occasional mobile internet access needed

Annie021063

I sometimes need to get internet access via my laptop when I am not at home, mainly in the summer. I dont want to pay out £15 a month for the vodafone broadband when I will only use it occasionally, we have bt at home. Is there any other options for me?? I can't link it to my mobile as that is paid for by hubbys firm.
Am I stumped?

espresso

If your ISP is BT, don't you get access to BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots across UK and Ireland? see here

Annie021063

espresso wrote: »

If your ISP is BT, don't you get access to BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots across UK and Ireland? see here

Thanks for that but there are no hotspots near to where I mainly need the access, basically I will be needing it while hubby plays cricket during the summer, I am about to graduate as a teacher and would like to take my laptop and planning with me to watch cricket but often need internet access to help with the planning. I have checked the hotspot option and there are none at all around hubby's home ground which will be home to 50% of the matches.

totalsolutions

...Stumped...

Fifer

I bought a USB mobile broadband modem from eBay (usually around £99) and use Vodafone's £1 a day web 'n' walk PAYG service.

If your mobile phone can be used as a modem, check to see if your provider offers a cheap internet access rate (Orange is about a fiver a month). If not, get it unlocked and use a Vodafone PAYG SIM card for internet access. These deals are only meant to be used for intenet access using phones, but as long as you aren't making massive downloads, it shouldn't be noticed. On PAYG, the worst that can happen is that you have to get another SIM card.

Annie021063

totalsolutions wrote: »

...Stumped...

lol:rotfl:

Annie021063

Fifer wrote: »

I bought a USB mobile broadband modem from eBay (usually around £99) and use Vodafone's £1 a day web 'n' walk PAYG service.

If your mobile phone can be used as a modem, check to see if your provider offers a cheap internet access rate (Orange is about a fiver a month). If not, get it unlocked and use a Vodafone PAYG SIM card for internet access. These deals are only meant to be used for intenet access using phones, but as long as you aren't making massive downloads, it shouldn't be noticed. On PAYG, the worst that can happen is that you have to get another SIM card.

Can't use main mobile as it is on contract paid for by hubbys firm but do have a spare phone I could use, unsure if it can be used as modem though. I was really hoping there was a payg broadband dongle thingy I can pay for up front and use when I need it, a bit like a payg phone. There wont be any massive downloads, I can save that till I get home it will be simply surfing the web.

espresso

Annie021063 wrote: »

I was really hoping there was a payg broadband dongle thingy I can pay for up front and use when I need it, a bit like a payg phone. There wont be any massive downloads, I can save that till I get home it will be simply surfing the web.

Been available since last year. see here

Fifer

Annie021063 wrote: »

Can't use main mobile as it is on contract paid for by hubbys firm

You could if you use a different PAYG SIM card for the internet.

Annie wrote:

I was really hoping there was a payg broadband dongle thingy I can pay for up front and use when I need it, a bit like a payg phone. There wont be any massive downloads, I can save that till I get home it will be simply surfing the web.

There is. That's what I use. Best to get an unlocked one which you can use on any network (including abroad where you can buy a cheap local SIM card). Stick in a Vodaphone PAYG SIM card and you can go online for £1 a day. No commitment.

Annie021063

espresso wrote: »

Been available since last year. see here

Right - so I buy one of these and then get a 3 sim card with payg credit and slip it into the dongle, i have found this on ebay for £60 +.

Fifer

Annie021063 wrote: »

Right - so I buy one of these and then get a 3 sim card with payg credit and slip it into the dongle

The drawback is with 3 that you have to buy a month's usage at a time (minimum £10) and it expires at the end of the month if you don't use it. It's very expensive if you go over the allocation you buy too.

Get an unlocked modem (see my post above) and you can buy a day at a time fro £1.