Are Wifi dongles a waste of time and money?
August 14th, 2013
I’m not hearing very good things about wifi dongles…
not enough download allowance, and slow speeds…
like a reviewer said:
I recommend using any other way possible to get online but NOT A DONGLE!
It's too late for me now but here's a tip: Get a smart phone on contract with an "all you can eat" tariff. Then set up a "wifi hotspot" and link it to your PC. That way you'll get unlimited internet at pretty much the same speed, a nice new phone and unlimited internet...
Any ideas, reccomendations?
Thanks
A WiFi dongle is something that connect you to your router.
What’s wrong with that?
Nel replied: A WiFi dongle is something that connect you to your router.
What's wrong with that?
No,sorry, meant a PAYG Dongle
as i wont have a router in my home.
so im looking for the best/cheapest way to get my wifi netbook online when i need it
I have two HDSPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access ) dongles that I use for work when I can’t get reception. 3 has the best coverage, then T-Mobile, in most places both use the same Network now.
There is nothing wrong with them if used correctly. I can consistantly get downloads speeds of 7 meg.
If you don’t download much, it’s probably a cheap option, most providers you can use PAYG, but some contracts have better options.
I have smartphones with Unlimited internet, but both are on T-Mobile, I cannot sometimes use them as a “dongle” due to poor reception (that is why I have a 3 dongle as well).
Where I live in London, there is free internet access to a lot of people in a certain zone run by the council, but you will more than likely find free open BT hotspots where you are to connect (with slow speeds)
It all depends on what you want to use it for, and how often. FUP (fair Usage Policies) apply on contracts on unlimited internet on both smartphones and dongles, most contract dongles are like 4GB per month.
I’m waiting for HSPA+, (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access) which is a much faster connection
the Meerkat replied: I have two HDSPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access ) dongles that I use for work when I can't get reception. 3 has the best coverage, then T-Mobile, in most places both use the same Network now.)
Thanks.
i was looking on 3 websiye it says:
1GB a month will give you:
Send 1,000 Outlook/HTML Emails
Surf the Web for 10 hours
Download 5 four minute videos
Download 32 four minute music tracks
*Approximate calculation
Wow
Only ten hours surftime…
pretty poor
I wanted to use it for surfing, mailing, and chatting on msn.
maybe not such an economical idea.
You get 3GB a month for £15 on 3 on PAYG. Speed wasn’t to bad when I used it.
They reckon an average family uses 4GB per month. However, with things like Youtube and iPlayer it can dramatically rise. I can quite easily download 10GB per hour
You may be better getting an adsl connection at home, with a router.
well, the thing is, i maybe travelling, and dont want to have to keep setting up internet, when i get home, then cutting it off again, then setting it up ect.
they wont let me freese it.
its either pay for the service, or have the account totally removed/cut off.
Anyone know how much bandwith something like msn messenger would use?
with no video calls..
maybe a few audio calls tho.
theVenerableBeade replied: well, the thing is, i maybe travelling, and dont want to have to keep setting up internet, when i get home, then cutting it off again, then setting it up ect.
they wont let me freese it.
its either pay for the service, or have the account totally removed/cut off.
Anyone know how much bandwith something like msn messenger would use?
with no video calls..
maybe a few audio calls tho.
Sorry mate – haven’t a clue how much bandwidth it would use, perhaps you could install a program and monitor what you actually use..
eg.
http://www.netlimiter.com
Also you would be best to disable any updates, until you are actually connected to someone elses adsl/wi-fi
You would be surprised how many free hotspots there are now in the UK, especially BT ones, but often they are slow. Not sure if you are out in the sticks, but Cities there are loads, usually though they disconnect often as so many people are on 2.4 MHz (along with their microwave ovens etc)
hmm
thanks for the advice.
Yes, good idea to turn off pretty much anything apart from my antivirus updater.
..and use lite surf on forums eg. no images etc
never knew such a thing existed
thanks again
p.s..
I notice in opera browser, there is an option to not display any images on a web page, leaving text only.
Bt I dont know if that means it doesnt download the images – thus saving bandwitdh.
Or if it downloads them, but just doesnt display them – thus being no use at all.