4G or mifi for stationary desktop PC

cj2011

Hello MSE forum


I can't get fibre optic broadband in my house (or any other wired broadband). All I want is to connect a stationary PC to the internet and I want a stable connection (I was previously on a 3G dongle and it kept cutting out randomly when I was in the middle of typing something or trying to load a short video clip - incredibly frustrating). This will be my primary internet connection, exclusively for home use, and I would like to have the option to stream on-demand services a couple of times a month.


Speed would be a bonus, but speed is pointless if I only get 3GB to use each month so if I'd rather get more data and a slower speed for a similar price (reliability is very important - I should to be able to go online whenever I like and stay online until I manually disconnect). I don't want to get locked into a contract that's difficult to get out of.


I'm thinking of either mifi or a 4G dongle on a 1-month contract or PAYG (would possibly consider 3G again if I get a particularly good data allowance for a good price - provided it's got a stable connection). What are the advantages of mifi vs. 4G dongles (assuming that I can get 4G coverage in my flat)? Which one would be more likely to disconnect me randomly when I'm in the middle of something (note that I'm only using it on a stationary PC at home, not out and about, and have no need for sharing the connection with other devices)? Anything else I need to bear in mind when choosing a mifi or 4G deal or routers/dongles? If I get a SIM from EE, can I use it with either a mifi router or a 4G dongle or do mifi routers use special SIMs?

NiftyDigits

MiFi can be both 3G or 4G. Everything depends on what signals are available at your location.
3G MiFi from £25. 4GB MiFi from £50. SIM can be chosen independent of the MiFi.

cj2011

NiftyDigits wrote: »

MiFi can be both 3G or 4G. Everything depends on what signals are available at your location.
3G MiFi from £25. 4GB MiFi from £50. SIM can be chosen independent of the MiFi.

I knew that - I said "assuming that I can get 4G coverage in my flat". It seems you didn't read my questions properly and unfortunately your reply was not helping me on this occasion.

cj2011

My question is: why should I get a 4G mifi router rather than a 4G dongle (again, assuming that I DO have 4G coverage in my flat)? What are the pros and cons of either?

So far I know the following:
1. Mifi can connect wirelessly to multiple devices - I only need to connect to 1 stationary PC which can't currently receive wireless signals (but I could get an adapter if necessary)
2. Dongles are physically smaller than mifi routers (not important)
3. Dongles require 1 free USB port (again, I'm using a stationary PC so not an issue)
4. Dongles that connect via USB do not require a separate power source, but mifi routers do (+1 for dongles for this one)

But which one is more likely to experience connection instability issues - the mifi router or the 4G dongle? Again, assuming that I have good 4G coverage and that both will be used in the same location.

im-lost

id get the Mifi.

your needs may change in the future, and for the price of a couple of beers you're covered.

A mifi device can also be connected like a dongle, by usb and doesn't require an external power source if used in this way.

It can essentially be used as a dongle if you wish, with the added benefit to have a wireless signal in your house for whatever reason, wireless printer? some kind of 'internet or smart tv' or allowing friends etc to use it if they are visiting, you may at some point buy a tablet to use.

For the cost difference, the mifi would seem to be a better bet, if only to cover for any future needs you may have.

NiftyDigits

cj2011 wrote: »

I knew that - I said "assuming that I can get 4G coverage in my flat". It seems you didn't read my questions properly and unfortunately your reply was not helping me on this occasion.

It appears that you cannot read nor write properly, so you did not understand my reply.

Your title reads 4G or mifi for stationary desktop PC not 4G Dongle or 4G MiFi for stationary desktop PC.

I'm thinking of either mifi or a 4G dongle on a 1-month contract or PAYG (would possibly consider 3G again if I get a particularly good data allowance for a good price - provided it's got a stable connection). What are the advantages of mifi vs. 4G dongles (assuming that I can get 4G coverage in my flat)? Which one would be more likely to disconnect me randomly when I'm in the middle of something (note that I'm only using it on a stationary PC at home, not out and about, and have no need for sharing the connection with other devices)? Anything else I need to bear in mind when choosing a mifi or 4G deal or routers/dongles? If I get a SIM from EE, can I use it with either a mifi router or a 4G dongle or do mifi routers use special SIMs?

