Mobile internet

angelaa

angelaa

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Been thinking about taking laptop away with us. Want a mobile internet dongle to use with it. All ones I have looked at, expire in a cetain amount of days. Does anybody know of a pay as you go one, that I can just use up then top up. Wont be using it alot so dont want it running out before using it all. Any help appreciated. (not very good with things like that).
 
Hi Angelaa.

The Vodaphone dongle worked well for us when we where last in the UK. payg cost us just 15.00pounds for the month was ample. Coverage seemed good as well especially in Scotland.

Regards Nolly.
 
go on to ebay and find a vodaphone dongle 3565 costs around £50 including £15 top up and you don't have to top up every month
 
I use a 3 dongle, which is £10 for 1 GB lasting 28 days. I haven't managed to use it all within the 28 days so far, but it depends on whether you download a lot of video, etc. I mainly use mine when away for emails, ebay, google streetview and surfing. I don't top up every month, just when I'm going to be away for at least several days.

Happy surfing!!
 
we have a vodafone one, got it at tesco it was £25 and it came with £15 on it, we use it as and when we are out. its a pay as you go without time limit we have had it for 18 month now you can top it up online or at any vodafone shop

tommy:king:
 
If your are a pay monthly customer, ask your provider what they can offer. I got one on my Orange contract and ended up getting it for free!! :D Free dongle and usage included in my bundle as a loyalty bonus. Otherwise it would have been £5 per month.

I also read a great tip on this forum, sorry I can't remember who posted it, but the advice was to get an extra long usb cable so you can elevate the dongle high enough to get a signal in poor areas. The actual tip was to hoist it up a fishing rod! I've not had to do that (yet), but I think it's a great idea! :dance:

When I travelled I found a number of wifi hotspots that were free so that helped a lot too.
 
Dongle use

Hello. This is my first attempt at writing a post on Wild Camping. With the dongle idea, are you talking about use in this country or when abroad? Or doesn't it matter. We are off to northern Spain in March and are keen to use email and the Internet when away. I've got an iPad and an iPhone so all the gear, no idea definitely applies. Mac
 
wind dancer said:
I also read a great tip on this forum, sorry I can't remember who posted it, but the advice was to get an extra long usb cable so you can elevate the dongle high enough to get a signal in poor areas. The actual tip was to hoist it up a fishing rod! I've not had to do that (yet), but I think it's a great idea! :dance:
Click to expand...

I have tried this, some usb extensions cables don't work, I think you need one with a in-line amplifier


Lorry :drive:
 
I have a o2 and 3 dongles. both are pay as you go and the money lasts a certain amount of days depending how much you pre pay. However, both of these I have struggled to get a decent reception unless in a city location!

Lotty
 
Thanks for all the help. Think will try ringing orange first, as contract with them. If not will try the vodaphone one.


Thanks everyone.
 
wind dancer said:
I also read a great tip on this forum, sorry I can't remember who posted it, but the advice was to get an extra long usb cable so you can elevate the dongle high enough to get a signal in poor areas. The actual tip was to hoist it up a fishing rod! I've not had to do that (yet), but I think it's a great idea! .
Click to expand...

I have successfully used this technique, using a standard 5 metre usb extension cable and a fishing pole to dangle my dongle. It improved the signal strength from a very patchy one-bar up to a reliable four/five bars. It will only work in some circumstances though, so you'd be much better off with a signal booster of some kind.

These have been discussed on several other threads, so just type "booster" "extender" or "wifi" etc. into the search box at the top-right of the page and you will find other threads with a wealth of knowledge and advice!

Don't forget that you can pick up free wifi from several places such as McDonalds, some Tourist Information Centres, and other places listed on the other threads.
 
Mac of Phillack said:
Hello. This is my first attempt at writing a post on Wild Camping. With the dongle idea, are you talking about use in this country or when abroad? Or doesn't it matter. We are off to northern Spain in March and are keen to use email and the Internet when away. I've got an iPad and an iPhone so all the gear, no idea definitely applies. Mac
Click to expand...

I have an iPad that is WiFi only. In Spain in November I connected to the hotels WiFi for €3 for 4 days and used Skype to call home. When in France we connect via MacDonalds or other free outlets. In this country if I cannot find free WiFi I tether my iPad to my mobile phone and use its internet capabilities of providing me with a WiFi hotspot. You will be able to do the same with your iPhone.

When abroad it is not a good idea to connect to the mobile phone as the charges are very very high. If I could locate a cheap dongle that I could use in France then this would be a solution but yet to source.
 
Last edited:
angelaa said:
Thanks for all the help. Think will try ringing orange first, as contract with them. If not will try the vodaphone one.


Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

I think you will be better of with Vodafone in the north orange is not that good when i go there. Even in some places south we have problems with orange.
 
I have just binned my Vodafone Dongle. I had it on contract for years and I hardly use it anymore and the reception outside of built up areas is rubbish. There are three reasons I dont need a dongle anymore.

1. Its too expensive to use abroad
2. My Repeat IT wifi antenna from Faculty X (loads on here about them) brings in free wifi from up to five miles away
3. My iPhone (or any smart phone) deals with emails and is ok for a bit of surfing if I cant get online with the laptop and wifi antenna.

The added bonus of the solution mentioned above is it all works abroad as well. IF you have anykind of Smart Phone (iPhone etc) that can browse the internet or get emails then when you go abroad sign up for Vodafone Data Traveller which is £10 a month for internet access on your smart phone in every country (25MB a day which is loads on an iPhone)

We were away five months this summer and got online without fail every day without moving the van in every country either by using the iPhone or the laptop and antenna.

So dont really need a dongle anymore.
 
If you are using a BlackBerry with a BlackBerry tariff you can connect your laptop through your phone for mobile internet:pc:
 
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