Samsung S8 Data while in USA

[Anonymous]

I'm in America at the moment. I have O2 Travel activated and have data roaming turned on, but I can't get mobile data.  Any ideas of what I can try?

[MI5]

No data at all or just very slow so everything times out?

[jonsie]

I presume you have mobile data switched on to. 

Try selecting different networks to see if that gives you a connection. 

Try rebooting the phone, it sometimes helps. 

It may well be that once connected data speeds will be no more than 0.5mbps due to O2 throttling contract customers. 

If all else fails you need to contact customer service to check roaming is enabled on your sim. 

[Cleoriff]

If the phone is unlocked you could try a local US sim. Many people find this is an easier option....

[Dino1968]

I travel to the USA 2 or 3 times per year and I have T-Mobile sim that I just put into my phone when I land. I have no contract and its set up for people who only want to use it for short periods. I bought it from a T-mobile shop in New York.

Last time I was there I paid for a $60 USD 1 month package which included always on data, calls and texts. Might seem pricy but I used it for just under a month and had really fast speeds without very little drop. So for me it was well worth it along with all the calls and texts I made and took.

I know you can buy travel sims from vending machines when you land in Boston Logan Airport and JFK ... but never purchased one as my T-mobile works great even when using my mobile as a hotspot for my laptop.

Maybe this is an easier (and faster) solution than trying to get O2 working over there ...

[Cleoriff]

Hi @Dino1968 One of our members @Bambino is from the USA but lived in London. He used to do exactly the same.... ie using a local sim whilst in the States. It worked perfectly for him....This is something we tend to advise frequently. Of course if using your own phone it has to be unlocked. Or another option is to buy a cheap phone whilst in the USA...

[madasaf1sh]

I would also recommend turning 4G Roaming off if possible so that the handset only uses 3g/2g

[Dino1968]

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@Cleoriff wrote:

Hi @Dino1968 One of our members @Bambino is from the USA but lived in London. He used to do exactly the same.... ie using a local sim whilst in the States. It worked perfectly for him....This is something we tend to advise frequently. Of course if using your own phone it has to be unlocked. Or another option is to buy a cheap phone whilst in the USA...

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Yes good point phone needs to be unlocked or if you travel more often it can be justified to buy a hand set for use for when there. And hand sets are cheaper in the USA.

This is what I will be doing I think when I got back there next month. Thankfully people seem more aware now of the risks of data roaming charges and we read less of those horror storys where mum and dad were faced with a 5 grand bill for the kids "over use" 😉

[Anonymous]

No data at all

[Anonymous]

No luck on the suggestions. Will unlock my phone before coming back next year and get a local sim.

I don't understand as I am on the same contract as last year when it worked fine only difference this year is I now have a Samsung s8 but with same sim as last year.