smart phone numpty needs data car advice

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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Joined
28 Mar 2005
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Location
Buckingham
www.keepturningleft.co.uk
or even data card advice

I have been using an orange dongle for the past five years

bit expensive at £18 a month - especially in the winter when I don't use it at all

then I cancelled that and bought a pre-loaded data card from ebay

150gigs - £45

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/SANY00316.jpg



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271772703556?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I now see that argos sells similar things

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...Product/partNumber/1094352.htm&referrer=COJUN


It does not want to talk to my orange dongle in the picture

I understand I might be able to get a cheap smart phone and use the sim card in it and use the smart phone as wireless hub

my existing phone is a very old nokia rubberised builders phone which is at least ten years old and not at all smart - but it bounces when it falls out of my pocket and the batteryu lasts for six days so I shall keep that with its pay as you go sim

any suggestions about my next move for getting my laptop connected to 4G

I do not really need a smart phone but if it is the best way of getting data then I could buy an old one

can anybody offer me advice?

or even flog me an old smart phone that will work with the EE card and connect wirelessly to the laptop

D
 
dylanwinter said:
I do not really need a smart phone but if it is the best way of getting data then I could buy an old one

can anybody offer me advice?
Click to expand...

My advice would be a mobile broadband wireless hub, like a MiFi.

I'm interested to see that that "6GB" Argos card needs topped up after the preloaded "2GB" expires ...
 
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This is a good article on the subject. I note that it depends on your service provider, phone model and tariff. Its a pity that giffgaff dont do it as they have the best deal for normal wiffy.
IMO getting a smart phone is worth doing. You i don't realise its value until you've got one. even the cheap ones like mine are amazing. On the other hand comma the dedicated unit might be more reliable.
http://mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/3441165/how-use-your-smartphone-as-wi-fi-hotspot/
 
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dylanwinter said:
such as these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=mifi


or this from argos for £19

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3456606.htm
Click to expand...

That's the chaps. The great advantage is that you don't have to faff around installing software or connection details on different machines - you just connect via WiFi as usual. Plus, of course, you can get net access with two devices at once. I tend to use my phone for this, by tethering, but use Vodafone and 3 mifis for work.
 
ghostlymoron said:
This is a good article on the subject. I note that it depends on your service provider, phone model and tariff. Its a pity that giffgaff dont do it as they have the best deal for normal wiffy.
IMO getting a smart phone is worth doing. You i don't realise its value until you've got one. even the cheap ones like mine are amazing. On the other hand comma the dedicated unit might be more reliable.
http://mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/3441165/how-use-your-smartphone-as-wi-fi-hotspot/
Click to expand...

okay

read an inwardly digested that

mostly about newer smart phones

so the mifi seems the way to go

hmmm

maybe a trip to argos and find a young person

D
 
My guess is that your dongle is locked to Orange. I think I'd take it to your local market/high street and find a bloke who unlocks them, cost in the region of £10-20 depends how complex the unlock is. The dongle when unlocked should then work with your 150Gb card from ebay, if you go the MiFi route make sure that whatever you get is unlocked.
 
nigelmercier said:
If that is the case (and I'm certain it is), it should work with an EE SIM card. However, Mi-Fi is more flexible.
Click to expand...

Having thought again I think you're right Nigel. Its likely that not only the dongle is locked but also the application it loads onto the PC is customised for Orange (which may be why it doesnt pick up EE). Its all fixable but requires a reasonable level of PC skill to do so. Getting an unlocked MiFi is the more flexible solution and if you get a 4G device (as the data bought is 4G) it'll upgrade the capability but be sure it'll also work on 2G/3G as thats about all thats available around much of the coast.

Edit: It may work to manually add an APN to the existing PC software in the appropriate place, for 4GEE the APN is 'everywhere'
 
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In the name of all that's holy, avoid EE Sim-only deals; I was royally ripped off right left and centre, the fees were much more than I was told, I never got the T's & C's or bills I was promised just cut-offs and big demands every few months.

I had to go into town to the EE shop as the EE Indian call centre cut me off every time I said there was a problem, the shop people said they got the same treatment, it took a ton of hassle even for them to sort out cancellation.

I paid handsomely to get out of it back to pay as you go, phoned and confirmed I had paid everything, next month another bill demand !

Mentioned on the ' Rip-Off Britain ' thread.

I have told EE exactly what they can do with themselves and their phones, sideways - am going to a smartphone for £50-60 from Tesco on their ( O2 linked ) pay as you go network, at least they have a human who speaks English I can actually go and see, with free parking and my shopping at the same time.

The understaffed EE shop people never answer their phone, are often mired under explaining the kit or problems, and it took a journey I didn't want and £2.40 parking to try to see them.

If I was an investor I might look at Tesco mobile judging by the decent treatment I've had so far, would be pulling any shares in EE out smartish.
 
£18 sounds a lot.
I'm on a £7.50/month contract which gives me a free smartphone and more minutes, texts, and data than I can ever seem to use up in a month. It takes about three seconds to switch on WiFi tethering on the smartphone, and it then becomes a little hotspot. I have used to connect laptops, iPads, etc, with no trouble at all- assuming I can get a signal.
Hard to see anything else beating that on price.

I am tempted to go and spend £90 on a rubbery waterproof phone that looks just like my old one from ten years ago, but has the ability to be a wifi hotspot. Kind of pricy though, for now I will just cross my fingers that I don't drop my current smartphone.
 
I'm seriously tempted to get one. I found all through last summer, when I was living aboard part time, that I never actually my smartphone to browse the internet- I used my iPad or laptop, but tethered to the phone. Much easier than faffing around with a tiny screen. Also, when out of the water, a smartphone is actually a bit of a pain because it's harder to work a touchscreen if you have gloves on, and a single drop of water on the screen sends it a bit crazy. I could use my old waterproof rubbery dumb-phone handset when actually sailing, and then put the sim back in my smartphone thr rest of the time, but that seems a bit of a pain as well.
 
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