mobile internet dongle

r748spx

i got a mobile internet dongle on contract for 12 months got a discount as already a customer for a mobile phone with them.

the contract has run out and have carried it on are dongles like mobile phones can i get an upgrade?

currently have a Huawei E173 are there better dongles out there available?

cinderfella

Sounds like you have a standard dongle, but remember never to let your dongle dangle in the sand:rotfl:

Im_just_careful

In principle, yes.

A monthly dongle contract finances the dongle as well as funding the service.

However, because dongles cost much less than phones you would expect the difference between a monthly "SIM only" service and one with a "Free" dongle to be less than is the case with smart phones.

If your current provider offers PAYG you could compare prices.

In practice, the difference between a "better" dongle and your current one may well be limited.

diamonds

Currys T-Mobile prepay E3131 £9.99, unlock on ebay for 99p to use 3

Upto 21Mbps download which is 3's highest speed to date, upgradedto 21mbps last few months.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/t-mobile-e3131-pay-as-you-go-mobile-broadband-dongle-14553709-pdt.html


Using a unlocked E3131 on Samba internet (who use 3) to post this, getting 3mbps download, 1.74mbps upload, used over wifi with http://www.passwordhelper.talktalk.net/HG532.html as wireless router with E3131 providing the internet via usb modem slot on back, prob get better speeds plugged into laptop/netbook but this set up works for me.

r748spx

its on orange and if i do a speed test i get a faster speed on my galaxy s3 than the dongle.

is 3 the best network for mobile broadband? whats the coverage like?

r748spx

i have 20m broadband at home only use the dongle as a backup or weekends when im away from home so paygo would probably better for me and would save me a lot of money.

diamonds

SIII is higher specs than your Huawei E173 - it supports speeds up to 7.2Mbps (download) and up to 2.0Mbps (upload)

diamonds

3 has the most robust internet, EE will follow when merger is FULLY complete in 2014 as they use same backhaul and own 50% of it - https://www.mbnl.co.uk

I'd get a sim on old 3 payg plan, 2GB is £5 which includes tethering, the newer all you can eat data on 3 payg does not allow tethering/modem use.

diamonds

The currys modem takes Orange sims aswell as T-Mob...

Orange dont do payg mobile broadband internet, only sister company T-Mobile do & internet is £2 a day on T-Mob pay as you go the days you use it or

£2 1 day 250MB

£7 7 days 500MB

£15 30 days 1GB


After the above is used you can surf the net but streaming & downloading are slowed down/barred.


E173 can be used as a usb "mobile", my old one is exactly that with my old 1999 o2 payg sim for those who have free o2 calls - plugged into my netbook, very handy for travelling or away for the night/weekend or where Orange have no signal (forward calls to o2)


Also I have successfully managed to use Orange SignalBoost (connect to Orange network via wifi) over my HG532 wifi using my 3 sim card in the e173/e3131 modem.


To use your E173 as a usb "mobile" Google "e173 activate voice" or read forums here http://www.dc-unlocker.com/

r748spx

at the moment my orange is £10 a month with 1gb anytime and 1 gb off peaktime.

so changing over to 3 would 1/2 what im paying and get better connection speeds?.

is the 3 2gb £5 a month if i dont use the 2gb would it carry over to the following month?

just had a scan through my bills and im using 100mb-500mb on adverage a month.

diamonds

Well 3 for 500MB on current payg plan is £5, 500MB or the 2GB are 30 day expiry when bought.

Unless you bought a payg 3 mobile broadband sim thats XXGB valid for XX months http://store.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/Plans/Pay_As_You_Go?ID=DGB55

You can find them cheaper on ebay.

o2, Voda do 30 days 1GB for £10.

You could buy the currys modem & call Orange and ask for further discount as you require no modem - Orange charge £5 a month for 500MB & free E3131 modem on a 18 month contract, thats 50% off usual price for Orange customers TAKING a free E3131 - push and ask what you can get for no modem over 18/24 months for 500MB, under £5 a months a good deal, if you will use it that is and not go over 500MB where it gets expensive per MB

Use Opera browser with mobile broadband as it compresses data, and make sure NOTHING updates over mobile bb.


http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-broadband/dongle/Huawei+E3131+dongle

Previous mobile broadband priceplan http://web.orange.co.uk/documents/ice/termsandconditions/mobile_broadband_price_guide_250811.pdf

Current priceplan http://web.orange.co.uk/documents/ice/termsandconditions/mobile_broadband_price_guide_170412.pdf