Hi, not a mobile 'phone question but I thought this would be the best sub-forum area;
I've used my HTC Wildfire S on Three PAYG for tethering (hotspot mode), but it drains the battery and gets very warm.
We now have a motorhome available for weekends away, a selection of WiFi devices (four tablets, camera, iPods and laptops) potentially to benefit from web access (surfing, skyping, streaming, downloading/updating apps, maps etc) when travelling.
So I'd like a device (MiFi, combined router/mobile broadband) that can handle eg. ten simultaneous devices, and a data plan that is cost-effective for use twelve days per month. Also I use a tablet during breaks at work, but Three signal is non-existent in the canteen so would consider another network to use there for a few hours per week too. So it should be capable of running on battery and continuously from a 12v supply.
I'm not looking to be directed to networks' websites, rather pointers as to what people actually use and how satisfied they are, and what's considered good value.

Maybe nobody viewing this area uses mobile broadband hotspots?
(bump)

Hi.

You could use what I use which is a Huawei mifi dongle such as the E5756 which can handle 10 simultaneous connections and get it unlocked via eBay for £1 and stick a T-Mobile payg sim in it with a 6 month unlimited internet for £20.


I paid about £40 for the device itself plus the tmobile "booster" sim add on and away you go.

Hope this helps.

Jodrell.

All good EXCEPT that I am pretty sure that the SIM you are using specifically prohibits "tethering" - and is likely to get disabled at any time!

I use a similar setup and a "3 broadband PAYG SIM"

Ah, thank you both.
3 might be fine for the weekends travelling; I am also considering that as I have a 3 phone and know their signal struggles to penetrate the "tin box" warehouse I work in, using a different network for the MiFi to enable tablet browsing there too. Or even (if it's economical) changing SIMs depending on location/coverage.
I'm not limiting choice to the main 5 networks.

One BIG advantage of MiFi over other solutions (such as a 3G dongle for example) is that it is possible to site the MiFi box on a window ledge for maximum mobile signal!

MiFi units are normally sold "locked" to a network but eBay (certainly for the the popular Huawei ones) can often provide an unlocking solution.

I'm still using an old-ish unlocked ZTE MiFi that I got off ebay. It is rechargable, and in common with all units of this generation only has a short battery life ( 3ish hours).
I think it only allows 5 connections.
Currently I'm still on a legacy FoggMobile free plan, but when that gets turned off I will probably go back to buying GigaBags from GiffGaff - not ideal, but probably the most cost effective means of tethering for small / medium amounts of data..