valentina
Member
Can they liberate you from the landline, especially for Internet access?
3G phones
- Thread starter valentina
- Start date
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
No, coverage is very small at the moment. Most 3G packages route you off to GPRS coverage when out of 3G zones, and they are few and far between in coastal areas at present
valentina
Member
so, what's the most cost effective way of accessing the Internet while on the move?
Thanks
Thanks
alorwin
Well-Known Member
Hi!
Been on 3G twice now. the last time being for a year. At first their network coverage was rubbish and the services they offered never happened, but since rejoining them (rec by friend) they are a lot better signal wise and I find them as good as any other and I've tried most networks. The actual 3G bit - the photo and video bit - only gets signal in certain areas but the phone and text bit works all the time.
With regard the liberation from a land line - NO is the answer I'm afraid. I rang up 3G and they said that the handset was internet capable( ie they can surf on the pages they give you access too), but that didn't offer the service to use the handset as a modem. If they do now (I only checked a couple of months ago) then please can someone let me know cos would be grate for exactly the reason you have asked about! That's what we had intended to use it for too!
Hope my limited knowledge has helped you a bit!]
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Been on 3G twice now. the last time being for a year. At first their network coverage was rubbish and the services they offered never happened, but since rejoining them (rec by friend) they are a lot better signal wise and I find them as good as any other and I've tried most networks. The actual 3G bit - the photo and video bit - only gets signal in certain areas but the phone and text bit works all the time.
With regard the liberation from a land line - NO is the answer I'm afraid. I rang up 3G and they said that the handset was internet capable( ie they can surf on the pages they give you access too), but that didn't offer the service to use the handset as a modem. If they do now (I only checked a couple of months ago) then please can someone let me know cos would be grate for exactly the reason you have asked about! That's what we had intended to use it for too!
Hope my limited knowledge has helped you a bit!]
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but you are bit off track here.
I think you are talking about Hutchinson 3G, which is a provider (based on the fact you say you called 3G).
What we are talking about is 3G otherwise known as UPTS (third generation mobile technology)as compared to GPRS or GMS technology, or even EDGE
You can certainly obtain 3G handsets which will act as a modem. eg Sony Ericsson V800 on Vodafone 3G tariff will certainly act as a 3G modem
I think you are talking about Hutchinson 3G, which is a provider (based on the fact you say you called 3G).
What we are talking about is 3G otherwise known as UPTS (third generation mobile technology)as compared to GPRS or GMS technology, or even EDGE
You can certainly obtain 3G handsets which will act as a modem. eg Sony Ericsson V800 on Vodafone 3G tariff will certainly act as a 3G modem
MedMan
Well-Known Member
Technically, if the system is ever fully rolled out, it could liberate you from the landline but cost-wise - not in my lifetime! EC Governments extracted such huge amounts of cash for the licences for 3G they will never be able to offer a cost-effective service.
GPRS is not quite so bad - but it too is a great technology made virtually useless by over-complicated and over-expensive pricing. The phone companies assume (I fear correctly) that the majority of folk wanting to access the internet or email on the move are businesses who don't care about the cost. Us poor yachties cruising on a shoe-string don't get a second thought.
For a summary of what is available, have a look at Communication in European Waters on my website - link below.
GPRS is not quite so bad - but it too is a great technology made virtually useless by over-complicated and over-expensive pricing. The phone companies assume (I fear correctly) that the majority of folk wanting to access the internet or email on the move are businesses who don't care about the cost. Us poor yachties cruising on a shoe-string don't get a second thought.
For a summary of what is available, have a look at Communication in European Waters on my website - link below.
kingcobra
New Member
Hi I think you will be wasting your time with 3G at the moment. Have you looked at Vodaphone or orange they do a card which is a mobile phone, which you you just plug in to your laptop and then you can send or receive emails, however once again depending on were you are it can be expensive. It obviously only works whilst within distance of land also.
Kingcobra.
Kingcobra.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
no different to using a mobile phone connected by wire or bluetooth, they are available in 3G/GPRS and GPRS just like phones, and they have exactly the same tariffs, so very little advantage to them (eg you cannot use them as telephones) unless you like the idea of the card being in the laptop
spark
Well-Known Member
The best option for on-the-move internet access that I could find is as follows:
Vodafone GPRS Data Connect card from www.laptopshop.co.uk - £47 - SIM free.
Vodafone data contract (they gave me the SIM card free of charge) - 50MB for £20/month was the deal that I got - their website (www.vodafone.co.uk) is too slow for me to be bothered looking.
An external aerial for the card, which makes it work much better in areas with poor coverage. You have to call Vodafone's business support to get this and they will try to charge you £30 for it. I complained that their signal was inconsistent at my desk and they sent it gratis.
I've been using it for nearly a year and find it very useful on the boat, on the road, and at home where I've only got one phone line.
Vodafone GPRS Data Connect card from www.laptopshop.co.uk - £47 - SIM free.
Vodafone data contract (they gave me the SIM card free of charge) - 50MB for £20/month was the deal that I got - their website (www.vodafone.co.uk) is too slow for me to be bothered looking.
An external aerial for the card, which makes it work much better in areas with poor coverage. You have to call Vodafone's business support to get this and they will try to charge you £30 for it. I complained that their signal was inconsistent at my desk and they sent it gratis.
I've been using it for nearly a year and find it very useful on the boat, on the road, and at home where I've only got one phone line.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
If the question had been about gprs, then the advice given would have been very different. The fact is while you might be happy using gprs, it can be very expensive and slow to do any serious internet browsing/data access.
