Pay as you go Internet

Red_Helen

Hi all,

In an attempt to cut my outgoings, I am thinking of cancelling my BT account (I have phone line which I never use, broadband and a TV package with them.)

I do use my internet a bit - mainly for facebook, internet banking and looking on forums like this - and never download films or musyic - so I guess my usage is quite low.

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a decent PAYG dongle - or a super chape internet apckage where I wont need a land line. There's no point in me paying for one as I never use it!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

ianders

You can either go for cable broadband from virgin media or as you say, mobile broadband.

Virgin media start at £22.50 per month (you can reduce this down if you take into consideration cashback from the likes of quidco).

For the latter, three have some decent packages. I would recommend going to the different websites coverage checkers to see which will give you best signal.

An alternative solution may be your mobile phone. Depending on the phone and bundle you have, you may be able to use tethering.

macman

A 'decent' dongle is the one on the network that gives you an adequate 3G signal at your address. That should be your determining factor-nothing else. Make sure of the signal before you buy, as there are still huge swathes of GB without it.

useless_git_requires_wife

macman wrote: »

A 'decent' dongle is the one on the network that gives you an adequate 3G signal at your address. That should be your determining factor-nothing else. Make sure of the signal before you buy, as there are still huge swathes of GB without it.

Is it fair to say that a full strength mobile signal indicates that a dongle from that same company is likely to perform well, or is it not so simple?

Are there any sites you know of that can help check these things?

Ta.

diamonds

Virgin internet standalone if it is available, sometimes taking the landline makes it cheaper depending on promotions.

As for 3G, depends on your usage...what does your BT account say about it over the last bills ? Copy & paste it for us to look at all the options to you if we can see you average use per month.

3 do upto 21mbps on 3 usb modems, map:

http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/Coverage_checker_mbb?maptypeForm=mbb REMEMBER change to Mobile Broadband choice in the top left !

macman

useless_git_requires_wife wrote: »

Is it fair to say that a full strength mobile signal indicates that a dongle from that same company is likely to perform well, or is it not so simple?

Are there any sites you know of that can help check these things?

Ta.

No, but without a signal, even the 'best' dongle will be of little use. You cannot rely on the postcode checkers, use a 3G mobile on the same network to test.

Im_just_careful

Plusnet will do broadband including a phone line for a bit under £13 a month (prepay line rental for a year £9.49 a month and £3.24 for the 10GB broadband which might well be enough for your usage).

If you do go down the 3G route then I suggest you try a "3" PAYG sim (perhaps with a MiFi such as http://store.three.co.uk/view/plan/MBBD02072012T112251 ). Once you have used that then buy new 3GB sims from Amazon.

If 3 doesn't work well in your area you will get most of what you paid selling it on ebay.

Buzby

Signal strength is only part of the equation. In addition to this, you also need to know the bandwidth allocated to your channel. And there is no way you can find this out, as it will change dynamically - based on the number of BB and handset users calling in the services of your base station.

You then add in the restrictions on the backhaul to the trunk node, as this will be shared by other base stations on the same area. Which means it is going to be Russion Roulette as to the speeds you'll achieve long before signal strength becomes an issue.

AndysDad

Im_just_careful wrote: »

Plusnet will do broadband including a phone line for a bit under £13 a month (prepay line rental for a year £9.49 a month and £3.24 for the 10GB broadband which might well be enough for your usage).

Just wanted to say that I'm on this plan with Plusnet and can't fault the service.Saved a lot of money since leaving BT. Plusnet are owned by BT anyway so using same infrastructure.