Three mobile broadband dongle

*MikeB* · 21-10-2011, 19:22

I've got one of those Three mobile broadband dongles as we are having power troubles at the moment in our house which are breaking BT Home Hubs.

The top ups for the dongle are very expensive. £15 gets me only 3GB.

However if I was on normal pay as you go with Three (on a smartphone) a £15 top up would get me unlimited data for a month. What's to stop me putting a normal pay & go Three SIM in the dongle and benefiting from the cheaper price?

Martin Phillp · 21-10-2011, 19:53

The only legitimate way of using AYCE on 3 with tethering is with a contract phone.

Three will be able to tell if you're using a PAYG phone SIM with AYCE if you use it with a phone or dongle.

davethorp · 21-10-2011, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MikeB*

What's to stop me putting a normal pay & go Three SIM in the dongle and benefiting from the cheaper price?

3 will terminate the sim as soon as they notice you are using it in a device for which it was not intended.

I have questioned 3 on plans to bring AYCE data to mobile broadband before and their response has always been that their mobile broadband currently offers 10GB for £15 which they currently see as good value and in fairness to them, their mobile broadband plans are good value when compared to the competition

AYCE mobile broadband would still be a good thing for them to offer in my opinion

*MikeB* · 21-10-2011, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethorp

3 will terminate the sim as soon as they notice you are using it in a device for which it was not intended.

I have questioned 3 on plans to bring AYCE data to mobile broadband before and their response has always been that their mobile broadband currently offers 10GB for £15 which they currently see as good value and in fairness to them, their mobile broadband plans are good value when compared to the competition

AYCE mobile broadband would still be a good thing for them to offer in my opinion

£15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it?

davethorp · 22-10-2011, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MikeB*

£15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it?

On pay monthly sim only it's 10GB. Think it varies depending on whether you have some kind of device with it and if it's pay monthly or pay as you go and in the case of pay monthly whether it's a 1 month or longer contract

*MikeB* · 22-10-2011, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethorp

On pay monthly sim only it's 10GB. Think it varies depending on whether you have some kind of device with it and if it's pay monthly or pay as you go and in the case of pay monthly whether it's a 1 month or longer contract

I have a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle. So it is £15 for 3GB. I've realised it would have been much cheaper to get any old 3G phone that does tethering, put a Three standard pay as you go SIM in there and benefit from the cheaper top ups on standard Three pay as you go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

The only legitimate way of using AYCE on 3 with tethering is with a contract phone

Doesn't have to be a contract phone, you could use AYCE with a pay as you go SIM also.

TheBigM · 22-10-2011, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MikeB*

I have a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle. So it is £15 for 3GB. I've realised it would have been much cheaper to get any old 3G phone that does tethering, put a Three standard pay as you go SIM in there and benefit from the cheaper top ups on standard Three pay as you go.

Doesn't have to be a contract phone, you could use AYCE with a pay as you go SIM also.

You get AYCE on pay as you go for add-ons from £15 upwards. BUT AYCE data on pay as you go can only be used for phone data. You can't tether with it and you can't put the sim in a mobile broadband dongle. Well you can, and it will work for a while but Three will know. I know, I've tried it, it worked but then Three texted me saying if I do it again they'll cut me off.

Tethering can only be done on the One Plan, not payg AYCE data.

Martin Phillp · 22-10-2011, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MikeB*

£15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it?

To clarify the Three MBB PAYG tariffs.

£2.99 for 500MB - up to 48 hours.
£10 for 1GB up to 30 days.
£15 for 3GB up to 30 days.
£25 for 7GB up to 30 days.

However unlike other networks, if you go over your data allowance, you're allowed to top up again within the 30 days.

JulesandSand · 23-10-2011, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

To clarify the Three MBB PAYG tariffs.

£2.99 for 500MB - up to 48 hours.
£10 for 1GB up to 30 days.
£15 for 3GB up to 30 days.
£25 for 7GB up to 30 days.

However unlike other networks, if you go over your data allowance, you're allowed to top up again within the 30 days.

I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly.

I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data?

Gormond · 23-10-2011, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesandSand

I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly.

I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data?

Even better is to use the 3 month sims which cost £11.39 from amazon. Just buy a new one every 3 months.

