Traveling to China soon...
 

Hi!

I'm going to travel to China and Hong Kong for my vacations, and I'm going to take my N800 with me, and I was wondering if I can use a cheap prepaid SIM card with my phone to tether my N800.
Anyone has any information on which company should I use, and how expensive would it be?

My current phone is a Nokia 5300 with Movistar Mexico

Thanks.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

You won't get 3G in China because this hasn't been adopted there yet, and WLAN is not allowed due to government regulations. Instead, the Chinese use WAPI. If I were you I'd consider to buy a cheap Chinese device in China instead leaving your normal devices at home.

If you have an unlocked phone you should be able to phone with it using a prepaid SIM card from Chinese telco. GSM _is_ supported in China, and I think GPRS as well, but don't pin me on that.

Also, don't expect people in China to speak English. Be surprised when they do. Although I believe in Hong Kong downtown you'll have more chance than rural areas.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Uh... Wlan access is relatively easy to find in China. I was there with a N800 last winter and had little trouble finding internet access. Search on my i.d., this has already been discussed.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

You won't find any internet in communist China. No sense in even bringing the tablet.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Right, but bring your hammer and sickle so you can join in on the various military parades

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Have you been there?
Jerome seems to have been.
Notice the mention of free wifi in tourist hotels and such, which makes perfect sense. I'd be very surprised if there was no internet, or even no wifi; the only questions are what is filtered (will an SSH link to my box back home work, or do they crack down on that to keep Chinese from tunneling out?), and how widely available it is in Chinese, rather than tourist, areas.

Edit: on-topic, a quick Google on gprs china turned up this. Looks like prepaid SIMs are available for 0.6 RMB (~0.09 USD) /minute; initial cost seems to be 100 RMB (~$15). GPRS is on, but per-kB charge; to add 2GB data is 200 RMB, ~$30. Also other plans, see the link.

And Wikipedia says they have good EDGE coverage in Shanghai, as of 2007. They're doing 3G testing since this Spring, but it's weird 3G, so only if you get a phone over there. (And if it's gone public, of course.)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I'm actually in China right now with my N800. In tourist areas and cities it's very common for guesthouses and cafes to have wireless internet these days. I carry around a pocket wireless router for those occasions where I can find wired but no wireless internet (fairly rare these days).

I've never tried using my prepaid sim for data, as my understanding is it's fairly expensive, and pointless considering how common wireless networks are becoming here.

As for the other questions about restricted access and tunneling, restrictions are fairly arbitrary. Proxies work, and I've never had problems using an ssh tunnel to the US.

I mostly use my N800 for navigation (bluetooth gps + maemo mapper) while traveling by bicycle. Works brilliantly. The only quirk is that google street maps for China seem to be off by a few hundred meters for the entire country! Satellite maps are spot-on though.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I am from China,so I think maybe I can provide you some infomation about telecommunication service in China. At present, there are two wireless service provider in China, China Mobile (CMCC) and China Unicom. Both the two companies provide prepaid sim card with GSM and GPRS service for your Nokia 5300 mobile phone (if your phone is unlocked). I advice you to choose the service from China Moible.
For more detailed infomation,you can visit the China Moible's website.
http://www.chinamobile.com/en/
Or dial the China Moible's service hotline: 0086-10-10086

For other wireless service, China Mobile provides Chinese version of 3G service now,but it is just a trial network in several cities, and I think you will not get a good exprience with it. Wifi service is not widely provided in China mainland, and just can be used in some central areas of big cities, like Beijing(free),Shanghai(non-free),and also can be used in hotels.


I think the following website about hotels and flights could be useful to you.
http://english.ctrip.com/


To allnameswereout:
WAPI is not used in China.
The percentage of people who can speak english is more than you think. English teaching is an important part of China's complusory education system and college education system.

To dugomugo
Do you live on earth or some other planet now?

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

You seem to have fun trolling, or you haven't been to China at all..

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Last time when I was in Beijing I've used SIM card (pre-paid plan M-Zone) of CMCC operator (it's largest mobile operator in mainland China).
Information about CMCC services prepaid plans you can find at English version of CMCC site:
http://www.bj.chinamobile.com/index/engsite/
There are different GPRS plans: starting from 5 Yuan (~ $0.7) for 10 Mb till 200 Yuan (~ $28) for 2Gb. Initial cost of CMCC SIM-card vary from $50 - $100 (depend on number of included services).

Suggested place to buy CMCC SIM card is official CMCC centers, because they provide fixed price for SIM card package. But need to note that it was not easy to find English speaking person there.

Regarding Chinese mainland maps: they have very detailed google-like maps (but only on Chinese):
http://go2map.com/
http://map.sogou.com/
But I didn't tried yet to add them to Maemo Mapper repository.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Wow, all this information it's very useful for me, and it looks like the service it's cheaper than what I can get in Mexico, I currently pay about $90 MXN ($8.5) for 10MB of prepaid data. I'll see if I can unlock my phone later today.

