I've just ordered a free sim from Three. I have been with GiffGaff for a few months now, I'm currently on 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 5GB 3G data for £15.00. The only problem with GiffGaff is that the data speeds are very slow in the day, meaning videos are unwatchable. I only use around 100 minutes a month, all I need is a lot of texts, a lot of data, and much faster internet. Luckily, Three offer exactly that.

On unlimited packages on GiffGaff, you get a 30 minute internet bar if you tether. Three don't allow you to tether, at all on their pay as you go packages. I might go on their 300 minutes, 3000 texts, unlimited data £15.00 package. It doesn't include tethering, but what actually happens if you do tether? I don't tether, but, hypothetically, I still want to know this. Also, how do I actually apply a tariff after topping up. Is there a page with codes to text? Thanks.

After you top up using the automated payment line you're asked if you want to convert it into a 'Addon' and it will automatically tell you the best addon for how much you've topped up. I.E If you top up £15 it will recommend you to get the 'All-In-One 15' which consists of 300 minutes, 3000 texts and 1000GB internet. It also does the recommendation through My3.

I was lucky enough to get a 30 day sim with AYCE data for £12.90 just before they junked it.

If the signal is ok where you use it a 12 month sim only plan for £15 may be an option.

It includes AYCE data/texts and 200 mins. You also get 4gb of tethering and free calls to 0808/0500 numbers.

Just a thought.

The thing is you never even got unlimited data on GiffGaff.

I'm actually thinking of leaving 3... whilst having unlimited data is a big bonus paying a little extra for better coverage at work I think should be worth it, plus having back-up 2G is very nice to have.

A 3 micro sim is better than a standard sim because you can buy a sim card adapter and use it in a phone with a standard sim slot.

The 3 sim cards and adapters are sold at Amazon with the sim cards costing 1p, with free delivery. The adapters cost £1 odd plus delivery.

Three's tethering detection systems are pretty hot, so if you want an option with no hassle tethering (albeit with a 4GB limit) then johnathome's suggestion above - the £15 a month SIM-only plan (12 month contract) - seems a good one.

Three UK is a network for data.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2015012 Giffgaff are stopping customers from purchasing a unlimited goodybag for using '11GB' worth of data.

You don't get that on Three. You can use 50GB if you want.

You'll find your phone on 2G a lot if you go to O2/Tesco/GG

I don't need to tether, but what happens if you actually do tether? Also, I won't get a contract because I'm young, don't have a lot of money and would rather pay at the shop for a top up voucher. I'm going to trial it for a month and see what the coverage is like. Is it easy to transfer my number from GiffGaff to Three, then transfer it back to GiffGaff if I need to? Can I activate my Three sim without topping up? Do I top up £15.00, choose the addon online, then transfer my number? As said before, I don't tether, but want to know the consequences of it. I only need 5GB of data, but unlimited is even better. I was on unlimited on GiffGaff, then 5GB when they changed the packages, and still am. The network is very slow in the day, hence why I want to change. Thanks.

You just get s tethering blocked page.

If you stop tethering then you'll still be able to use the internet on the phone.

Oh, I didn't know MNOs could do that, block tethering individually. Cheers.

Nope i'm officially leaving three for EE going to give them a go

I did that last week, due to congestion on Three in my area. So far i'm pleased with EE, the speeds are a lot better and 2G back up is useful to have in places with poor 3G coverage.

Don't get me wrong 3 have some fantastic bonus extras such as feel at home etc, but I need a network which is going to at least let me call as well as have a fantastic data network backbone so if I have to pay extra for more data then I wouldn't mind so much with EE.

300 minutes among the All In One £15 package plus 3p per minute over and above the 300 minutes is a good deal. Unless you normally make 30 hours worth of calls every month e.g. But I'm not sure you can get unlimited data, at least 3000 texts and at least 30 hours of calls as a package anywhere for not much significantly more than the all in one �£15 package at 3. You will be sold short on something whoever you go with. EE won't cover you on all counts. 3's all in one £15 package is possibly the best all round PAYG package.

To my mind the 300 minutes covers where you have no access to your home landline phone which is excellent. If outdoors you can even use the phone box that costs 60p per 30 minutes for a chargeable call if you make calls that long though it is 60p for 0 to 30 minute chargeable calls in the phone box. And there are also many freephone numbers you can use in the phone calls.

You can't have it all cheap.

For reference, here's a screenshot of that page.

MNO's can block it via techniques such as ;-

- Logical Addresses for example IP Addresses, IMEI's (BIA ID's such as Serial Numbers/MAC ID's (Not just external but internal IP's to)
- User agents
- Even as far as DPI techniques

Of course there's plenty of more ways they can detect it.