I am planning to spend some time in Alicante shortly and will need something like broadband data tx speeds. Unfortunately there is no broadband where I will be staying. Solution - I am thinking of getting the Voda 3G card for my laptop. Anybody use this? Any advice, or strongly held opinions +/ve or -/ve would be appreciated.

And more importantly still, does anyone know what their 3G coverage is like down there? (My Spanish is still not good enough to wing this in a call to Voda Spain and, anyway, would you necessarily believe them when they tell you they have great coverage?!!!)

Appreciate any help you can give

hi Mark, this one is right up my alley.

i got 2 of these cards on contract about 2 months ago.

they were not meant for me but rather to rent out via my phone rental / SIM card service ( http://www.onspanishtime.com/web/mobileconnect.htm ).

ok, i use one of the cards when they are not rented out and between me and my clients, here are some observations...

SETUP.

- setup is VERY easy as long as you meet the system reqs (WINDOWS 2000 or XP -OR- MAC OS X 10.2.6, 10.2.7, 10.2.8, 10.3.x, 10.3.4 or greater).

COVERAGE.

- 3G: have had clients out in malaga (not malaga city but the province) with it, reported decent gprs but not 3G. this client said he was streaming BBC so the speed can't be too bad. this client rented for 2 weeks in uly and has re-booked for another 3 weeks in august - absoultely LOVES it.
also have a client in mallorca and ibiza. he rented the system for a month and is now in ibiza. has reported 3g in both mallorca (near palma) and ibiza (currently in "talamanca bay"). here is the mail he sent me when he got to ibiza...

quote:

HI Jeremy- so far so good. The 3G is working great.
I am in Ibiza now and this is where I will be until the 19th for the pickup.
Hotel El Corso in Talamanca Bay...

- GPRS: pretty decent if you can't get 3G. very convenient to be able to web surf and e-mail wherever there is vodafone cell coverage.

quirks: there is supposed to be 3G in madrid but i was using the card in madrid yesteday and for some reason was only getting 30-40 kbps

as far as contracts go, i got one of the cards on the "tarifa plana" which is only unlimited transfer for the first 2 months and then it goes to 1GB/month. card itself cost 30 euros snce i signed up for 18 month contract on this plan.

the other card I got on the 15 euros/month deal for 15 MB but I moved it up to the unlimited (1GB) plan for the summer since it is always rented out. card itself cost 130 euros, the card is more expensive since i can change the contracted data transfer up and down depending on how busy the rentals are. i can keep it at the 1GB plan when it is busy and knock it down to the 15 MB (min.) plan when not.

i just called vodafone (data dept. on 155 from a vodafone mobile) and asked about 3G cov. in alicante. answers...

- alicante capital - 3G is available and speed is good.
- alicante province - depends on the exact area.

overall, it is a GREAT product. i recommend it MUCHO!!!

any more questions, just ask.

saludos,
jer...

Hi Jer

Thx for that advice - great stuff, as always. If I was going to be an occasional user I would certainly come to you but for the extra cost I think I shall opt for the convenience of getting my own card. Have you tried to use VoIP (Skype or Voipbuster) using the 3G connection? Seem to remember you saying you use Vonage...? Could make it very interesting for the transatlantic conf calls I have to do!!

(I'll still need those EuroDirect cards tho' so I'll be along to your office over next day or two to buy a couple more!)

hey Mark.

no probs. i hear ya, my cards rent out a lot (so far) to uk visitors bit since you live here full time, obviously your own card is the best option.

eurodirect cards: i have closed my office from august 1st until october 3rd

august because i close due to the fact that nobody is here this month and sept. this year due to my nuptials, honeymoon, etc...

hey, doesn't everyone take 2 month vacations

so, if ya want some eurodirect cards, give me a buzz on 656266844 and we can meet uo in the center for a beer and to get you your fix

saludos,
jer...