Mobile Wifi Broadband - Don't understand the Tech or Charges

TryingToWork

Hi,

I want to ditch Virgin Media now (averaging £65 a month for phone, broadband and basic TV) - because I'm dead skint. I even sold my TV and stopped paying for the TV licence.

So I don't need Virgin Media. I have my mobile phone still under monthly contract, but I need the internet, and heard about these routers/modems/ hot spots/ mobile wifi thingies. I don't even know what to call them!

But take this one for example: ASUS 4G-N12 Wireless 4G & Modem Router

It looks ok and has good reviews. But it says: "For mobile (4G) and home broadband (DSL)"

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but does that mean this device is meant to be taken out and about too? That's what I want; a home device, and for out and about as well. (I don't trust public wifi.)

Is it just a one off payment for the device, then you use your own PC and phone or tablet?

Because I've seen others that have a monthly fee or PAYG.

Is it just the fee structure that is different or are these devices differetn to this EE one for example? http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-monthly-mobile-broadband/4gee-wifi/details

Also this Vodaphone one? Is it as good as the ASUS?
VODAFONE R207 Pay As You Go Mobile WiFi

It has to be a good reliable connection because I want to build up my website, til it earns me money.

But which is the best one? Or best value for money?

Thanks a lot

NiftyDigits

Mobile Broadband is relatively expensive for data Is it not possible to 'tether' off your existing mobile phone data?
The Asus is home use only. The MiFi is portable(but your choice is of the slower 3G type).

Do you even have an idea as to have much data you will need each month and how much you can afford to spend?

EE Osprey 2 Mini Pay Monthly Mobile WiFi for £14.99 (coupled with an £11 30 day contract) is the cheapest option to gain a 4G MiFi at the moment.
You can give your 30 day notice to EE just after activation and unlock the MiFi using a £0.99 code from eBay.
Then you are free to put the most appropriate data SIM for your usage in the MiFi.

AndyPK

Move VM package to 50mb per month and phone line

£14 + £18 per month

Less if you leave and return which I suggest you do.

TryingToWork

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Mobile Broadband is relatively expensive for data Is it not possible to 'tether' off your existing mobile phone data?
The Asus is home use only. The MiFi is portable(but your choice is of the slower 3G type).

Do you even have an idea as to have much data you will need each month and how much you can afford to spend?

EE Osprey 2 Mini Pay Monthly Mobile WiFi for £14.99 (coupled with an £11 30 day contract) is the cheapest option to gain a 4G MiFi at the moment.
You can give your 30 day notice to EE just after activation and unlock the MiFi using a £0.99 code from eBay.
Then you are free to put the most appropriate data SIM for your usage in the MiFi.

Hi, thanks. I know my mobile data on my phone is limited and expensive, so i switch data off most of the time. I don't fully understand the tecnology I'm afraid.

On another post here:
Xbigman asked:
"Is it a dongle that makes a WiFi connection through another device or a mobile dongle that makes a direct connection through the mobile network?"

I don't understand the difference of what Xbigman is on about. Sorry to be such a thicko!

I do know that I need pretty much Unlimited data, as I will be blogging, and learning online courses incuding many downloaded documents and videos. I also watch many other YouTube tutorials of how to do internet marketing. I could not do all the stuff I need on my mobile phone data only, that's for sure.

To answer how much can I spend. Well my basic outgoings now exceed my income by £150 a month. :eek:

(I even gave up my TV! to save on TV licence, and to get a measly £35 for the telly!)

So as I'm paying £65 a month to VM, I am hoping to get it down to £20-£30, even though technically I can't even afford that.

thanks

AndyPK wrote: »

Move VM package to 50mb per month and phone line

£14 + £18 per month

Less if you leave and return which I suggest you do.

Thanks I didn't realise that. I will phone them and ask for that deal. I can't find the page with those details.

How do you leave and return, without them knowing you are the same person? How long do you have to wait without a service? I could not do without the internet for more than 2 days.

