Nexus 5 on straight talk?

[redf4rr]

I just ordered a nexus 5 and I am currently with sprint, but want to try straight talk. Can I set up the nexus 5 on straight talk and they will give me a phone number? If I do this and like the service with straight talk will I have problem switching my current number over from sprint? Since they gave me a new number? I hope this is in the right forum.

 

[OhSeven]

I don't think you'll have a problem as long as your Sprint account hasn't been closed by the time you want to port the number over. I know someone on a family plan with sprint that ported one number to ST and waited a few weeks to port the other one. The later one didn't work

 

[Biaviian]

My understanding is that if you activate a SIM with a straight talk number and then you want to port a number you will need to buy a new SIM. Once the SIM is activated with one number they won't change numbers on said SIM.

As OhSeven said, one important factor is ensuring that your Sprint account isn't closed until the number has been ported to straight talk.

 

[redf4rr]

Thanks for the info u guys. How fully straight talk has better service than sprint.

 

[jmatherly411]

Anyone using the Nexus 5 through Straight Talk using AT&T SIM? If so how is your experience with voice coverage and data speeds preferably LTE?

Reason being I'm about to bail out on Sprint within the next few months and have been considering buying a Nexus 5 from the PlayStore and putting it on Straight Talk. Do you have a choice between an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card? I don't want a T-Mobile SIM due to the fact they only have 2G EDGE service here and it seems AT&T is the best where I live.

 

[badutahboy]

Anyone using the Nexus 5 through Straight Talk using AT&T SIM? If so how is your experience with voice coverage and data speeds preferably LTE?

Reason being I'm about to bail out on Sprint within the next few months and have been considering buying a Nexus 5 from the PlayStore and putting it on Straight Talk. Do you have a choice between an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card? I don't want a T-Mobile SIM due to the fact they only have 2G EDGE service here and it seems AT&T is the best where I live.

I just switched to ST on AT&T. So far, I'm mildly disappointed. I'm in an area with solid LTE coverage, but find myself on HSPA regularly. I suspect AT&T flags MVNO SIMs and pushes us to HSPA whenever network demand is high. My best speedtest result (I've only done about 5) was 12 MBPS down. I was getting better speeds than that on Tmo HSPA+ before they launched LTE.

Voice coverage has been pretty good. I dropped a call yesterday, but I'm not sure if it was my phone or my friend's. That's the only one I remember dropping.

 

[badutahboy]

My understanding is that if you activate a SIM with a straight talk number and then you want to port a number you will need to buy a new SIM. Once the SIM is activated with one number they won't change numbers on said SIM.

As OhSeven said, one important factor is ensuring that your Sprint account isn't closed until the number has been ported to straight talk.

This is correct. I recently had the same idea as the OP and Straight Talk had to send me a new SIM when I decided to port my number over a week later. However, they mailed me a new SIM without any charge, and actually reset my initial 30 days (I had only used it for 3-4 days) as well.

 

[akmsr]

Anyone using the Nexus 5 through Straight Talk using AT&T SIM? If so how is your experience with voice coverage and data speeds preferably LTE?

Reason being I'm about to bail out on Sprint within the next few months and have been considering buying a Nexus 5 from the PlayStore and putting it on Straight Talk. Do you have a choice between an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card? I don't want a T-Mobile SIM due to the fact they only have 2G EDGE service here and it seems AT&T is the best where I live.

lol i just posted the same question in the straight talk section.
from the reply of badutahboy it seems that getting LTE is not guarantied even if the coverage map shows solid LTE. lets see

 

[mogelijk]

Anyone using the Nexus 5 through Straight Talk using AT&T SIM? If so how is your experience with voice coverage and data speeds preferably LTE?

Reason being I'm about to bail out on Sprint within the next few months and have been considering buying a Nexus 5 from the PlayStore and putting it on Straight Talk. Do you have a choice between an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card? I don't want a T-Mobile SIM due to the fact they only have 2G EDGE service here and it seems AT&T is the best where I live.

I'd strongly consider AIO (soon to be rebranded as the new Cricket). I've just heard too many horror stories about Straight Talk. AIO, if you set up autopay, is also $45 for 2.5 GB of high speed data (though they also have a 500 MB and a 5 GB plan), though they include all taxes, including sales tax, in the $45 payment. Additionally, since they are owned by AT&T, I suspect they have a better priority. GoPhone will have the best priority on AT&T prepaid, though they cost a bit more.

 

[akmsr]

i could be wrong but i think straight talk do not throttle the data speed at 8 mbps like AIO. also they offer 3 GB data for 45$

 

[mogelijk]

i could be wrong but i think straight talk do not throttle the data speed at 8 mbps like AIO. also they offer 3 GB data for 45$

You are right about Straight Talk not throttling to 8 Mbps but it is a tradeoff. As this thread shows, Straight Talk does have a lower priority which means, depending on AT&T usage/coverage in your area, you could end up with slower speeds. AIO, from what I can tell, has a higher data priority meaning you should typically have very usable speeds.

From what it appears, part of the reason for the higher priority (beyond merely being owned by AT&T) is exactly because it is throttled -- they know that AIO users won't steal too much bandwidth from their postpaid customers. What I've heard from AIO customers is that they have great service -- 8 Mbps is fast enough for anything you need to do (including stream high definition video), especially since AIO delivers it consistently.

