US travel

[rufluffy]

My husband is goiing to the US for a wknd (Buffalo). i'm going another wknd to US as well.

What is the cheapest way to be able to call home (to another bb on a family plan) without being billed ridiculous charges.

Also, are we charged if someone calls us but we don't answer? Is there any way to stop people from calling and only receive texts or BB messages?

Note both phones are bb and are on a family plan.

[hsumra]

Check out Rogers Communications - Wireless, Digital Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet, Home Phone for roaming prices...

you can have data off while roaming, you can change that from options>mobile network>data>off wen roaming
as for the calls you can add a us roaming package that is like $40 for 60 minutes...

and BB data usage is like $0.01/KB so BB PIN msging is cheap for communicating...

[Navan]

I've unlocked my phone and last time I went to the States I went to Tmobile and got a prepaid SIM card from them (they don't charge for them in the states!) and loaded it up with 20$ of prepaid minutes. That way I knew I wasn't getting charged an insane amount in roaming, and I could still call home.

You can't use your data when you're doing this, and they give you a US phone number- but I find it's an effective method for keeping costs down.

When I went to Chicago for a weekend I forgot my SIM card and thought "eh what the heck I'm not here that long" and only made a few calls- my roaming charges for 2 (under one minute)calls and 4 text messages was 5$. Much cheaper with the SIM card!

[Reed McLay]

Originally Posted by hsumra

...and BB data usage is like $0.01/KB so BB PIN msging is cheap for communicating...

That looks reasonable, but it works out to $10 Mb. Not a problem with PIN messages, but avoid doing a Brower refresh.

[jollieboy]

hi everyone,

a newbie on the forum and i came across this thread because i'm heading off to the US as well.

if we have the option "off when roaming" enabled the data plan will not be active correct? then obviously i cannot connect with other bb users via the bb messaging but will still have phone capabilities right?

just wanted to clarify.

[PvT]

Originally Posted by jollieboy

hi everyone,

a newbie on the forum and i came across this thread because i'm heading off to the US as well.

if we have the option "off when roaming" enabled the data plan will not be active correct? then obviously i cannot connect with other bb users via the bb messaging but will still have phone capabilities right?

just wanted to clarify.

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon here as well. I've done the buying US Roaming bucket of minutes when I anticipate I'm going to do some calling. You can choose various bucket sizes etc, as this link shows: Rogers.com-Wireless, Digital Cable, Hi-Speed Internet, Bundles

Also have seen that email only is not very expensive at all, as long as I'm not GPS'ing, downloading email images/attachments or web surfing.

My question is... As I know that with a WiFi enabled BB I can get my emails etc via that wifi connection when in a wifi zone. But can I turn the Carrier data off but have wifi on. I only see that I can turn carrier data on and then WiFi on/off. But can I turn Data off and keep wifi on. This way I'm not using any data when roaming and can use wifi to catch up on my emails etc. I just want to turn data off so I don't inadvertently jump on the carriers data. Especially a big deal when travelling outside of North America.

I've navigated to OPTIONS/MOBILE NETWORK and I have also looked at MANAGE CONNECTIONS.

This question has been burning on my mind for a while now...

Any takers?

[Navan]

Originally Posted by jollieboy

hi everyone,

a newbie on the forum and i came across this thread because i'm heading off to the US as well.

if we have the option "off when roaming" enabled the data plan will not be active correct? then obviously i cannot connect with other bb users via the bb messaging but will still have phone capabilities right?

just wanted to clarify.

Yes you can but they GOUGE you! We're talking I made 3 under 1 minute phone calls and it came up to like 5$. Insane.

I highly recommend unlocking your phone and getting a US sim card if you're in the states a lot...You just walk into an AT&T or Tmobile store and say you want a prepaid sim card, pop it in your phone and walk out. Just don't lose your Rogers one! You don't get data but if you're turning off your data anyways it's just keeping your phone costs down!

[hsumra]

Originally Posted by PvT

My question is... As I know that with a WiFi enabled BB I can get my emails etc via that wifi connection when in a wifi zone. But can I turn the Carrier data off but have wifi on. I only see that I can turn carrier data on and then WiFi on/off. But can I turn Data off and keep wifi on. This way I'm not using any data when roaming and can use wifi to catch up on my emails etc. I just want to turn data off so I don't inadvertently jump on the carriers data. Especially a big deal when travelling outside of North America.

