[Solved] Difficulty connecting tablet to mobile broadband

[seahermit]

Sorry if some of this seems dumb - I am completely new to tablets, I did some research but am astonished at how difficult it is to get precise information.

 

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 and inserted a new Asda Mobile SIM (may be the wrong one - should probably have been one meant specifically for Mobile Broadband?). The network is listed in the Settings and the tablet works fine off my Sky Broadband hub, but of course I also want to connect to 4G at times, so I need to add some credit. I have a hearing disability and have difficulty using phones - but the Asda Mobile website (and the info pack which came with the SIM) indicate that the only way to register a debit card (so I can top-up online without phoning) is by first calling Customer Services. There is actually a reference on the website to registering a card online .. but "not currently available"! I sent a letter to Asda Mobile (only just finally found the well-hidden Customer Services/Complaints email address) but of course total silence from them.

 

Is this usual? There must be many customers with hearing problems who are reliant on texting, email etc. instead of phone calls. (I have also ordered a Mobile Broadband SIM from EE in the hope that the service might be a bit better and I can connect to 4G without having to find someone to make a phone call for me).

 

The other thing which mystifies me is, if the tablet requires a phone call in order to register a card, top-up etc., can that call be made from the tablet itself? All the icons are there on the home screen, but the info online is contradictory - some say that 4G tablets can be used like mobile phones, others say it is a complicated process which requires connecting to other devices. PC World told me that "we do not sell any tablets which work on 4G" - are the phone settings in place on my tablet intended for some future advance in the technology?!

 

I'd be glad of any advice anyone cares to throw in, thanks.

[Starbuck]

Hi seahermit and welcome.

 

I actually have a Samsung Tab A7 and mine has no sim card facility.

It does have a micro SD slot ..... as far as I know the device doesn't have mobile broadband capabilities but it can connect to any wifi.

and yes it can connect to your phone.

You can download the manual here..... Samsung Tab A7 manual

When downloaded, scroll down the left hand side to Apps and Features >>> Phone

That will explain how to set it up with your phone.

[seahermit]

Thanks very much for that. My Samsung Tab A7 must be an upgraded version - it takes a nano-SIM and can run on 4G, which is what I wanted (had to pay a bit more for it) so that I can switch between Wi-fi and Mobile Broadband if there are coverage problems.

 

One of my local mobile phone shops today told me definitely that you cannot use the tablet just like a mobile phone! As you say, you have to connect it to other devices - I will explore the complications of that later.

 

Meanwhile, it rather looks as if it needs an initial phone call to top-up the credit and start using the tablet on 4G - which I find rather stupid and not useful to people with hearing problems and, with all networks, the customer services really don't want to help much! And I still don't quite understand whether you are supposed to phone from a separate device in order to top-up or whether you can somehow do that on the tablet itself - I will check your link to the manual, thanks very much.

[seahermit]

Got there eventually, but I had to seek help from my local EE shop with connecting to their network. I was then able to register a card, top-up etc. online, which avoids my struggling to hear a phone.

 

This current model of the Samsung Tab A7 is a beauty – runs very smoothly. It is mainly for online work, so no need to connect it to another device for calls.

[Starbuck]

Glad you got everything sorted.

Thanks for letting us know.