Mobile broadband service on a laptop

[Panther Rose 10]

:help: As I have just cancelled my internet service with BT in order to save some money. I am in need of find something else to give me more or less the same type of internet connections and something where I can watch TV on demand. I have been tethering my mobile phone but it is unable to give me the kind of speed that I need to watch programmes on demand. I currently use a laptop that has Windows 8. Can someone advise me about dongles or T-mobile's pay monthly broadband, or just any advice on getting the internet on my laptop. Thanks for your help

[Ghozer 112]

You will only get a fast and stable connection from a REAL connection (PhoneLine or Virgin) while Mobile might work ok, it can be affected by the weather, where you are based, and mobile broadband is usually limited (extremely low limits too) so are not ideal for streaming services (TV, Radio, YouTube...)

[AlexAtkin 10]

Indeed. I would imagine even a crummy service like TalkTalk is better than resorting to mobile broadband.

 

It might seem a cheaper option at first, but if you start using tethering to watch on demand there is a very real chance they will start capping your connection or worse, charge you for using too much bandwidth. There is a reason services like Netflix on phones use a much lower quality video feed than their PC/home console counterparts.

[AngryDog 10]

Have you checked out PlusNet? They seem to be cheaply priced?

[stereolab 10]

Indeed. I would imagine even a crummy service like TalkTalk is better than resorting to mobile broadband.

 

It might seem a cheaper option at first, but if you start using tethering to watch on demand there is a very real chance they will start capping your connection or worse, charge you for using too much bandwidth. There is a reason services like Netflix on phones use a much lower quality video feed than their PC/home console counterparts.

 

Not always - my Dad has Talk Talk at home and its so bad that he sometimes only gets 0.2 meg download speed. That's barely faster than dial up.

 

So I bought him a Three Mifi device and he gets the 3gb/3month sim cards off Amazon for about a tenner - he gets 3 to 4 meg download speed with those.

 

When it runs out, or the three months is up, you just put another one in there. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

 

The other option is to get a phone with unlimited tethering included - you will pay about £35 a month for your phone and internet.

Edited April 3, 2013 by stereolab

[Panther Rose 10]

Thanks for the replies. Even though I am short of money, my work hours just don't justify me paying BT £35 each month for internet that I may only use for 4 hours at the most. So on Saturday I cancelled my internet and phone line. I have it for the next 4 weeks. Just enough time for me to find an alternative option to landline ISP's.

[AlexAtkin 10]

You didn't mention if you got rid of the land line as well as the broadband? That tends to be where a lot of the cost comes from.

 

Its £28.45 for the basic BT land line and broadband package from what I can see. Its only £36/month for the basic Sky TV package with phone and broadband lite. If you look at sites like uswitch.com you will probably find some 12 month deals that are even cheaper.

[Panther Rose 10]

You didn't mention if you got rid of the land line as well as the broadband? That tends to be where a lot of the cost comes from.

 

Its £28.45 for the basic BT land line and broadband package from what I can see. Its only £36/month for the basic Sky TV package with phone and broadband lite. If you look at sites like uswitch.com you will probably find some 12 month deals that are even cheaper.

 

Yes AlexAtkin, I got rid of everything. My last phone bill was just under £30. That was for line rental and broadband service. There were no call charges on there as I haven't made any. I can't justify paying that amount of money when I tend to use broadband for approx 4 hours. Besides I tend to use my laptop away from home.

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 19:32 ----------

 

I have just seen this advertised on the T-mobile website, what are people's views and opinion?

 

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/wireless-pointer/