3G USB As Main Internet ?

InfernoUk

InfernoUk

InfernoUk

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Not sure where this belongs, so move if its in the wrong area.

My VM internet at 50mb is running permanently at 0.05 intil april 11th, im so angry about this but they wont fix it. So im looking at getting a USB 3g for my desktops main internet, its only being used on 1 PC, need to stream iPlayer and the like, aswell as standard browsing. Is this possible and what provider is best ?

Thanks im really stuck here.
 
You get very limited data plans on the 3g dongles. Really not suitable for iPlayer, youtube etc. Fine for emails and the occasional surfing, that's where it ends I'm afraid.

Look into going with a month to month no contract dsl provider. Zen are a good choice.
 
OP: an obvious question, but have you checked the data allowance?
3 are doing 1Gb, 5Gb and 15Gb monthly inclusive data allowance. You could find yourself breaching the 1Gb limit even with web browsing and emails as your PC will also be downloading all the usual Windows and virus updates etc.

edit: Buchanan got there before me :)
 
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i had a dongle. a couple of years back.
it was from 3 with a 3gb monthly limit, for £15 a month

my first bill was for £56 :eek:
i had gone over the allowance and got hit with a £1 per 1mb charge.
and all i was doing was browsing but the kids were watching youtube.

if its just for web browsing only, you should be fine.
also you can get 3rd party programs to keep track of your usage.
also it can be extremely slow, in bad signal areas.

why has virgin throttled your broadband to 0.5?
 
InfernoUk said:
need to stream iPlayer and the like, aswell as standard browsing. Is this possible and what provider is best ?
Click to expand...

Will your life end if you cant stream iplayer? For 3 months?

Thanks im really stuck here.
Click to expand...

Not really.

T mobile used to (do they still?) allow you to go over your limit with no charges, they just throttle. You can get 90 day dongles (3 months) which should be enough. A dongle will be fine for web / email etc. Just beware that if you do have a limited data allowance, pages like the Random image thread are 20-30 meg for just one page.

Use Opera and enable Turbo mode which may help to reduce bandwidth requirements, also disable images if need be, and block adverts. Disable updates and the like.
 
Wont be very good for Iplayer. But it will be excellent for emails etc..

One of our clients recently lost their internet for 2 weeks. Email was a top priority/emergency so we ended up hooking their exchange up using a Three dongle and it worked a treat!
 
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Buchanan0204 said:
Look into going with a month to month no contract dsl provider. Zen are a good choice.
Click to expand...

this


my parents are with Zen for their connection (they don't live in a fibre optic area) and the service is amazing. they can only get a max of 4mb (due to the distance from the exchange) but it's the customer service that Zen shine with. Gives me great comfort knowing if they have any issues they can talk to them with ease.
 
I use a '3' 3G dongle, just PAYG for off-site work,

We do get the £25 for 7 Gb for a month top-ups, which actually does a lot of youtube and iplayer (SD) stuff on an evening (stuck in a hotel!)..

To be honest, it's worked really well, and the speeds are surprisingly fast (when you are in a high signal area).. If I was in a fix broadband wise, and wanted minimal outlay whilst I know where I'm going, I'd consider 3G.

As for which provider, you want to check their coverage maps, all of the networks have them, this might rule some out..
 
Do you have a 3g phone?

Add a data plan to your phone. I think most providers you can add unlimited internet for about £5 a month. Then you can hook the phone up to the comp via usb or bluetooth and pipe the web through from there.
 
eddyc said:
Do you have a 3g phone?

Add a data plan to your phone. I think most providers you can add unlimited internet for about £5 a month. Then you can hook the phone up to the comp via usb or bluetooth and pipe the web through from there.
Click to expand...

'unlimited internet' is actually now very 'limited' if you look at the FUP's of the main providers, most only offer 500mb or 1Gb if you are lucky, plus they do say tethering isn't allowed, if you just used it for that they can pick up on it (As mentioned above)..
 
hey guys, sorry did get get back to you.

I havent been throttled, its an overloaded server in the area and they are putting in a new one on april 11th until then all peak times we are reduced to unusable speeds due to traffic volume.

Ill prob leave 3G it seems to expensive.

thanks anyway
 
It is a little expensive, I myself use a dongle in the hotel near here.. it runs constantly with about a 200ping (if not more) with up and downs of 2.4 and 1.6 respectively. Nothing wrong with that.. not ideal for online gaming but certainly ok for browsing. 15GB for £7.50 when I got it on offer, £15.99 now and certainly still worth it.
 
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