Need internet access for a one-off event

Savvy_Sue

I work for a small charity, and later this month we are running an auction. We'd like to offer internet access so that people can make payments online, we tried to get a card reader last year but that didn't work out.

It's possible we'll be able to use the venue's wifi, but if not, we need a working dongle. I have an old Orange dongle I'm prepared to donate, and a 3 dongle which I'm prepared to lend (I've tried to get Samba working on it but failed miserably so far ...)

Have done a quick search and found this post elsewhere:

amorphix wrote: »

GiffGaff. Unlimited mobile Internet and texts £12/month without a dongle, but can tether to laptop WiFi or Bluetooth, or fit a cheap £2 WiFi dongle to your PC. You won't be able to use this for long periods though, as they don't like it. Occasional use, or limited daily usage and breaks inbetween fine.

What's the coverage like on GiffGaff? Will a GiffGaff SIM work in either the Orange or 3 dongle? Any other cheap suggestions? Anything I should be wary about?

TIA

kwikbreaks

GifGaf uses the O2 network. The chances are that your dongles are locked to their respective networks.

Android phones can create a wifi access point and so can Jailbroken iPhones but the range wouldn't be great and the owners might take some persuading to allow it.

Best to check the venue to make sure it has working WiFi which you can use.

NiftyDigits

Payments online with which medium? Will everyone have their own laptop etc? How many people?
Will there just be a single machine which everyone will use?
It is not clear as to how this will work.

If multiple connections(more than eight), you may need a router in conjunction with the unlocked modem.

Otherwise you can use a Mifi; here or here

Less than a £1 to unlock for use with any SIM, though conceivably you could stick with T-Mobile. But they tend to limit the speed, so not so good for multiple connections.

Savvy_Sue

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Payments online with which medium? Will everyone have their own laptop etc? How many people?
Will there just be a single machine which everyone will use?
It is not clear as to how this will work.

Using the charity giving sites, probably Virgin for preference. c. 100 people, I believe, and no, they won't all have their own laptops (although I dare say a fair few will be willing to use their own devices by whatever means they normally connect). We will make two laptops available, and we already have one contract dongle.

I wasn't there last year so don't know how different it is from what we did then. I think we only had one dongle, so probably felt that wasn't enough.

I think the idea would be to use the venue's, it's an evening do and won't affect their normal work, but I don't know what the issues are with that and whether we've asked them etc.

networkguy_2

If you have a Three dongle, then various people sell SIMs on Ebay which are valid for 3 Months (90 days) or 3 GB, whichever comes first. Be sure it's not a micro-SIM (meant for a tablet like the iPad) though.

Cost is around 12-15 pounds (which I know is a bit steep, but better than 10 quid for 1 GB, so worth checking if the venue wi-fi can be used first, and if not, then perhaps a visit to check that the dongle works from that location - it would be very embarrassing if it all fell apart on the night because of no coverage). A top-up from Three is also 15 quid for 3 GB but not sure it valid only for a month... I know you'd be getting much more than you need for one night, but it's a trade off (and you can use it for the next couple of months too, or until you run out) of paying 10 quid for 1 GB or 5 qid per GB... may as well get more value for money if you do end up paying.

Alternatively, it could be worth asking some mobile network shops if there is any way they could provide dongles (and data) for the evening, as this is for charity, and they would get a mention (and take some of the shop leaflets and business cards as a way of thanking them for their assistance)...

I know it's a bit unusual, but worth considering?


Good luck with the event.

[ When I was at College (Southampton) in the 70s, we went to Niton Radio one afternoon. Also had to visit Warsash for lifeboat training, and steering lifeboat alongside some NATO barges in the Solent... just in case we went to sea as Radio officers in the Merchant Navy... Would have loved to, but switched to IT and been doing that for 30++ years now. ]

Savvy_Sue

networkguy wrote: »

Alternatively, it could be worth asking some mobile network shops if there is any way they could provide dongles (and data) for the evening, as this is for charity, and they would get a mention (and take some of the shop leaflets and business cards as a way of thanking them for their assistance)...

Now there's an idea, I noticed there's a new shop opened just down the road from us selling that kind of thing, I shall send our expert blagger in to ask them!!! :rotfl: