Dongle or not?

[laurieash]

Just thinking about going on to a dongle, as my house phone does not get used
with us all on mobiles.
So its just used for Bt home Hub and thats just for internet. which i use about 2 hours a day sometimes less.
I have no experence of dongles etc. so need you guys in the know to guide me.
also want it for when touring in the caravan. seen some on O2 on pay as you go? Laurie.

[jims-terrano]

Dongle will be slower.

Also depends upon what signal strength each provider has in your area. I have a Vodafone with strong signal but very poor speed and so was my phone with them. Virgin is spot on with the phone internet so I would guess dongle will be the same. I've seen a 3 dongle in action and that too was fast.

You can also get Routers or mobile wifi's (MIFI) devices to share the internet too.

Investigate price first though if I were you.

[danielj]

As jims-terrano said. Dongle will likely be a bit slower but a lot will depend on network coverage in your area. In my experience the dongle/wireless can be affected by number of people on the network in an area at a specific time-so on heavy use times it can be slow if not inoperative at times. But again depends on the network provider. I have switched from a dongle to a wifi and I find it handy as it provides a network for up to five devices, e.g. wireless printer runs through it without cables.

[laurieash]

As jims-terrano said. Dongle will likely be a bit slower but a lot will depend on network coverage in your area. In my experience the dongle/wireless can be affected by number of people on the network in an area at a specific time-so on heavy use times it can be slow if not inoperative at times. But again depends on the network provider. I have switched from a dongle to a wifi and I find it handy as it provides a network for up to five devices, e.g. wireless printer runs through it without cables.

wifi is that not from my hub? sorry a bit thick when it comes to this sort of thing:augie

[stinka]

Dongles are the pits

Just get virgin tbh

[darryl]

i have a 3 dongle which i use on my pc its great for just surfing the net fast enough in my opinion depends on what u are doing downloading music or films no good for that darryl

[laurieash]

i have a 3 dongle which i use on my pc its great for just surfing the net fast enough in my opinion depends on what u are doing downloading music or films no good for that darryl

No films or music, just this site Flea bay emails etc:thumbs

[Fez_uk]

3g mobile internet is fast enough for browsing etc

[danielj]

wifi is that not from my hub? sorry a bit thick when it comes to this sort of thing:augie

Not sure what you mean by hub but the wifi unit I have is from 3 and its about the size of a small mobile phone and works much the same as a dongle except that it does not need to be stuck into a slot on the computer and it also creates a small local network of your own.

[darryl]

No films or music, just this site Flea bay emails etc:thumbs

thats all i use mine for works for me:thumb2

[laurieash]

Not sure what you mean by hub but the wifi unit I have is from 3 and its about the size of a small mobile phone and works much the same as a dongle except that it does not need to be stuck into a slot on the computer and it also creates a small local network of your own.

Hi looked on 3 seen a Huawel E586 MIFI is this what you are talking about? if so does it need to be plugged into a 240 mains supply. as i do not always have electric when in caravan:thumbs Laurie.

[darryl]

Hi looked on 3 seen a Huawel E586 MIFI is this what you are talking about? if so does it need to be plugged into a 240 mains supply. as i do not always have electric when in caravan:thumbs Laurie.

hi i am pretty sure it just works of your usb port i might b wrong darryl

[laurieash]

hi i am pretty sure it just works of your usb port i might b wrong darryl

thanks for that info, will keep digging and will post my findings:thumbs

[danielj]

Hi looked on 3 seen a Huawel E586 MIFI is this what you are talking about? if so does it need to be plugged into a 240 mains supply. as i do not always have electric when in caravan:thumbs Laurie.

That's the one. As far as I know it works on both mains supply and usb connection to computer. However, if you don't need the wifi for connecting with other devices you are probably just as well with a regular dongle as I don't think there is much of a difference in usage speed and the dongle usually is cheaper to buy initially or sometimes free.

