Mobile Broadband???

cisko65

On https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/compare-broadband-deals/
I've seen the Vodaphone 5G Broadband 150 offer (£11.55 Equivalent monthly cost).

Any feedback?

Pls bear in mind I'm not technologically up-to-date at all!

I am not sure of how broadband without a fixed landline exactly works.

I read you need to use a SIM card in a router, dongle, or device (What kind of device?).

The mobile broadband would not change anything in keeping a Lebara SIM card in my mobile phone, right? When at home I can use Vodafone wireless, but I need the Lebara SIM card as it offers an X amount of free mins to call landlines abroad.

In case this mobile broadband offer doesn't seem suitable, I'll go for a more traditional one.

Thanks. 

oldernonethewiser

Have you ever used your phone as a hotspot? If so it is basically the same.

You can look up various routers that can be used.

The SIM you put into the router and connects to the network of your choice eg Vodafone and it creates a network for devices in your home.

cisko65

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82168825#Comment_82168825

I haven't use my phone as a hotspot. I had to look up the word hotspot as I didn't know what it meant. 😕

I don't know where to check if Vodaphone is supplying a rooter.

A dongle?

oldernonethewiser

You would check on the Vodafone website if you want to use their products.

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile-broadband

A dongle would only connect to one device.

flaneurs_lobster

Why are you considering mobile broadband? Is it purely because of the cost of this cheap deal?

Is your current broadband (Vodafone) delivered by fibre or copper? What speed does it offer?

Most people would not consider a mobile broadband solution if they have a conventional delivery mechanism in place, there are rather more reasons why a 4G/5G system might not be optimal at all times.

Your current mobile phone (and its SIM) have no part to play in this internet supply. The broadband is delivered via a router that looks much like the Vodafone one, but it doesn't plug into an internet socket but instead has its own SIM and uses mobile data, in the same way that your phone does and distributes a WiFi signal.

oldernonethewiser

When checking I can see the 5G 50Mb deal for equivalent of £11:50

The 150Mb is showing as £18:96

Peter999_2

To be honest, if you are thinking of using that as a home mobile broadband then I wouldn't say it was particularly cheap considering the very limited amount of data.

I have got Three Home Broadband. It is £15 a month for a 24 month contract (goes up by £3.50 every april so by April 2028 you'd be paying £22 a month). It is unlimited and they provide the 5G modem router.

I've had it for over 2 years now and it works fine - I don't really notice a difference with my old Sky connection (150Mbps). I can get between 500Mbps and 1000Mbps with Three 5g.

I would hasten to add that I don't play online games. If I were you, I would buy a SIM for vodafone (or three) from a supermarket (the 99p ones) and see what speed you get at home before you go ahead with anything.

You put the SIM into the 5G modem and plonk it anywhere you want in the house (usually on a window sill gets the fastest speed, preferably upstairs). It then gives you a wifi connection the same as a normal wired broadband.

cisko65

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82168855#Comment_82168855

I'm considering Vodafone mobile broadband because of the cost of the cheap deal on MSE. 

As it says in my current TalkTalk contract, my Fibre 65 plan is (Landline and) a part-fibre connection*.

Advertised speed 67 mb/s 

The replies I got made me think that a fixed landline or fiber cable might be more suitable than a mobile broadband  for me. Talking of fiber cable... what does "part-fibre connection" mean?

Now I need to find a cheapish offer.

PS

Thanks for clarifying my mobile phone & its SIM and the mobile internet supply. 

oldernonethewiser

Part fibre means that the last bit of the connection from the cabinet, somewhere in the street, will be old fashioned copper. Known as FTTC

FTTP means you'll have fibre all the way into your home, meaning new cabling and a different type of connection. You need two power points for this. One for the ONT and another for the router.

cisko65

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82168866#Comment_82168866

With a 12 month contract. £11.50 for 24 months.

flaneurs_lobster

You don't say what you are paying for your TalkTalk service, if you are in a minimum term deal or if you have/need a landline phone.

Maybe what you should consider is trying to get the cost of your existing broadband down.

"Part-fibre" describes a service where the last bit of connection from your local green box to your house is by copper wire. The green box is connected to the local exchange by a fibre-optic cable - hence part-fibre. It's sometimes called Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC).