Strontium Dog
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 12:33 PM |
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Mobile broadband questions!
I have a friend who has no phone line and wants to get on line. He wants to know about pay as you go dongles for his laptop. I have a data package on
my android phone and so have never looked at these and so can anyone tell me the best solution for occasional use! He won't be downloading much,
just looking at fleabay and a few forum posts and Facebook no doubt!
Cheers Si.
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blakep82
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 01:02 PM |
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well, if he's got a mobile phone, it'll have bluetooth (or should really now) has he got any free mobile internet on his mobile?
what i do if i'm really stuck, you can use your mobile as a 'bluetooth modem' (as the laptop sees it) and use that to connect, if
he's not really worried about broadband
________________________
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don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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designer
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 01:29 PM |
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I use a 3G dongle when I am in the uk.
Reasonably quick, and doesn't seem too expensive.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 01:39 PM |
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access speeds aren't brilliant but are usable A lot depends on on your location also different types of dongle give different speeds. The
new ones that act as wifi routers are the fastest.
With 3 it becomes almost economic if you buy access in 15gb chunks.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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mookaloid
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 02:01 PM |
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the best one to get is the one with the best 3G signal where he wants to use it.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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tony-devon
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 02:46 PM |
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I run this way at home as we have no phone line installed
the biggest problem is that you really need to try them out
Im with 3, got a dongle on contract £15 per month 15gb limit, no idea if thats a lot, but I never been anywhere near it
the main reason being that my average connections speed most evenings is 38-70k LOL
got full signal, 4 bars, but its dog slow, unreliable, currently fighting with 3 to get out of the contract as its pretty much of no use.
heavy is good, heavy is reliable, and if it breaks, hit them with it
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britishtrident
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 04:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tony-devon
I run this way at home as we have no phone line installed
the biggest problem is that you really need to try them out
Im with 3, got a dongle on contract £15 per month 15gb limit, no idea if thats a lot, but I never been anywhere near it
the main reason being that my average connections speed most evenings is 38-70k LOL
got full signal, 4 bars, but its dog slow, unreliable, currently fighting with 3 to get out of the contract as its pretty much of no use.
No need to take contract out last time I bough a 3 PAYG dongle it was 12 pounds something from Morrisions instore pharmacy I think they now sell
an improved at £21 inc 1 gb ----- for a lot of non-intensive users that will last a month.
The so called Mifi dongle routers are supposed to be about 40% faster.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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RazMan
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 04:13 PM |
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I've got a T-Mobile 3g simm card. No crafty top up clauses either (a lot have 'use it or lose it' clauses). If you don't use
it, you don't pay. I have had less than £5 credit on it for about 2 years now and it is just there when I need it (got it in my netbook for the
odd occasion when I am not near a pooter.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Benzine
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 05:12 PM |
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I use vodafone as they have best coverage, I've had internets when I've been in really remote places in Wales and Scotland where other
providers fail.
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JoelP
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 07:18 PM |
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i posted the other day about a 3 modem on amazon for about £13 i think it was, and you can also get 3gb sims that last 3 months, for £9 inc delivery.
After 3 months, throw it and start a new one, rather than topping up, which is more expensive.
Dont get a contract til you know the network is ok in your area! I got a vodaphone PAYG for £20 at carphone warehouse, and it is just fine in the
places i use it. Top ups have to be monthly though so its £15 a month, with a 3gb limit. Once this months runs out im moving onto the 3 ones,
hopefully they will work as well as the vodaphone one.
Most mobile phone tarriffs prohibit using the phone as a modem for another device - no idea how they would know though.
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 08:18 PM |
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15gb a month is a lot, I have one for work and I get, it's either 3 or 5gb for that same price. I don't really go near that limit unles
I'm taking the p**s with youtube and large pictures.
I know they do a £2 a day one too, if it's that occasional..
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Strontium Dog
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| posted on 25/1/11 at 08:32 PM |
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Great, thanks for all the info everybody! He is over for some locosting tomorrow so I shall show him this thread and he can make his own mind up,
but the 3 dongle sounds good IMO. I think he may have some data on his phone, but the phone is crap with a small display so the bluetooth option might
get him by for a while as well.
Many thanks chaps! Si.
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Marcus
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| posted on 26/1/11 at 08:53 PM |
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I can thoroughly recommend a Mifi from 3. I get 3gb for £15 and it's as fast as my home broadband ( about 1.5Mbps).
I can connect 5 devices to it at once via wifi (I've only tried 2) and it allows me to make calls on my ipod touch using skype.
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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