Working from home - needing to use mobile data instead of broadband?

carryonjulie

Hi everyone,

Stuck between the Broadband/internet access heading and Mobile Phone Heading 

I work from home. I'm just out of contract with TalkTalk. I need to visit my Mum (87yrs) who lives 100 miles away, more frequently but would still need to work and she doesn't have broadband. I've heard I could share my mobile data with my laptop by tethering?

I would have to get another mobile phone and contract as I have an iPhone 6 that doesn't update anymore. I think I could get one on eBay though.

Could I have suggestions on what's the best thing to do and what sort of data package I would need?

Thank you,

Julie

elsien

You can tether to your laptop, but the amount of data depends on what you will be doing. For example, Teams calls with video are very heavy on data.
ETA - you also need to check the phone signal at your mums to make sure whatever network you choose has a reliable connection. 

carryonjulie

elsien said:

You can tether to your laptop, but the amount of data depends on what you will be doing. For example, Teams calls with video are very heavy on data.
ETA - you also need to check the phone signal at your mums to make sure whatever network you choose has a reliable connection. 

Thank you for your advice. Full-time WFH - mostly data input, emails and phone calls on an app. Luckily I only have about an hour max per week on Teams meetings but that's good to know re: heavy data usage.

elsien

You could also consider a dongle instead of upgrading your phone.
this is not a recommendation, just an example
https://www.three.co.uk/broadband/mobile-broadband?id=ppc_googGen_mbb_8March23&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_P6cyfHF_wIVTO3tCh1EGAtzEAAYAiAAEgKDyfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

carryonjulie

That's a good idea. I remember having a dongle many years ago. Thanks for the link!

QrizB

carryonjulie said:

That's a good idea. I remember having a dongle many years ago. Thanks for the link!

Seconding the idea of a 4g router. It'll keep the load off your phone.

I've got one of these that I use occasionally:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195683852288

Other models and brands are available, including plug-in mains-powered ones that are much more like a conventional broadband router, only 4G rather than xDSL.

carryonjulie

QrizB said:

carryonjulie said:

That's a good idea. I remember having a dongle many years ago. Thanks for the link!

Seconding the idea of a 4g router. It'll keep the load off your phone.

I've got one of these that I use occasionally:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195683852288

Other models and brands are available, including plug-in mains-powered ones that are much more like a conventional broadband router, only 4G rather than xDSL.

Thank you for this. I feel more positive with all of these suggestions. I wish I'd asked previously.

Jonboy_1984

Does your mother have a landline as it may not be much more to upgrade her to a broadband package, over landline only, if you are going regularly.

carryonjulie

Jonboy_1984 said:

Does your mother have a landline as it may not be much more to upgrade her to a broadband package, over landline only, if you are going regularly.

She does have a landline. Years back, Mum was with TalkTalk, including broadband. Then Utility Warehouse door-knocked, took over. Mum said she didn't need broadband and that was that. She's quite stubborn so there's no reasoning there I'm afraid. 
Thank you though, it would make more sense.

Rob5342

It would make more sense. Remember that landlines are being changed to digital by the end of 2025, sowhen that happens she'll need a router to plug her phone into instead of plugging it directly into the phone socket.