Mobile wifi for iPad with wifi but not 3G?

Hopelesswithmoney

Hello

I'm hoping that someone can help me.

My son has an iPad 2 and wants a mobile WiFi dongle for his birthday. His iPad has WiFi but not 3G.

Will this be compatible or would this only work if he had a 3G iPad?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unlocked-Huawei-E586-MOBILE-BROADBAND/dp/B005LDRP18/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351933701&sr=1-2

Sorry for being a dimwit but I am clueless .

TIA

Hopeless

kwikbreaks

It will work but don't forget that you'll need a 3G SIM contract or PAYG as well. That said you could maybe get the MiFi free with a contract - you'll need to do the sums to see which suits you best.

You'll also need to pick a 3G provider with good coverage of where you intend to use the iPad. Ceck coverage maps + http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/ will show masts in the area (you need 2100MHz UMTS masts for 3G) - ideally well within 1km unless it's open country.

Hopelesswithmoney

kwikbreaks wrote: »

It will work but don't forget that you'll need a 3G SIM contract or PAYG as well. That said you could maybe get the MiFi free with a contract - you'll need to do the sums to see which suits you best.

You'll also need to pick a 3G provider with good coverage of where you intend to use the iPad. Ceck coverage maps + http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/ will show masts in the area (you need 2100MHz UMTS masts for 3G) - ideally well within 1km unless it's open country.

Thank you so much. Your advice is very much appreciated .

NiftyDigits

Hopelesswithmoney wrote: »

Hello

I'm hoping that someone can help me.

My son has an iPad 2 and wants a mobile WiFi dongle for his birthday. His iPad has WiFi but not 3G.

Will this be compatible or would this only work if he had a 3G iPad?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unlocked-Huawei-E586-MOBILE-BROADBAND/dp/B005LDRP18/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351933701&sr=1-2

Sorry for being a dimwit but I am clueless .

TIA

Hopeless

Way too expensive for a 3G MiFi. Consider getting a Network Locked one and unlocking it yourself.

This one; Huawei WiFi E5332 with a 2GB limit on a 30 day contract £27.50 in total. Cancel the contract on the same day that you activate it. Purchase via Quidco to get £10 back. So £17.50.

Unlocking £0.99p here

So £18.49 in total.

That way you are free to use any Network. PAYG or otherwise.

I_luv_cats

Where will your boy be using his ipad?

Are there hotspots around that he can use? (school/college/library/cafes/coffee shops/ones incorporated into a house broadband plan you might have on the street/free public one's etc.

Other's would advise about security of public wifi. (if safe would save eating up mifi data)

Im_just_careful

If he has a mobile phone, even a basic one, with Bluetooth it is worth experimenting with using the WiFi only iPad paired with the phone.

If you turn the WiFi off on the iPad, connect to the phone in "Bluetooth" (in settings) then if the phone supports the Bluetooth "PAN" profile the iPad will use the data connection on the phone.

If this works OK then consider getting a suitable PAYG deal on the phone (Ovivo, giffgaff, T-Mobile or "3" as you prefer).

NiftyDigits

Im_just_careful wrote: »

If he has a mobile phone, even a basic one, with Bluetooth it is worth experimenting with using the WiFi only iPad paired with the phone.

If you turn the WiFi off on the iPad, connect to the phone in "Bluetooth" (in settings) then if the phone supports the Bluetooth "PAN" profile the iPad will use the data connection on the phone.

If this works OK then consider getting a suitable PAYG deal on the phone (Ovivo, giffgaff, T-Mobile or "3" as you prefer).

That going to be a slow connection....limited by the Bluetooth connection on a basic phone......and what will he get for his birthday?

newtonflotman

This would be absolutely fine for an ipad2. We bought a 5332 model for Mr T*sco when they had them on offer for £40. I paid around £2.50 for a code to unlock it off Fleabay. I then bought Several Three Network 30day contracts of Fleabay at a reasonable price (Can get 12 months for around £55 on Fleabay) and also bot a few 1 month T- mobile data sims at a good price. The Three network certainly has a better speed if you can get the coverage. Daughter steamed SkyGo for a while on holiday and still left plenty of time/allowance for email/surfing. Would not replace a fixed broadband connection for price/speed/allowance though
What it does show to Apple though is its cheaper to buy a MiFi and a Basic Ipad than a Sim enabled Ipad.

searchlight123

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Way too expensive for a 3G MiFi. Consider getting a Network Locked one and unlocking it yourself.

This one; Huawei WiFi E5332 with a 2GB limit on a 30 day contract £27.50 in total. Cancel the contract on the same day that you activate it. Purchase via Quidco to get £10 back. So £17.50.

Unlocking £0.99p here

So £18.49 in total.

That way you are free to use any Network. PAYG or otherwise.

hi niftydigits
do you know if this would work if i took my ipad and this mifi unit to spain on my holidays and purchased a local sim card in spain for surfing as i presume the uk sims used abroad would not work?
TIA

NiftyDigits

tonygold wrote: »

hi niftydigits
do you know if this would work if i took my ipad and this mifi unit to spain on my holidays and purchased a local sim card in spain for surfing as i presume the uk sims used abroad would not work?
TIA

Yes, it would. I'm in Spain doing just that. Don't neglect to unlock it and to add the relevant APN/Profiles. When in Spain you need to set the relevant SIM profile to Default.

Also posted this, this and this

searchlight123

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Yes, it would. I'm in Spain doing just that. Don't neglect to unlock it and to add the relevant APN/Profiles. When in Spain you need to set the relevant SIM profile to Default.

Also posted this, this and this

many thanks for this info.