Wifi from dongle?

NiftyDigits

in_my_bumble_opinion wrote: »

The E586's usually come with a charging cradle and also tell you how much data you've eaten on the device screen (both very handy). The E5332 has it's own advantages. Pay your money and take your choice, I guess, but I'm not rushing to buy an E5332 myself.

Why would you need a 'charging cradle'?? Why would that be useful?
The E5332 also has a data counter via the web interface. You would still need access to the E586's web interface in order to have control over it's data counter.

Perhaps a link to this mythical £30 E586 with no warranty? It's just a non-starter. A two year old modem already.

in_my_bumble_opinion

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Why would you need a 'charging cradle'?? Why would that be useful?
The E5332 also has a data counter via the web interface. You would still need access to the E586's web interface in order to have control over it's data counter.

Perhaps a link to this mythical £30 E586 with no warranty? It's just a non-starter. A two year old modem already.

Can I politely request that you reply in a milder tone? It's only the internet after all, mate.

You don't 'need' a cradle, but it is handy in the same way charging cradles are handy for all sorts of devices.....it's less fiddly and you can clearly see the info on the screen. The onscreen data counter is a handy thing to have (especially with data limited sims). Each to their own, but in my experience (and the experience of others I know using mifi) these things are really useful. Prices at CEX go up and down, if that's the current price then it's another factor to consider. I'm just trying to help the OP in the same way you are, there's no one perfect answer.

NiftyDigits

in_my_bumble_opinion wrote: »

Can I politely request that you reply in a milder tone? It's only the internet after all, mate.

You don't 'need' a cradle, but it is handy in the same way charging cradles are handy for all sorts of devices.....it's less fiddly and you can clearly see the info on the screen. The onscreen data counter is a handy thing to have (especially with data limited sims). Each to their own, but in my experience (and the experience of others I know using mifi) these things are really useful. Prices at CEX go up and down, if that's the current price then it's another factor to consider. I'm just trying to help the OP in the same way you are, there's no perfect answer.

My tone? It's only what you perceive.
Nothing wrong with a robust discussion.

I certainly wouldn't consider a charging cradle useful. It's for aesthetic purposes only.
As for it being less fiddly, you know that is nonsense.
I have items that have both a charging cradle and a direct mains plug. It's possible to drop something on to the cradle and to come back and find that it hasn't charged because it wasn't correctly positioned on the cradle. Plugging it in prevents this kind of inconvenience. It's just a nice holder for the thing and that's all. I certainly wouldn't take it around or travelling with me.

Onscreen data is certainly a nice gimmick if you can't get to the web interface.
But no way would I pay £38 nor £30 for a second hand MiFi with a possibly depleted battery when I could buy a brand new model with increased capabilities for much the same.

So, sorry but I just don't agree with your scenario, that it's worth overlooking the negatives of a more limited warranty and a possibly depleted battery in order to obtain a 'charging cradle' and a 'data counter' on the interface.

With the new, you get the same capabilities, though the data counter is within the web interface, a full warranty, a new battery and an aerial connector.


I know you are trying to help. It's good that you defend your suggestion. Puts the information out there and perhaps covers scenarios that others wouldn't think of on their own.

Im_just_careful

If "3" has decent coverage it is most likely to give fast 3G coverage. What is now EE (was Orange and T-Mobile) can but often doesn't. In bigger towns & cities Vodafone 3G can be good. I've found o2 less good than Vodafone.

The MiFi and PAYG data SIMs is a good suggestion.

In general using mobile networks is expensive compared to landline based Internet connections, particularly if you want a landline phone.