I've navigated to OPTIONS/MOBILE NETWORK and I have also looked at MANAGE CONNECTIONS.

This question has been burning on my mind for a while now...

Any takers?

From my understanding you would not be able to receive emails via the push service (BIS/BES) as they use the Blackberry.net APN to access that information, WiFi only allows you to get the internet access, not any features that use the Blackberry.net APN, email, messenger. you can still go onthe browser and access email via a website.

[PvT]

Originally Posted by PvT

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon here as well. I've done the buying US Roaming bucket of minutes when I anticipate I'm going to do some calling. You can choose various bucket sizes etc, as this link shows: Rogers.com-Wireless, Digital Cable, Hi-Speed Internet, Bundles

Also have seen that email only is not very expensive at all, as long as I'm not GPS'ing, downloading email images/attachments or web surfing.

My question is... As I know that with a WiFi enabled BB I can get my emails etc via that wifi connection when in a wifi zone. But can I turn the Carrier data off but have wifi on. I only see that I can turn carrier data on and then WiFi on/off. But can I turn Data off and keep wifi on. This way I'm not using any data when roaming and can use wifi to catch up on my emails etc. I just want to turn data off so I don't inadvertently jump on the carriers data. Especially a big deal when travelling outside of North America.

I've navigated to OPTIONS/MOBILE NETWORK and I have also looked at MANAGE CONNECTIONS.

This question has been burning on my mind for a while now...

Any takers?

Originally Posted by hsumra

From my understanding you would not be able to receive emails via the push service (BIS/BES) as they use the Blackberry.net APN to access that information, WiFi only allows you to get the internet access, not any features that use the Blackberry.net APN, email, messenger. you can still go onthe browser and access email via a website.

Thank you hsumra,

I've heard that as well, though I have also heard the BIS does work on wifi. I certainly believe you and can accept that this is the case I guess just saying I've heard both and I'm clinging on to the hope that I can BIS on wifi

Though, I would like still turn data off and keep wifi on so I don't creep on to the carriers data when roaming for any data needs...

[SLVR6]

PVT, here you go. Okay, speaking from my experience when traveling outside the US with my 8320. I am able to fully turn my "Mobile Network" off and leave my wifi on. This allows me to do EVERYTHING my BB is capable of doing normally (phone, email, BBM, browser, etc.) The calling back to my home country (USA in my case) is the same as if I was in the country using WiFi (free if you have a hotspot plan, uses your minutes). I would assume that any Rogers WiFi enabled phone can do the exact same thing.

As far as disabling voice but leaving data on when in another country, just go to phone->options-> call forwarding and forward everything to voicemail.

[PvT]

Originally Posted by SLVR6

PVT, here you go. Okay, speaking from my experience when traveling outside the US with my 8320. I am able to fully turn my "Mobile Network" off and leave my wifi on. This allows me to do EVERYTHING my BB is capable of doing normally (phone, email, BBM, browser, etc.) The calling back to my home country (USA in my case) is the same as if I was in the country using WiFi (free if you have a hotspot plan, uses your minutes). I would assume that any Rogers WiFi enabled phone can do the exact same thing.

As far as disabling voice but leaving data on when in another country, just go to phone->options-> call forwarding and forward everything to voicemail.

Thank you SLVR6,

Sounds good. Even though I'm pretty good, I think, at figuring these things out I'm dead-ending on this one. I'm gonna have to get all specific here as I'm trying to figure this out.

I can turn off my carrier data by:

OPTIONS / Mobile Network / Data Services - (off/on/or off when roaming)

or

Manage Connections / Mobile Network Options / Data Services (same as above)

So I'm turning that off...

Then I have wifi on or turn it on:

Manage Connections / Select Wifi

Though unfortunately wifi logo comes up on my BB but wifi logo stays grey and I am unable to surf or anything... getting a no connection error

So...

I go back to Data Services and turn that on... now my WiFi works, but I also am running carrier data and am running the risk of swallowing up carrier data.

ie: I'm at a wifi zone (out of country) I enable data, so I can have wifi running in order to set it up. Then bam I'm getting emails etc via the carrier data handshake before I'm up on the wifi connection.

Can I disable carrier data but enable wifi I seem to be unable to separate the two.

