Re: OT: Help, please - mobile broadband for laptop

Gumrat wrote:
Derek Turner wrote:
On Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:29:35 +0200, Gumrat wrote:

I'm getting v confused here with this "mobile broadband" business. I
want to be able to use my laptop to access internet using a USB thingy
and pay as you go. Please, why are you talking disconnecting a number?

Mobile broadband USB thingies (dongles) use the mobile phone network. Depending on your location they work at three different speeds: GPRS/
EDGE, 3G and HSDPA. The latter you're likely to get only in large towns and cities. A LED on the dongle indicates the type of connection. GPRS/
EDGE is OK for email and browsing, you really need the faster ones for downloading files. They sell you the dongle and a mobile phone SIM to put in it. That SIM has a number like any other phone SIM. With O2 it's the number you need to buy the credit.
Ah, right, thank you, Derek.


I use a dongle and sim card but I use '3' and it worked fine.

Actually, there are multiple horror stories out there of people who signed up for a contract, got home and found they couldn't get a decent signal so I borrowed a dongle (with sim card) for a weekend and found the signal strength was fine.

Next, I bought a sim card from '3' and a second hand mobile phone that handles HSDPA (a Sony Ericsson W890i) and just buy 1GB worth of download every month. A contract would be cheaper but I wasn't convinced that the cost of a connection wouldn't tumble in the near future.

Finally, I bought a mobile broadband starter pack from amazon that gave me a dongle and 12GB of download that lasts for 12 months <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Broadband-E156-Starter-Pack/dp/B001M5U5HU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1246994541&sr=8-3> but took the sim card out and use it in my mobile phone. It also gives me internet access directly on the phone when I need it.

The dongle is superfluous now and I've lent it to someone at work who wanted to connect to the internet while they were moving house.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Is this possible
    ... Is it possible to connect a laptop to the internet via a mobile phone (or a ... Sim card) ...
    (comp.sys.laptops)
  • Re: GPS with OS map Dispaly? (using Memory maps)
    ... I already have a Mobile phone that is provided by my emploer and I pay 2.50 a month for calls, so I don't need the Titan for calls and I couldn't put the sim card from my employers phone in it. ... I would like to use the TyTN for Internet in very very small doses though - does that still need a sim card? ... Also what software do I need to put on it to use my Memory maps is it Memory Map Pocket Navigator? ...
    (uk.rec.walking)
  • Re: GPS with OS map Dispaly? (using Memory maps)
    ... I already have a Mobile phone that is provided by my emploer and I pay 2.50 a month for calls, so I don't need the Titan for calls and I couldn't put the sim card from my employers phone in it. ... I would like to use the TyTN for Internet in very very small doses though - does that still need a sim card? ... Also what software do I need to put on it to use my Memory maps is it Memory Map Pocket Navigator? ...
    (uk.rec.walking)
  • Re: Is this possible
    ... > Is it possible to connect a laptop to the internet via a mobile phone (or a ...
    (comp.sys.laptops)
  • Re: Internet Dongle
    ... Anyone know which mobile phone ... You can get it to work on the Mac. ... dongle, which changes from month to month as networks get new supplies. ... my credit converted to a data add-on, I had to log in to "my Three". ...
    (uk.telecom.mobile)