4G/3G dongle to connect to router

Mark M · 21 Nov 2018 at 10:19

My Draytek router has a USB port that I can connect a dongle to but it seems a bit of a minefield as some need to be connected directly to a pc etc. Can anyone suggest a suitable dongle for this purpose please? Ideally something that is unlocked to any network.

It’s just for emergency use for emails so I’m not expecting it to be very fast.

Caged · 21 Nov 2018 at 10:25

https://www.draytek.co.uk/support/guides/usb-3g-4g-modem-support-list

jsmoke · 21 Nov 2018 at 10:25

Why not just thether your phone to the pc, it's the same signal as mobile BB.

Mark M · 21 Nov 2018 at 10:48

Caged said:
https://www.draytek.co.uk/support/guides/usb-3g-4g-modem-support-list

Fantastic thanks

jsmoke said:
Why not just thether your phone to the pc, it's the same signal as mobile BB.

There are 4 pcs that would need to connect, I would need it to go through the router wouldn’t it? Plus I’m not always in the office and need my phone all the time.

jsmoke · 21 Nov 2018 at 10:59

You can set the phone as a hotspot will need wireless adapters on the PCs though. Buy a cheap second hand phone from eBay for this.

bremen1874 · 21 Nov 2018 at 11:04

Your emergency use 'just for emails' could get expensive if you aren't careful. A few mistimed Windows updates and you've potentially got a big bill.

Don't the people using the PCs already have their email on their phones?

Mark M · 21 Nov 2018 at 11:22

jsmoke said:
You can set the phone as a hotspot will need wireless adapters on the PCs though. Buy a cheap second hand phone from eBay for this.

A compatible USB dongle is £20 which will just plug into the router. None of the pics have wireless adapters currently so I’d need a phone plus 4 wireless adapters.

bremen1874 said:
Your emergency use 'just for emails' could get expensive if you aren't careful. A few mistimed Windows updates and you've potentially got a big bill.

Don't the people using the PCs already have their email on their phones?

We need to send payslips and other small pdf attachments so needs to be the computer connecting to the internet. I did think about the windows and other program updates, was going to see if there was a way to tempoarary disable them.

bremen1874 · 21 Nov 2018 at 11:27

Does your Internet connection fail on a regular basis (and for long enough to have a serious impact)?

jsmoke · 21 Nov 2018 at 11:28

Fair enough, tied into a 18 or 24 month contract though.

Mark M · 21 Nov 2018 at 12:10

bremen1874 said:
Does your Internet connection fail on a regular basis (and for long enough to have a serious impact)?

Hopefully not but I’ve not moved into the office yet but just want to be covered.

jsmoke said:
Fair enough, tied into a 18 or 24 month contract though.

I was going to look at a payg option but may have to look at one of the monthly contracts that some providers offer.

bremen1874 · 21 Nov 2018 at 12:23

I wouldn't be spending time and money on this until you've actually got a problem to address.

Broadband connections tend to be very reliable, and if they go down it's usually only temporarily (a few hours). On the few occasions I've have had business broadband connections down for extended periods it was the ISP that supplied the 3G/4G failover at their cost.

Caged · 21 Nov 2018 at 13:18

Look at BT 4G Assure instead, lots of hassle saved.

Avalon · 21 Nov 2018 at 15:13

Nothing wrong with planning ahead, but if the requirement is to send payslips, it’s pretty minimal - they can easily be printed in smaller environments and let’s be honest, the company can likely go out and buy a PAYG phone to tether same day if required or ask your neighbouring company if they would throw you guest Wi-fi access for a generous donation to the tea/coffee fund.