[kitchenman]

If your phone has 3G use it as a Wi-Fi hot spot if you have all you can eat data, just use the Wi-Fi on your PC to connect to it
Dongles can be expensive
IAEFRTFM

[laurieash]

If your phone has 3G use it as a Wi-Fi hot spot if you have all you can eat data, just use the Wi-Fi on your PC to connect to it
Dongles can be expensive
IAEFRTFM
Now you have lost me:eek:

[wildbri]

I use a gift gaff sim £12 month loads of calls free texts and unlimited data. So I tether my laptop or tablet to the WiFi from the phone. But I also just use the phone direct to surf the web. Regards. Bri

[AD Ent]

I use a gift gaff sim £12 month loads of calls free texts and unlimited data. So I tether my laptop or tablet to the WiFi from the phone. But I also just use the phone direct to surf the web. Regards. Bri

what this man said... :thumbs
Get a smart phone ie. Samsung Galaxy III with Unlimited Data (Internet useage). Basically the phone can be used like the Huawei MiFi hubs, so laptop will connect to it.. err .. wirelessly. Like Hovis, you get Best Of Both. :naughty

[wildbri]

I use a Huawei 300 smart phone, check it out, power full, high speed, really nice to use screen and only £100 from Argos. Don't forget your sim from giffgaff.co.uk. regards. Bri

[wildbri]

PS. Forgot to say...no contract with giffgaff just buy what you want when you want and free calls and texts to other giffgaff users, my family all use giffgaff..............top up online or your giffgaff app when you want to. Bri

[AD Ent]

Using Mobile Broadband as the only Broadband for the home depends purely on the signal quality of the network. Where I live, which is semi-rural 3 is the best, I get H+ :clap I used to be with Tmobile, which was OK but not a reliable signal at different parts of the house. o2 voda orange, are useless here as the signal is just G, ok for calls, but not for mobile internet.

[laurieash]

PS. Forgot to say...no contract with giffgaff just buy what you want when you want and free calls and texts to other giffgaff users, my family all use giffgaff..............top up online or your giffgaff app when you want to. Bri
Sent for a giifgaff sim so now need a phone to do the job:doh

[laurieash]

what this man said... :thumbs
Get a smart phone ie. Samsung Galaxy III with Unlimited Data (Internet useage). Basically the phone can be used like the Huawei MiFi hubs, so laptop will connect to it.. err .. wirelessly. Like Hovis, you get Best Of Both. :naughty

wife has got a Galaxy Ace is that a smart Phone?

[AD Ent]

yes, you can tether but will need to plug the usb cable into the phone then other end into the laptop/tablet etc. http://www.livetechz.com/using-usb-tethering-feature-in-samsung-galaxy-ace-smartphone.html

Better phones let you do this wirelessly and other devices can then also share the connection

[laurieash]

yes, you can tether but will need to plug the usb cable into the phone then other end into the laptop/tablet etc. http://www.livetechz.com/using-usb-tethering-feature-in-samsung-galaxy-ace-smartphone.html

Better phones let you do this wirelessly and other devices can then also share the connection
ot thanks for the info its becoming clearer now:thumb2

[wildbri]

I used to use a galaxy Apollo which is similar, until my son gave me a new phone at Xmas.

[laurieash]

Lucky you my kids aways want things off me for xmas:lol

[laurieash]

Seen a Huawel Ascend y201 at tesco any good fo what i want.

[kitchenman]

Computer Active magazine out last Thursday, has a how to on 'tehering':clap

[AD Ent]

Seen a Huawel Ascend y201 at tesco any good fo what i want.

yes you can wireless tether with that pbone. It is a basic entry level Android but it will do what you want it to. Here is the user guide that tells you how to share the data connection, it is a simple process, see 7.3.3 :


https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:jfqE3b33gCoJ:download-c.huawei.com/tcpsdownload/downLoadCenter?category%3D%26flay%3Ddocument%26dow nloadID%3DNDY3NTM%3D+huwaei+ascend+y201+wifi+hotsp ot&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgYxrBKWRhgbJY6AUQeVBADrxhW6ejRV7iLHPQX ynjVgDOjZOeAaPWxuQgXsfxZHwq4n9I78KzPEt70i-42iSzGuBrhd5Yh47S99KWRv0GrMFM-kvh4_Df11Rv-9oa9Wc_V2kcP&sig=AHIEtbS-65XZefITM4Nzu-MjfG1BvtYhxg