The issue with Straight Talk is the number of people that complain that they don't actually get 3 GB. Instead, if they use "too much" in a day or week, they are throttled (particularly since streaming video is not allowed per Straight Talk's TOS). I've also seen some people complain, when they are just under the data limit at the end of the month, that they get throttled near the beginning of the next month (basically, they used 2.9 GB last month and, after using 100 MB in the first couple of days they are throttled). The biggest problem is there is no way to get the throttle overturned; that is an issue customer service (including supervisors) do not have the ability to fix. Additionally, there have been numerous issues with Straight Talk users being unable to get MMS.

To me, there seem to be two items to consider. First, how much do you care about sometimes maybe being able to get over 20 Mbps, or do you just want good quality that is fast enough to do what you need? Second, how important is customer service to you? If you want fast speeds sometimes and don't care about getting customer service then Straight Talk is probably your choice. If you want good customer service to be there and help if you have problems, and care about having usable speeds rather than extra fast speeds, then AIO is probably a good choice.

 

[isdaako]

Straight Talk CS is a test of patience, but must admit that they have gotten much better. My last two contacts with CS have gone well. Thankfully I don't have to contact them often.

 

[akmsr]

another option i was looking up is H2O. according to their website they use ATT towers and have unlimited data for 60$ a month. just like metropcs that i am currently on. i poked around a little bit about that in xda and found couple of things. despite their coverage map showing LTE being available they only provide HSPA but on the other hand they do not throttle. so if you can live with hspa speed it could be a better deal if you use a lot of data.
unfortunately here there seems to be no forum section of h2o so ....

 

[Gatman]

Just popped in after not being here for a while and saw this thread. I'm currently on ST with my Nexus 5. I've generally been happy with them, but the no streaming video or tethering thing has bugged me since I switched last fall. I have solid service and no complaints otherwise, but once in a blue moon I want to stream video for a few minutes or tether to my laptop to check my email. I'm afraid to do it for fear of being capped or cancelled. My typical useage is about 250 to 500 megabytes a month. It would probably be a little higher if I could stream video or tether, but I doubt I'd go over 1.5gb even in a heavy usage month.

I currently get a $2.50 discount for being on autopay with ST. With taxes it ends up being $46.84. If AOI is $45 all in I might port my number over and switch.

I'm assuming AOI doesn't prohibit streaming video - does anyone know if occaisional tethering is permitted?

Thanks,

Gary

 

[Hook]

The one thing I like about Gophone is that they really don't mess with you. The 60 Smartphone plan is, yes, $60. You get 2.5 Gb LTE data, it uses the same networks as Post-Paid accounts (as far as I can tell, unlike the non-smartphone plans), you can add increments of 1Gb for $10 each if you really need it and, recently, they added that you are free to tether with it. No throttling. They don't care if you stream. If you run out you run out. Easy to keep a meter on my phone, they have one on their account page. And, the few times you need it, CS is exceptional. To me, it's worth the extra. I understand that other might not think so.

Just providing another perspective.

 

[Gatman]

Just checked. Tethering prohibited on Aio:

You agree that you will not use Data Services in any manner which: hinders customer or user access to the wireless network; compromises network security, capacity, or capabilities; excessively and disproportionately contributes to network congestion; adversely impacts network service levels or legitimate data flows; degrades network performance; causes harm to the network or other customers; is resold either alone or as part of any other good or service; tethers a wireless device to a computing device (such as a computer, Smartphone, eBook or eReader, media player, laptop, or other devices with similar functions) through use of connection kits, applications, devices or accessories (using wired or wireless technology) and you have not subscribed to a specific data plan designed for this purpose; or requires a specific data plan for a particular use and you have not subscribed to that plan.

 

[mogelijk]

Just checked. Tethering prohibited on Aio:

AIO does allow you to stream video. They charge a flat $45 if you have autopay, for the $50 plan, and it includes all taxes -- including sales tax.

 

[hemplacrosse4]

My friend has ST with his S3. We took out his Sim and put it in my Nexus 5. We then did a speed test, after that we put in my AT&T Sim and the speeds were almost double. So I advise ST people you are NOT getting the same as AT&T, might use SOME of AT&T towers but definitely not all. Just my two cents.

 

[gale65]

I use the Nexus 5 with ST and an AT&T sim. I don't live in an LTE area but when I'm in one, I don't really notice the internet is any faster. It might be from being inside a building or whatever. I've watched video in a browser or the youtube app with no problems.

 

[xxjostaxx]

Anyone using the Nexus 5 through Straight Talk using AT&T SIM? If so how is your experience with voice coverage and data speeds preferably LTE?

Reason being I'm about to bail out on Sprint within the next few months and have been considering buying a Nexus 5 from the PlayStore and putting it on Straight Talk. Do you have a choice between an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card? I don't want a T-Mobile SIM due to the fact they only have 2G EDGE service here and it seems AT&T is the best where I live.

Yeah, WalMart has "activation kits" that come with a booklet of different sim cards. I use at&t ST and my LTE is phenomenal. Didn't have it where I live for the first couple weeks, till they set up a macro cell site close to my house, so I usually get about 40-50Mbps d/l speeds, and as is common with the Nex 5, anywhere between 9-15Mbps u/l. It's pretty sweet, and I wouldn't switch to any other service Or phone.

 

[arkbgirl]

I've been on straight talk 4 years I love it until I got the new sim card now I cant send a text I have called them at least 20 * are more they cant help are won't help until today they're finally sending me another sims card we will see if not I'm switching to at&t it has taken 3 months and I always get a foreigner who I can barely understand so good luck to all of you