Computer Related > What's a dongle do then?	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Runfer D'Hills	Replies: 28

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:30   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

No, I think I know, but I'm off abroad to work next week and I've heard of dongles but never used one. Anyone recommend one over another? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:32   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

A dongle abroad? Forget it my son. Firstly however we need to know what you are taking abroad? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:33   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

Lappy and BlackBerry. Italy BTW Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:38   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

then rely on wifi at hotels on your lappy. A dongle in your lappy in Italy is a non starter, unless you get an Italian data plan. Who you with? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:39   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

What as in SP? AOL on the web, O2 on the phone. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:41   What's a dongle do then? - Iffy

Vodafone dongles can be made to work in Italy. www.vodafone.co.uk/personal/price-plans/managing-my-costs/travelling-abroad/using-the-internet-abroad/index.htm Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:43   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

OK thanks. Half thought about just buying an Italian one while I'm there. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:46   What's a dongle do then? - spamcan61

>> OK thanks. Half thought about just buying an Italian one while I'm there. >> Speaking of which, i was just about to post this link:- prepaid-wireless-internet-access.wetpaint.com/ which gives details of pre-pay SIM options worldwide - BUT - from personal experience it's unsurprisingly not always up to date. Somewhere to start though. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:47   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

Thats for a phone. You need to have a contract dongle and its 15 quid a day in italy. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:50   What's a dongle do then? - spamcan61

I thought you stuck a SIM in these dongles? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:55   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

A contact sim Mind - dont mention contract in Italy. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:13   What's a dongle do then? - spamcan61

>> A contact sim >> >> >> Mind - dont mention contract in Italy. >> But if these dongles are using GSM/3G networks they must have a real SIM with a network operator ID and phone number or there's no means of authentication during 'call' setup. Last edited by: spamcan61 on Tue 1 Mar 11 at 20:13 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:14   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

Yes they are, no-one said they are not. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:24   What's a dongle do then? - spamcan61

So, in theory at least, if the dongle isn't locked (big assumption) then Humph could stick a prepay Vodafone Italy SIM in it for 15 EUR and surf away, see July 2010 update here:- prepaid-wireless-internet-access.wetpaint.com/page/Italy+Vodafone Less hassle to live with WiFi though. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:50   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

Oh OK, I've always just relied on WiFi before but sometimes it's a pain. I feel like I should be able to plug my BB in to the computer and do it that way. Maybe I can, not sure. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:55   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

You can, its called tethering, for which you pay 15 pound a month..... and £1 a megabyte. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 19:56   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

WiFi it is then... :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:04   What's a dongle do then? - Iffy

Vodafone is £9.99 for up to 50MB in a 24 hour period, UK time. Simple really. Quote from the link above: "Use up to 50MB a day (midnight to midnight, UK time) for £9.99. To help prevent you from going over your limit, we have put a data roaming spend cap on your account." Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:09   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

Oh OK, that doesn't sound too scary. In London tomorrow so might bumble into a phone shop and check it out. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:10   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

edit Last edited by: Zero on Tue 1 Mar 11 at 20:13 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:16   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

Eh? :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:17   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

thats £9.99 a DAY EVERY day you use it. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:24   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

I'll start at an O2 shop I think as that's where I get my phone service from. I'd quite like something which I could use here too. Within reason, I don't mind if it was a wee bit expensive to use abroad as I'd only be checking in on mails a couple of times a day. maybe an hour's use a day in total. I'd just use the BB but either the screen's too small or my arms are too short... Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Tue 1 Mar 11 at 20:28 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:28   What's a dongle do then? - Iffy

...I'll start at an O2 shop... A glance at the website could save you the trouble. "We do not recommend using mobile broadband outside of the UK and you are therefore currently unable to use the service abroad." shop.o2.co.uk/promo/o2mobilebroadband/tab/Pay_Monthly Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:28   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

Its still a fixed price per day as soon as you access it. On vodaphone anyway. Yup pop in the O2 shop. They might give you a deal as you are a customer. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:30   What's a dongle do then? - Zero

>> I'd just use the BB but either the screen's too small or my arms >> are too short... Humph, the BB's reason for being, the reason it was developed, is to check emails on the move Buy some reading glasses from Boots, its cheaper. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 22:26   What's a dongle do then? - rtj70

>> You can, its called tethering, for which you pay 15 pound a month..... Not if you have an Android. Tethering is free. Newer versions of Android (all on 2.2 and some on 2.1) allow wireless hotspots. Vodafone offer a service (or they will soon) where you pay a fixed amount per day (a few quid) and then you can use your data tariff/allowance as if at home. Okay I suppose you're paying for it twice. Popping another SIM into a USB 3G modem might not be as simple as you think. It may need to be reconfigured with the 3G/GPRS settings for another network. Even in the UK this is the case - when I unlocked my 3 MiFi device to use with a Vodafone SIM from a USB modem I had to reconfigure it. With a laptop abroad and knowing what you're doing it's possible. Easier to use the data tariff on the mobile with tethering. Assume it's a business phone? Or if you're a BT Internet user at home you could always try to find and use a FON hotspot. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:43   What's a dongle do then? - Kevin

Mrs K's phone is on an O2 data contract. It will also act as a WAP for the laptop. Outside UK, data is charged at £3/MB in Europe and £6 Rest of World. Maximum charge is £40 in any billing period. If you hit the £40 limit, any other data useage is free up to a max of 50MB. Kevin... Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 1 Mar 11 20:53   What's a dongle do then? - Runfer D'Hills

Ok Ta. Reply to this message | Report message