We are buying my grandad a new pc for xmas, he is also still on dial up and i'm sure this is the main reason he has so many problems getting online. He won't sign up for broadband, and i can't sign him up and prepay for it, so only real option (unless someone has a bright idea) is mobile broadband payg. Only problem with that is, orange are the only people with decent coverage (according to the website), and they don't do payg dongles!!!! Now if i bought and unlocked dongle, or an orange dongle, can i insert any orange 3G payg sim into it and use it, or is it a special plan/sim??
You can see the top 4 phone providers gsm networks here if that
helps but sorry dont know the answer to your question but would think as long as the sim is data enabled and the device is unlocked I cant see it not
working as the connection software for each vendor would be available, but saying that it may not support the hardware (usb dongle)
Cheers
Rich
I bought the O2 dongle for my dad, and you buy so many days and MB as you want - so its not an ordinary tariff as far as I can tell.
It's been just the job, though - we weren't sure he'd use it, so didn't want an annual contract, so he just buys a month at a
time.
just dont bother with 3
they are rubbish, supposed 2 gig connection
I kept a log of my useage, and then tallied it with the software in the dongle
one evening, 3.5 hours of surfing ebay, facebook etc
average download speed was 68kbps
HMMM yup rubbish
never ever seen over 140kbps
currently going through the motions of getting out of the contract as Im climing its not fit, due to insufficient signal
For me 3 were fine for speed but lousy for coverage -- effect on my usage as I only use the dongle as a fall back connection and i live 200yds from
a 3 tower.
Different dongles give different data rates -- the latest WIFI router dongles are faster than the USB keys.
[Edited on 29/11/10 by britishtrident]
Does he have Sky or Cable? You can get some really good 'all in' packages for phone, tv and broadband for less than the cost of having just one of them. Free calls might sway him
Watching with intreast as inlaws have a simular problem
Watch for this PAYG that's actually pay monthly... Like mine... paid for 3gig and it's going to vanish in 4 days the robbing gits..
Never had any trouble with 3 for coverage, speed etc down here in the sticks 
Their payg works out at £5 a month for 2gb (You buy the monthly internet add-on for a phone instead of their dongle top up which is more expensive)
You initially have to register the 3 sim in a 3 handset but after that it doesn't have to leave the dongle.
You really need to test the water with signal by going round with a friend who's on one of the networks with a internet capable mobile. I
wouldn't trust the online coverage checkers as they are only roughly a guide.
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Watch for this PAYG that's actually pay monthly... Like mine... paid for 3gig and it's going to vanish in 4 days the robbing gits..
I like the Vodafone dongle, PAYG, £15 for 1 gb (so use sparingly) but you can carry unused credit over for as long as you want. They do 3gb a month
for £15 too, IIRC but you can't carry unsed credit over, plus it's a contract.
Still, it's only £35 with Igb free, so worth a punt if you're not sure about the coverage.
i bought a vodafone one, its £5 up front at carphone warehouse, then £15 a month payg, for 3gb. It doesnt roll over though, and i only use 1gb a
month. Cant say much about coverage as i havent moved, but it has been fine at home. Sometimes its annoyingly slow, but not often. Just make sure you
walk away before you stamp on it!
This is it you pay for it for a month. Do PAYG phones still do this like they did in 1997?
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have one. Biggest cr@p i have ever used. Will never do that to myself again.
I brought a vodafone dongle last christmas, £25 with 1Gb included. I use it for occasional browsing and ebay when away from home. The 1Gb was meant to expire after 3 months but is still working. Others I looked at work on a daily charge and credit expires after 28 days. Speed is fine if it connects 3G. Maplins did have them for £25 a couple of months ago.