USA iPad pay-as-you-go SIM

[Cormorant]

One thing about Airvoice is they allow any unlocked GSM device.

[jcapo]

I think you said you were considering T-mobile so your iPad must be GSM. Take a look at Ting.com, a virtual wireless provider like Virgin, MetroPCS and dozens of others.

https://ting.com/rates

Its a new billing model where you only pay for what you use. They use T-mobile for GSM.

[colemj]

Yes, I assumed a more recent iPad than the iPad 2. If the iPad model is the 4th generation or newer, or any of the mini models, then it is universal for all carrier modes.

That would be any iPad sold as new model from 2013 (late 2012, actually).

Mark

[Sand crab]

T-Mobile doesn't have much of a presence in many areas out west and you said you wanted to do the Rockies. I'm with Verizon and it's great but my phone came from them.

[CarlF]

The widespread adoption of LTE (4G) not only sped things up but made the speed acceptable with the less strong signal you tend to find cruising.

I'll frequently get 5-6 Mbps with LTE if only one to two signal strength dots is showing. This is enough to stream video. With 3G, less than 4 dots is frustrating for anything but email. Verizon's LTE coverage seems to be far better than the competition.

[Mike OReilly]

Thanks again for all the info. I have a iPad 3 (first retina display version). I'm currently on the Rogers Network, which is GSM. I'm not sure if this means Verizon is off the table -- it uses CDMA doesn't it? But if they won't allow me to use my own tablet, then forget it.

Ting looks interesting. Thanks. T-mobile is good, but it looks like there are lots of gaps in our intended route. Hmmm, lots to consider.

[W32PAMELA]

I have an ATT prepaid data account for $25 for 2Gb/month on my router. You'll probably find better coverage with ATT than T-Mobile.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I have a iPad 3 (first retina display version). I'm currently on the Rogers Network, which is GSM. I'm not sure if this means Verizon is off the table -- it uses CDMA doesn't it? But if they won't allow me to use my own tablet, then forget it.

Regardless of Verizon's stupid policy, your iPad is off their table because it does not have CDMA capability.

Mark

[Mike OReilly]

OK, Verizon is out. I love it when the list starts getting whittled down. I'll look at ATT. I was assuming the big boys would be the most expensive, so hadn't considered them yet. But I can afford $25 .

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by CarlF

I would look at a Verizon. While the other carriers have caught up some, I still find that Verizon provides better speeds and reliability outside of major urban areas. I was in the mountains of Vermont last week and still getting a good LTE signal on Verizon.

In cities, they all work pretty well.

No problem using it as a hotspot

I have a 2nd Ipad mini with ATT for "belts and suspenders" but don't find it helps enough to be worth the trouble and expense.

I would second this assessment. IMHO, Verizon has the best signal coverage and highest data speeds on average nationwide.

The problem is, Verizon is pretty pricey with their cellular and data plans. The way around that is to sign up via Straight Talk. They claim a data cap. of 20GB/mo. after which they throttle you down to lower speeds, but I've heard reports that they really don't monitor your usage. Just buy any Verizon compatible phone you like with a clean ESN, call Straight Talk or go online and register the phone with them. For $45/mo. you'll get unlimited calling, texting and data anywhere in the US. Just setup the phone as a mobile hotspot and tether the Ipad off of that. Straight Talk doesn't care if you tether.

[GreenIssue]

Check out Prepaid Unlimited Cell Phones - No Contract Phones & Plans | Virgin Mobile

[socaldmax]

Virgin mobile uses Sprint as their carrier. I used them for a very short time, lousy coverage, slow network. The very worst of everything.

[n8kraft]

Mike, if you just want to go to a store, buy a sim and get online go to Wal-Mart and get the straight talk card. 5 GB fast, then unlimited at a slower speed. You buy the sim card and plan at Wal-Mart's electronics section. You could even buy it before you leave Canada.

Smooth sailing!

[GrahamHO]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

For reasons that are a bit long to explain here, our cruising life currently involves motorcycles and trying to stay warm . To that end we are leaving Canada and driving around America for the coming months.

I'll be taking my unlocked iPad with me, so want to use local SIM cards. Does anyone have a recommendation as to the best service to get for a data-only (iPad) device?

I can't be specific about data only. I had very good service from AT&T when we were recently traveling around US for regrettably only a month. That was a temporary sim for my dual sim Sony Xperia Z3+. The help and service in one of the AT&T Chicago shops was great, making sure it worked OK. (Likewise in Canada I used Rogers) I also had a cellular iPad and only used wifi with it which was provided in all our motels and of course Starbucks etc. The cellular iPad was also great for GPS mapping. Checking the various telco providers coverage maps before our travel showed that AT&T seemed to me to have best coverage and we were not disappointed.

[GrahamHO]

Further to my above comments and not to do with a data sim. Regarding the cellular iPad I used a Hema USA map as well as Maps.Me in my cellular iPad. They are both offline maps and use no data. They both came alive in the US showing GPS location in a map view which complimented our TomTom car navigation device. I hope that helps. Have a great ride.