My tour includes Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and Hong Kong, I'm sure that the hotels I'm going to stay have wifi, and I'm planning to make most of my calls with VoIP. The service looks cheap enough to buy a SIM card and use it as a backup service.

Thank you very much to everyone for all the useful information and comments.

EDIT: I forgot to ask if I need an adapter for my chargers, It's the same wall plugs that the US ones?

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I 've been there in october 2006 . (Beijing, Xian, Guillin, Hangzhou and Shanghai) and found a mix of some US and many European plugs. Always 220 V ! Maybe Hongkong has British plugs (not been there) . It's probably wise to buy a world 'plug'. Please note that calling from China to America or Europe is also expensive with a Chinese SIMcard! Caling from China to Europe with an European SIMcard costs about 1€ / minute. So I did'nt bother buying a Chinese card. Called 12 minutes a week. Wifi is everywhere in citycenters and cheap or free. Boingo has >10000 hotspot in China. (7.95$ /month.) GSM is everywhere, also on the countryside . You will be able to call fom the Great wall. It is generally not appreciated if you call to the Americas in the afternoon (China time) . A majority of the young Chinese speaks English. However be aware of young female students on Nanying Road in Shanghai asking if you want to practice their English.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

About wi-fi:
I've only stayed in one Bejing hotel, although a big, expensive one. That one didn't have wi-fi for sure, the only available Internet was an Internet cafeteria (without the coffee) near the reception. But things could change quickly of course. Bejing is certainly a very modern-looking city for sure (e.g. their shopping malls looked decades more modern than any I've seen anywhere). BTW you'll find lots of people speaking English in Beijing, unlike on the countryside. The problem is actually that too many want to speak English with you.. all the time. In any case shopping won't be a problem.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I'll talk with all the pretty girls that want to chat with me :D
Nanying Road it's part of the Great Wall, isn't it? It's on my schedule.

I'll take advantage of Boingo if I have a chance, I think there is a promotional free month of service right now.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Rafael:

If you have TELMEX's prodigy infinitum at your home or office in Mexico, check out their web page, on the "prodigy movil" section.

They do have a "temporary" promotion where you can ROAM on international sites where AT&T and Boingo wireless services is provided.

So, you may be able to use your same prodigy account in China as well. I have used mine in many countries. works great and no more expenses besides what you already paid in Mexico in your montly bill.

Saludos desde Mexico DF.

febb

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Do you have details about using Boingo with a Prodigy Movil user? It's the same as AT&T?
thanks
Rafa

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I think he means Nanjing Road of Huangpu District in Shanghai, a commercial pedestrian street.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I go to China (Shanghai and Hong Kong) often. Almost everyone speaks english in HK. In the last three years I have noticed a lot more speak english in Shanghai. There are signs everywhere saying, 'English first'. Nanying road is in Shanghai. Great for getting lots of great stuff cheaply. As far as wifi very little in Shanghai. Your best bet is your hotel. Bring a small router( I use dlink) and connect to hotel wired and then use it as your N800 wireless access point. Some of the english cafes have wireless but its slow and expensive(very relative to local internet cafes). Carry your passport with you at all times. Use only the official gov taxis the rest are rippoffs. Have your hotel write out where you want to go in Chinese and carry your hotel business card with address on it in case you get lost. Have fun. Checkout the Bund area in Shanghai for night life. Have fun.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

i am in Beijing now and i'm using n800,if you have any question,please contact me saintthought@gmail.com(gtalk is ok)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Good advice from dan. In addition to what he said about taxis, the hotel I stayed in actually wrote down the number of the taxis they called up for me (there was a nice person outside the door that would wave up a taxi for me whenever I needed one). Then, if I got ripped off by the taxi driver, the hotel would take charge and handle it as they had the number. Got ripped off only once though, and that was not while driving from the hotel - in any case it wasn't too much money.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Good to know about the taxis, at least I have a free day at Shanghai and the tour includes the Bund and Nanjing Road, this is going to be fun. I'm sure I'm going to return in complete bankrupt. :D

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

OK, thanks to everyone, I'm leaving to China tomorrow, see you all in two weeks! :D

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

@rafaelsemx: Hey, are you back yet? I am heading for China soon, and my last trip was NOT pleasant as I cannot get wifi/internet at all. I have no problem in getting internet/wifi in HK. Waiting anxiously for your update report on wifi/internet situation... TIA,

Edit: I will be in/out canton/hk. I think I will try to get a phone and a subscription this time. Any suggestions regarding phone/subscription in china/hk that will couple well with my Nokia for 2-3 weeks? I have no squat idea about sim cards, please start with the very basic. Roaming is not good, but I will take it if it is the only way for a short time. Last time I was in HK, I use PCCW, I think it was $15 for 1 month. Oh, I also have boingomobile now, anybody use it in HK/China? No. I may NOT stay in hotel in China/HK, maybe... Again, any info is greatly appreciated. TIA,

bun

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Oop, GPS too. Any suggestions? My US GPS works somewhat in HK and dead in China. I dont know why and does not care too much about why at this moment, I just want to know if anyone buy a GPS in China that would couple with the Nokia, should that work? TIA,

bun

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

A GPS should work equally well in China as elsewhere.. the GPS signals don't know which country you're in! :D