*MikeB* · 23-10-2011, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesandSand

I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly.

I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data?

Great advice, thanks. Do you think this would work in my dongle or will they ban the SIM?

Also, T-Mobile seem a good option and I wonder if anyone has any experience of their pay as you go service? I've found a Nokia N95 which I can tether with now and I have a T-Mobile SIM.

They have an Internet pay as you go Booster for £5 for a month which gives unlimited browsing for 30 days (500MB streaming). Do I just top up £5 and convert it to a booster? Does anyone know?

JulesandSand · 23-10-2011, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gormond

Even better is to use the 3 month sims which cost £11.39 from amazon. Just buy a new one every 3 months.

I got a 3GB one with the modem when I bought it, and was amazed at how little data is used when only browsing and emailing.

I used it for about 5 weekend trips and used a little over 1GB, the rest expired sadly.

MikeB - I don't know whether they would ban the SIM, I can't see why they would though.

Thine Wonk · 23-10-2011, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesandSand

I got a 3GB one with the modem when I bought it, and was amazed at how little data is used when only browsing and emailing.

I used it for about 5 weekend trips and used a little over 1GB, the rest expired sadly.

MikeB - I don't know whether they would ban the SIM, I can't see why they would though.

Because it's against the terms

, people with handsets generally don't consume as much data as somebody using it on a computer, that's why the pricing is different.

All you can eat is restricted to handset use on PAYG.

JulesandSand · 23-10-2011, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Because it's against the terms

, people with handsets generally don't consume as much data as somebody using it on a computer, that's why the pricing is different.

All you can eat is restricted to handset use on PAYG.

I'm talking about PAYG data sims.

I can tether my contract phone to my laptop for data but everywhere I've been, the Three modem gives a much faster connection.

21-10-2011, 19:22	#1
MikeB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,807	Three mobile broadband dongle I've got one of those Three mobile broadband dongles as we are having power troubles at the moment in our house which are breaking BT Home Hubs. The top ups for the dongle are very expensive. £15 gets me only 3GB. However if I was on normal pay as you go with Three (on a smartphone) a £15 top up would get me unlimited data for a month. What's to stop me putting a normal pay & go Three SIM in the dongle and benefiting from the cheaper price?

23-10-2011, 15:31	#13
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by JulesandSand I got a 3GB one with the modem when I bought it, and was amazed at how little data is used when only browsing and emailing. I used it for about 5 weekend trips and used a little over 1GB, the rest expired sadly. MikeB - I don't know whether they would ban the SIM, I can't see why they would though. Because it's against the terms, people with handsets generally don't consume as much data as somebody using it on a computer, that's why the pricing is different. All you can eat is restricted to handset use on PAYG.

23-10-2011, 15:35	#14
JulesandSand Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Caledonia Posts: 5,687	Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk Because it's against the terms, people with handsets generally don't consume as much data as somebody using it on a computer, that's why the pricing is different. All you can eat is restricted to handset use on PAYG. I'm talking about PAYG data sims. I can tether my contract phone to my laptop for data but everywhere I've been, the Three modem gives a much faster connection.

21-10-2011, 19:53	#2
Martin Phillp Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London Posts: 20,282	The only legitimate way of using AYCE on 3 with tethering is with a contract phone. Three will be able to tell if you're using a PAYG phone SIM with AYCE if you use it with a phone or dongle.

21-10-2011, 20:19	#3
davethorp Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 7,255	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeB What's to stop me putting a normal pay & go Three SIM in the dongle and benefiting from the cheaper price? 3 will terminate the sim as soon as they notice you are using it in a device for which it was not intended. I have questioned 3 on plans to bring AYCE data to mobile broadband before and their response has always been that their mobile broadband currently offers 10GB for £15 which they currently see as good value and in fairness to them, their mobile broadband plans are good value when compared to the competition AYCE mobile broadband would still be a good thing for them to offer in my opinion

21-10-2011, 23:18	#4
MikeB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,807	Quote: Originally Posted by davethorp 3 will terminate the sim as soon as they notice you are using it in a device for which it was not intended. I have questioned 3 on plans to bring AYCE data to mobile broadband before and their response has always been that their mobile broadband currently offers 10GB for £15 which they currently see as good value and in fairness to them, their mobile broadband plans are good value when compared to the competition AYCE mobile broadband would still be a good thing for them to offer in my opinion £15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it?

