So confused - need help with mobile broadband please.

[hightail]

Situation in a nutshell - daughter and partner have just taken a short term (6 month) let and need internet access. No existing landline connection. I'm thinking it would be cheaper overall for them to get mobile access but after trying to get my head round it my brain hurts. There are 30 day rolling deals but I'm totally confused on the top-up situation. Is it like phone top-ups? Can you just buy more when and if you need to and where do I find out the costs of doing so? Comparison websites are not much help and the companies obviously don't want us to access the small print in advance too easily

[maroondevo52]

I take it your talking about a Dongle, I use one on my laptop, I normally get a £10 top up which gives you 1gb. It's just as fast as my computer and if your not veiwing videos ect it can last for ages.

 

With the rolling deals I'm sure they have to do a Credit Check which I bodyswerved, just in case.

 

The top up's are just the same as mobile phone top ups, get them in most shops in any street, you just enter a code on line and your up and running again.

Edited March 1, 2011 by maroondevo52

[hightail]

Sorry. When I said mobile access I was meaning mobile broadband and therefore a dongle. As the usage limits are quite low I need to know if they can be topped up like a mobile phone if necessary.

[maroondevo52]

Hi,

 

Yes, I just realised thats what you meant and edited my post, the Dongle comes with a sim card which is inserted into it and is identical to a Mobile phone one, you also get a phone number with it, not that I've ever used it in a phone

[hightail]

Not sure I'd need to swerve the credit check but like the idea of not needing to go through one anyway. Who are you with?

[maroondevo52]

I'm with "3" never had any problems, they give you a warning when you've only got 20% of your time left, like I said the lengh of time it lasts can vary quite a bit depending what your using it for.

I mainly use mine when I'm on CAG and a £10 can last me a month, I think if you get a £15 top up you get 3gb which Is a lot better than the £10.

[hightail]

3 are the one lot who can't guarantee coverage for 'indoor use' and what's more the genius on the end of the 'online chat' told me you can't top up. Their 5Gb for £15+ per month looked good until they told me that.

[maroondevo52]

Might be worth your while having a word with Lee from Vodafone. Sounds like a bit of nonsense this you 'can't top up' whats the point in that then ???

I just bought my dongle in a "3" shop, well the dongle was free but paid a £10 for the 1gb.

[MARTIN3030]

I have a Vodafone one which I havent used for a while,but I did read lots of reviews before deciding which one to go for.

As far as signal goes Vodafone is excellent.

When you first activate it-it installs a box in which you can check the remaining balance,top up more credit,links to vodafone help etc etc.

There are options to send sms from there too.

Minimum top up is £15 and you can either do it by card payment or buy a top up voucher in the same way as PAYG.You can top up 24/7 and it lasts for 30 days.

Lee can perhaps answer whether there is a possibility to vary the options for example if you can add a further £5 top up after using £5 of your 15-I never tried to do it.

Even with no credit-access to VF services and top up remains live which I found good.

I got mine when VM disconnected me following my charges aggro with them-like you I did not have a clue where to begin-but the dongle provides a perfect stop gap for internet connection providing you are not wanting it for downloading videos and big files.

I was using mine for CAG for around 2 months and it did the job no probs.

Edited March 1, 2011 by MARTIN3030

[hightail]

Vodaphone signal checker does seem to return the best results. Think I've just confused the issue further though as I've now come across a thing called Mi-Fi which would appear to allow more than one user at a time. As there are two of them in the flat I've now got to work out if this is a better option than separate dongles. I'm too old for all this technology

[MARTIN3030]

I think you are talking about a R201

 

http://www.business.vodafone.com/site/bus/public/enuk/support/10_productsupport/wi_fi_devices/r201/05_summary/p_summary.jsp

[hightail]

Yeah that's the thing. 3 also do a version and I guess it's worth a try to see what the coverage is like. If we do it online on a PAYG to start with then DSRs apply and the device can go back for a refund if coverage isn't good.

 

How do I get in touch with Lee at Vodaphone? Tried their online chat for a sensible discussion of the options and got some joker who would be better off selling second hand cars or double glazing so now don't believe his claim that coverage is 'excellent' for the postcode.

