Alexa with 4G instead of wifi?

Skibunny40

My aunt would love an Alexa, as she is partially sighted so can't use the internet on a laptop. However, she doesn't have broadband and is quite rural so it would be difficult to install. Is it possible to use a dongle or similar to allow Alexa to work without broadband? Would it be very expensive? I'm not very technical myself, so I'm hoping it's an easy option!

jb66

Does the have a mobile phone that tethering could permanently be left on?

Skibunny40

No. She can't see well enough to use one and past experience has taught me that even if I just bought a basic one she'd try to plug/unplug it for charging and it wouldn't go well! She has a mobile phone with just 2 buttons on it (one to answer phone, one to call me) and that still causes problems!

Tigsteroonie

Would she like to be more IT connected? If so, broadband could be worth the investment. MIL is late 70s and has been partially sighted all her life, to the point of registered blind now. She has broadband, a Doro mobile, a PC linked to a 50inch television screen (and still uses both magnifier and screen description), a Kindle (makes the print very large) and three Alexas! So long as there is so ebody local to help when tech goes wrong, don't write off the potential. 

Skibunny40

Ooh, I've looked at the PC through the TV in the RNIB catalogue! Is it any good? She'd love to access the internet as she has a real zest for life, but has no real experience of working computers. I've tried her with a Kindle but she couldn't read it even on the largest font but I never thought to get her to put it under her magnifier...that could work!
The "somebody local" is the part that worries me though - that would be me, and as much as I love her, I worry that it would end up with me constantly having to go out to sort things. 

Grumpy_chap

Most parts of the country are quite well connected and can get some kind of broadband no matter how rural.  If that is an option, broadband would also be the more "fit and forget" solution that does not require you to be on hand to provide support as much as a 4G phone tethering system would be likely to.  If she is that rural that there is no BT phone line to the village (for ADSL broadband) can she even receive 4G signal?

If you look at smart TV options as well then the data used can be quite high.  I can only imagine that would be expensive over 4G.  

victor2

Skibunny40 said:

Ooh, I've looked at the PC through the TV in the RNIB catalogue! Is it any good? She'd love to access the internet as she has a real zest for life, but has no real experience of working computers. I've tried her with a Kindle but she couldn't read it even on the largest font but I never thought to get her to put it under her magnifier...that could work!
The "somebody local" is the part that worries me though - that would be me, and as much as I love her, I worry that it would end up with me constantly having to go out to sort things. 

See if your local Age UK can put you in touch with anyone who can help.

Some (slightly out-of-date) info at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/programmes/one-digital/

I know some areas are still offering tuition by phone/remote control. It won't get you out of being her local support, but might help give her a better understanding of the technology, and allow her to do the basics.

Maybe she could work with a tablet? If the screen magnifier is not enough, many will cast to a smart TV. You could also get a bluetooth keyboard with high contrast buttons, which are easier to see and press. Get her using zoom and that has quite good screen sharing capabilities, or use TeamViewer (free for non-commercial use) to provide support, which has excellent remote control capabilities.

flashg67

Look into getting a 4g router which works with a sim card over 4g rather than a phone line. Best to test which provider gives the best signal locally, but you can now get unlimited data over 4g for similar to fibre broadband. Alexa etc will work fine with this

Skibunny40

flashg67 said:

Look into getting a 4g router which works with a sim card over 4g rather than a phone line. Best to test which provider gives the best signal locally, but you can now get unlimited data over 4g for similar to fibre broadband. Alexa etc will work fine with this

Where would I get this? Somewhere like Vodaphone? I wasn't kidding when I said I wasn't great with technology myself! Thank you though - this sounds like what she needs

matelodave

Skibunny40 said:

flashg67 said:

Look into getting a 4g router which works with a sim card over 4g rather than a phone line. Best to test which provider gives the best signal locally, but you can now get unlimited data over 4g for similar to fibre broadband. Alexa etc will work fine with this

Where would I get this? Somewhere like Vodaphone? I wasn't kidding when I said I wasn't great with technology myself! Thank you though - this sounds like what she needs

this will give you some ideas https://www.4g.co.uk/home-broadband/

giraffe69

I've got an 89 year old MIL who can do basic things on a computer but it does go wrong. You can fix a lot of things remotely if you use something  (free) like Teamviewer so don't be put off by thinking you will have to do 5 visits per week.