MiFi or 4G deal? Written this way it appears that you are suggesting that the MiFi is 3G and the Dongle is 4G.

Perhaps you should have read your own post before clicking on the Submit button.

NiftyDigits

cj2011 wrote: »

My question is: why should I get a 4G mifi router rather than a 4G dongle (again, assuming that I DO have 4G coverage in my flat)? What are the pros and cons of either?

So far I know the following:
1. Mifi can connect wirelessly to multiple devices - I only need to connect to 1 stationary PC which can't currently receive wireless signals (but I could get an adapter if necessary)
2. Dongles are physically smaller than mifi routers (not important)
3. Dongles require 1 free USB port (again, I'm using a stationary PC so not an issue)
*4. Dongles that connect via USB do not require a separate power source, but mifi routers do (+1 for dongles for this one)

But which one is more likely to experience connection instability issues - the mifi router or the 4G dongle? Again, assuming that I have good 4G coverage and that both will be used in the same location.

* You've got that wrong. Connecting a MiFi via USB will provide power and charge the battery.

You might have noted that I did not include any reference to Dongles in my first reply.
It was not by accident. I mentioned the prices of MiFi to illustrate there there was little or no price difference and therefore little reason to consider a Dongle.
Make sure that you have a way to unlock the modem before purchase, so that you have a chance to test the networks via PAYG.

Scrounger

cj2011 wrote: »

All I want is to connect a stationary PC to the internet and I want a stable connection (I was previously on a 3G dongle and it kept cutting out randomly... )

It sounds like your problems are mainly due to poor signal strength:

Try using a USB extension cable and positioning your dongle as high up as possible (better still in a window - tape it to the glass high up).
That may solve your problems at minimal cost. :beer:
Scrounger

cj2011

im-lost wrote: »

A mifi device can also be connected like a dongle, by usb and doesn't require an external power source if used in this way.

It can essentially be used as a dongle if you wish, with the added benefit to have a wireless signal in your house for whatever reason, wireless printer? some kind of 'internet or smart tv' or allowing friends etc to use it if they are visiting, you may at some point buy a tablet to use.

Thanks. That's useful to know. I don't personally have a need for wireless signal. Not planning on getting a smart tv or anything else in the foreseeable future and if I do, there may well be better routers available by then.


The only wifi enabled devices I have are an iPod Touch and an android tablet. In both cases I use the supplied USB cables to manage content so I don't personally see how I would benefit from going online directly through the mifi if I'm at home. If I'm at home, I may as well plug them into my PC, which really isn't much more effort than connecting the device to the mifi. I have plenty of wifi hotspots nearby for when I occasionally do need wifi.

cj2011

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It appears that you cannot read nor write properly, so you did not understand my reply.

Your title reads 4G or mifi for stationary desktop PC not 4G Dongle or 4G MiFi for stationary desktop PC.



MiFi or 4G deal? Written this way it appears that you are suggesting that the MiFi is 3G and the Dongle is 4G.

Perhaps you should have read your own post before clicking on the Submit button.

Picky. Seriously though, if you'd read the rest of my post and not just picked on the title, it should have been clear that I'm not suggesting that 3G=mifi or mifi=3G. I apologize for making a mistake in the title, but by the time I realised my mistake, it was too late to change it. Do you have Asperger's (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it would explain your pickiness)?


In my original post, I was actually considering both 3G mifi AND 4G mifi, but for dongles I was specifically interested in 4G dongles and not 3G dongles, hence why I felt the need to specify "4G dongles" but not "only 4G mifi" as I was interested in any mifi, not just 4G mifi. Does that make sense now?

cj2011

Scrounger wrote: »

It sounds like your problems are mainly due to poor signal strength:

Try using a USB extension cable and positioning your dongle as high up as possible (better still in a window - tape it to the glass high up).
That may solve your problems at minimal cost. :beer:
Scrounger

Hi, I had it this way for a couple of years, with a long extension lead, but it didn't solve the problem. Customer services suggested that it was the dongle being dated and tried to sell me a more expensive dongle. But I was having the same problems when the dongle was new as well so I doubt it's because it's over 2 years old.