Best internet dongle deal.

amrh

Hey guys,
I'm currently living in halls at uni and our internet is shocking... management are apparently sorting it out but they're taking their time!
While I'm waiting I'd like a dongle so I can get online when I need to. Anybody know where I can get the best deal from? I don't want a fixed term contract though (ie 24 months) as the internet might become amazing all of a sudden.
Anyhoo, any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

TakeThis

amrh wrote: »

Hey guys,
I'm currently living in halls at uni and our internet is shocking... management are apparently sorting it out but they're taking their time!
While I'm waiting I'd like a dongle so I can get online when I need to. Anybody know where I can get the best deal from? I don't want a fixed term contract though (ie 24 months) as the internet might become amazing all of a sudden.
Anyhoo, any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Depends on your location. You need to ascertain if you have 3G coverage at your halls and with whom.

For mobile broadband:

Go to Site Finder, click on the map and pop the relevant postcode in the box.
A map should appear, hopefully with some blue triangles.

You'll need to click on each of the blue triangles in turn, reading the details.
What you are looking for are UMTS masts under 'type of transmission' within 500 metres of the place of intended usage and the name of the operator.

Report back with the names of the operators with the masts closest to yourself.

amrh

There are three within a reasonable distance... 3, Vodafone (which is the network my mobile is on if they happen to do better deals for existing customers?) and T-Mobile.

TakeThis

Your best bet is prolly 3(UK)

This 3(UK) 3GB/3 month Data SIM is relatively good value @ £11.15. Though of course you will need to buy a modem.

You can make a start with this one. Comes with a 1GB allowance. When it runs out, swap with the 3GB SIM.

Otherwise, Argos have this 3 Mobile Broadband USB 12GB/12 month Pack £48.99

im-lost

instead of a dongle have you thought about a mifi device? connect up to 5 devices, phones, laptops, consoles etc.
The new E586 is a great piece of kit and the speeds on it for me at least out strip any broadband on the local exchange.
I more often than not get speeds of 10mb/s.

You can get them on PAYG for £84.99

Or a monthly rolling contract for £49.99 upfront and £15.99 a month for 5gb of usage.
http://threestore.three.co.uk/mifi/mifiPlans.aspx?phonecode=HE586WIFI3

What i done was go for the rolling 1 month contract, paid the £49.99 then once the dongle was received.
gave my 1 months notice so paid only the £15.99 then it was cancelled, so all in all £65.99 so cheaper
than a payg option, plus with quidco cash-back of £24 makes it 40 odd quid all in.

It can be unlocked easily from sellers on ebay for £9
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5251&rt=nc&_nkw=unlock+e586&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1

Once unlocked you can get a giffgaff sim, and buy a goodybag for £10pm which will give
you 'unlimited' internet, I used one for a month to test it and used around 20gb without
them batting an eyelid, although that gave speeds of around 3 -4 mb/s as the network
doesnt take advantage of the so called HSDPA+ that the 3 network uses.

But it really is a good little device, much more versatile than using a standard dongle, and as
I said the speeds on the new device are quite staggering for a mobile connection.

So good infact that im dropping my landline based service ans will be using the device solely
my internet needs, which to be honest are quite modest and my £15pm 15gb sim is more than
adequate.

Some of my recent speed tests, pings are a bit shakey, but really make
no difference in daily use

amrh

Thanks for the advice guys.