22-10-2011, 11:20	#5
davethorp Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 7,255	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeB £15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it? On pay monthly sim only it's 10GB. Think it varies depending on whether you have some kind of device with it and if it's pay monthly or pay as you go and in the case of pay monthly whether it's a 1 month or longer contract

22-10-2011, 11:47	#6
MikeB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,807	Quote: Originally Posted by davethorp On pay monthly sim only it's 10GB. Think it varies depending on whether you have some kind of device with it and if it's pay monthly or pay as you go and in the case of pay monthly whether it's a 1 month or longer contract I have a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle. So it is £15 for 3GB. I've realised it would have been much cheaper to get any old 3G phone that does tethering, put a Three standard pay as you go SIM in there and benefit from the cheaper top ups on standard Three pay as you go. Quote: Originally Posted by Martin Phillp The only legitimate way of using AYCE on 3 with tethering is with a contract phone Doesn't have to be a contract phone, you could use AYCE with a pay as you go SIM also.

22-10-2011, 12:48	#7
TheBigM Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: moon Posts: 12,983	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeB I have a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle. So it is £15 for 3GB. I've realised it would have been much cheaper to get any old 3G phone that does tethering, put a Three standard pay as you go SIM in there and benefit from the cheaper top ups on standard Three pay as you go. Doesn't have to be a contract phone, you could use AYCE with a pay as you go SIM also. You get AYCE on pay as you go for add-ons from £15 upwards. BUT AYCE data on pay as you go can only be used for phone data. You can't tether with it and you can't put the sim in a mobile broadband dongle. Well you can, and it will work for a while but Three will know. I know, I've tried it, it worked but then Three texted me saying if I do it again they'll cut me off. Tethering can only be done on the One Plan, not payg AYCE data.

22-10-2011, 21:56	#8
Martin Phillp Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London Posts: 20,282	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeB £15 only gets you 3GB doesn't it? To clarify the Three MBB PAYG tariffs. £2.99 for 500MB - up to 48 hours. £10 for 1GB up to 30 days. £15 for 3GB up to 30 days. £25 for 7GB up to 30 days. However unlike other networks, if you go over your data allowance, you're allowed to top up again within the 30 days.

23-10-2011, 10:08	#9
JulesandSand Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Caledonia Posts: 5,687	Quote: Originally Posted by Martin Phillp To clarify the Three MBB PAYG tariffs. £2.99 for 500MB - up to 48 hours. £10 for 1GB up to 30 days. £15 for 3GB up to 30 days. £25 for 7GB up to 30 days. However unlike other networks, if you go over your data allowance, you're allowed to top up again within the 30 days. I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly. I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data?

23-10-2011, 10:55	#10
Gormond Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 15,714	Quote: Originally Posted by JulesandSand I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly. I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data? Even better is to use the 3 month sims which cost £11.39 from amazon. Just buy a new one every 3 months.

23-10-2011, 15:16	#11
MikeB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,807	Quote: Originally Posted by JulesandSand I have a 3 MiFi modem on PAYG - I don't top-up the SIM, I replace it with a new one and activate it when I need to. It costs £5 for a 1GB SIM, half the price of topping up. Which is silly. I also hate the fact that any data unused at the end of the period is lost, that doesn't happen with voice, why should it with data? Great advice, thanks. Do you think this would work in my dongle or will they ban the SIM? Also, T-Mobile seem a good option and I wonder if anyone has any experience of their pay as you go service? I've found a Nokia N95 which I can tether with now and I have a T-Mobile SIM. They have an Internet pay as you go Booster for £5 for a month which gives unlimited browsing for 30 days (500MB streaming). Do I just top up £5 and convert it to a booster? Does anyone know?

23-10-2011, 15:27	#12
JulesandSand Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Caledonia Posts: 5,687	Quote: Originally Posted by Gormond Even better is to use the 3 month sims which cost £11.39 from amazon. Just buy a new one every 3 months. I got a 3GB one with the modem when I bought it, and was amazed at how little data is used when only browsing and emailing. I used it for about 5 weekend trips and used a little over 1GB, the rest expired sadly. MikeB - I don't know whether they would ban the SIM, I can't see why they would though.

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Three mobile broadband dongle