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MiFi
swiftyme
01-11-2009
As above.

Whats my best options with Mifi?

Just got a laptop and getting an iPod touch soon and was thinking of something to leave in the car and use as a kind of hotspot...

Any suggestions on the best options / Cheaper options etc?

Cheers
ih8mondays
01-11-2009
I was interested in this, until I found out the price - I believe the monthly contract is around £15-17 (I currently pay approx £7 for 3GB data a month), plus you have to buy the device too.

I don't think there's much else out there yet, it's a relatively new idea.

There are routers available which take 3G cards or have USB ports for 3G dongles - but obviously these are not portable, and are reasonably pricey (£70 upwards).
swiftyme
01-11-2009
Thats what i thought..

£7 a month though for mobile broadband?

Thats not bad... for 3gb Anyway..

Is there a way then that i can get mobile broadband on my laptop, and share the connection via Wifi to my Touch?

Basically, so when i'm out working and the mrs is watching a DVD, i can use the iPod touch for internet and stuff, even through the laptop?
ih8mondays
01-11-2009
It's an existing customer deal (half price) as I already had a phone with them.

It may be possible to share the internet connection - I haven't tried

Google: Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) for more info on sharing internet
Mystic Eddy
02-11-2009
If you're using Windows 7 on your laptop, you can download a program which will enable you to easily turn it into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
If not, Maplin do a 3G router which you could power off an inverter in the car.
mickskyvitch
02-11-2009
I use one of these http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/...l-wifi-hotspot but don't know if they are available in the UK, it's great bit of kit regardless.
darkone338
02-11-2009
one symbian based nokia phone and joikuspot works fine for me.. Have an N95 here thats always in the car, on a simonly deal with unlimited data... when i leave the car, if i need it, i can take it with me!
TheBigM
02-11-2009
I second post 5 - though you don't need windows 7. Apparently third party software is also available to do it. i.e. turn your wireless card into a hotspot and route the internet from a dongle to the wireless.

Post 7 is possible though at risk of mobile company detecting non-mobile internet traffic (e.g. desktop browser client headers).

With all methods - be careful of overusing the connection and going over your data limits.
PrinceGaz
03-11-2009
If you want to make a portable WiFi hotspot using a 3G mobile-phone signal, then there are three basic ways to go about it

a) use a suitable 3G & wi-fi capable smartphone and having it act as a Wi-Fi access point (post #7). These phones aren't cheap, but if you already have one and the data contract for it, and have read what post #8 mentioned about your mobile-provider detecting you are using the phone with other devices and are satisfied you aren't breaking your contract by doing so, then that is the cheapest option.

b) use a laptop with a Mobile Internet USB dongle and enable Internet Connection Sharing. No problems here as all traffic will be allowed including from other devices. The main disadvantage is the laptop must be turned on whenever you want to access the internet from any other device. Also beware of exceeding your traffic allowance as it will probably be very expensive if you do so.

c) use something like the MiFi from '3'. This is the most interesting option if you want truly mobile internet (not relying on a laptop computer with dongle) and don't want to buy a high-end smart-phone and use it to provide a similar facility.

I checked the Mi-Fi a few days ago as this is something I'd be tempted to buy, and checked again tonight and it looks like prices have come down a bit.

The Mi-Fi itself can be bought for £50, and then there is the option of buying 1GB of data (valid for one month maximum) for £10, or 5GB (one month expiry again) for £15. There's also the option of entering an 18-month contract and paying £2 per month extra on top of the above rates (so £12 for 1GB/month, or £17 for 5GB/month) and getting the Mi-Fi for "free" (the extra £2/month buys you 20 free SMS messages which can be sent from your PC if you plug the Mi-Fi into it, in other words a worthless extra used to subsidise the cost of the Mi-Fi itself).

If you go down the Mi-Fi route (as I am tempted to do), I'd recommend choosing the PAYG option and paying the £50 up front and buying credit as needed at £10 for 1GB or £15 for 5GB, rather than the extra £36 total over 18 months and being locked into the contract. By going down the PAYG route, you can buy credit as needed (either 1GB or 5GB for the next month, or more than one 5GB if you need to use it more) or not buy any if you won't need to use it for a few weeks.

Just beware that exceeding your allowance incurs heavy costs with the Mi-Fi. Every MB over your allowance costs 10p. To put that into perspective, if you paid £10 for 1GB but ended up using 1.2GB, those extra 200MB would cost you an extra £20. If you downloaded 2GB with a 1GB allowance, you'd end up paying £110. So keep an eye on usage and buy 5GB for £15 if it looks like you'd need it.
alan.w
03-11-2009
I was told by a local Vodaphone store that they will be doing mi-fi before Xmas and there PAYG credit dont get wiped after a month if unused so im waiting for that

Just found this maybe its out already?
http://www.broadbandwatchdog.co.uk/s...vodafone-mifi/

and http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_...to_launch.html
PrinceGaz
03-11-2009
If Vodafone are indeed offering a MiFi where the PAYG credit lasts longer than a month, I'd certainly be tempted. That's the one thing that puts me off '3'; I'd spend £65 right now on the '3' MiFi and 5GB of credit if the credit lasted at least three months (I don't envisage using much bandwidth as I'd just grab the odd email plus news and sports results for offline reading, like I do now whenever I'm in range of a hotspot).

The one trump card '3' does have though is much better 3G network coverage compared to any other operator, at least from what I read (on their website...)
swiftyme
04-11-2009
Thanks for your responses guys

Apologies for not being on here - Family issues...

Vodafone one sounds good though - Might be worth looking further into, as my mobiles with them too..

Cheers
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