PAYG Dongle

Mrsmoneypenny

I havent really got a clue about dongles, i have seen them advertised in shop windows but that is as far as my knowledge goes.

My son is moving to a flat for six months (while out of uni) in the Lakes, he has an iphone 3G and uses apple macbook pro.

At the flat he and his mate will share there is no internet or phone connections and he has told us he will be getting a dongle which he and his mate will share the cost of.

They wont be getting a phone installed.

I believe you should check the coverage for your postcode and that IMO a pay as you go would be the only way to do this for such a short time.

Where can i find a site that shows which provider covers his postcode.

Is there anything else that I/he should be aware of before getting a dongle.

That in advance for any help on this.:money:

Pssst

Have a look here as a starter.
O2 seem to have some good offers especially since their dongles include unlimited free wifi presumably from their many hotspots? You never know,there might be a hotspot near your sons rented place?

http://broadband.o2.co.uk/mobile/

Mrsmoneypenny

Thats an idea, so i have had a look at the hotspots in Windermere, there arent any. Nearest is Kendal which is quite a drive away.

He can, of course, check his emails on his iphone 3G, but needs to use his laptop as well.

Had a look at a site and 02 dont recommend using them, TMobile say they are very good in his area and Orange say they are excellent.

I suppose the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

downshifter

As mobile broadband dongles are dependent on mobile phone signals he should find out what kind of signal he gets on his or his firend's phone networks before getting a dongle. In my case all networks are shown as ok on the websites but I wasted a year's payments with vodaphone because in fact the signal didn't work here, despite what it said on the website re coverage. I'm now on orange and while it gets a signal, it really only works if you hang out of the bedroom window! If he can get a phone signal he should be fine. Even if it's only 2G, rather than 3G, E or H it's better than nothing. The bb will crawl along and no good for games etc but fine for surfing, emails etc.

Mr_Rossi

Have you looked on here? http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/ If there are any this should show them. If there's a particular network that you want to use you could then contact the network and ask if and when they are setting up a mast.
The networks own coverage checkers are not at all 100% reliable and there has been this article here http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/03/mobile_charges_but_no_signal.html
I'm not trying to put you off, just be wary! Their coverage checker is just a guess and not properly tested.
If a dongle is purchased and it just won't work then do take it back.
OK, had a quick look at Windermere and there's two orange masts and two 3 masts
Just put the location or postcode in then zoom in. If you then click on the little blue triangles, it'll tell you who owns them...

Pssst

Also look here for hotspots..
http://www.thecloud.co.uk/for-you/
There are some in windermere !