[MARTIN3030]

I will flag your thread up for him.

[hightail]

Thank you SO much.

[locutus]

Righty, late to this thread, most has been said already. All mobile suppliers do dongles on PAYG, your main priority needs to be coverage. There are 4 types, I'll list them in order of fastest to slowest.

 

HSDPA = High Speed Data Packet Array. This is the fastest, up to 7.2 meg broadband. you can even watch BBC Iplayer on this (data allowance will be eaten up REALLY FAST tho! be warned!)

3g = 3rd generation of mobiles. This is up to 1/2 meg broadband. (This can watch youtube in low res, and generally smooth surfing)

Edge. This is only just faster than dialup. (This will be only suitable for browsing the net. Pictures will take a long while to display, and video will be unwatchable.)

2g = 2nd generation of mobiles (basically, the name meens mobiles with sim cards on the digital mobile network. Before this there were analogue mobiles that easily be hacked! This network is only just able to hold a conversation and send the odd text. Data wise it is unworkable!)

 

You can get an "unlocked dongle" from somewhere like ebay, then just get a cheap sim (some suppliers offer free ones online!) and try each network to get the best one. OR you can order a dongle on contract over the phone and online, and if the speed is not good enough, return it within the 1st 7 days and cancel the contract.

 

Now you say there are 2 of them. Do they need to connect more than 1 device to the internet? You can get a "mobile router" or a "mifi" as 3 branded it. You can get an unlocked one of those (it will take any sim) and it will create a portable wifi hotspot, so if there is a point in their new property that has better signal, they can put the device there!

 

now, some links for free sim's

Vodafone

o2

Orange

T-Mobile

3

[maroondevo52]

HSDPA is what I get 90% of the time on my 3 dongle.

[locutus]

3 are the one lot who can't guarantee coverage for 'indoor use' and what's more the genius on the end of the 'online chat' told me you can't top up. Their 5Gb for £15+ per month looked good until they told me that.

 

Just to add, no supplier guatentees indoor coverage as they cannot determin if you live in a lead lined bunker or not and the 5gb for £15 is for a contract. PAYG you can top up as you like.

[MARTIN3030]

Well theres certainly a few bunkers around after the GOV sold them all off in the last few years.

Forgot to mention also-I did get my Voda dongle unlocked,but after trying a couple of cards-ended up putting the trusty bright red one back in there:-)

[hightail]

This has all been incredibly helpful. Thank you all for your input.

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

I will flag your thread up for him.

 

Thanks Martin.

 

Yeah that's the thing. 3 also do a version and I guess it's worth a try to see what the coverage is like. If we do it online on a PAYG to start with then DSRs apply and the device can go back for a refund if coverage isn't good.

 

How do I get in touch with Lee at Vodaphone? Tried their online chat for a sensible discussion of the options and got some joker who would be better off selling second hand cars or double glazing so now don't believe his claim that coverage is 'excellent' for the postcode.

 

Hi hightail,

 

I can understand you wanting to get the best package for their requirements and would say that the Mobile Wi-Fi device would enable both to access the internet at the same time from different Wi-Fi capable devices. In regard to pricing I hope that the information on this page of our website can make things clearer for you.

 

You can also find details on our thirty day, eighteen month and PAYG dongle plans here so you can compare the pricing of these to that of the Mobile Wi-Fi proposition. Should you go ahead with the PAYG option then you can find more details on Topping up here and to clarify the Top up guidelines you'll only be able to Top up £15.00 at a time which will entitle the user to an allowance of 2GB over thirty days.

 

I appreciate that all the information I've provided here and what you've already seen is a lot to take in and once you've taken a look through it all feel free to ask me anything which you're unsure of and I'll do my best to help.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

 

 

 

 

[hightail]

Thanks for responding Lee. I have had yet another day to look at it and much as I'd much prefer to go straight in with Vodaphone I'm sure you'll agree that the opposition have the edge on usage allowances when this is an only/main home connection. Short term rentals are a huge problem for taking on a landline and my daughter is not unusual these days in working short contracts.

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

You're welcome hightail.

 

Whilst it's a shame to hear that you may seeking service elsewhere should you change your mind just let me know.

 

All the best.

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK