3G Dongle - Mobile T'interweb

D4WNO

D4WNO

D4WNO

Associate
Joined
2 Jun 2008
Posts
135
Location
Swindon, Wiltshire
I'm unfortunately moving from a cabled area to a non-cabled area (dammit) and a few people have mentioned just getting a 3G dongle for my laptop. It saves me cash on a BT line (which I never use anyway), and can take it out and about with me.

I'm unsure where to begin basically. I surf for a few hours a day usually and need to know how I can check if I'll get a good reception in my area (SN25 2FD). Any ideas guys?
 
I know Three and O2 will let you use a trial modem to see if it works but with Vodaphone you have to create a new contract which you can then close within 14 days if it doesn't work for you. The newer Memory Stick type models (the e169?) are better than the older e220s so make sure you get one of them.
 
I've just started using Three Mobile Broadband for when I'm away from home.

Reception in big cities seems to be adequate, with even just 1/3 signal strength on 3G or HSDPA web browsing is still quick and very close to home broadband speeds. Data usage just for normal web browsing is really low, but start streaming videos on YouTube and obviously it really shoots up.

Most of the time it connects fine, but sometimes you may get a period of an hour or so where it just refuses to connect despite having sufficient signal and being in a place where you had a working connection just before.

Latency can be surprisingly low at times and although FPS wouldn't be playable games like WoW could be. However, one problem I and several other people seem to have experienced with Three is that the connection whilst never disconnecting is sometimes unstable. Basically often the connection will randomly jump between 3G and HSDPA every few minutes. When browsing the web you won't notice much difference, perhaps just the odd page timing out and needing to be refreshed. However, downloading anything or playing a game will be interrupted when this happens.

Three at present are the only network that offer PAYG Mobile Broadband (what I use as I only use it when away from home). Vodafone does have a 30day rolling contract option but that's slightly more hassle. As for reviews check out the PC Pro website as they recently did a Labs Test on all the major offerings.
 
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Try Googling "mobile broadband coverage" and you'll find links to UK mobile broadband coverage maps.

I use Vodafone Mobile Broadband now, I haven't had it long and have only played with it a bit. Out of a 3G area it has been extremely slow to the point of being unusable. On my one test within a 3G area it was like using old dial-up - adequate but requiring patience like old dial-up, certainly nothing like my home broadband connection. Hopefully I will have the chance to test it in further areas. Vodafone has been winning awards for its mobile broadband service, but what will work for you is highly dependent on your area.

I would say mobile broadband is not viable as your primary internet connection unless you are in a 3G coverage area. Make the most of the trial periods I say .....

Rgds
 
I've got one of the PAYG ''three' dongles, the external one with a short USB cable, not the one that looks like a memorystick. The newer one's are twice the price.

I've used it in lots of different places since June when I got it and have only had 'zero' coverage once. As Morfik says it works fine in urban areas, and the speed when on HSPDA is really very good, same feel as ADSL at home. Uplink speeds are less good, but still a lot better than GPRS.

I did get caught out when I bought my second month's coverage. Once you have added £10 credit to your account you have to 'convert it to an add-on' to use it as another 1Gbyte of mobile broadband. The device isn't a phone but their system seems to treat it as such. I had a very long, very unhelpfull conversation with Customer Services when I found they had used up my £10 credit as £1 a megabyte! To say the least I was not impressed. Their web site is not that clear or speedy either.

Just for browsing and e-mail when away from home I find £10 a month affordable and gives me all the traffic I need. £15 buys you 3Gig for 30 days. If you want to watch on line videos it will soon use that up though.
 
I have a Vodafone one, seems to work just about everywhere I go with it including a lot of overseas destinations.

Only real draw backs are the latency for me, but as long as all you want it for is web and email and a bit of light usage they are a pretty good solution.

You can also now get a few routers that let you connect the dongle or plug in the card and lets you share the connection if you had more than one computer that needed access.
 
I have 3 mobile's version (did the promo work in belfast at uni about 6 months ago and got a free one) and its a bit over rated unless your just checking emails...

I found it slower and a lot less reliable than an adsl connection and most the time it resembeled being back on dial up :(

With 3 you allso need to be weary of the data limit, as it covers both up and downloads (so 1gig doesnt go nearly as far...)
 
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO dont do it to urself, my m8 got 1 on 3 and he has regretted it ever since. and tbh its not that good i found. i wouldnt reccomend any to anyone, unlessi hated you hahaha but thats imo.
 
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