I often get asked the same questions about sporadic internet useage in Spain by PM. As I was replying to one of these today, I realised it would be more sensible to post the answer in the public forum! In any case, others who are more qualified can refine my explanations, especially when it is about generic stuff like how to reflash a 3G modem etc.

Firstly, the question was asked if once a dongle is configured for use in one country it can be used with another SIM elswhere. My answer was:

Secondly, I had been asked advice on prepaid data plans and on what the catch is with Simyo.

Bimgo sim
 

Hi,

what i still have not found out is whether the blau.es BIMGO monthly flat for 21,50 € is available as a SIM only (Price?) or if it comes always with a USB modem stick for 49,00 € including 1 month flatrate.

In the Media Markt where I got my blau voice SIM they have sold out all blau stuff and did not know anything. In the Phonehouse they had only SIMs for voice calls (and data 8ct/512kB).

Do you know more about this?

I always presumed that by calling their CS they can switch your standard data tariff to the monthly flat tariff. i.e. Same SIM. That would seem logical at least.

Sorry I do not know more.

Masmovil 3G
 

I live in the Alpujarra mountains and have a great problem getting signals. this is just part of a long story but I bought a MasMovil card in the Correos after waiting over 3 weeks for one to arrive that Mas said they had sent!
I cannot speak Spanish yet so it causes some problems, however I was assured by Correos that the card was activated. I paid 10€ which was 10€ credit. So good so far, so I went online and registered the card etc.... It doesn't work, I cannot telephone or send sms, BUT the b******* charged me 50 cents each time I tried to use it to phone my other phone to see if it WAS working, this is on a French mobile number and charged me to phone their customer services, and yet I cannot use the phone!!! I telephoned their helpline..... maybe 10 times over 4/5 days, each time the CS said in English, I cannot speak English but give me your number and someone will call you back..... no-one ever has and now it's ten days later. Their web site does not work, you cannot order a card from there, I tried many times, and was told by their CS via email that they were working on it. Also it has deals on there ending in JULY..... still! A friend telephoned their Spanish CS and was told, the number was working ok, and maybe to take out the sim and re install the sim.... of course this made no difference... so now it is in the waste bin where it belongs!!! I wasted so much time on it.
Companies just don't seem to realise the lifetime value of a customer any more.... I wanted to use their internet 3G... crazy.

Blau
 

Hi

I believe that you can...... I have just bought the 49€ deal with Alcatel usb modem, but I seem to remember that you can buy the card online by itself.... BUT, the sim works, only on GSM 4 or 5.. which is like a slow dialup, it is a nightmare, I have emailed their CS twice since Tuesday without receiving a reply!
Now I know my situation is not good but with my PDA phone hung in my window and Vodafone internet card I can log on at home with one bar 3G. The only problem is it costs 50€ a month unlimited. If I drive to the top of the hill 100 metres from my cortijo I can get 4/5 bars, yet with the Blau I still only get GSM 4/5. Wonderr if anyone can offer any advice. By the way, I ordered the Vodafone USB modem expecting that this would work because my PDA phone worked with the 3G card..... WRONG.... it cannot get a signal at all, so I bought a high gain antenna from Panorama Antennas with a modem mate! NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL and no difference to the signal on the Alcatel Blau either....!!!

I am just about ready to tear my hair out.... what's left of it. If anyone has any suggestions, I am a good listener.

I use a Youigo in my phone and that works ok 95 per cent of the time.
Thanks in advance....
Graham

Sounds like your not having much fun. Your life out there reminds me of "Driving over lemons". I presume you've read it? I suppose it's a life which is supposed to be far from the world of headaches of modern life and 3G internet! ;)

When you say GSM 4/5 what do you mean? Are you talking about bars?

Have you tried the Yoigo SIM in your 3G modem in your area? They use Movistar, so in theory that should have the best 3G coverage.
It will work out a lot cheaper than the 50 euros you waste on Vodafone.

I'm sure we can work something out. There has to be something that will work.

Hi Good to hear from you.... No not read the book yet but have heard about it...:-)

I have tried what you suggested, put the Yoigo card into Alcatel Blau modem and appeared to be about the same . These are the diagnostics from Blau and Yoigo.

THIS IS WITH BLAU CARD
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem name :
HSPA USB MODEM
Firmware version :
C1111000
IMEI :
352079030315954
IMSI :
214190040018681
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Operator Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PIN code status :
READY
Network code :
21403
Network selection mode :
auto
Network mode :
GSM
Signal strength :
level 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network attachment :
attached

THIS IS WITH YOIGO CARD the Yoigo would not work in the Vodafone modem.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem name :
HSPA USB MODEM
Firmware version :
C1111000
IMEI :
352079030315954
IMSI :
214040103287218
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Operator Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PIN code status :
READY
Network code :
21407
Network selection mode :
auto
Network mode :
GSM
Signal strength :
level 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network attachment :
attached

THIS IS WITH YOIGO CARD

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem name :
HSPA USB MODEM
Firmware version :
C1111000
IMEI :
352079030315954
IMSI :
214040103287218
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Operator Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PIN code status :
READY
Network code :
21407
Network selection mode :
auto
Network mode :
GSM
Signal strength :
level 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network registration :
registered, roaming
PS network attachment :
attached

Vodafone dongle would not accept any other card.
Something interesting this morning..... I had emailed to Blau asking what was the problem and had also emailed to Simyo because I tried to order one of their cards online..... Had a reply from both this morning..... It is the same company. Both emails were the same, asking me to ring this number, which was the same for both companies!

So no luck yet......
Any more suggestions???....:-)

cheers.... have a good one...
Graham

Yes Blau and Simyo along with a few more are part of e-plus Moviles S.A. which again is a part of KPN. All their networks are MVNO's and piggyback on Orange. It appears you only have 2G (GPRS) coverage of Orange, so Simyo will also not help you.

Have you looked up coverage maps of all the networks by any chance? You can find these on the company websites and even on sites like GSMWorld etc.

The Yoigo test suggests you also only have 2G coverage for Movistar, and as expected none on their own Yoigo network.

So unfortunately it looks like you are stuck on Vodafone, who are the only ones who appear to have 3G coverage where you are. I am not that familiar with other MVNO's that use the Vodafone network in Spain. (i.e. Piggy back networks). I know Yoigo have a deal with them, but unfortunately only for 2G data. Their 3G roaming partner is Movistar. There are probably about a dozen MVNO's on Vodafone. I think BT are also with them, but I am not sure of their data rates (or if they have).
For a list of some of the MVNO's in Spain see:
Comparativa tarifas móvil low cost: Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo y OMVs
Unfortunately, no data rates there.

Also, have you considered traditional wired broadband? It may be a much cheaper option for you!

movidata.es
 

Hi,

at The Phonehouse they sell movidata.es with unlocked stick for 59€, either 6€/100MB or dayflat 2,50€
Balance does not expire, SIM expires after 6 months without use.
Is this SIM available without modem????
I ask this because the told me at The Phonehouse that it is not.
Which network is used?
I only know that it can be recharged in the same way as happymovil.

Re blau.es: I've used this on many places and sometimes got an UMTS connection, but even this was very slow. They use national roaming on AMENA.

I use the same basic connection through Amena (Orange), however mine is through Simyo... but its's all the same! The ISP is Simfonics Iberia. My UMTS connections are not too bad. Just did a test this morning via speedtest.net and I got 1.26Mb/s down and about 0.33 up! Could be better for HSDPA but it's not bad! I think I have had faster in the past though!