eSims, what is your experience.

[kpc]

Yes it is. There are Oz specific Local country plans. What plan did you buy?

FLX roam issues you a different eSIM depending on plan purhased. AFAIK, any Global plan will use the same eSIM once you have one. Each country plan will have their own eSIM (that can be a lot of eSIMs banking up), plus a separate eSIM for each Region plan.

A Country specific plan / eSIM or Regional plan / eSIM probably won't connect in Oz?

Also, "Data roaming" needs to be turned on to actually use the data.

I got the free one (Mastercard) with 3Gb data for 15 days...Australia is not listed as a country it works in.

 

[SYD]

I got the free one (Mastercard) with 3Gb data for 15 days...Australia is not listed as a country it works in.

I used mine (freebie MC) a few weeks ago. Pretty sure I installed it and activated it before I boarded my flight to YVR (but it's possible I activated it on arrival).

Funny story (mentioned earlier), the FLX app had a conniption and lost track of the 15d duration, that freebie soldiered on for 21+ days before I used up the 3GB of data. If I'd been a bit careful, it could have lasted my entire CA/US trip...

Back to Oz coverage, during one of the many FLX sales recently, I purchased another Global Plan (150+ countries, 5GB, 360 Days) for USD$30.00 - normally US$150). It definitely includes Australia in the confirmation email but when I turn it on now to test - I'm getting "No service"....(it's suppose to roam on Optus and it was working before in CA/US). Hmm. I'm off to Singapore in a few weeks. Will try it again there before I contact FLX.

Edit: typed too soon! Waited a bit and my FLX Global eSIM connected to Optus (albeit 3G)....FLX was connecting to 5G on CA and US.

 

[StingyGeek]

I have previously used Airalo eSims in Indo, USA, & Mexico all with no problems. Last month, I went to Bali, and 28º degree Mastercard offers a free Fexiroam eSim, so I tried that. Despite being a geek, I could not get it to work. Their tech support was useless too.
Went back to Airalo, and once more no problems. In addition saved US$3 on my wife's phone by using the code: Promo6768 I Hope that helps anyone.

 

[StingyGeek]

Also, I discovered that with Amaysim, when travelling, incoming SMS's are free, no international roaming needed. I am not sure if other Aussie Telco's offer this.
I believe at $170 per YEAR, (150GB) they are one of the cheapest options out there.
If you choose to move your phone number to them, you can use my referer link: http://r.amaysi.ms/m3tgct2g
Gets you a $10 credit, (and I get $10 too)

 

[SYD]

Last month, I went to Bali, and 28º degree Mastercard offers a free Fexiroam eSim, so I tried that. Despite being a geek, I could not get it to work. Their tech support was useless too.

That’s a shame. It’s a brilliant freebie plan. Maybe next year you reinstall the eSIM and activate just before you leave Oz.

Also, I discovered that with Amaysim, when travelling, incoming SMS's are free, no international roaming needed. I am not sure if other Aussie Telco's offer this.

OT, but most telcos let you receive SMS overseas for free (there are exceptions that don’t roam at all - mostly reseller stuff).

 

[StingyGeek]

That’s a shame. It’s a brilliant freebie plan. Maybe next year you reinstall the eSIM and activate just before you leave Oz.

OT, but most telcos let you receive SMS overseas for free (there are exceptions that don’t roam at all - mostly reseller stuff).

Thanks, good to know other telcos do this too.

 

[Flashback]

I have my local as my esim but I have a permanent UK number and if I can't get back there to keep it active then I can give it to someone else to use. If I could get around that I'd have them both as esim

Not sure who you're using, but Giffgaff let you swap over to an eSIM from your physical one now.

Apologies for drifting off topic… but one way to minimize this use of mobile data is to download the maps you need while still at home, on hotel wifi for offline use while out.

One downer with this is that although Google maps can manage driving directions offline, it can’t calculate walking directions offline.

Google Maps will still pull data like photos, reviews etc. via data even if you have offline maps data for the area, that's where it really chews up the MB.....

