A couple of months ago we bought a mobile internet dongle from Vodafone. We have 2 Macbooks and wanted to be able to get internet when we were out and about.
Sadly so far it has been as good as useless, we took it on holiday (Scotland) during summer and it was very hit and miss, the internet speed was terrible.
My husband has tried on a number of occasions to get it up and running but no luck, I made sure I asked in Vodafone shop if it was Mac compatible and they said yes, but according to instruction book, we should be able to send txts from it and also view a window giving info on usage etc, no such luck.
We did get a good deal on it (£10 month) but we are now left paying this every month and not being able to use it.
I was thinking of taking it back to shop along with my Macbook and asking them to check it out but what is the chances of anyone in store being familiar with Mac's, which is why I am posting this to see if any other Mac users use an internet dongle and if so which make.

The bad news about this is that mobile internet dongles are generally rubbish. They use 3G mobile phone technology and the quality of the signal will fluctuate just as much as your mobile phone signal does. Thats why you would have had the problems in Scotland (I'd imagine its not much better here either). The staff at the Vodafone store in Meadowhall are pretty good. They've got a couple of members of staff who are quite techy so they should be able to sort it for you.

A bit of advice worth knowing is that if you have a mobile phone on a contract that is 3G capable, then you really don't need to sign up to a contract for a 3G dongle. You can use your mobile as a dongle. All you need to do is contact your network and get them at put the appropriate add-on onto your contract. You can cancel and add it again whenever you like.
Obviously this advice comes too late for you, but it might be handy for others reading.

its not the mac making the internet run slow lol

its not the mac making the internet run slow lol



Sorry don't get that:huh:

The bad news about this is that mobile internet dongles are generally rubbish. They use 3G mobile phone technology and the quality of the signal will fluctuate just as much as your mobile phone signal does. Thats why you would have had the problems in Scotland (I'd imagine its not much better here either). The staff at the Vodafone store in Meadowhall are pretty good. They've got a couple of members of staff who are quite techy so they should be able to sort it for you.

A bit of advice worth knowing is that if you have a mobile phone on a contract that is 3G capable, then you really don't need to sign up to a contract for a 3G dongle. You can use your mobile as a dongle. All you need to do is contact your network and get them at put the appropriate add-on onto your contract. You can cancel and add it again whenever you like.
Obviously this advice comes too late for you, but it might be handy for others reading.



Had no idea if my mobile has 3G but after a quick Google search I have found out it doesn't, it's a Nokia 6300.
Just supposing my mobile was 3G how do you then get access to internet on your computer, sorry to be so thick but some of this stuff is beyond me :loopy:

its not the mac making the internet run slow lol

Sorry don't get that:huh:

Yes, rather cryptic, but this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=5407682&postcount=2) shows it to be a positive rather than a negative comment even if it's not helpful.

Basically a 3G dongle will only work adequately if you are near to a 3G transmitter. Even then, many 3G masts are heavily downgraded because locals have believed hogwash propogated by luddite idiots who think that they will suffer bad health because of 3G masts, thus the power is turned down.

The chances are, that if you are in a city, you will be close to a mast and be able to get a good signal on the 3G network. If you are in the wilds of Scotland you will not.

Yes, rather cryptic, but this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=5407682&postcount=2) shows it to be a positive rather than a negative comment even if it's not helpful.

hehe sorry if i came across all snobby like, was having a bad night after the footy :(

yeah but basically what the post above states, not only in scotland but you would probably struggle to get signal deep in the country side in england too via a dongle. i cant really comment on what other options you could do because i have an imac therefore cant really take it when im out and about and so i have broadband at home. maybe there is a stronger kind of dongle, it would obviously cost more but im not sure.

Had no idea if my mobile has 3G but after a quick Google search I have found out it doesn't, it's a Nokia 6300.
Just supposing my mobile was 3G how do you then get access to internet on your computer, sorry to be so thick but some of this stuff is beyond me :loopy:

If you had a 3G phone, it will usually come with a USB lead. You use this to connect it to your PC. The mobile will come with the appropriate software to do this, if not then it'd be available from the phone manufacturers website. Then you have to get the right data package set up on your tariff. If you call your provider they'll tell you what you need.
Then you just plug your phone into your PC, start the software and use the phone as if it was a dongle.

The networks know where gets a good 3G signal and where doesn't but don't tell us. Ofcom did release a guide though, but as you will see, it's not much to go on:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/coverage_maps.pdf