the border for a week or more. Plus, all plans include some US to Canada calling credit as well as 5G Service.