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hotspot data via mobile networks

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jackdaww
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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401104

Postby jackdaww » April 2nd, 2021, 12:57 pm

swill453 wrote:If you do want a separate device and SIM, then you could look for Huawei Mifi devices on Amazon. 5G are more expensive than 4G, your choice.

Scott.


========================

yes , it looks like a choice from Huawei , tp-link , netgear and ZTE .

i wonder who to go for ...

:?:

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401113

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 2nd, 2021, 1:46 pm

i have not succeeded with my smartfone as yet - i have a payg deal via asda , on the EE network.

I think Asda recently flipped back to Vodafone as network provider (I may be wrong)

It's worth noting that 'typically' Voda and O2 share the same physical network, as do EE and Three
There are exceptions in both cases - legacy sites, and regional variations

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401116

Postby jackdaww » April 2nd, 2021, 2:08 pm

AleisterCrowley wrote:i have not succeeded with my smartfone as yet - i have a payg deal via asda , on the EE network.

I think Asda recently flipped back to Vodafone as network provider (I may be wrong)

It's worth noting that 'typically' Voda and O2 share the same physical network, as do EE and Three
There are exceptions in both cases - legacy sites, and regional variations


==================

thats right , asda are going back to vodafone , date unknown .

where i live , vodafone has the best signal , followed by EE (just about get it in one room) , no service from O2 and 3UK .

:)

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401139

Postby didds » April 2nd, 2021, 3:25 pm

forgetting tethering for a moment..

does the phone do internet connections in its own right with wifi turned off completely in its config ?
eg turn wifi off, can you browse in and around a site you never normally look at

eg lidl.pl, and a few links therein (no need to be able to speak Polish :-).

Im presuming you are not Polish and check out PL's lidl site for your mum in Krakow ;-)

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401146

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 2nd, 2021, 4:19 pm

Yes, you'll have a browser on your smartphone. I use mine all the time - Rail timetables, BBC, Facebook, Gmail anything you like. Some companies have sites optimised for mobile use

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401148

Postby genou » April 2nd, 2021, 4:20 pm

jackdaww wrote:scottish highlands.!

i think vodafone comes out on top , followed by EE and O2 , trailed by 3UK .



If you are right about that, be aware that smarty is 3 in disguise.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401151

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 2nd, 2021, 4:24 pm

jackdaww wrote:
where i live , vodafone has the best signal , followed by EE (just about get it in one room) , no service from O2 and 3UK .

:)

Certainly possible if you are on a Vodafone 'legacy' site that hasn't joined the network share yet. It may be clear from comparing coverage maps (although they are pretty low resolution).

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401270

Postby Mike4 » April 2nd, 2021, 11:00 pm

AleisterCrowley wrote:Yes, you'll have a browser on your smartphone. I use mine all the time - Rail timetables, BBC, Facebook, Gmail anything you like. Some companies have sites optimised for mobile use


^^^This^^^

I was about to post similar. First, check if your smartphone can browse the internet in your chosen location. If it can, then your problem is getting it to work as a personal hotspot. If it can't, then your problem is getting an internet connection with it in the first place.

I use these Huawei mobile dongle things on Three contracts in my boats to answer your exact question, and either the dongle thing or my voodoofone iPhone as a hotspot seems to work almost everywhere on the canal network.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174350438486 ... 86a1caed34

Edit to add linky!

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401308

Postby jackdaww » April 3rd, 2021, 8:39 am

Mike4 wrote:
AleisterCrowley wrote:Yes, you'll have a browser on your smartphone. I use mine all the time - Rail timetables, BBC, Facebook, Gmail anything you like. Some companies have sites optimised for mobile use


^^^This^^^

I was about to post similar. First, check if your smartphone can browse the internet in your chosen location. If it can, then your problem is getting it to work as a personal hotspot. If it can't, then your problem is getting an internet connection with it in the first place.

I use these Huawei mobile dongle things on Three contracts in my boats to answer your exact question, and either the dongle thing or my voodoofone iPhone as a hotspot seems to work almost everywhere on the canal network.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174350438486 ... 86a1caed34

Edit to add linky!


===========================

thanks.

i will be going for a separate device , not smartfone - that would involve changing the sim too frequently.

:)

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401310

Postby swill453 » April 3rd, 2021, 8:48 am

Mike4 wrote:I use these Huawei mobile dongle things on Three contracts in my boats to answer your exact question, and either the dongle thing or my voodoofone iPhone as a hotspot seems to work almost everywhere on the canal network.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174350438486 ... 86a1caed34

Edit to add linky!

I see they call that a dongle, just so it comes up in search results. But to me a mifi device like that isn't a dongle.

