eSims, what is your experience.

[moa999]

Hard to know exactly what went wrong as every SIM and phone can be a bit different.

But key items is the SIM needs to be selected. It needs to be the primary/data SIM and it needs to have Roaming turned On. Sometimes one needs to play with APN settings but that's pretty rare these days.

As a cheap test before travelling try downloading Firsty (free 30min for watching an add on Wifi). Then disable your Australian SIm, and see if you can get a connection (albeit slow) on Firsty.

 

[Maca44]

Where / how did you get your phone?

There was some recent discussion up thread about whether a “Locked” phone can or can’t use the eSIMs.

As a start, on your phone goto
Settings/General/About and see if there’s SIM restrictions against “Service Provider Lock”.

Otherwise, Saily is pretty good functionally.

Bought iPhone 15 pro in Sydney, with Telstra and tried everything, but could not get it to work. Checked to ensure it was unlocked. Anyway, have been back in Aus since September so doesn't matter now but on my next trip will be staying for nearly 3 months so will purchase a local phone.

 

[SYD]

Bought iPhone 15 pro in Sydney, with Telstra and tried everything, but could not get it to work. Checked to ensure it was unlocked. Anyway, have been back in Aus since September so doesn't matter now but on my next trip will be staying for nearly 3 months so will purchase a local phone.

As mentioned above, you could try out a free/cheap eSIM for Oz and see if you can get that to work at home ahead of your next trip.

Once working, eSIMs are more convenient than carting two phones around.

Some were mentioned already, but important steps:

1. Read the installation/setup instructions first and during (if the eSIM comes via email QR code, hand to have that email open in another device).

2. ALWAYS install an eSIM over stable wifi (if you use data, the setup will potentially disconnect the data line as it tries to turn on the eSIM causing the install to fail or get corrupted),

3. When the eSIM is installed correctly, it should turn on that line and try and connect to a network. If it does (you see signal bars), that’s obviously a good sign! But it probably won’t show 4G/5G until you adjust things,

4. As mentioned earlier, most eSIMs need to be set to “Roaming”. With the eSIM turned on, go to its settings and scroll down and turn roaming ON.

5. You’ll also need to set the eSIM as the default for Mobile Data. Leave your default Voice Line set as Telstra.

By Step 4/5, the eSIM should be up and connected and activated (unless there’s a further Activation control in the relevant app - if any).

Apologies if some of that is teaching to suck eggs, but hopefully you can get it to work.