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[Entwood]

I know several folks here use GiffGaff, I've been looking around their site and they seem to push monthly packages mostly ... I'm after a cheap PAYG setup that will be used infrequently, but when used will be for mainly data, the use will be very irregular, perhaps none in some months....

Does GiffGaff fit this description, or are other providers better in this regard ?

If GiffGaff suits, who wants to have the "points" from my joining ?? 

[TheBoy]

You are not clear what you want?

It is, ultimately, a PAYG service. Just with "bundles" available if you think that suits you better.

PAYG data will never be cheap.  At Newent, my O2 SIM played up, so I shoved a pure PAYG GiffGaff SIM in the MiFi, and promptly did £15 in a few hours

[TheBoy]

If, like me (for my laptop dongle/mifi units), your data use is virtually zero, but you know of bouts of high useage coming, then you can do what I do...

PAYG most of the time, but if going away for a weekend with the laptop, I buy one of their "gigabags".

Another option is, from November, they will allow tethering on the £10 Goodybag, which will have 250m/unlimited text/1Gb data, so switch your main phone over, and tether on the occasions you need laptop data.

[TheBoy]

Oh, and points always greatfully accepted. I believe Taxi Driver is also a GiffGaff member, so no doubt would happily take the referral as well

[zirk]

For Add Hoc data use best bet is T Mobile paygo sim with as and when required Internet Bolt On's. 2.50 for 5 days, 5.00 per month or 20.00 for 6 months. Each bolt can be activated by text and takes around 5 mins to become live.

[feeutfo]

Gigabags? Is that real?

I like that, made me giggle.

[Entwood]

If, like me (for my laptop dongle/mifi units), your data use is virtually zero, but you know of bouts of high useage coming, then you can do what I do...

PAYG most of the time, but if going away for a weekend with the laptop, I buy one of their "gigabags".

Another option is, from November, they will allow tethering on the £10 Goodybag, which will have 250m/unlimited text/1Gb data, so switch your main phone over, and tether on the occasions you need laptop data.

I'm stuck on a contract for another 15 months, so can't switch the main phone, but am thinking of using the older phone, which has much poorer battery life, as a mobile "spare" for when signal issues occur, and as a dongle (tethering) when I would rather use the lappy than the limited screen of a smartphone.

It looks to me like the "goodybags/gigabags" are time limited, so don't really fit the PAYG description .. but I guess the odd few quid not used might be less than the costs of data on this useless contract.... methinks some perusing of past bills and the use of a calculator might be needed ....

[TheBoy]

I probably wasn't clear. Its PAYG. But you can buy "bundles" (Goodybags/Gigabags) which last 1 calendar month.

Like all PAYG networks, the SIM has to be seen as active every 6 months (even if thats receiving a text, and turning the handset on to recieve it).


PAYG data charges are 20p for first 20Mb a day, then 20p per Mb beyond that. That makes it dear to use PAYG data.

Also, if its purely for data, O2 doesn't have great 3G coverage. O2 also have a fair amount of their 3G on 900Mhz, which older devices do not support. O2's coverage map is pretty accurate IME. O2 does have fantastic 2g coverage, if its for calls.


As said earlier, if using for data, and 99% of the time, you won't use data, but then if you're away in the pikey wagon for a week, expect to use data, leave it as PAYG most of the time, and then buy a Gigabag/Goodybag just before you go away (this will last 28/29/30/31 days). If that makes sense.

[aaronjb]

Any thoughts on using them with an iPad, TB? I've been paying Three £15 a month since I got my iPad (original one) .. and very, very rarely use 3G data on it; but it'd be nice to have the option if I'm away for a while.

Can't remember if the iPad 1 takes mini SIM or micro SIM though, and giffgaff seem to only do mini SIM? (or nano SIM)

[feeutfo]

If you have an iPhone, use the phones hot spot.

No...?

[aaronjb]

I didn't think O2 allowed that?

Although the option is there on my phone (but not my work Voda iPhone, which definitely doesn't allow it)..

[edit] Oh, a Google says O2 do allow it.. neat, problem solved, thanks Chris!

[feeutfo]

it's why I got a wifi only iPad tbh

As opposed to dead slow clunky 3/4 of an hour to turn on lap top. ....rubbish!

[Elite Pete]

Giffgaff have these

http://giffgaff.com/goodybags#data

[tigers_gonads]

Can you stick these sim cards in any phone ?
I'm after a second phone number and the free 0800 bit would come in very handy 

The phone in question used to be on the vodaphone network.

[Taxi_Driver]

Can you stick these sim cards in any phone ?
I'm after a second phone number and the free 0800 bit would come in very handy 

The phone in question used to be on the vodaphone network.

Only if the phone is unlocked or on the o2 network