Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='859299' date='Apr 26 2009, 11:43 AM

Now I have technical questions for the road warriers of today!

My cell (Verizon Samsung Omnia) doesn't seem to have a SIM card ... have any suggestions for staying in contact while we're away? I was trying to download SKYPE on my Omnia but it won't install. I don't want to carry a notebook computer for 10 days though hitting hotspots seems pretty likely.

I was also thinking about picking up one of the cheap netbooks. I can find a basic one for $250 ... that would give me wifi, internet/email + photo transfers + easy SKYPE (again only i hotspots).

For local communications between the three of I was thinking about a couple of those 2-way radios - some advertise a 20+ mile range.

What is the best deal going on cell rentals - I know in the USA - for the USA I can pick up almost any package deal for enough minutes to communicate for less than $50.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Originally Posted by Thullz' post='859984' date='Apr 27 2009, 12:39 AM

My sister in law arrived from Ireland for a visit so I put your Q to her. Your best bet would be to buy a used phone (either here or in Ireland) that uses a SIM card. Im sure you can get one for $20. Then when you get to Ireland simply buy a SIM card and use it on their Pay as you go service. I did this last summer, it cost 20 Euros to get a new SIM card and phone number, less than 5 minutes for the shop to get my phone to work and they gave me 15 Euros in call credit. So, if you have an old SIM phone then to get connected will only cost 5 Euros. O2, Vodaphone and one other company (cant remember now) are the three main carriers in Ireland and their stores are all over the place.

Also, you dont get charged for incoming calls in Ireland. So even if your phone has no credit, you can still receive calls on it.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='860237' date='Apr 27 2009, 09:28 AM

That sounds like a plan ... I was curious about whether any GSM cell that takes a SIM card would be useable ... seems to be the case and basic phones seem to be readily available everywhere.

Time to shop!

Next step will be grabbing a UK / Ireland map on SD for my Garmin. Might as well use what I have!

Originally Posted by HughH' post='860875' date='Apr 27 2009, 06:17 PM

Someone replied to be prepared to drive on the "wrong side". Not so, Iceland changed to the "right" side along with the rest of Scandinavia a long time ago. I know, we lived in Keflavik (USAF) for two years and loved it at any time other than the dark months.

Originally Posted by HughH' post='860875' date='Apr 27 2009, 06:17 PM

Someone replied to be prepared to drive on the "wrong side". Not so, Iceland changed to the "right" side along with the rest of Scandinavia a long time ago. I know, we lived in Keflavik (USAF) for two years and loved it at any time other than the dark months.

Originally Posted by HughH' post='860902' date='Apr 27 2009, 06:32 PM

Sorry guys, just read the whole thread and I mistook Iceland for Ireland.

Originally Posted by kscarrol' post='860914' date='Apr 27 2009, 07:39 PM

No worries, I'd love to visit Iceland some day.