>>>Hi I am going to a conference next week and they will not have free wi fi so have bought a 3gb sim valid for 30 days. When I have access to free wifi can you turn off the sim card so you are only using the free stuff? And then turn it on when no free wi fi about? For example have wi fi at home and dont want to be using the pay as you go plan? THanks for the help. Am in Australia by the way. Chris
The iPad automatically searches for wifi first.
Just don't disable wifi. Settings > Wifi > Set the slider to the blue position.
Also, on this same page, put the bottom slider, Ask to join Networks, to the blue position
Note what it says on that page, this is exactly what will happen.
The iPad automatically searches for wifi first. If it sees a known wifi network, it connects. If it sees an unknown wifi network, it asks you to connect manually, which usually involves entering a password.
It will only go to 3G if it can't connect to any wifi network.
Recently, I went on a trip with the iPad2. In 7 days, I made intensive use of the 3G: I used Maps for hours, and several apps that depend on 3G. I used up about 200 MB.
If you haven't done so already, I recommend doing a trial run with the SIM card. Insert it, make sure it works. Go some place where you know you have no wifi access and launch Safari, and do a Google search for something that you couldn't possibly have seen before, so as to make sure you don't have that page in some cache.
Some Access providers may refuse sending email that does not come through your home network. Try sending a message while using 3G. If this is your case, you will get an error message. You might find it convenient then to open a Gmail account (I'm sure there are other services that could work, Gmail is the one I know about and use). Then, when you write a message, you only have to make sure you use your gmail account. You do that by tapping the Cc/Bcc, From line, which will invoke a menu where you choose your gmail account instead of your usual account.
If you want to make sure you don't use 3G by mistake, you can turn it off.
Settings > Cellular Data, put the blue slider at the top to the grey position. Don't forget to turn it back to blue when you want to be able to go 3G. Otherwise, you will worry that your SIM card or iPad are on the blink.
If you want to economize, turn off Notifications and Location Service, in Settings. Personally, I ended up keeping Location Services on, because I was always on the go and most always needed it to be enabled, and ready to use. YMMV.
You can check your data usage.
Settings > General > Usage.
That's it, I think.
Am in Québec, by the way. Will vote on Monday.
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Hélène D.
Envoyé de mon iPad DEUX DEUX DEUX magique et adoré
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