Dongle usually refers (in this context) to a USB stick with a SIM card in it, that plugs into a laptop or PC. These obviously have more restricted usage.

Scott.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401316

Postby Mike4 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:22 am

swill453 wrote:
Mike4 wrote:I use these Huawei mobile dongle things on Three contracts in my boats to answer your exact question, and either the dongle thing or my voodoofone iPhone as a hotspot seems to work almost everywhere on the canal network.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174350438486 ... 86a1caed34

Edit to add linky!

I see they call that a dongle, just so it comes up in search results. But to me a mifi device like that isn't a dongle.

Dongle usually refers (in this context) to a USB stick with a SIM card in it, that plugs into a laptop or PC. These obviously have more restricted usage.

Scott.


And that too is a corruption of the original meaning of the word.

A dongle, back in the day IIRC, was originally a sort of security device plugged into the back of a PC to prevent (or maybe it was authorise) fiddling with its configuration.

swill453
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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401319

Postby swill453 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:31 am

Mike4 wrote:And that too is a corruption of the original meaning of the word.

A dongle, back in the day IIRC, was originally a sort of security device plugged into the back of a PC to prevent (or maybe it was authorise) fiddling with its configuration.

Yes I agree, that's why I said "in this context". I remember dongles that fitted into serial and/or parallel ports that were used to authorise software* - it checks for the dongle, if it's not there it doesn't run.

* i2 law enforcement intelligence software, to be specific.

Scott.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401320

Postby Mike4 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:34 am

jackdaww wrote:
thanks.

i will be going for a separate device , not smartfone - that would involve changing the sim too frequently.

:)



Now I'm the one confused!

If you get your smartphone working properly as a personal hotspot, there is no SIM card changing involved.

If you buy just a bare Huawei MiFi device such as the one I linked to, then you'll need to take the SIM from your smartphone and put it into the MiFi, if it fits. But there seems little point in this as the MiFi does nothing your smartphone cannot do too, so why bother?

The only point of getting the separate MiFi is to also get a second SIM with a different provider so you have two chances of finding a good signal, on phone of MiFi, or to circumvent a tethering bar applied to your smartphone account by your service provider. In the latter case it is probably better just cancel that contract and get a new contract without the tethering bar.

Tethering by the way, means using your phone as a personal wifi hotspot. This subject uses a lot of terminology that is very opaque initially.

(Edit to clarify a point or two.)

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401321

Postby swill453 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:39 am

Mike4 wrote:Now I'm the one confused!

If you get your smartphone working properly as a personal hotspot, there is no SIM card changing involved.

If you buy just a bare Huawei MiFi device such as the one I linked to, then you'll need to take the SIM from your smartphone and put it into the MiFi, if it fits. But there seems little point in this as the MiFi does nothing your smartphone cannot do too, so why bother?

The only point of getting the separate MiFi is to also get a second SIM with a different provider, or to circumvent a tethering bar applied to your smartphone account by your service provider. Better just cancel that contract and get a new contract without the bar!\

Tethering by the way, means using your phone as a personal wifi hotspot. This subject uses a lot of terminology that is very opaque initially.

I think the OP is aware they can use the phone as a hotspot, but has decided to use a mifi with separate SIM instead.

This of course is a change from the title of the thread.

Scott.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401323

Postby Mike4 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:44 am

swill453 wrote:
Mike4 wrote:Now I'm the one confused!

If you get your smartphone working properly as a personal hotspot, there is no SIM card changing involved.

If you buy just a bare Huawei MiFi device such as the one I linked to, then you'll need to take the SIM from your smartphone and put it into the MiFi, if it fits. But there seems little point in this as the MiFi does nothing your smartphone cannot do too, so why bother?

The only point of getting the separate MiFi is to also get a second SIM with a different provider, or to circumvent a tethering bar applied to your smartphone account by your service provider. Better just cancel that contract and get a new contract without the bar!\

Tethering by the way, means using your phone as a personal wifi hotspot. This subject uses a lot of terminology that is very opaque initially.

I think the OP is aware they can use the phone as a hotspot, but has decided to use a mifi with separate SIM instead.

This of course is a change from the title of the thread.

Scott.


Well yes, but in that case I don't understand their remark about changing the SIM frequently. No SIM-changing is involved with a MiFi and its own SIM.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401326

Postby swill453 » April 3rd, 2021, 9:52 am

Mike4 wrote:Well yes, but in that case I don't understand their remark about changing the SIM frequently. No SIM-changing is involved with a MiFi and its own SIM.

If they couldn't get the Asda SIM to work as a hotspot, then they'd need to swap in a separate data SIM.

