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[YZ250]

I need to buy a payg usb broadband dongle for occasional use while away from home. It will be used for online banking / paying bills etc. and the occasional bit of surfing on OOF so doesn't need to be massive in the GB department.
Have been looking at the 3 payg one but just wanted some opinions from you guys and gals.  :-/


Regards
Alan

[Jimbob]

I supplied a 3 one to a local pre-school....

seemed very good value and suited their needs well.

I went for the one preloaded with 12 gig, valid for a year, £80.
I thought it was a good deal, and easy to maintain, nothing to do for a year / until the 12 gig runs out.

[Lazydocker]

IME, 3 has by far the best 3G coverage.

I have found that pretty much whenever I have a signal it is a 3G one

However... If you have somewhere that you go to frequently and want to be able to use it you need to check the coverage

[YZ250]

Cheers for that guys.

My main haunts are Devon and Cornwall so I'll check the coverage. 
I just wanted one to chuck in the glovebox and top up as and when required. Any excuse to take the laptop on holiday. 

Regards
Alan

[henryd]

Cheers for that guys.

My main haunts are Devon and Cornwall so I'll check the coverage. 
I just wanted one to chuck in the glovebox and top up as and when required. Any excuse to take the laptop on holiday. 

Regards
Alan

phone coverage down here is a bit of a lottery with orange and 3 probably about the best,T mobile is dire although as they are now piggy backing orange it should have improved

[YZ250]

Cheers for that guys.

My main haunts are Devon and Cornwall so I'll check the coverage. 
I just wanted one to chuck in the glovebox and top up as and when required. Any excuse to take the laptop on holiday. 

Regards
Alan

phone coverage down here is a bit of a lottery with orange and 3 probably about the best,T mobile is dire although as they are now piggy backing orange it should have improved

Couldn't pop to Padstowe and check the coverage of 3 could you Henry. 

[saltyone]

3G 
i have a 3G payg as back up . i bought it while i was waiting for sky broadband to be connected . topped up £15 and that lasted me all month . great coverage and never let me down 

[YZ250]

3G 
i have a 3G payg as back up . i bought it while i was waiting for sky broadband to be connected . topped up £15 and that lasted me all month . great coverage and never let me down 

That's the sort of thing I'm after. 
I can only use it near civilisation anyway as my laptop battery only lasts about four seconds.   

Regards
Alan

[saltyone]

if i remember right once you top up say £15 you can use that to buy add ons . like daily Internet service 120mb for .50p 

[I am a Daisy]

I have tried most of the PAYG dongles and would rate the 3 one for the best coverage, however when outwith a 3g signal it wont connect. I now use the Vodafone dongle as it connects everywhere, its slow on GPRS but at least gets you connected. The other reason I use the Vodafone is that when you top up £15 that lasts until it runs out unlike the others which only last over a 30 day period and dont carry over. I have the internet on all the time while I'm driving so I can listen to internet blues radio stations, for the same £15, 3 gives you 3 gig usage whereas the Vodafone gives you 1 gig but I can easily use up the 3 gig within two weeks but have had the Vodafone last up to six weeks with the same usage as the 3 dongle, which is odd, and thats been tested back to back over the last year

[cam2502]

ive used vodafone dongle over past couple of years, no problems with it at all. £15 to top it up.

[Taxi_Driver]

I have tried most of the PAYG dongles and would rate the 3 one for the best coverage, however when outwith a 3g signal it wont connect. I now use the Vodafone dongle as it connects everywhere, its slow on GPRS but at least gets you connected. The other reason I use the Vodafone is that when you top up £15 that lasts until it runs out unlike the others which only last over a 30 day period and dont carry over. I have the internet on all the time while I'm driving so I can listen to internet blues radio stations, for the same £15, 3 gives you 3 gig usage whereas the Vodafone gives you 1 gig but I can easily use up the 3 gig within two weeks but have had the Vodafone last up to six weeks with the same usage as the 3 dongle, which is odd, and thats been tested back to back over the last year

Unfortunately Voodoo dont supply that dongle anymore, they only supply 30 day dongles now.....however you can find the time unlimited ones on ebay....last time i looked they were going for about 50- 60 squid with 1GB preloaded 

[Taxi_Driver]

Who is your mobile provider? If its 3, they allow tethering....so maybe you wont need a dongle  :-/

Or if its anyone else.....i'd be inclined to tether anyway....altho against t's & c's i doubt the mobile networks would notice IF you only used it for email and light surfing (no downloading)

[YZ250]

Who is your mobile provider? If its 3, they allow tethering....so maybe you wont need a dongle  :-/

Or if its anyone else.....i'd be inclined to tether anyway....altho against t's & c's i doubt the mobile networks would notice IF you only used it for email and light surfing (no downloading)

I'm with O2 for my mobile. I did consider using my mobile as a dongle but didn't want to get in trouble with O2. 
I think i'll end up going for the 3G 3 3GB for three months for £30 dongle and then top it up as and when needed with £10-£15 at a time.. 

Thanks for the input everyone. 

Regards
Alan

[TheBoy]

Check the coverage before committing, esp if rural.

Or ring your current provider, and see how much extra for tethering your existing phone/SIM