Prepaid 3G coverage in greece.

italos · 14-09-2010, 09:18

sorry its a USB modem.

Tobiashomer · 14-09-2010, 18:55

I think that the capability of dropping down to 2G for instance is more dependant on the SIM card than on the hardware, am I wrong? In the UK locked Three Mobile modems and phones are restricted to 3G as their network is only 3G; but if you unlock them and use a different SIM, they will move down to 2G or Edge or whatever, I am told.

Tobiashomer · 23-09-2010, 21:38

correction--just bought an unlocked e Huawei E585 from amazon.co.uk, went to Vodafone and bought a £20 dongle with 3 GB of data, inserted the SIM and it worked right off the bat, just as advertised. But when I go to Greece will I have trouble substituting a Cosmote or Wind SIM card?

Tobiashomer · **Mobile Internet in the Ionian -** 11-03-2011, 08:53

I have determined that Cosmote is good for 2G/3G coverage in the Ionian, but can I buy one of their data SIMs on the internet and activate at a point of sale in Greece? I will be away from large towns mostly but will pass through Corfu (on Easter Monday) and Preveza (on Sunday 1st May); otherwise can get to Lefkas/Nidhri. Grateful for any advice.

DaveRo · 11-03-2011, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobiashomer

I have determined that Cosmote is good for 2G/3G coverage in the Ionian, but can I buy one of their data SIMs on the internet and activate at a point of sale in Greece?

I wouldn't recommend it. Buying a SIM and activating it is something all phone shops are used to doing. Trying to activate one you'd already bought would cause you problems IMO.

Quote:

I will be away from large towns mostly but will pass through Corfu (on Easter Monday) and Preveza (on Sunday 1st May); otherwise can get to Lefkas/Nidhri. Grateful for any advice.

Corfu has many phone shops - I bought my first Greek SIMs there - though Easter Monday might be a problem. Preveza also has several - though they're not so used to foreigners there. Parga might have a OTE or Germanos shop.

I've not used a dongle outside the UK so I can't answer your earlier question, though I don't see that there should be a problem provided you have the generic Huawei 'mobile helper' program.

Evan · 11-03-2011, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobiashomer

I have determined that Cosmote is good for 2G/3G coverage in the Ionian, but can I buy one of their data SIMs on the internet and activate at a point of sale in Greece? I will be away from large towns mostly but will pass through Corfu (on Easter Monday) and Preveza (on Sunday 1st May); otherwise can get to Lefkas/Nidhri. Grateful for any advice.

Yes you can buy and activate it on the point of sale however it is recommended to check their availability, given that those are small cities and possibly the Cosmote or Germanos stores don't have all the available products. However, since you already have an unlocked USB modem, most of the stores will have the 20€ SIM Pack (as opposed to the 50€ Full Pack).

Sundays, Easter Monday, 1st May are public holidays in Greece, so I'm afraid you won't find any open Cosmote or Germanos store. Try to go on Saturday or Easter Tuesday. Cosmote has 11 points of sale in Corfu, 7 in Preveza and 3 in Lefkada. Have a look on the Cosmote data overview here.

And since you want a data SIM and not a normal prepaid SIM, do not buy a SIM starter pack from a kiosk or a mini-market. Those places only have normal prepaid SIM starter packs.

Tobiashomer · 12-03-2011, 15:54

Evan and Dave, thanks so much for very helpful input. when the Web works well, it works great (provided there are people of good will out there).

Evan · 14-03-2011, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobiashomer

I have determined that Cosmote is good for 2G/3G coverage in the Ionian, but can I buy one of their data SIMs on the internet and activate at a point of sale in Greece? I will be away from large towns mostly but will pass through Corfu (on Easter Monday) and Preveza (on Sunday 1st May); otherwise can get to Lefkas/Nidhri. Grateful for any advice.

I forgot to add that I was for 3 weeks last year in Parga and Lefkada and traveled by the coastline in-between. Most of the cities and popular beaches have 3G coverage from all three operators or at least two of them. Outside of the cities or popular beaches the situation varies, with Cosmote and Vodafone providing 3G coverage, but not both of them at the same location.

In Lefkada, most of the western and southern part have 3G with all three operators. The eastern part (e.g. Nidri), Comote (and Vodafone) have 3G.

In Parga, all three have 3G. In Sivota, Vodafone and Wind.

From Parga to Preveza, Vodafone has 3G until the village called Vrachos if I remember correctly.

From Preveza to Lefkada is mainly Cosmote.

In general the 3G coverage varies due to the mountainous terrain. Of course, if you are traveling those places by boat, I suppose that you will have better 3G coverage at the sea than on the land.

	(#1)
italos (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 19 Jul 2010 Country:	14-09-2010, 09:18 sorry its a USB modem.

	(#2)
Tobiashomer (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 14 Sep 2010 Country:	14-09-2010, 18:55 I think that the capability of dropping down to 2G for instance is more dependant on the SIM card than on the hardware, am I wrong? In the UK locked Three Mobile modems and phones are restricted to 3G as their network is only 3G; but if you unlock them and use a different SIM, they will move down to 2G or Edge or whatever, I am told.

	(#3)
Tobiashomer (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 14 Sep 2010 Country:	23-09-2010, 21:38 correction--just bought an unlocked e Huawei E585 from amazon.co.uk, went to Vodafone and bought a £20 dongle with 3 GB of data, inserted the SIM and it worked right off the bat, just as advertised. But when I go to Greece will I have trouble substituting a Cosmote or Wind SIM card?

	(#4)
Tobiashomer (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 14 Sep 2010 Country:	Mobile Internet in the Ionian - 11-03-2011, 08:53 I have determined that Cosmote is good for 2G/3G coverage in the Ionian, but can I buy one of their data SIMs on the internet and activate at a point of sale in Greece? I will be away from large towns mostly but will pass through Corfu (on Easter Monday) and Preveza (on Sunday 1st May); otherwise can get to Lefkas/Nidhri. Grateful for any advice.

	(#7)
Tobiashomer (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 14 Sep 2010 Country:	12-03-2011, 15:54 Evan and Dave, thanks so much for very helpful input. when the Web works well, it works great (provided there are people of good will out there).