Best/Cheapest way to get mobile internet?

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

Soldato
Joined
1 Sep 2005
Posts
10,001
Location
Scottish Highlands
Ive recently bought an eeepc, and im absolutely loving it so far. I can see it changing the way I use computers for ever. However one thing that slightly bugs me, is the lack of internet on say the bus. I can use the eeepc to browse while in my house (using wifi), the garden amd at work. But anywhere inbetween is a nono (unless im very lucky and find an unsecured wifi connection).

So what is the easiest (And cheap within reason) to get totally roaming internet? It wouldn't need to be super fast as its mainly for forum browsing and email etc. Ive been looking at Wimax, but it looks like thats still in very early stages and needs wider coverage. Ideally id also like the hardware needed to be tiny, so I could mod it inside the eeepc, but this is by no means essential. Any suggestions or ideas? :)
 
All of the major mobile networks now offer some form of USB 3G modem, I have on on Three that I pay £15 a month for and it suits me just fine for the kind of use you described (managed to also get it on a 12 month contract after a bit of hassling the poor bloke in the shop).

Just read the T&C's for each provider before you make any decisions as some of them don't allow you to use VoIP/IM services over their cheaper packages, also check the contract length you are signing up for, some of them look like a good deal but are 24 month contracts.
 
You might find it difficult to get drivers if you're using Linux on the eeepc.

I get 1Gb internet for £5 extra on my phone contract (W/ Three), and just use my phone (N95) as a modem. It works just as well as a dedicated USB modem.
 
Thanks guys. If I was to get a contract phone on 3G and do it that way, id like to stay on orange as ive been with them for years. As for drivers, that shouldn't be a problem as im running XP on it. So if I was to get a 3G contract (and maybe a new phone), what would the network coverage be like? What sort of bandwidth am I likely to expect? And finally, could I turn the internet and bluetooth on the phone, then connect the eeepc to the internet vie a bluetooth dongle?
 
I use a USB modem on the 3 network - from £5 per month PAYG.

I have also used my Nokia phone with T-Mobile's WebNWalk.
 
Home broadband and a loooooooooooooooooooong cable ;P

I have used T-mobile webnwalk through to the laptop, using bluetooth on linux (not that hard to set up)
 
Messiah Khan said:
How much browsing (I know this will be very variable) roughly do you get out of £5 PAYG? Whats the coverage and bandwidth like?
Click to expand...

I think it was 2Gb.

I have 7Gb for 30 days at the moment, and have used about 50% with 8 days to go.

I have only used it in one area so far (Antrim) and speed is pretty variable.
 
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