outdoor internet

[Cannyfixit]

Right chaps i need some help and advise,Mrs Canny got me a Acer Netbook for Christmas
I'm a complete novice when it comes to understanding using the internet whilst i'm out on the road,I do however understand free wifi at certain locations i.e MacD's
so what i need to know is what options do i have to use the netbook outside the free zones,I was looking at dongles but got myself bogged down with all the different ones
What i would like is a pay as you go so i'm not tied into any contracts,and as cheap as possible i dont expect to be using the internet for anything more than browsing UHM and other forums,maybe the odd purchace from Screwfix etc
one last thing one of the lads at work said he snapped his dongle whilst it was connected to the usb and said if i was to buy one look for one that folds away
sorry to ramble on so it's over to you

[Megaross]

I use my iPhone to connect in the middle of nowhere, see if your phone will allow you to do the same.
Otherwise there are PAY G dongles, I know vodafone does them.

[Inky Pete]

Just check that any credit you get on a Pay as You Go dongle doesn't expire after a month.

I bought one off Vodaphone for occasional use with the netbook, and then found out a couple of months later that the £20 I'd put on it had expired!

[Cannyfixit]

Just check that any credit you get on a Pay as You Go dongle doesn't expire after a month.

I bought one off Vodaphone for occasional use with the netbook, and then found out a couple of months later that the £20 I'd put on it had expired!

I never thought about that thanks for the heads up

[BillyGoat]

They way the PAYG dongles typically work is (at least for Three and Vodaphone)....

Buy one with 1GB credit - it will expire after 1GB or 1 month - whichever comes first.
Buy one with 3GB credit - it will expire after 3GB or 3 Months - whichever comes first.
Buy one with 12GB credit - it will expire after 3GB or 12 months - whichever comes first.

Top ANY of them up and it usually only lasts one month. For example, you buy a 12GB topup - after one month, it all goes!

I tend to buy the 3 month ones and sell on ebay when they have no credit - which usually gives money towards the next. I get them from airport taxfree which seems to serve me well.

Recently, I've been using my phone a hell of a lot to tether. As mentioned, check your tarrif allows tethering. Some will bill you for doing it, others don't care as long as it's within your allowance (I'm on O2 simplicity, used it for months and used GBs of data - not a penny charge).

Most dongles come with short extension USB leads - these will remove the stress from the USB port of a dongle, although careful use will stop it breaking your USB ports (not covered under warrenty for 99% of manufacturers).

Good luck!

BG

[shedhandy]

If you've got a smart phone, like an iPhone, your best bet is reseach "tethering"... that's what I did after my son's mate mentioned it. Means I can get 3G on my laptop through the phone!! Did end up paying a fortune on the first month's phone bill though lol