This is a last effort to find a workaround for a Sim card I purchased at the Charles de Gaulle airport. the store where I purchased the card said it would work with my cell phone from the states, but we have not found that to be the case with data. It simply will not work at the moment. I tried to get help at an Orange store in Bayeux, but they told me the technology (antenna of the phone) is incompatible with data usage in France. Am I truly out of luck or does anyone with more technical knowledge have suggestions. We'd like to get our money's worth out of the Sim card if possible. The phone is a Sony Expedia Z3v.
Posted by
Normandie
270 posts
I'm far from a cell phone technology expert, but even for phones purchased in France, in my experience it is a better approach to purchase a pre-paid SIM directly from a service provider (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, for example) rather than from a tabac or corner market. You have a better chance at success there, and a better level of customer support.
Could you purchase a cheap unlocked phone in France for the remainder of your trip? Perhaps a visit to FNAC or Darty might prove useful.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
It could be that your phone doesn't work on the right frequencies for Europe, some don't. I don't see anything about quad band when I look up your phone on Amazon, so they may be right.
If it won't work in your phone, you have a couple options.
Try using your phone in WiFi areas, does that work? You may be able to get data that way without the SIM.
Buy a local phone to use your SIM. Basic phones are cheap for calling/text only but I haven't bought one with a lot of functions, they may be about the same as buying in the US.
French aren't the greatest at solving tourists problems, be extra polite - it might help.
My rule is I have the place I buy the SIM set it up. I don't pay and leave until I know it works. Going back doesn't help because they already have your money and don't want to waste any more time on you.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
It could be that your phone doesn't work on the right frequencies for Europe, some don't. I don't see anything about quad band when I look up your phone on Amazon, so they may be right.
If it won't work in your phone, you have a couple options.
Try using your phone in WiFi areas, does that work? You may be able to get data that way without the SIM.
Buy a local phone to use your SIM. Basic phones are cheap for calling/text only but I haven't bought one with a lot of functions, they may be about the same as buying in the US.
French aren't the greatest at solving tourists problems, be extra polite - it might help.
My rule is I have the place I buy the SIM set it up. I don't pay and leave until I know it works. Going back doesn't help because they already have your money and don't want to waste any more time on you.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7562 posts
Their response about the antenna sounds strange, the phone is a GSM band phone, so it should be fine.
I would find another Orange store and see if they can help. It may also be your carrier, my Son has Verizon, told his phone was unlocked, which it is, it just does not recognize non-Verizon SIM cards without changing some settings deep in the menu. Took him two stores and about two hours in one store for someone to figure it out. If you can contact your service provider, they may be able to help.
Another thing you might check out, my phone automatically shuts off data once I am out of the US, I would have to go in and turn it on for use, doubt your issue is that simple, but stranger things have happened.
Posted by
32 posts
I'm assuming that's an Xperia Z3V - be advised that that is a Verizon specific model (hence the "V"), but it is GSM compatible. It could be something as simple as not having the proper network settings for Orange's data network.
I've pasted in some data settings for orange below - I have no way of trying this at the moment, however. Network settings are somewhat buried in the phone's menu, so you'll have to go and have a look.
Orange
Orange is the brand used by France Télécom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. It operates GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / UMTS 2100.
APN settings username: orange password: orange APN name:
orange.fr authentication type: PAP APN type: default MCC: 208
MNC: 1
Posted by
Big D
10 posts
I know this is not exactly the solution you are looking for, but...
Lat summer we bought 2 orange data + voice SIM cards for our iPhones. They did work, but I also rented https://www.travel-wifi.com
We ended up using very little of the data on our phone plans and instead connected to the portable hotspot. It worked flawlessly and next time I won't even bother with the SIMs.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Holy smokes @simontemplar that worked! You are amazing!!! We would have NEVER known to do that ourselves. We were doing a decent job of navigating with a traditional map and the Rick Steves guide, but this will be wonderful to have on the go for finding restaurants in cities off the beaten path that are not in the guide. We'll also check out some of the other suggestions for future trips.
Thanks so much everyone!