 

[SYD]

Not sure who you're using, but Giffgaff let you swap over to an eSIM from your physical one now.

Do you have a link? I readily find it on the GiffGaff website but that will be great for UK then Euro visits.

Google Maps will still pull data like photos, reviews etc. via data even if you have offline maps data for the area, that's where it really chews up the MB.....

That shouldn’t happen if you’re just driving?

 

[Flashback]

Do you have a link? I readily find it on the GiffGaff website but that will be great for UK then Euro visits.

That shouldn’t happen if you’re just driving?

At the moment, the only way to do it is migrate from a physical SIM - they don't currently allow a brand new outright eSIM purchase. Baby steps...... While you can get higher than 5GB data plans too, do remember that you can only use 5GB for EU roaming with them.

Indeed re: data usage, but thought it was just useful to mention that to people. I use offline maps (a lot), both for driving and wandering around town. It's the wandering that really generates the data usage for me as I'm looking up reviews of restaurants, images of meals etc.!

 

[SYD]

At the moment, the only way to do it is migrate from a physical SIM - they don't currently allow a brand new outright eSIM purchase. Baby steps...... While you can get higher than 5GB data plans too, do remember that you can only use 5GB for EU roaming with them.

Ah, I have a physical SIM - will explore further!

It's the wandering that really generates the data usage for me as I'm looking up reviews of restaurants, images of meals etc.!

Yep, that’ll do it. As will Insta, TikTok, Facebook and anything that’s graphics intensive.

 

[Flashback]

Ah, I have a physical SIM - will explore further!

Yep, that’ll do it. As will Insta, TikTok, Facebook and anything that’s graphics intensive.

https://www.giffgaff.com/blog/giffgaff-news/how-to-get-a-giffgaff-esim/

 

[kpc]

Dope moment....dowloaded Flexiroam eSim (first time user of eSim)...could not connect to mobile data despite all attempts...then read the instructions...Flexiroam not available in Australia

Finally got it working in Singapore where I àm on a 5 hour transit...after àn hour was just about to give up...then cleared the APN settings and changed the APN settings to "globaldata" and restarted the phone...voila!!! Physical SIM cards were insert and connected automatically

 

[SYD]

Finally got it working in Singapore where I àm on a 5 hour transit...after àn hour was just about to give up...then cleared the APN settings and changed the APN settings to "globaldata" and restarted the phone...voila!!! Physical SIM cards were insert and connected automatically

What sort of phone? The APN is normally set during the installation process.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Google Maps will still pull data like photos, reviews etc. via data even if you have offline maps data for the area, that's where it really chews up the MB.....

Yes, that’s right. If you’ve got a data plan running, you also need to turn off data for the Google Maps app to force it to use the offline files.

 

[kpc]

What sort of phone? The APN is normally set during the installation process.

Samsung S22. Yup I had to manually set the APN

 

[encryptededdy]

The APN should be set but in my experience some eSIMs I've gotten from Airalo don't have the APN programmed into the eSIM properly, so the phone doesn't automatically set it (and thus you have to set it manually). Most are fine though.

 

[serfty]

FlexiRoam specifically advise you to manually set the APN for the country in wich you wish to use the phone.

The app provides a list of service providers by country.

 

[SYD]

FlexiRoam specifically advise you to manually set the APN for the country in wich you wish to use the phone.

The app provides a list of service providers by country.

Where in the app are you seeing that?

The four FLX eSIMs I currently have all have the same APN (setup automatically during app install). Twice I’ve used the “manual” QR code method to reinstall but again, the APN was setup automatically.

Ether way, it pays to read the email they send (that includes the APN).

 

[VPS]

Not sure who you're using, but Giffgaff let you swap over to an eSIM from your physical one now.

Google Maps will still pull data like photos, reviews etc. via data even if you have offline maps data for the area, that's where it really chews up the MB.....

I'm with three but might swap next time I'm over

 

[Flashback]

I'm with three but might swap next time I'm over

I have plenty of SIMs sitting here for them so if you do just give me a shout.