As always, help is very much appreciated. Thank you :~)

[chasingstars]

I would suggest either grabbing a SIM Card from the states or setting something up with Rogers. When I went to NYC for a week a few years ago my bill was around 200 dollars just in roaming... I was on the phone for MAYBE 15 minutes max. =|

[SLVR6]

Originally Posted by PvT

Thank you SLVR6,

Sounds good. Even though I'm pretty good, I think, at figuring these things out I'm dead-ending on this one. I'm gonna have to get all specific here as I'm trying to figure this out.

I can turn off my carrier data by:

OPTIONS / Mobile Network / Data Services - (off/on/or off when roaming)

or

Manage Connections / Mobile Network Options / Data Services (same as above)

So I'm turning that off...

Then I have wifi on or turn it on:

Manage Connections / Select Wifi

Though unfortunately wifi logo comes up on my BB but wifi logo stays grey and I am unable to surf or anything... getting a no connection error

So...

I go back to Data Services and turn that on... now my WiFi works, but I also am running carrier data and am running the risk of swallowing up carrier data.

ie: I'm at a wifi zone (out of country) I enable data, so I can have wifi running in order to set it up. Then bam I'm getting emails etc via the carrier data handshake before I'm up on the wifi connection.

Can I disable carrier data but enable wifi I seem to be unable to separate the two.

As always, help is very much appreciated. Thank you :~)

I am pondering your question at the end about wifi. When you have just wifi on, have you searched for an access point to connect to? Manage connections->setup wifi network->scan for networks pick an open one with signal and hit connect. That might be the issue there as it will not automatically connect to a wifi network unless it has been saved to your phone.

[PvT]

Originally Posted by SLVR6

I am pondering your question at the end about wifi. When you have just wifi on, have you searched for an access point to connect to? Manage connections->setup wifi network->scan for networks pick an open one with signal and hit connect. That might be the issue there as it will not automatically connect to a wifi network unless it has been saved to your phone.

Thanks for pondering As this is still on my mind.

This way I'm not using any data when roaming and can use wifi to catch up on my emails etc. I just want to turn data off so I don't inadvertently jump on the carriers data. Especially a big deal when travelling outside of North America.

OK, I'm at home now and have a wifi network.

I go to Manage Connections / Mobile Network Options / and turn Data services to "Off"

I close out of that.

Now I select my home wifi (check mark on the left; though green confirmation check mark on right is a white -

Back out of that page.

WiFi icon is grey'd out. I will try and surf (No Go... "Unable to connect to the internet, please try again later" )

Back to: Manage Connections / Mobile Network Options / and turn Data services to "ON"
Close that screen and WiFi logo is white (lit-up). So presumably I'm on my wifi now... OK, that's good, but it still does not allow me to disable carrier data and go on wifi.

So now, I just deleted my saved wifi profile. Turned Data services to off, close out. Now I am disconnected from carrier data, like I would be if I am roaming, lets say... But I will hunt for a wifi, whilt not handshaking to carrier data.

OK... Set up wifi / Scan for networks / "Turn on WiFi to perform a scan" - YES I select "Turn WiFi On".....searching for available networks... found it and then I select it... type in my WEP key: ********

Now I can choose Back, save, or Connect... To play it safe I will just jump to "Connect"... here I go... OK, it reads connecting to **wifi_name**

"Unable to connect
Reason failed to optain an IP address. Save this WiFi network as a profile anyways" I choose "YES" and click "Next"

"Success
**My_WiFi** has been added to your list of saved Profiles"

Click "Finish"

Well, the wifi logo is there and still grey'd out, I'll try web browser... "Unable to connect... etc."

Just sending a couple emails to my BB.... no arrival

Back to: Manage Connections / Mobile Network Options / and turn Data services to "ON" and my emails arrive instantly the wifi icon lights up and I'm on wifi.

We know we can have carrier data work without wifi, but can we do it vice versa. As mentioned in my previous post I'm trying to avoid the following:

This way I'm not using any data when roaming and can use wifi to catch up on my emails etc. I just want to turn data off so I don't inadvertently jump on the carriers data. Especially a big deal when travelling outside of North America.

and:

ie: I'm at a wifi zone (out of country) I enable data, so I can have wifi running in order to set it up. Then bam I'm getting emails etc via the carrier data handshake before I'm up on the wifi connection.

Would be great if we can figure this one out... Thanking all in advance

[prince_1308]

you can turn mobile network off when youre on wifi. Keep Data services on in order to use wifi. I dont think Rogers will charge for using wifi in the states because youre not roaming