(The only issue could be south/northern hemisphere. I had a problem with one receiver, it never ever locked while in the southern hemisphere. Didn't have any problems with another GPS. Probably a firmware bug in the other one. No problems in China with either of them.)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I just used my N810 GPS in Macau China and once it got a lock it was fine

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I agree, it does NOT make sense. But that was what happened last trip. HK and China is so close, but the GPS kind of working in HK, but is completely dead in China. I will try this trip and see how it goes.


bun

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Mine is somewhat working in HK but completely dead in China, not to mention a lock.

I tried only my US BT GPS, N810 was NOT released at that time.

bun

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I'm scratching my head at that China GPS problem you had.. there are only two reasons I can think of. One I experienced myself, with a 3rd GPS receiver. It didn't work in Beijing. I'm pretty sure the reason was because of reception problems due to lots of high buildings, even though I tested it in probably the widest avenue in the city (if there had been lanes all the way across I guess there was room for at least 8 lanes. That's how wide it was, and I was in the middle).

For this particular receiver I think the problem was simply that it's a very crappy receiver, not sensitive at all. Old too. It has problems in deep valleys also.

The other possibility I can think of would be interference, or even some kind of jamming signal. It sounds odd I know, but other than reception problems as described above I don't know what it could be.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Thank god, finally somebody agree with me the GPS experience in Canton,china is odd. Well, I will try the N810 and with some more BT GPS in the next couple of weeks and see how it go. Jamming the signal may be the correct answer as I see military stuff in Canton, China.

I am still looking for down to earth, working, simple suggestions about getting internet access in Canton, China. Buy a phone, get a sim(?) card, BT coupling with the Nokia is what I think the most straight forward, only if someone has experience with what kind of phone I should be looking for.

In HK, I plan to do the same as I did last time, get PCCW mobile $15 for 30 days. It works in most 7-eleven stores and some telephone boothes. It is not ideal, but it is workable.

I will also subscribe to boingomobile. I am not quite sure how is boingomobile doing in asia though.

TIA,

bun

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Hello!

I have been really busy at work since i returned, and I forgot to check this thread,
About the GPS, I'm using a bluetooth GPSlim260, I had no problems getting a fix on Beijing, but I forgot the charger and couldn't use in other places. I left my phone in Mexico because roaming prices where too high and used a prepaid card for calls, since I hoped to find WIFI at the hotels, but theres wasn't a single open network I could use for my tablet, except for the airports, and ethernet jacks on the room, shame I didn't brought a cheap router for my N800.

I "discovered" that the charger for my N800 it's in fact a travel charger and works perfectly anywhere with only a few adapters. You can download the maps for the places you are going to visit before leaving.

And I would get a unlocked phone and a Sim card if I really needed more constant Internet access or stay longer than a week.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Hi
I am moving to china shanghai this weekend , are there anything to be known about internet restrictions ? My n9 has configured openvpn on 80 port as survival backup solution , is it enough ? :)

Btw I'll be curious to met Gnu/linux geeks too ...

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

I guess it depends on are you connecting to a local internet provider or using a company intranet connected to the internet.

While I was there we had the normal unfiltered internet available at company internals, otherwice it was filtered with the great firewall.
Of course tor is always the option :)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Tor nodes are mostly blocked in China. VPN or ssh tunnel are safer bets.

FYI, the official repository of Jolla is blocked as well :D (depends on your ISP)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

What about wifi hotspots ? are there some shops or restaurants known to provide free wifi ?


I dont know if this list is accurate :


http://www.danwei.org/china_informat..._hot_spo_1.php


Btw I expect to use it in hotels ...

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Some companies may provide vpn connections for their employees.

Otherwise the Internet should be filtered by default.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

There's a lot of "dead ends" on the internet in mainland China.
Things are tightly controlled.
Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Hotmail, Gmail* etc etc all blocked.

For communication in China, I used Tango.
Its one of the better ones out there. Its very popular, but I guess not popular enough to warrant a block.

I used it to communicate to back home, to my friend who was travelling with me, and to two other travellers that I met in Japan and Hong Kong.

Look for an alternative like that. Just in case, SMS is not an option/fails you.

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

http://www.tango.me/download

nothing for harmattan or linux

But I managed to create a qq.com email

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

Just came back from Shanghai, actually Skype and Outlook is working normally. There is a specific Chinese "Skype" but the rest of the world can just use their normal Skype as normal.

Recently Instagram get blocked due to HK Occupying central, to sum up Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all Google services exc. GMaps, Flickr, Dropbox are NOT working. VPN is recommended.

Shanghai is having "dusty" fog at the moment (from north China wind), good luck. ;)

Re: Traveling to China soon...
 

The newly released Tor Browser 4.0 claims to work in China.