Using netbook in Egypt

cornerstone13

I have a netbook which we use wirelessly at home and I'm going to Egypt soon (political situation allowing). Whilst there I need to be able to check my emails on a daily basis. We have stayed at the hotel before and know there is no wireless facility; also it's in a fairly remote location, so no handy internet cafes.

What would be the best solution please ? Someone suggested a dongle - apart from the fact I don't really understand how they work, what are the implications/possibility of using one overseas when it was purchased in UK.

What do other people do ?

Please, I'm not a techno person (my mobile is a PAYG Nokia housebrick, to give you an idea of my level) so would appreciate advice in words of one syllable that my Granny could understand.:o

Thanks

Hammyman

Quite simply using one purchased in the UK will cost you a fortune overseas unless you get it unlocked and buy a SIM card locally.

macman

And since the internet has been substantially shut down there anyway, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

davb

Using a 3G dongle (as opposed to a WiFi one) means that you would be connecting to the net via a mobile phone sim card - so the costs would be like using a mobile, except a lot more expensive due to data roaming.
As Hammyman says, to avoid huge costs you would have to get an unlocked dongle and put in an Egyptian PAYG data sim - if such a thing exists.

DatabaseError

best use for a netbook in Egypt right now is strapped to your chest as body-armour, as it's gonna be no use for communication

cornerstone13

So am I right to think, in extremely simple terms, that a dongle is the same idea as a mobile (but looks different), so you make a call/go on the internet and pays your price

I know, I did say simple

davb

cornerstone13 wrote: »

So am I right to think, in extremely simple terms, that a dongle is the same idea as a mobile (but looks different), so you make a call/go on the internet and pays your price

I know, I did say simple

Spot on for a 3G dongle, but more expensive for data- you can also get wireless dongles, but that's no use as you said the hotel has no WiFi.

karen24_2

as someone else said the internet in Egypt has been shut down, I expect it's virtually impossible to get online. I read on the FCO website earlier that they have people have to get family in the uk to email flight confirmations to the embassy who are then meeting passengers at the airport with the printouts, to me that says the internet situation is pretty dire.

esuhl

The last I heard, there's one ISP that's still up and running (the same one used by the stock exchange), and a number of non-Egyptian ISPs are allowing dial-up access from inside Egypt (as the phone network is still working) - some for free, apparently.

Alik

Don't worry, if you can't get the internet you can still use twitter.. kind of

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/01/google-twitter-egypt

The one which was providing internet to the stock exchange, is now shut off. They went offline on Monday.

JasX

I'd be looking at Dial up (USB dial up modem if needs be), keep the call short as you may have to dial an overseas ISP. Even a local one will likely be extortionately expensive from a hotel phone.....

Probably cheaper to spend the extra and stay in a 'nicer' hotel with wifi.