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Post by jonjel on Nov 1, 2010 13:29:31 GMT 1
I have a friend lodging with me for a few weeks. I do not have broadband or any IT at home for various reasons.
She will need to connect to the web to do her banking, e-mails and a few other things.
I have been told the simplest option is for her to buy a dongle. Although speed and download is limited she will not e using it for dowloading big files.
Does anyone know what sort of coverage you can get with these? I know they work in my house, but the other fly in the ointment is she will be going to France in a few weeks. Will the dongle also work in France?
Thanks in advance.
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Post by Progenitor A on Nov 1, 2010 15:19:48 GMT 1
A dongle in this context is a mobile radio connector that you plug into your PC/laptop and communicate with the Internet via the selected Mobile Telephone Operator. Use of such devices will depend upon whether you can access Mobile Telephone networks in your area - you should be able to do so (if you can use your mobile phone within your house that may be sufficient, although if it is a not very good connection the Internet acess speed may be poor) Pay-as-you-go seems to be the option for your friend You will have to buy a Dongle from a Mobile Phone Shop - they will guide you on the best deal - so best to avoid the dedicated dealers such as Orange, O2 etc and go to someone like Carphone Warehouse (Tesco does some good deals). The price of the Dongle seems around £20 and then there is a charge per access Mbytes (that must be, I think, loaded onto the dongle, so when you exceed your allocation the dongle must be 're-charged' with more money). So the answer is yes, unless you are in the wilds of Wales or Scotland. Your friend should be able to get access at limited cost for a short period. Note: It is NOT a good idea in general to use Mobile Telephone networks to access the Internet as the costs are very much higher than the landline telephone service. If your friend is concerned about cost she should be able to access the Net using dial up access through a modem connected to your telephone line at far less cost. A modem will be necessary to buy - she should again discuss this with Carphone Warehouse or similar in your area. Slow speed but OK for small exchanges over the Net Here's a link with more info: www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/pay-as-you-go-dongles.html
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Post by jonjel on Nov 1, 2010 15:26:17 GMT 1
Many thanks NM.
Sounds like a good low cost solution
jj
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Post by principled on Nov 1, 2010 20:48:52 GMT 1
Jonjel When I'm in Spain I used PAYG mobile Internet (I actually use Voda....e). Over there they have packages for 1 wk, 2wks and 1 month/3 month (I don't know about here in the UK or in France).
Example packages in Spain: 1Gb with a validity for 3 months is around 60euros. Alternatively, ( and the one I use as we are always Skyping our kids/grandkids and download a lot of photos) costs around 50euros for unlimited downloads and is valid for 1 month. I would assume prices here are the same or cheaper. If you're in a 3 G reception area then speeds are good at 7.2Mb/sec.
I'm not sure whether the usb dongle bought here would work in France or if it did whether the cost would be the same, as really the dongle is just another phone number to the provider and your dongle's number would be a UK one. One other point, when topping up my PAYG dongle I have to send an sms to say that the top up is for DATA not voice. Not sure why.
Obviously it's more expensive than a landline or contract Internet, but I believe it's good value for those - like me- who need Internet whilst staying abroad for short periods and don't want the bother of an annual contract. P
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Post by alanseago on Nov 2, 2010 7:40:51 GMT 1
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Post by jonjel on Nov 2, 2010 11:04:51 GMT 1
Thanks Alan
She had (in the house just sold) a 'Vodaphone at home' package where for I think about £25 a month she got mobile, land line and internet. That package is still alive and being paid and she was going to transfer it to my house but it would have been a lot of hassle. I have a BT line.
I guess her best option might be to see if she cna tack on a Vodaphone dongle. I copuld bite the bullet and get broadband in the house, but was going to leave that until next year.
She has a rather ancient lap top which I am told does not support bluetooth or wireless connection.
In France she will be renting as she did for 18 months or so up to a few months ago.
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Post by jonjel on Nov 2, 2010 11:06:44 GMT 1
PS. I meant to say thanks to Principled as well but typing is awkward as I am 'one handed' at present.
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Post by alanseago on Nov 2, 2010 11:28:55 GMT 1
My SFR/9euf package includes 100Mega download (if you are in the right place) free landline, free, unlimited phone calls to over 60 countries, 100+ TV channels, including BBC and ITV, and an answering service which triggers an e-mail on Gmail and plays it back to you. 35 euros per month. All this is back in France, here in the Philippines I get 3Mega on a good day.
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