eSims, what is your experience.

[SYD]

Even better! That's excellent information.

When I converted my Telstra SIM to eSIM, the process required that I be connected to WiFi, so I assumed that would be how all eSIMs worked. Think I'm going to like this new way of connecting.

Generally you need to be on a stable data source to install eSIMs. Wifi being the obvious choice.

Technically you can do it over another sim with data access but I did recently make the newbie mistake of trying to install an eSIM using another eSIM’s data. My old phone didn’t like that idea and of course turned off the existing eSIM to activate the new eSIM line…. My new phone should handle that scenario better…

But as far as having to wait to get to a destination to install or activate an eSIM one or should I say, the big advantage of the big Oz telco daily roaming options is you can use that when you arrive but then turn it off once you’ve setup the alternate sim(s).

 

[Isolar]

Generally you need to be on a stable data source to install eSIMs. Wifi being the obvious choice.

Technically you can do it over another sim with data access but I did recently make the newbie mistake of trying to install an eSIM using another eSIM’s data. My old phone didn’t like that idea and of course turned off the existing eSIM to activate the new eSIM line…. My new phone should handle that scenario better…

But as far as having to wait to get to a destination to install or activate an eSIM one or should I say, the big advantage of the big Oz telco daily roaming options is you can use that when you arrive but then turn it off once you’ve setup the alternate sim(s).

I think what Flashback is suggesting is that the Lyca Mobile eSIM should by some mechanism recognise that it is in the vicinity of its home network - in this case the EE network. I'm happy to try it out when we land - if it hasn't worked by the time we get to the gate then I can (hopefully) connect to the LHR WiFi.

Completely agree with your last point and have done this often in the past. The requirements of this trip require something a bit different, and if I can achieve that on arrival I will be very satisfied.

 

[Flashback]

Even better! That's excellent information.

When I converted my Telstra SIM to eSIM, the process required that I be connected to WiFi, so I assumed that would be how all eSIMs worked. Think I'm going to like this new way of connecting.

I think what Flashback is suggesting is that the Lyca Mobile eSIM should by some mechanism recognise that it is in the vicinity of its home network - in this case the EE network. I'm happy to try it out when we land - if it hasn't worked by the time we get to the gate then I can (hopefully) connect to the LHR WiFi.

Completely agree with your last point and have done this often in the past. The requirements of this trip require something a bit different, and if I can achieve that on arrival I will be very satisfied.

So the SIM install needs to be done beforehand, that would best be done over WiFi. Once it's installed, you switch on/activate once you've hit the ground, no need for WiFi for that.

 

[Isolar]

So the SIM install needs to be done beforehand, that would best be done over WiFi. Once it's installed, you switch on/activate once you've hit the ground, no need for WiFi for that.

Yes, I probably wasn't clear expressing how I thought the process would work, and now I have a bit of experience, I think I understand better.

I ordered a plan from Lyca Mobile and received the confirmation with QR code fairly quickly. Went through the process to add the eSIM while on WiFi and eventually received a text message from Lyca with my new UK number.

My understanding now is that I won't be able to send texts or make calls until the phone has connected initially to the UK network, which I guess is the activation they mentioned on the website. Not a problem as far as my use case goes and hopefully all goes to plan when I land next week.

 

[Flashback]

Yes, I probably wasn't clear expressing how I thought the process would work, and now I have a bit of experience, I think I understand better.

I ordered a plan from Lyca Mobile and received the confirmation with QR code fairly quickly. Went through the process to add the eSIM while on WiFi and eventually received a text message from Lyca with my new UK number.

My understanding now is that I won't be able to send texts or make calls until the phone has connected initially to the UK network, which I guess is the activation they mentioned on the website. Not a problem as far as my use case goes and hopefully all goes to plan when I land next week.

Correct!

 

[RealtimeY]

Went through the process to add the eSIM while on WiFi and eventually received a text message from Lyca with my new UK number.

Sounds like you're all set, glad to hear!
FYI, if you attempt this again in future with another provider, you may occasionally receive the message "Unable to activate eSIM". Don't worry in that case, it's actually already added to your eSIM list. Just turn it off, and back on when you get to your destination.

As an aside, I've gotten in the habit of setting my elderly mother up with eSIMs before her overseas trips, labelling them as whatever country/region she's going to, and she simply switches it on once she gets there. Success every time so far, and she prefers it to fiddling around with a nano SIM.

 

[SYD]

Sounds like you're all set, glad to hear!
FYI, if you attempt this again in future with another provider, you may occasionally receive the message "Unable to activate eSIM".

My two previous eSIM capable phones (iPhone XR and 12) both used to do that a lot but I could see a 2nd line was turned on and knew it had installed. Still, not a good user experience.

My new iPhone 15 hasn’t done it, so maybe Apple tweaked something along the way?

 

[RealtimeY]

I think it happens if the new eSIM can't connect to a network (i.e. because it can't roam while in Australia), so it gives up after a few minutes and gives you that error. I guess they didn't really expect people to install a local eSIM from outside its original country. Isolar mentioned he connected and received a text from Lyca UK, so it would be actually roaming here. The trouble with this is that some SIMs will activate as soon as you do that and the 30-day expiry starts running down.

SingTel's tourist eSIM requires you to download their app, and only installs it on your phone once it confirms you are physically in Singapore and has verified your passport.

It all gets quite complicated. To a newbie I'd say the safest bet is to just activate it in the airport when you land, and hope the wifi there works!

 

[yachty]

My two previous eSIM capable phones (iPhone XR and 12) both used to do that a lot but I could see a 2nd line was turned on and knew it had installed. Still, not a good user experience.

My new iPhone 15 hasn’t done it, so maybe Apple tweaked something along the way?

