but I have no idea about these things, so hoping somebody can help. I really fancy the idea of an android tablet, any make, cheap and cheerful, only for the odd usage away from home. Now I know they have built in wifi, but what if I am in somebody else's house who doesn't have broadband? My question is, can you use any of these devices using a broadband dongle, which would have to be Orange, because that's the only one that works in said person's house! If this can't be done, then there's no point in my buying one really, I need the internet when I'm away at weekends etc.

Thanks in anticipation....

Yes most tablets work with 3G dongles though not all dongles with with all tablets. You can get unlocked dongles which will work with any network.

What are you going to use it for, general web browsing or other stuff.

Also if you have a smart phone, then you use that for creating a local hotspot and connect the tablet to that.

I wouldn't have thought so. The dongle would have to plug into a USB port, with appropriate drivers on the tablet. Virtually no tablets (if any?) have a USB connector.

Why not just buy a tablet that has a sim slot? No need to use a dongle.

Many tablets (other than the iPad) have USB sockets, but I guess that very few USB mobile-internet dongles have Android drivers.

Your best bet (other than going for a tablet with built in mobile-phone network connectivity) would be something like a MiFi. I don't think Orange support it, but Three do, and as you can place the MiFi wherever you want within several meters (such as high up on a window, possibly upstairs) you are more likely to be able to get a signal with it than with a dongle which has to be plugged directly into the device you are using.

It depends on your phone, of course, but if you have a smartphone you can probably turn that into a wifi hotspot and connect your tablet to that.

I do that with my laptop all the time.

Okay thanks everyone. Still a bit confused, dunno if my phone is a smartphone, its a Nokia N97 mini? I wouldn't have a clue about turning it to a wifi hotspot tho, lol We have no coverage of 03, 02, or Three in this part of Wales. Pathetic isn't it? Only Orange/TMobile and limited Vodaphone.

Your best bet is either a tablet with built-in 3G or a mifi, which is a bit like a dongle but turns the dongle into a wifi hotspot.

Go to somewhere like Carphone Warehouse, who have a good range of the different tablets, and see which you like.

I'd go for a mifi or if you have a jailroken iphone turn it into a wifi hotspot with mywi or pdanet.

If you have a Symbian phone (which the N97 mini is) then Joiku Spot is an app that can turn your phone into a mobile hotspot. Google for it.

By smart phone, android can create a hotspot by default. iphone I believe need jailbreaking. Don't know about the Nokia.

Most android tablets come with USB and some come with 3G as well. If it does not, then most android 2.x and 3.x support huawei dongles (though not all models).

Before looking at tablets have you checked out netbooks and laptops. Much more flexible and mature technology.

If not then either get a tablet with built-in 3G or get a mifi router or dongle.

Wow, I had no idea you could do such things Anyhows, I have downloaded and used the same very easily. I only chose the free version however. The bad news is that it used up all my credit on the phone, over five quids worth in about 10 mins! I knew there would be a snag, can't possibly afford that (I'm on PAYG) so is that the normal sort of amount, or is there another option? I can't seem to find out what you get if you pay for the premium one apart from a secured connection, which I wouldn't really be worrying about, not going to use it out in busy areas.

Thanks for the info anyway.

You would still use your data whether you have the free app or the paid version. If you connect a laptop or a tablet to your phone it's the same as surfing to a bunch of full sized web pages on your phone, you're just using the computer or tablet as a big screen effectively. The data goes through the phone either way.

If you want the benefits of a smartphone, you do really need to have some kind of data plan or provision. Hope this helps.

How much did data did you have on your plan. If you are out an about then widgets like e-mail, weather, facebook, twitter, google maps (if running), RSS feeds etc are active and can download 10's MB a day even if you are doing nothing. Browsing content rich sites then you expect that be same again. Once you start streaming media then all bets are off, music is a couple of MB per song and video starts at 2MB per minute.


Won't make any difference to data usage. I suspect the paid version allows for WEP or WPA encryption on the hotspot you have created where as the free one is open security.


As grump said, you really need to be on a data plan contract to get the full benefits of internet on the move.