Best way to make phone calls in TRNC

mixie


Joined: 16/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 13:52

Hi there looking for some pragmatic advice from all those in the know.



Last time I was over, my blackberry played up, I couldn't get access to the Internet and in the end the blooming thing wouldn't let me make calls to anywhere with it!



I am coming over again soon and wondered

-Would it be best to get an old phone and buy a sim card in the TRNC to make calls?

-Is that the best way to make a call within the North. What about phoning home?

-Would that be cost efficient?

Any advice please as I an a technical dinosaur!



Mixie

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 13:57

TRNC sim card cheap, need passport & address but the calls to UK are expensive. Find a friend with Skype.



Richard

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:01

Stand on a hill where you can access the CYTA / MTN networks ... MUCH cheaper roaming on a UK mobile ( new EU roaming rules) and - esp if you live in Bogaz(i) - with one of the RoC sims.. calls MUCH cheaper and txts to UK approx 1-2p - depending on your deal.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:03

Failing that get as close to the "green" line as possible in Nicosia or anywhere on island

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:05

Mixie

If you are picking up the bill for your blackberry you were lucky last time it did not work

We now have 3G so it should as I said if you are paying the bill it will cost a fortune

The UK providers do not charge European rate they charge the dearer Turkey rate

Take an old phone and buy a sim

You can also buy a dongle and have internet access for a laptop

Try the rebtel system but not withe your UK phone in theTRNC

http://www.rebtel.com/

mixie


Joined: 16/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:24

Thanks all for the advice.

PS I wasn't picking up the tab for the Blackberry so just as well it didn't work!

Mixie

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:28

Hi

We took a 'good' old phone with us and bought a sim card in 'tin pan alley' left at the cross roads on the main street in Kyrenia shopping area. We then topped up in the TurkCell and it has been good. My husband has been experimenting with using his mobile as a modem with the laptop. - worth a go!

mickyron


Joined: 05/07/2009
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 15:01

Hi Mixie

Yes you would be as well to take an old phone from UK and get a sim card. It works out a lot cheaper to do it that way , and its also cheaper to call you from UK as well.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 15:08

Don't forget to check that that the old 'phone is unlocked i.e. 'sim-free', or else you'll need to get it unlocked here, although that's not usually a problem, and you can find DIY instructions in the web for most older 'phones...

Have to say that I've considered getting a CYTA sim for use in the South, and as mmmmmm says, now that the EU rules have 'harmonised' the roaming charges, it's looking even more attractive...

There's always the good old standby of course - the 'Giant Orange' just off the High Street - no privacy to speak of, but cheap calls!

petemate


Joined: 16/09/2008
Posts: 228

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 16:02

You can buy an unloked phone in Carphone warehouse for £5 and you then have to buy £10 credit from your choice of UK networks.

When you get over here, buy a simcard and swap it-no problem

Pete

mixie


Joined: 16/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 16:09

If it was a sim free phone do I still need to have it unlocked?

Sorry if this is a stupid question!

M

mikemans


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 103

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 16:16

no one has mentioned a laptp and Skype, the donle is 150 YTL and a card for 30 days is 60 YTL dpends whether yours is a one off visit or regular. I use Skype all the time with Turkcell 3G, for me it works,maybe for others problems exist

Dawnie1


Joined: 27/09/2008
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 18:21

Just to update the costs as above, I paid 149 lira for the modem & 70 lira for 30 days usage for the Turkcell internet this week. it comes with 100 free texts to anywhere in the world as well & I have been using Skype to Skype with hubby & son back in UK, its been perfect, I know other people have had problems, but I have not had any issues so far, so those calls have been completely free.

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 18:30

Now we live here we use Skype, but before we had skype we used sim 4 travel, bought it on the plane coming over, cost 16 gbp and has 10 gbp credit on it, all calls 25 pence per minute to UK, you will need an unlocked phone.

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 18:56

Would we be able to use a dongle and laptop/skype out in Tatlisu?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 19:21

Dear Mixie,



What you are looking for in a phone is that it is not tied to any network.. sim fre implies that you buy the phone without a sim card - the card the network operator provides.. there are sim free phones that will only work with one network..



Best thing is to try it in the UK.. put in sims from two different UK networks



Vodafone ( BT )

T-mobile ( Virgin)

o2

Orange

3



see if it works call receives calls with two of these main networks networks... Asda, Tesco, etc are all virtual providers - like Virgin or BT Mobile



If the phone works with two different providers sims.. it is unlocked..

mixie


Joined: 16/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 19:24

mmmmmmmmmmm,



you can really be quite helpful at times!



Thanks

Mixie