Mifi-What is it?

popadom

Hi,

I hope this is the right area.

I have had a look online for what is but it seems a bit vague. If you have a wifi only device, can this be used to effectively turn the device into a 3G one?

I have a Samsung galaxy 7" tab but its only wifi.

Stooby2

It's basically a 3G dongle attached to a wireless router (all built into one unit) - although there's no network facility (attached devices can't see each other/swap files etc)

You set it up, it receives data via the 3G network and allows devices (number is limited per model) to connect wirelessly to access the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi

If you have a smartphone you can probably do much the same with that - most allow "portable hotspot" or "wireless tethering"

Peter999_2

Stooby2 wrote: »

It's basically a 3G dongle attached to a wireless router (all built into one unit) - although there's no network facility (attached devices can't see each other/swap files etc)

You set it up, it receives data via the 3G network and allows devices (number is limited per model) to connect wirelessly to access the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi

If you have a smartphone you can probably do much the same with that - most allow "portable hotspot" or "wireless tethering"

Not sure why you think that, attached devices certainly can see each other like a normal network. When I am in a hotel I stream video from a PC to an iPad through the mifi.

Stooby2

Not sure why you think that, attached devices certainly can see each other like a normal network.

Well we clubbed together at my last place of work and bought one so we could get the internet for laptops - it didn't allow any of the devices to see each other. Possibly differing models (with differing prices) allow it.

And you take a PC, mifi unit and and an iPad away with you?

popadom

So if I bought one, I could just turn it on, say in the car, and my tablet would get a internet signal? I don't think my tablet has a sim slot.

Thank you for your help!

Peter999_2

Yes, when I'm away with work in a hotel I have a PC and iPad with me. It can be very boring when you're too tired to go out and watching movies whiles away the time.

popadom

Ahh! Brilliant. That's what I wanted. You wouldn't be able to recommend one, would you?

nickcc

Just bought a Mifi for when I travel abroad with my Wifi only ipad. Using a Mifi can be considerably more expensive than using a contract Internet service provider such as BT. I currently pay BT for their infinity broadband with a monthly allowance of 40gb £11, for a 1gb pay as you go data Mifi SIM card the cost was also £11 so as well as being considerably more expensive the upload and download speeds are much slower. If I'd given a bit more thought to my needs when buying my new ipad I'd definitely have bought the model which included cellular but as I didn't the Mifi will solve my problem where Wifi access isn't available. I bought the Huawei 5331 @ £43.89 from Amazon which seems to meet my needs.

popadom

I don't think Ill use the internet that often, just for occasional use, so a top up one would be ok for me. In hindsight I would have bought a cellular tablet, but it was an extra £100.

Peter999_2

I use a samba mobile SIM with mine (samba uses the three network).

The SIM cost £5 and you watch adverts to "load" up the card. For every advert you watch it provides 3.5meg of data. When I first got it I sat with a laptop "watching" the adverts on a night while I also watched TV/movies. After a while I'd got upto 1GB and use that while I am away with work (I only ever use it for web browsing and email and not the iplayer etc.) I only use about 50meg a night max so the 1GB has lasted ages.

The good thing about it is that the 1GB never expires like normal topup sim cards.

nickcc

Peter999 wrote: »

I use a samba mobile SIM with mine (samba uses the three network).

The SIM cost £5 and you watch adverts to "load" up the card. For every advert you watch it provides 3.5meg of data. When I first got it I sat with a laptop "watching" the adverts on a night while I also watched TV/movies. After a while I'd got upto 1GB and use that while I am away with work (I only ever use it for web browsing and email and not the iplayer etc.) I only use about 50meg a night max so the 1GB has lasted ages.

The good thing about it is that the 1GB never expires like normal topup sim cards.

Thanks for the samba info, just joined and earned 24mb so far:) just waiting for Sim now.