Smart TV's can these be used with payg and contract mobile internet dongles?

AnthonyUK

I am being given a smart tv thursday as a gift and I wondered if it was possible to plug in a payg or contract mobile internet dongle and access the internet that way through it, does anybody know?:beer:

NiftyDigits

You can more easily use a MiFi unit, than a standard USB modem.

wongataa

If the TV has wifi and you used a mifi device then it should be possible. A plug in dongle is unlikely to work as the TV won't know what it is. Whether getting the data across the cellular networks would be reliable enough or be too expensive are another questions.

AnthonyUK

wongataa wrote: »

If the TV has wifi and you used a mifi device then it should be possible. A plug in dongle is unlikely to work as the TV won't know what it is. Whether getting the data across the cellular networks would be reliable enough or be too expensive are another questions.

I am in a fairly good area for 3G reception and EE 4GEE is also available in my area (EE 4GEE got switched on in October in my home town of Accrington Lancashire), will invest in a MiFi device under payg mobile internet for 3 mobile internet end of this month and give it a whirl thru USB connection, thank you for the advice!:beer:

tyllwyd

You need to look at the data allowance for the MiFi though - streaming tv takes a LOT of data.

JasX

This is a pretty bad idea.

Streaming/downloading video at a resolution that'd look ok on even a small TV uses a *huge* amount of bandwidth (budget for 1GB per hour roughly)

a) good luck finding a provider/contract that'd support that kind of usage without a sky high price tag

b) even if you find one you'll be waiting a very long time for each show to download and/or start buffering to the point you can start watching it.

Maybe some services you'll be able to use (eg text based data services) but video will be a no no.

AnthonyUK

JasX wrote: »

This is a pretty bad idea.

Streaming/downloading video at a resolution that'd look ok on even a small TV uses a *huge* amount of bandwidth (budget for 1GB per hour roughly)

a) good luck finding a provider/contract that'd support that kind of usage without a sky high price tag

b) even if you find one you'll be waiting a very long time for each show to download and/or start buffering to the point you can start watching it.

Maybe some services you'll be able to use (eg text based data services) but video will be a no no.

I won't be streaming television shows on bbciplayer/itvplayer/4oD/DemandFive etc, just using mainly text and graphic based sites and watching occasional YT/dailymotion etc video clips of short duration anyway and even then I don't watch that much off YT etc to completely strip my payg data allowance.:)

cookie365

I think you're underestimating how much data you're going to use. This single page on MSE is 77kb.

Are you not within wifi range of a wired broadband connection?

EmmaxOx

Data is very expensive on PAYG, and video is very data heavy.

If you have no broadband etc, I'd suggest going for an unlimited data phone contract, with tethering explicilty allowed in the contract.

I've been on 3's "One plan", not the best network coverage wise, but having a 3g/4g phone as a wifi router whenever I'm about on my travels is a godsend!