Best of these 2 deals, tethering v MiFi

whitejohn

Which is best long term solution, Tethering or Mi Fi? I'm mobile in my caravan and looking at these 2 deals.

Three Mi Fi 15Gb data £20/month plus Three SIM only for phone, 600 mins, 1Gb data, free 0800 and calls abroad. Total £31 per month.

o2 is also £31 per month for 20Gb data (unlimited tethering they say), unlimited calls. For that deal I need to buy an iPhone 6 but was thinking about that anyhow.

So o2 looks like a better deal all round unless a dedicated Mi Fi has advantages over carrying just one device?

Been with Three a few years on the £15 per month unlimited everything but that contract ends next week (unlimited data deals are now capped at 4Gb so not unlimited). Coverage and customer service is not too bad. Direct debit already setup.

Any advice please?

Tony5101

Tethering and using a mi-fi are pretty much technically the same thing. Just one is a dedicated device and the other is using your phone.
You'll probably get the same sort of throughput speeds either way.
I think the most important thing though is to check what the signal situation is for both providers in the main place that you want to use this service. This will ultimately determine what is best for you.
If the O2 deal suits you better, and it is indeed unlimited tethering, I'd be tempted to go down that route and then only carry one device.

whitejohn

Tony5101 wrote: »

Tethering and using a mi-fi are pretty much technically the same thing. Just one is a dedicated device and the other is using your phone.
You'll probably get the same sort of throughput speeds either way.
I think the most important thing though is to check what the signal situation is for both providers in the main place that you want to use this service. This will ultimately determine what is best for you.
If the O2 deal suits you better, and it is indeed unlimited tethering, I'd be tempted to go down that route and then only carry one device.

Thanks, I'm in The Lakes and Three coverage has not been too bad, acceptable. o2 check says it should work OK, maybe find someone with a phone to check it out. Tethering works fine with USB on iPhone 4, difficult to get going on wireless but get by OK, maybe the 6 will be better.

NiftyDigits

24 month contract? Are you sure?
Get a separate unit(MiFi). Having your Internet source tied to your phone solely could prove a nuisance.
Consider this Huawei 4G Mi-Fi On EE 4G 15GB on a 30 day contract for £20.
Gives you the freedom to swap SIMs and/or upgrade/downgrade as and when necessary.

whitejohn

Thanks, No I didn't really want a 24 month contract but could only see 10Gb on 30 day. (could be OK but unsure). I'll look it up now.

whitejohn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

24 month contract? Are you sure?
Get a separate unit(MiFi). Having your Internet source tied to your phone solely could prove a nuisance.
Consider this Huawei 4G Mi-Fi On EE 4G 15GB on a 30 day contract for £20.
Gives you the freedom to swap SIMs and/or upgrade/downgrade as and when necessary.

I see, so once you own it you can fit another SIM, not tied like a phone thats locked?

whitejohn

whitejohn wrote: »

I see, so once you own it you can fit another SIM, not tied like a phone thats locked?

Just checked, thats a good deal and no upfront costs either. I had looked on the EE site and not CPW

NiftyDigits

whitejohn wrote: »

I see, so once you own it you can fit another SIM, not tied like a phone thats locked?

Yes. In fact you can give your 30 day notice of cancellation on the first day if you there are issues of coverage etc. The MiFi will be yours to use with any SIM.
Of course if suitable, you can keep it going. You can downgrade the allowance if you find that you aren't using it or move up to 25GB for £30 if you need more.
In addition, you cannot go over your allowance. Unlike 3, who will charge you if you do.

whitejohn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Yes. In fact you can give your 30 day notice of cancellation on the first day if you there are issues of coverage etc. The MiFi will be yours to use with any SIM.

Brilliant, thanks so much, also gives me chance to check the coverage here too!

whitejohn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Yes. In fact you can give your 30 day notice of cancellation on the first day if you there are issues of coverage etc. The MiFi will be yours to use with any SIM.
Of course if suitable, you can keep it going. You can downgrade the allowance if you find that you aren't using it or move up to 25GB for £30 if you need more.
In addition, you cannot go over your allowance. Unlike 3, who will charge you if you do.

Just ordered it, collect in store which is great for me being in the caravan. Read that EE customer support not so good but this will be better as I can pop in the shop if I have any problems.

Probably go for Gifgaf phone SIM at £10 per month, 30 day.

Good all round deal, nice that I'm not tied with anything and 2 different networks could be handy with difficult signal in The Lakes?

NiftyDigits

Actually EE's mobile phone/broadband CS is ok. Always helpful when I call them. Perhaps the issues are with their Home Broadband service.