Broadband or dongle

good_intentions

At present I have a phone package with BT (Unlimited Anytime and MObile) which I only began two months ago hence locked into for some time to come unless I pay a fine, PLUS a separate BT Business Broadband incorporating a separate phoneline which is used only for business calls. The reason we get broadband this way is that my husband's company pays for the broadband bill and attendant phoneline for business calls- or did until now. New financial restrictions have now been introduced and instead of paying broadband bills from now on they will pay only for a dongle. However, in our house there can be up to 4 people at any one time using the broadband connection wirelessly on separate laptops. Sometimes this use may be just for internet surfing but sometimes someone may wish to watch TV online (e.g. BBC iplayer).
Am I right in thinking a dongle will only be of use on one laptop and won't support several going at once? (There is no need for the laptops to be used outside the house anyway). What will be the cheapest way for us to continue to get internet wireless acess in the house now that it's us who will have to pay for it?! Haven't used a dongle before but think it's not going to be much use for our needs -I think it's aimed at use by people who want to use their laptops on the move.

HappyMJ

You can get a 3G wireless router if you want. You put the SIM into the router and it broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal out to all the laptops.

Something similar to this... http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=8697

stilltheone

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can get a 3G wireless router if you want. You put the SIM into the router and it broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal out to all the laptops.

Something similar to this... http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=8697

Unless there is an unlimited allowance and good 3G coverage, that idea is a non starter.

The OP can pop their postcode in to Sam Knows in order to find out what broadband is available to them.

asbokid

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can get a 3G wireless router if you want. You put the SIM into the router and it broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal out to all the laptops.

Something similar to this... http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=8697

Heck! At £371 that's expensive!

Three sells a 3G dongle called a Mi-Fi. It has a built-in wifi access point that allows up to five simultaneous users to access the internet.

http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi

If you plan to use the internet regularly, or on a heavy basis with lots of streaming media, then a connection via the landline would be better all round.


Just noticed that the OP registered 6 years ago, yet this is her maiden post!

Inner_Zone

Would not recommend 3G for permanent use at home, it just not as good as a wired ISP. Re the router £370, thought this was a money saving site. You can get a cable 3G router into which you plug a 3G dongle for around £40.

mollusc_2

I picked up an unlocked huawei D100 into which you can plug a wireless dongle for just over £20 including postage from a popular auction website.

It works a treat and shares the mobile broadband through a 54g wireless connection no probs at all.

as others have said be careful of the bandwidth limits though.

best wishes,
shane

shifty27

asbokid wrote: »

Heck! At £371 that's expensive!

Three sells a 3G dongle called a Mi-Fi. It has a built-in wifi access point that allows up to five simultaneous users to access the internet.

http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi

If you plan to use the internet regularly, or on a heavy basis with lots of streaming media, then a connection via the landline would be better all round.


Just noticed that the OP registered 6 years ago, yet this is her maiden post!

Agreed a Mi-fi is like a 3g modem and it's great if you a light user as most 3g sims won't have more than say 10gb without the price going up steaply. If you travel alot and need the internet on the laptop then this is a good idea.

If you use the internet mostly at home and download a lot of stuff a fixed broadband line is the best bet.

HappyMJ

I wasn't shopping around for the OP like many of you have done. Mi-Fi can be useful but are low powered and don't pick up 3G signals well inside the house and are really only for 1 maybe 2 devices to simultaneously connect. The OP stated they had up to 4 people connecting at the same time. The only reason I suggested that is that a mate of mine living in a rural area has one. She cannot use fixed line broadband as it runs at about 512k or less. The 3G mobile broadband runs at about 6Mbps. The cost is high but in this case the employer is paying. She has an external aerial on the roof and gets a fantastic signal.

Fixed broadband line is much better but the OP's company will only pay for mobile broadband so it can be used for free on the company expenses. Our local council have done the same since 1st April to their employees. Wonder if they work for them.. They'll only pay for mobile broadband - the full cost or provide up to £15 toward a home broadband connection. Many home broadband connections restrict the use of VPN's to an unusable amount so it needs to be a higher cost service for which £15 won't cover. It certainly won't cover line rental and broadband.

good_intentions

Thank you all for your ideas. Really useful - it's so complicated! I appreciate your help.

neil277

good_intentions wrote: »

At present I have a phone package with BT (Unlimited Anytime and MObile) which I only began two months ago hence locked into for some time to come unless I pay a fine, PLUS a separate BT Business Broadband incorporating a separate phoneline which is used only for business calls. The reason we get broadband this way is that my husband's company pays for the broadband bill and attendant phoneline for business calls- or did until now. New financial restrictions have now been introduced and instead of paying broadband bills from now on they will pay only for a dongle. However, in our house there can be up to 4 people at any one time using the broadband connection wirelessly on separate laptops. Sometimes this use may be just for internet surfing but sometimes someone may wish to watch TV online (e.g. BBC iplayer).
Am I right in thinking a dongle will only be of use on one laptop and won't support several going at once? (There is no need for the laptops to be used outside the house anyway). What will be the cheapest way for us to continue to get internet wireless acess in the house now that it's us who will have to pay for it?! Haven't used a dongle before but think it's not going to be much use for our needs -I think it's aimed at use by people who want to use their laptops on the move.

Dongles are fine, we are with virgin 6 months to run TV Rubish, Phone Line never use, internet good, dongle very slow could cost more.

Jimx26

I have a 3 mifi and regulary have up to 4 devices connected with no problems.

I was on the 5gb rolling contract but rang up to cancel last week and they gave me 15gb for the same price and still on rolling contract.

90% of the time it works very well and regulary get speeds of 4mbps much more than I could get with BT/Sky who could only offer up to 1mbps as I liove out in the sticks.