Would love some help regarding dongles pls?

bundance

Hi

I am a desktop pc user and surf the web for on average a few hours most days. Some days I watch videos on the web. I wanted to change suppliers in the past, as I previously mentioned I am using BT for line rental, TalkTalk for call charges, and virgin for internet.

Basically, I want rid of my landline as I have a good tesco mobile contract, and am looking at the possibility of using a dongle. My budget is £15 per month but I am willing to be flexible on this.

I have done a bit of investigation on dongles, but got rapidly confused. My intention is to find either a PAYG or a contract dongle that allows me to use the internet as I do now.

I'm having trouble translating the dongle information, and cannot tell from the info how much surfing these dongles will allow.

Also, I would love some information on the drawbacks of using a dongle.

Thank you

bundance

Bump please

PlutoinCapricorn

Mobile broadband is said to be like fast dialup, not full broadband.

I got rid of my BT landline a while back, and have used only mobile broadband ever since. I don't play games, watch films or download music, and manage on around 2gb per month.

I suggest getting a dongle with a prepaid allowance and trying it out before committing yourself to a contract.

Do you live in a big city? Would you be able to go online upstairs, near a window?

Grovis

Dongles are fine for browsing. I got a 3 pay as you go dongle the other day as I have no Broadband service at present. If you plan to watch a lot of videos then this can be quite demanding on your usage limit. Maybe you would get about 3gb per month for £15 on a rolling contract?

The main issue I have is that the best speeds I have had are 1.3 mbps and the signal is best upstairs near a window. Sitting in my living room I am on about 0.4 mbps.

anon_ymous

In all honesty, Id say it'd be cheaper for you to have broadband with a line rental than to use 3G internet. We now pay £16.50/month for the "All rounder" package from O2 - this includes line rental

Considering you're on VM, there's no need for a landline any way. If you're contract has gone past 12 months, tell them of any deals you can find on the net and ask them if they can match that.

Don't let them BS you with that fibre optic talk, because BT are rolling out similar infrastructure and the UK should be set for fibre optic over BT lines by the end of 2012 - an infrastructure which Im guessing Ofcom will force BT to let other ISP's use

If you have a good enough contract, then you can tether the phone (Assuming you have an android phone) and get internet access that way

Though Ill give you something; the main reason we don't use VOIP is because a landline is effectively forced on us

Grovis

waqasahmed wrote: »

Don't let them BS you with that fibre optic talk, because BT are rolling out similar infrastructure and the UK should be set for fibre optic over BT lines by the end of 2012

:rotfl:I will hold you to that... try 2015 more like it!

moreTvicar

I have found that T-mobile PAYG 3G dongle has been amazing. I live in Bucks but usually use it when I am travelling to London.

Drawbacks with the dongle is that it is dependant on signal and upload/download limits are tough when watching videos!

anon_ymous

Grovis wrote: »

:rotfl:I will hold you to that... try 2015 more like it!

Well yeah but it allows you to have some sort of a comback when VM tell you that only they have fibre optics

Grovis

waqasahmed wrote: »

Well yeah but it allows you to have some sort of a comback when VM tell you that only they have fibre optics

yeah I am just teasing but 2015 seems to be the target date for most. I am just bitterly disappointed BT are taking so long to roll this out.

im-lost

depending on the location / signal strength mobile broadband is an excellent alternative to
a landline based service, I get speeds of 10mb all day every day on my mifi device.

Get a E586 mifi from 3mobile, it takes advantage of the network upgrade three are carrying
out, their so called HSDPA+ with speeds in theory of 21mb. but you will never get such
speeds, but 10mb on a mobile connection will outstrip a massive proportion of speeds people
get on a landline service.

You can get 5gb for £15.99 on a monthly rolling contract from them, if you phone up to cancel
they will offer you 15gb on the same terms, same price, rolling monthly contract.

If you choose the MiFi 5GB - 1 month. package from below you pay £49.99 for the mifi device
but if you go via quidco you can get £24 cashback, making the dongle £26 when cashback has
been paid
http://store.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi

bundance

Thanks for all of those answers. I think the mobile sounds good.
That way, I can get shot of virgin and it's rip off prices and get rid of the landline altogether.
I'm just worried that if I cancel, they wont up my GB-age to 15GB.
Also, am I right in saying that watching videos daily will be possible on 15GB

Thanks