Free wireless internet and cheap 3G broadband article discussion

Skint_Catt

Staying in self-catering next week in Edinburgh & would like to be able to access internet - does anyone know the cheapest dongle/packages for me to get before I go?

I don't know much about them I'm afraid other than you plug the dongle in, upload the software & away you go!

C xx

macman

Contract or PAYG? You need to give more info.

Skint_Catt

Sorry - I did say I don't know about these things!

As I only need it for week at the mo I'm guessing PAYG

hundredk

Recommendations please.

Looking for a mobile broadband deal for someone who is new to computers and wants to access the internet for email, surfing, MSE sites etc. Large dowloads such as music/video are not of interest so hopefully cheaper packages will be suitable.

He has no PC, laptop or internet connection and wishes to use at various loactions, therefore a mobile broadband contract with free laptop would appear to best suit his needs.

My first impression of a deal that seems appropriate to his needs is vodaphone 3gb/month download with up to £300 off laptop. The store has a laptop for £329 which more than covers computer spec required. Contract is £25/month for 24 months.

Any ideas on better deals/offers, how to improve ££/month, term of contract, etc would be appreciated. As a new PC user he won't want to monitor/check usage so preference would be for provider to deny access if the allowance is used up rather than end up with a bill for going over download limits (I have no idea what, say 1gb or 3gb/month equates to in dowloads because I have unlimited so nothing to check).

Thanks

Kamal_2

Do not buy T-Mobile whatever you do.

My Review of T-Mobile Mobile Broadband

- The speed is extremely slow. The advertised speed was 1Mbps but the fatest I reached was 0.1Mbps (100Kbps) and the average was speed was 0.01Mbps (10Kbps). Regardless of location. It took a matter of minutes to load a page. A T-Mobile rep. told me he had seldom heard of anyone going above 0.2Mbps (200Kbps)

- Carphone Warehouse advised me I would have good coverage at my address. They will not tell you that no coverage is guarenteed at any location.

- T-Mobile will not terminate your contract if the device stops working completely.

- T-Mobile will take months doing tests on the device and even when they cannot diagnose or repair the problem they will continue to charge you for the service.

-T-Mobile will never call you back when they promise. They will pass you from one person to another withought explaining your circumstances. They do not care whether you recive a satisfactory service or not and only care that you pay the bill.

- In my experience, T-Mobile representatives are trained to use delay tactics to make frustrate you into submission where they cannot resolve your problem.

- If you stop paying for the Broadband after it has stopped working and you also have a T-Mobile phone they will disconnect your phone, regardless of whether you have paid the phone account. They will continue to charge you for your phone and broadband whilst it is disconnected. They will then refer to baliffs

Kamal_2

I would defintely advise PAYG.

Do not buy T-Mobile whatever you do.

Please read my review for more information.

macman

First thing you need to check is 3G network coverage at your location. Then decide which network. Central E'burgh should be well covered though.

Skint_Catt

but which is the cheapest network - wondered if there was any specials I'd missed by only looking at the obvious mobile network pages? I think 3G is fine for the apartment I'll be in - I did check it on one of the network websites.

macman

But cheapest is irrelevant if you can't get a signal on that network at that location. Because one network is OK it doesn't mean another is.
Voda is the only network where the data allowance doesn't expire after 30 days, if you are an occasional use that might be more suitable.

Skint_Catt

Rigfht ok, I promise to check the coverage befoer I buy - but are there any cheap deals out there?!