Thanks a lot

NiftyDigits

If you want unlimited data, forget about mobile broadband.

You cheapest options will be with something like SKY; http://www.sky.com/shop/broadband-talk/broadband-unlimited/ £5 per month for Unlimited broadband and £17.40 for line rental.

Go via Quidco and get £65 cashback and a £75 Prepaid Mastercard.

Hurry up though. Expires in eight hours.

Marvqn1

With mobile broadband, you can't get pretty much unlimited data unless you're willing to buy data addons, but that works out very expensive.

I think the highest mobile broadband data plan is from EE which includes 32GB data for £28 per month.

I do know that I need pretty much Unlimited data, as I will be blogging, and learning online courses incuding many downloaded documents and videos. I also watch many other YouTube tutorials of how to do internet marketing. I could not do all the stuff I need on my mobile phone data only, that's for sure.

One option you could consider is Three's SIM Only plan which is £23 per month. It includes unlimited data for handset use and 30GB hotspot allowance. This means you could watch YouTube tutorials on your phone. Downloading videos might only be an option on your PC/laptop, but you'd have 30GB hotspot allowance per month to do that.

AndyPK

TryingToWork wrote: »

On another post here:
Thanks I didn't realise that. I will phone them and ask for that deal. I can't find the page with those details.

How do you leave and return, without them knowing you are the same person? How long do you have to wait without a service? I could not do without the internet for more than 2 days.

Thanks a lot

1.

There are many deals out there for free broadband for a year. If you have a BT / openreach line.

It's just the slow ADSL version.
You pay the line rental though.

See for examples:

https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/packages/

You will end up with a slower connection, but if money is tight for a year.

2.

It looks like Virgin have stopped that deal. I only signed up 6 weeks ago thankfully.

They must have been loosing too much money!

You didn't need to pretend to be a different person. I got my old phone no. back as I asked them.

It worth asking them for that deal. Tell them you are short of money.

3. If you do go the 4G method, you can get a device for less than £50 so don't spend big money on your links.

I was also looking at osprey

TryingToWork

AndyPK wrote: »

1.

There are many deals out there for free broadband for a year. If you have a BT / openreach line.

It's just the slow ADSL version.
You pay the line rental though.

See for examples:

https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/packages/

You will end up with a slower connection, but if money is tight for a year.

2.

It looks like Virgin have stopped that deal. I only signed up 6 weeks ago thankfully.

They must have been loosing too much money!

You didn't need to pretend to be a different person. I got my old phone no. back as I asked them.

It worth asking them for that deal. Tell them you are short of money.

3. If you do go the 4G method, you can get a device for less than £50 so don't spend big money on your links.

I was also looking at osprey

Hi AndyPK, thanks for that.

I am on 100bps at the moment, so I think I will ask for the 50mbps which works out at £29.99 a month. That's still less than half what I'm paying now.

Also good to know about the 4G Osprey device for future reference.

Thanks a lot:beer:

TryingToWork

Marvqn1 wrote: »

With mobile broadband, you can't get pretty much unlimited data unless you're willing to buy data addons, but that works out very expensive.

I think the highest mobile broadband data plan is from EE which includes 32GB data for £28 per month.
....

One option you could consider is Three's SIM Only plan which is £23 per month. It includes unlimited data for handset use and 30GB hotspot allowance. This means you could watch YouTube tutorials on your phone. Downloading videos might only be an option on your PC/laptop, but you'd have 30GB hotspot allowance per month to do that.

Thanks a lot Marvqn1. They look ideal for on the go. I will save this info for next year though, as I will most likely be sticking with VM for home broadband for now. Depends how reasonable they are on the phone tomorrow!

Thanks everyone for your help

AndyPK

Tell VM you are short of money and are thinking of leaving.

You can get some really good discounts this way.

System

Phone them up and tell them you ARE leaving.
Explain its the cost and quote the Sky price to them as what you are moving to.

AndyPK wrote: »

Tell VM you are short of money and are thinking of leaving.

You can get some really good discounts this way.