Mobile phone or wireless to @#%$ a laptop to the net?

[Gonzo]

has the 3G situation improved in the last couple of years

e.g can you get 3G coverage just about everywhere except the middle of nowhere

what experiences have people had with it, what is currently best network in terms of price and coverage

I looked into it recently, but the coverage outside of built up areas is still patchy.

There is no coverage where my parents live and that is where I would most like to be able to use it!

And don't expect it to work abroad.

There is a map of the vodafone coverage here:

http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coveragev...b/default.aspx

I couldn't find a fancy map on the T Mobile website, but needless to say they don't cover my parents' area either.

And they are not really that far out in the sticks either

[Archangel]

I have a motorola v500 mobile that has gprs and wap. I also have a laptop with a built in modem/rs232 port and wireless access slot. In Jan I'm off on a contract away from home for 6 months and want to get on the net on my laptop from the b&b.

Anyone know how much wireless access is and who the good suppliers are? Alternatively is there a way of using the gprs on my phone to get net access?

I've had a look on the orange site but they don't seem to flog the right gizmo for my phone, and the few wireless providers I've tracked down on google seem v v expensive!

Look into T-Mobile Web N Walk, USB connection.

[Platypus]

the Orange 3g datacard but my research tells me that they're a bit flakey right now:

I had one - it was total garbage: even in London it would never connect to anything (ok tell a lie I DO remember connecting once, but the speed was dreadful).

Colleagues have used the Vodaphone equivalent and from what I hear it's ok.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

I have a Nokia N73 phone with 3. I pay 15 quid extra a month for 3g Internet (3gb download limit). I connect to my lappy via bluetooth (it dual boots to linux or vista and the connection works fine on each op sys)

Coverage seems pretty good on the whole.

In fact, I'm using it now.

[FarmerPalmer]

my PDA phone has wireless for when I'm down the pub and GPRS on O2 when I'm not.

my laptop has wireless plus a Vodafone data card which gets me 1.8Mbps via 3G, and 200kish via GPRS if I can't get a connection.

Check out where you are staying and what the 3G coverage is like and maybe try for that. Its normally about £7.50 for 50Mb/month or you could go for a £35 for 3Gb/Month contract.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Just a couple of points - all the postings on that linked to forum were from 2004. I had the equivalent Vodafone data card at that time and it was hopeless. Things have improved immensely in the intervening years so I wouldn't rely on those comments as still current.

Secondly, £35 for 3GB is way over the top now - T mobile offers 3 Gig for twenty quid.

[KevinS]

Just a couple of points - all the postings on that linked to forum were from 2004. I had the equivalent Vodafone data card at that time and it was hopeless. Things have improved immensely in the intervening years so I wouldn't rely on those comments as still current.

Secondly, £35 for 3GB is way over the top now - T mobile offers 3 Gig for twenty quid.

Agreed - it is over the top.. I have a 3 USB dongle, £25 a month for 7GB (which is more than I need, but always nice to know it's there)..

[SteveV]

Just a couple of points - all the postings on that linked to forum were from 2004. I had the equivalent Vodafone data card at that time and it was hopeless. Things have improved immensely in the intervening years so I wouldn't rely on those comments as still current.

Secondly, £35 for 3GB is way over the top now - T mobile offers 3 Gig for twenty quid.

3 offer 3gig for £15

[gadgetman]

3 offer 3gig for £15

That's the one I have too and it works very well.

[meridian]

That's the one I have too and it works very well.

Seconded, mine works great even out in the backblocks of Ireland.
Only complaint I have is that it only works when the laptop is plugged into the mains supply. Battery power doesn't seem to provide enough juice to the device even with the additional USB connector.