Laptop dongle.

Maybe they've moved the definition of a dongle on now. I understood it to be a hardware "key" to allow software to run. So that software could only run on one computer at once.
 
It's not really a dongle at all. A dongle historically was a small device, which plugged into the serial port of a computer, and allowed software to run. It was a security thing.


These days, the term dongle has been hijacked

What you've linked to is a USB bluetooth adaptor, that will allow a computer with USB ports, to have bluetooth connection. It will allow you to connect to other bluetooth devices.


It won't get you onto the internet. It's meant to connect to other bluetooth devices

This device will connect your computer to a bluetooth enabled mobile phone, which has internet access (check with your supplier, not all do. You need the correct type of account and phone)

To complicate matters, you can connect to the internet with very similar looking wifi usb 'dongles'

If you need more help, just holler. It's a complicated subject, but can be made easier if we know what phone and package you have, and what computer you have.
 
Thanks Brendan. I have a brand new Acer laptop 3662wlmi Intel Celeron 420 1.6ghz 533 mhz 1mb L2 cache 512mb ram 802 11 b/g wireless .

Don't have a clue what most of that means ... read it off the label :-) .

My mobile is currently steam powered ... not a camera in sight, no I Pod ..... but hey, it makes phone calls really well !!

However if I could get my laptop to pick up t'Internet I would hijack one of my daughters cast offs. Probably last months model but I'll keep it hidden to avoid embaressment.

I use a pay as you go tarrif (Tesco) and don't mind too much if say 5 minutes on line is expensive as if I can get advanced weather forecasts in that time it is worth it.

Any simple advice greatly appreciated.

Regards Steve.
 
OK, If your mobile phone has bluetooth, you can use the bluetooth 'dongle' you linked to, to talk to your phone, and hence internet.

You can use that, where ever you have a mobilephone connection. It can get expensive, do explore moderately.

Your computer also has wifi from the specs you've given, so you can connect wirelessly (not bluetooth via phone) to any wireless network. Some of these wireless networks are free, some you have to pay for.


Where do you want to get weather forecasts? In marina, at sea, at home, abroad?
 
Mainly French coast .... we're off for up to 6 months this year and altho' I know the Capitainerie posts them we don't always plan to be in Port. E mails also ''essential''
 
OK,Wifi will only work when you are in harbours marinas where you get free or official paid for access, that is very limited in range

What you want is one of those bluetooth dongles, and a phone that does maybe 3G and def GPRS. Then make sure it's not locked to a specific provider (eg vodafone, orange etc) Try it all out to make sure it works in UK first.
Then get good at configuring, as you may have to keep changing these configurations each time you change providers. For ISP, and for email settings.

Then go post in Liveaboard forum, and ask there which are currently best deals on French cards that go inside the phone. Usually PAYG (Pay as you go) unless you plan on being there long enough to make a 12 month contract worth it.
 
Right then. A trip to Carphone Warehouse and lessons on configuring sounds the way.

If I get it working I'll e-mail you from near some rock off Brittany just to show off.

Thanks again.
 
Carphone Warehouse are not an ideal way to go. They know bugger all about these things usually.

Start with which 'dongle' you plan to buy. Then the phone you want to use. Then the French package you want to go with.


There are plenty here who can talk you through the issues with each of those stages. and implications.

Don't just dive in, it could be expensive and useless
 
It might be easier to forget the Bluetooth adaptor and get a hardwired connection from the phone to the laptop, a lot of phones including Nokia and Sony Ericsons come with a lead allowing you to connect your phone directly to your laptop and use it as a modem, either dial up or GPRS.
 
But your answer was too complicated to be understandable... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

How about that then......you giving a more complicated answer to an IT type question than Brendan!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I’m not sure that I can make your life any easier – this sort of stuff is still difficult whatever the likes of Carphone Warehouse tell you – and my opinion of them is unprintable. However I can give a little more information.

You can use mobile phone technology to get email and internet access in the UK and France. I use Orange on both sides of the channel – I have separate contracts for each country. Why? UK Orange change by the volume of data – in effect the number of emails/internet pages you download. You can use their service in both countries but it costs ten times more to use the service away from the UK. French Orange charge by the time you are connected (I have unlimited which costs me about €70 per month). They too increase their charge if I use it from the UK when it becomes by volume rather than time and is again ten times more expensive.

The minimum contract with Orange France is for one year and, I think is about €24 per month for three hours use per day – with a special offer of two months free. So that means €240 for the year. Take a look at http://mobile.orange.fr/0/visiteur/PV.

Just to make it more difficult the service from Orange France uses a card which slots into your laptop rather than connecting to your mobile. This can cost money depending on the offers available. The same card is available in the UK.

The best solution (by which I mean cheapest) for me was to use my phone to connect in the UK and a PC card in France. If I was starting from scratch I would use the card on both sides of the channel but with two accounts and I’d just swap the SIM in the card….we may be back to ‘dongle’ territory here. A decent mobile shop should be able to show you such a card and explain the costs. They should also be able to show you how to change the SIM – it is easy. Then all that remains is to get a second contract with Orange (or somebody) in France.
 
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