02-07-2017 10:10 PM
Hello,
I've purchased two GPS smart watches for my preschoolers to use on an upcoming trip to SE Asia (so in an emergency we can keep tabs on them).
They require a sim card (activated, with data loaded, and using the 2G network and GSM (whatever that means)) to be inserted in the back and then an app installed on my phone which marries with the watch.
I tried with spark sims (as I'm already with spark and it seemed obvious to add two sims onto my account), but have since learned that Spark no longer has a 2G network. The watches do not show any signal bars despite the tracking app being loaded on my cell, the watches being linked to the app, and the sims being active with data loaded. SO my external advice tells me it must be the 2G/3G network issue.
Someone recommended trying Vodafone, which apparently still has a 2G network.
The advice I need, please, is:
Is it possible to buy a basic vodafone sim card that will automatically use the 2G network if that is what is required by the device, or do I need to buy a 2G sim (or do something to tell the sim that I need it to be using 2G).
When i loaded the data onto the Spark sims it turned into a massive pain in the ass, I couldn't just top up the sims with my phone, I needed to purchase a $9 1gig data plan for each of the sims after loading money on to the sim cards. Would this be the same with Vodafone? would I need to create an account and then top up and buy data? if so, what is the cheapest data bundle I can purchase and how long does that last for (i.e. does it roll over or expire, apparently the watches use very little data).
(bonus question! to anyone who may be familiar with these devices and know - this could all be for nought should it eventuate that the watches don't work while we're away. My preliminary research says that the places we're going have 2G networks, but does this mean the watches will work? will the sims work in another country or will I find myself buying another two sim cards in each country we go (and having to load data and connect them yada yada, at some point this will all get too hard eh).
Thanks in advance! Obviously I'm a bit of a technophobe and this is starting to confuse and annoy me!!
Julia
05-07-2017 12:10 PM
Hey @JuliaMallett,
Thanks for your post and welcome to the Vodafone Community.
Few things to address in your message here, so will try to cover everything in the following points as much as possible:
For example let’s assume the watch connects to the frequencies we use here in NZ and in Vodafone 900MHz and 1800MHz. If you’re travelling to Thailand for example they use 900Mhz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz. If you’re roaming then your phone will connect to one of the networks that works with the Vodafone frequencies that should be ok.
But then again if you’re using a local SIM card, you would need to check the frequencies of the network you’re buying the SIM card to use with. Either way it can be a bit problematic if the device connects to 900MHz only, and the destination/service provider you go to supports 1800Mhz only such as Indonesia. You can use the drop down list on the following page for some indicative help about the frequencies used in the different countries (though would recommend to check the overseas service providers websites for more accuracy): http://www.gsmarena.com/network-bands.php3?sCountry=Indonesia
As an added measure for your peace of mind while travelling it can be helpful indeed, yet ensuring it will work everywhere you go, with the different networks and frequencies, and the varying coverage in some locations, can be the challenging part.
Hope this helps
Ahmed
Social Media team
05-07-2017 12:22 PM
Awesome response @AhmedA
Copyright © Vodafone New Zealand Ltd