Temporary Broadband via MiFi Questions

[Deleted User]

I'm just about to move home in 2 weeks time and the home I am going to is in a VM area.  Ideally I don't want to be without BB provision for much (if any time) but don't want to pay the earth for a temporary solution until I really decide whether to go with faster VM cable or the slower FTTC offering from the Open Reach providers.  At present I have FTTC via Plusnet and have a stable speed at or very near to what I pay for (76 Mbps).

So I'm looking at the unlimited 1 month contract provided by 3 for their Huawei 4G plus MiFi for £25 and wondering what the catch is.  The area I'm moving to has 4G coverage (supposedly good). 

https://www.4g.co.uk/mobile-broadband/huawei/4g-plus-mifi/

(1)  If I ordered it in the next week or so, when would my monthly package actually start? (When it arrives at my present house or would I need to activate it somehow)?
(2)  I assume I don't need to buy a SIM.that fits inside the device, or do I?
(3)  From what I have read, these devices will work with and provide internet capability for any device that has WiFi capability (such as tablet, smart phone etc) and also can serve as a 'wired router' if I connect it up to my PC via a USB cable.
(4)  If these contracts are 1 month only do you generally have to give them notice before saying I don't want your service anymore?  i.e are they generally rolling 1 month contracts that you have to give say 30 days notice?

I'd appreciate any personal experiences that folk have for what will be a temporary fix.  I've never neded a temorary fix before like and probably never will again, 

Sorry for what may sound simple questions but my brain is fried in the last phase of our housemove.  

flashg67

I'm actually using a Lebara unlimited sim in a Huawei router as a permanent solution as i live in a rural area and the best signal for me is Vodafone. Providers now provide multi sims so will fit whatever device you get
I'd check if you can get a decent 4g signal where you need it - the 3 signal checker says I should get full signal, but I can't.
Most of the 30 day rolling sims I've seen are pay up front so usually mean you can cancel anytime, but you'll lose any time left if you leave half way through a billing cycle
Because I bought my sim & router separately, I just stuck the sim in a phone first to register it then put it in the router.
Mifi & 4g routers do usually have limitations on the number of devices connected at the same time - I think mine is 64 but some are 32 or less.
Might be worth looking for an unlocked mifi or 4g router as it should be easier to sell on afterwards. Or even a used one from ebay if only for a few weeks use..

Neil49

Don't rely on the coverage checker sites for accurate information. Where I live the best signal is supposedly EE followed by Vodafone, then O2 with Three last (with no signal indoors). 

In practice, EE and Three are on par with one another (quite good) while Vodafone and O2 have patchy reception at best with frequent loss of signal.

The only way to find out is to get a sim and try it for yourself or ask your next door neighbour what their experience is.

PeterT39

I moved to a fairly rural location with poor ADSL but reasonable 4G, got a Huawai wifi router and an EE sim on an unlimited deal and get 80Mbps down, 45 up - better than I had on my old FTTC.  Not looked back!

[Deleted User]

PeterT39 said:

I moved to a fairly rural location with poor ADSL but reasonable 4G, got a Huawai wifi router and an EE sim on an unlimited deal and get 80Mbps down, 45 up - better than I had on my old FTTC.  Not looked back!

Mmmm I get 70-75 Mbps via Plusnet on FTTC at my present address.  Those figures of yours are impressive.  Things to mull over over for sure now.

bobharv

1. Buying a temporary contract.
   The simplest way to do this could be to register with GiffGaff who will supply you with a SIM. If you know someone who uses GiffGaff they may have a SIM in stock. You can then buy one of their 'Goody Bags' as and when you want it to start.. There is no contract and you do not have to set up a repeat order. If 5G is available in your new location consider one of their 'Golden' goody bags as these include 5G services.
   
   
2. Using a MiFi unit.
   I've used these successfully in the past to connect to the Internet when travelling on a coach or train. These days I prefer to use my smartphone's 'mobile hotspot' feature. Your proposed MiFi solution should work but possibly not as smoothly as you might expect. Finding the best position for the unit may not be ant too easy.

[Deleted User]

bobharv said:

1. Buying a temporary contract.
   The simplest way to do this could be to register with GiffGaff who will supply you with a SIM. If you know someone who uses GiffGaff they may have a SIM in stock. You can then buy one of their 'Goody Bags' as and when you want it to start.. There is no contract and you do not have to set up a repeat order. If 5G is available in your new location consider one of their 'Golden' goody bags as these include 5G services.
   
   
2. Using a MiFi unit.
   I've used these successfully in the past to connect to the Internet when travelling on a coach or train. These days I prefer to use my smartphone's 'mobile hotspot' feature. Your proposed MiFi solution should work but possibly not as smoothly as you might expect. Finding the best position for the unit may not be ant too easy.

Having mulled it over the last week, 2 possibilities now present itself

(1) Use my wife's mobile phone and grab a package from her provider (Asda/Vodafone) that includes data and possibly use its ability to tether mobile to PC for basic internet usage (or just use the mobile itself) until such time as a more permanent solution for my home internet is installed.

(2) Grab a virgin bundle that includes a monthly mobile package, and assume that the new sim arrives quickly once I have moved in and obviously before VM cable internet is installed.  Again tethering the mobile as outlined above that I might need until installation of VM has taken place.   

flaneurs_lobster

Both good solutions but both are dependent on a decent mobile data signal inside your new property. Any chance you can try before you buy (mobile data not home)? Can you ask the current residents about their mobile usage/provider/experience?

[Deleted User]

gavinbaxter said:

Both good solutions but both are dependent on a decent mobile data signal inside your new property. Any chance you can try before you buy (mobile data not home)? Can you ask the current residents about their mobile usage/provider/experience?

I daresay we can have a drive by in the next week and test it out so good point - only six days till completion date.  However exchange of contracts still not taken place so you can understand I don't want to commit to anything before that happens

flaneurs_lobster

[Deleted User] said:

gavinbaxter said:

Both good solutions but both are dependent on a decent mobile data signal inside your new property. Any chance you can try before you buy (mobile data not home)? Can you ask the current residents about their mobile usage/provider/experience?

I daresay we can have a drive by in the next week and test it out so good point - only six days till completion date.  However exchange of contracts still not taken place so you can understand I don't want to commit to anything before that happens

Understand completely. Drive-by is good idea and will give good indication of local signal strength. Reception inside will, of course, be somewhat attenuated by the residence construction. FWIW, outside my place solid 5G 150Mb+, inside lucky to get 5.

Supatramp

My brother has recently split from his wife, and is now living away from the marital home.  He has gone with the 3/Huawei deal the OP mentioned, and is very happy with it, doing everything which the Plusnet deal he originally had.