I have an iPhone 13 and got that error last week, while in the country i was activating the eSIM for

It started working on its own after a few minutes. Hopefully just a quirk of my older device.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Yes, I probably wasn't clear expressing how I thought the process would work, and now I have a bit of experience, I think I understand better.

I ordered a plan from Lyca Mobile and received the confirmation with QR code fairly quickly. Went through the process to add the eSIM while on WiFi and eventually received a text message from Lyca with my new UK number.

My understanding now is that I won't be able to send texts or make calls until the phone has connected initially to the UK network, which I guess is the activation they mentioned on the website. Not a problem as far as my use case goes and hopefully all goes to plan when I land next week.

Please report back how it works for you.
I’m going to be in Spain for a while soon, and I’m looking at Lyca to use their EU roaming on the 30 Day / 30Gb plan for £6 (happy with the price if it works ok!)

 

[Thibault]

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10.57 GB or 17.39 GB if your device is compatible with an esim.

Just be aware - as every roaming service, all data is tunneled back to the service provider servers where the SIM card is registered (very low latency in Europe - but good to know).

 

[Isolar]

Please report back how it works for you.
I’m going to be in Spain for a while soon, and I’m looking at Lyca to use their EU roaming on the 30 Day / 30Gb plan for £6 (happy with the price if it works ok!)

Definitely will.

Keeping fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

 

[Isolar]

Arrived in London and have good experience so far with the setup.

At first, I couldn't figure out why my phone would not connect to the Lyca Mobile network. Then I realised I had to switch my Mobile Data and Default Voice Line in Settings over to Lyca Mobile from Telstra. Once that was done, the phone connected to the 5G network quite quickly.

Have received calls to my Australian number and made calls to numbers back home. However, when I tried to call a UK number I received a voice message from Telstra that WiFi calling when overseas is only allowed to Australian numbers. Basically, when I set everything up all my contacts were set to be called from my primary Telstra eSIM. I haven't figured out yet if there is a way to on the fly select which eSIM I want to call one of my contacts on. The only thing I can see to do is edit the contact and switch over to the local eSIM. I will then have to remember to change back when I leave.

All in all, this is quite the game changer for me and I will definitely be definitely adopt this method going forward.

 

[Flashback]

Arrived in London and have good experience so far with the setup.

At first, I couldn't figure out why my phone would not connect to the Lyca Mobile network. Then I realised I had to switch my Mobile Data and Default Voice Line in Settings over to Lyca Mobile from Telstra. Once that was done, the phone connected to the 5G network quite quickly.

Have received calls to my Australian number and made calls to numbers back home. However, when I tried to call a UK number I received a voice message from Telstra that WiFi calling when overseas is only allowed to Australian numbers. Basically, when I set everything up all my contacts were set to be called from my primary Telstra eSIM. I haven't figured out yet if there is a way to on the fly select which eSIM I want to call one of my contacts on. The only thing I can see to do is edit the contact and switch over to the local eSIM. I will then have to remember to change back when I leave.

All in all, this is quite the game changer for me and I will definitely be definitely adopt this method going forward.

You can set the default SIM/provider for calls, as you did with data.

 

[Askance]

For those people on Boost they are now offering to change you over to esim (source OzB Free Transfer to eSIM from Physical SIM @ Boost Mobile via App). Now i can consider esim or physical when looking for overseas services while having Boost active.

 

[Isolar]

You can set the default SIM/provider for calls, as you did with data.

Not quite sure I follow Flashback.

My settings show this:


All my contacts (at least the ones called before this trip) have a line above the contact name that says "last used: P Primary", which in my case is the Telstra eSIM.

So, when I attempted to call one of London contact numbers, the iPhone attempted to place the call via the Primary eSIM, and then I got the Telstra message that I could only do WiFi calling to Australian numbers.

I can change the contact itself to always use the Lyca Mobile UK eSIM, but I thinkI would need to remember to change it back when I return to Australia.

However, I will be the first to admit I might be missing something, given this is my first attempt with this kind of setup.

 

[Flashback]

Not quite sure I follow Flashback.

My settings show this:
View attachment 371120

All my contacts (at least the ones called before this trip) have a line above the contact name that says "last used: P Primary", which in my case is the Telstra eSIM.

So, when I attempted to call one of London contact numbers, the iPhone attempted to place the call via the Primary eSIM, and then I got the Telstra message that I could only do WiFi calling to Australian numbers.

I can change the contact itself to always use the Lyca Mobile UK eSIM, but I thinkI would need to remember to change it back when I return to Australia.

However, I will be the first to admit I might be missing something, given this is my first attempt with this kind of setup.

Weird, your phone has a setting Default Voice Line. I'd set your numbers to use that default setting rather than a specific SIM, to avoid this exact thing happening. Not sure if you can do it on an iPhone (I'm an Android user).

 

[RealtimeY]

Try changing the line above the keypad in the phone app.

Otherwise you could just turn off wifi when you start a call

If you change the contact to always use Lyca you will just be prompted to change it back when you turn off your Lyca eSIM. No harm in this, just a couple more taps involved

 

[Isolar]

Thanks RealtimeY. I will give each option a try next time I make a similar call.

 

[yachty]

Weird, your phone has a setting Default Voice Line. I'd set your numbers to use that default setting rather than a specific SIM, to avoid this exact thing happening. Not sure if you can do it on an iPhone (I'm an Android user).

Unfortunately it doesn't work like this on iOS, at least for people you've contacted before... iOS will default to calling someone with the "last used" line (say Telstra), but if you want to call them from your roaming eSIM you can only select from the "always use" setting.

This new "always use" setting then persists, even after you've removed the eSIM. Confusingly the default voice line setting has no bearing at all on the above.