UK wirelss broadband - short term
Thread Starter
UK wirelss broadband - short term
Travelling to UK later this year and just wondering what my options are to get an internet connection for short duration contract perhaps using a wireless USB modem or similar.
Any info or leads greatly appreciated.
Any info or leads greatly appreciated.
Red On, Green On
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Any of the pay as you go 3g USB dongles will get you connected, but they'll be expensive if you start downloading lots of movies/music. Our mobile carriers are Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Three.
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Are you going to be in one fixed location, or moving about a lot?
In the former case, there may be an available access point (for example, in a hotel).
If you're on the road, then it means a WiFi dongle on a cellular network. Not cheap, but the good ones work well.
In the former case, there may be an available access point (for example, in a hotel).
If you're on the road, then it means a WiFi dongle on a cellular network. Not cheap, but the good ones work well.
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
A wifi card - PC Card or USB - is obviously essential.
I would think that for that length of time you would be better off looking for standard wifi hotspots rather than 3G.
You can use a mix of either free (e.g. McDonalds), paid on the spot (e.g. Hotels, Wetherspoons, voucher-per-drink) or using a roaming payg account like Freedom4 (previously known as BOZII) or BT Openzone.
SD
I would think that for that length of time you would be better off looking for standard wifi hotspots rather than 3G.
You can use a mix of either free (e.g. McDonalds), paid on the spot (e.g. Hotels, Wetherspoons, voucher-per-drink) or using a roaming payg account like Freedom4 (previously known as BOZII) or BT Openzone.
SD
I was in UK for 5 weeks in April/May this year, and initially looked at buying a 3 dongle, as they are substantially cheaper than in Australia!
Having gone through every one in the PC store (can't remember the name) and not found one that would work, I gave up. The store checked each one on their PC's (mine's a Mac) and also had each one fail
So I finished up using wireless networks, which worked just fine around all of England (and a bit of Wales
). But if I'd got a working dongle, it may have been more convenient in the long run 
Having gone through every one in the PC store (can't remember the name) and not found one that would work, I gave up. The store checked each one on their PC's (mine's a Mac) and also had each one fail
So I finished up using wireless networks, which worked just fine around all of England (and a bit of Wales
). But if I'd got a working dongle, it may have been more convenient in the long run
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I had a 3 USB mobile broadband device. This had no contract and gave me 12gb for £100 and lasts for 12 months. I believe they also have smaller data packages for less money. Worked really well for me, I ended up using about 600mb per month, using the internet every evening.
I also think they have a 14 day return policy which would be handy.
I also think they have a 14 day return policy which would be handy.
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If you have an iPhone 3G/3Gs, possibly look at an O2 data SIM and 'tethering'?
Alternatively, keep your eyes open for cheap deals nearer the time. There was a deal last week for a free 3-mobile USB dongle with a PAYG deal on one of the websites I saw.
Alternatively, keep your eyes open for cheap deals nearer the time. There was a deal last week for a free 3-mobile USB dongle with a PAYG deal on one of the websites I saw.
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Can anyone tell me if these dongles are "locked" to the service provider? I want to get one for a short term visit, but would also like to continue using it when i travel and use local chips.
Thanks
Mutt
Thanks
Mutt
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Tethering an iPhone is the worst deal you can go for. That's the wacky iPhone contract on O2 in the UK.
Tethering my HTC seems to work just fine - I've not been charged a penny (yet) for using it with my laptop. It comes within the "reasonable use" unlimited Internet.
However, I understand a USB dongle is a lot faster. £100 for 12GB for 12 months doesn't look all bad. I don't know if they'd offer a 2-month deal (or whatever).
Tethering my HTC seems to work just fine - I've not been charged a penny (yet) for using it with my laptop. It comes within the "reasonable use" unlimited Internet.
However, I understand a USB dongle is a lot faster. £100 for 12GB for 12 months doesn't look all bad. I don't know if they'd offer a 2-month deal (or whatever).
Thread Starter
Thanks very much for the advice. "3" have a 5Gb dongle deal for 15 GBP which seems pretty good. Also the coverage maps are good for the areas I need (Andover and Winchester) but not St Helier 
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I dont want to rock the boat at the moment but tethering is about the worst option cost wise you can go for.
I must admit though, I haven't tethered either (due to the rubbish cost) so have no idea if this is how they initiate it. IIRC an unlocked iPhone could have a 3rd party app to do tethering anyway.
Thread Starter
but since he's coming from the US
Bigpond in Australia also have a dialup roaming system which cost wise is also pretty astronomical not to mention the dramas of finding a line to connect to.
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Yeah they are but can be unlocked quite cheaply or even for free depending on which one you get.