Rather than troubleshoot that, they've decided to go for the mifi with a data SIM. Which in itself is a decent setup for a caravan.

Scott.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401413

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 3rd, 2021, 5:40 pm

In some (most?) cases the SIM will expire if not used for x months. Check the T&Cs if you are only going to use the MiFi/dongle occasionally - you may need to put a reminder in your calendar to use it/add money periodically to keep it 'alive'

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401434

Postby AF62 » April 3rd, 2021, 6:24 pm

jackdaww wrote:.

am looking for a wifi hotspot device and sim to pick up data only from mobile networks in the uk .

my laptop should then connect to the hotspot via wifi.

for email and website use - no great speeds needed - no streaming .


Assuming you are using Windows, then make sure you set the WiFi connection as a 'metered connection' in the Windows settings so you can set a data limit and it will also prevent Windows downloading updates when you are connected to your (expensive) tethered connection.

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401444

Postby jackdaww » April 3rd, 2021, 6:39 pm

Mike4 wrote:
swill453 wrote:
Mike4 wrote:Now I'm the one confused!

If you get your smartphone working properly as a personal hotspot, there is no SIM card changing involved.

If you buy just a bare Huawei MiFi device such as the one I linked to, then you'll need to take the SIM from your smartphone and put it into the MiFi, if it fits. But there seems little point in this as the MiFi does nothing your smartphone cannot do too, so why bother?

The only point of getting the separate MiFi is to also get a second SIM with a different provider, or to circumvent a tethering bar applied to your smartphone account by your service provider. Better just cancel that contract and get a new contract without the bar!\

Tethering by the way, means using your phone as a personal wifi hotspot. This subject uses a lot of terminology that is very opaque initially.

I think the OP is aware they can use the phone as a hotspot, but has decided to use a mifi with separate SIM instead.

This of course is a change from the title of the thread.

Scott.


Well yes, but in that case I don't understand their remark about changing the SIM frequently. No SIM-changing is involved with a MiFi and its own SIM.


======================

confusion abounds !!

my smartfone sim is asda payg - very cheap and only used on holiday in june and september , i dont do bundles/contracts and the like.

my understandings are -- and any or all could be wrong ---

the asda sim is either not very suitable for data and / or data would be expensive and/or slow.

a data only sim is meant for data and does not have an 07 number - who wants to call a data only sim ?

a smartfone would not perform as well as specialised hotspot mifi device.

this is whats behind my thinking of having a cheap payg sim in the fone and a data only sim in a device.

i also remember now when playing with smartfone tethering various modes eg GPRS EDGE UMTS HSPA which i never understood .

:) :)

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Re: hotspot data via mobile networks

#401462

Postby AF62 » April 3rd, 2021, 7:11 pm

jackdaww wrote:confusion abounds !!

my smartfone sim is asda payg - very cheap and only used on holiday in june and september , i dont do bundles/contracts and the like.


It might be cheap for your usage in a phone, it probably isn't cheap for use to tether a laptop which will use *lots* more data *lots, and lots*.

jackdaww wrote:
my understandings are -- and any or all could be wrong ---

the asda sim is either not very suitable for data and / or data would be expensive and/or slow.


Expensive - probably. Not suitable - unlikely - normally only unlimited phone data contracts prohibit or limit tethering. Slow - unlikely - but it depends where you are are and the state of the mobile network there; central London - good, Highlands of Scotland - bad.

jackdaww wrote:a data only sim is meant for data and does not have an 07 number - who wants to call a data only sim ?


Yes the networks sell data sims meant for data, although they still do have a phone number and many can receive or even make calls. But the networks want to dissuade people from using them in phones, so call them "data sims" with all sorts of dire warnings. I have used data sims in dual sim phones for years without issue.

jackdaww wrote:a smartfone would not perform as well as specialised hotspot mifi device.


Probably not, but the performance hit is more likely to be on the WiFI connection to the laptop than the mobile connection to the phone network, although some do allow for external aerials to be attached which phones don't.

jackdaww wrote:this is whats behind my thinking of having a cheap payg sim in the fone and a data only sim in a device.

i also remember now when playing with smartfone tethering various modes eg GPRS EDGE UMTS HSPA which i never understood .

:) :)


GPRS and EDGE - 2G (old fashioned) mobile phone calls - good for coverage, dreadful for 'volumes' of data.
UMTS/HSPA - 3G mobile phone calls - worse for coverage, better for volumes of data
LTE - 4G mobile phone calls - worse for coverage, even better for volumes of data

But don't fiddle with them, just let the phone / mifi do what it needs to do to get a connection


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