The Place

Don't forget! Get yourself a local SIM card as soon as possible... Manx Telecom do a £5 SIM with £5 service on it for example... as you will go home to horrendous roaming charges if you use your UK one.

Where can we purchase them from Helen please

There's a Manx Telecom shop and a SURE shop both within yards of each other in Strand Street, just about opposite Boots. Probably much of a muchness although I prefer MT.

If you have a smartphone the sure desk is miles better on pay as you go.
I was getting a gig for £20 on Manx telecom where sure give unlimited for a fiver a week (fair use policy 500 Meg per day which might be an issue to me but shouldn't be for normal people). I think Manx telecom have better coverage on the island but in the paddock will be a lottery as to how fast the mast fills up anyway.

Desk/deal

Also there will be the sure shop behind the grandstand won't there? Next to Manx radio it was before.

You might need APN settings to set up a paygo sim for access. This is Manx telecom settings.
On iPhone go settings -> general -> cellular/mobile -> and I think APN is there or advanced, can't see the settings on the phone at the moment because its already set up.
Once you've entered these fields press the top left back to previous menu then home.
To get the settings to take effect I sometimes have to turn airplane mode on then off again.
This should give you all functions.
If you use what's app you will probably be asked to register new number. This is not a problem and switches back easily on return.

web access
Manx apn : web.prontogo.net
Manx user webgo
Manx pass webgo

Mms
Apn. mms.prontogo.net
User mmsgo
Pass mmsgo
Mmsc http://mms.manxpronto.net:8002
Mmsc proxy
195.010.099.041:8080
Select 'Network'

If you have a tethering option enter the web access user/pass from above, you can then use iPhone as a hotspot for laptop.

I don't understand a f#cking word of that!

Me neither....

If you have an iPhone and want it to work on the pay as you go data network on Manx Telecom, these are the access points. You will be fine making phone calls without but most likely won't be able to get online to use the 3G connection without them.
The web access gives web access the next one sets up the carrier for MMS as in sending picture messages and tethering is using the phone as a hotspot so a laptop can use the phone as a wifi provider.

The sure APN is simpler but I can't find the MMS settings.
Sure Mobile Isle of Man (Any SIM)

APN: internet
Username: [leave blank]
Password: [leave blank]

Thanks Helen I used 'sure' last year and so wondered if Manx telecom may be better, has for all the technical stuff Steve you know what I am like with all that !!!!!!

Thanks both of you.

Guys we bought ours on the boat last year including the credit "cards" ... good value and no hassle (Manx Telecom)

I've got a Sure card. Steve showed me how to setup the settings on my Iphone and it works sweet. With £10 of credit you get 14days data.

Got Sure cards today, was told they don't die if not used every six months, robbing credit. We'll see next year.