Mobile Broadband

[Brownlow]

I want to get rid of my broadband connection and get a mobile one, but don't know which is the best.
All the info tthat I've read suggests that there's a limit to the time you can spend on the Net. The salesmen say that only applies if you download a lot of stuff, but these guys are as convincing as him in the Nationwide advert.
Anyone, know, for certain, how these contracts work?

[ACtheTROLL]

seriously .... you want your head examining if you do
are you can't get a
I have broadband anywhere - it's good ... and it's rare you can't get a signal .... also linked to fon network.

but compared to a "real" broadband connection ... it's nowhere near.

think about the charges on mobiles in general - 3 or 4 times the cost of landlines ... why would bb be any different?

[Brownlow]

Mobile Broadband is �15 a month, which is half what I'm paying at the moment. But, I don't want to be limited to a couple of hours a day. That's the problem!

[Ethel]

You can get much cheaper standard broadband - you are paying way too much.

Mobile broadband is good if you have no alternative - I bought it for when I was on holiday and it didn't work at all where I was in Devon, no coverage.

My friend has it and says it is usually better than dial up but nowhere as good as her home broadband.

And at �15 the limit is very low - I worked it out to around 45 minutes per day ordinary surfing over the month.

Find a cheaper broadband supplier - there are lots out there.

[ChuckFickens]

it's not a time limit it's a download limit.

for example Vodafone do two plans, �12.77 a month for a 3gb cap or �21.28 for 5gb

you can use the connection whenever you want and as long as you don't download more than the cap limit it will be the cost as above, but if you go over the limit you will be charged for anything extra you use.

For light net use and email 5Gb a month would probably be OK but I'd be worried to use it as my main connection as if you do go over the limit it starts getting really pricy! (�15 per 1Gb or part of over)

[Ethel]

Chuck - I know it's not a time limit, but when I looked into buying it, I tried to work out how much surfing time I'd get in the cap - as even emails and surfing the web counts towards the download limit.

I worked it out as around 45 minutes on the cheapest plan using this calculator:
http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_servi ces_/mobile_broadband_/usage_calculator.omp

[ChuckFickens]

LOL, that wasn't directed at you Ethel, the OP said there is a limit to how long you can spend on the net :)

[ACtheTROLL]

mine has landline and mobile
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer Products/displayTopic.do?topicId=24561&s_cid=c on_FURL_broadbandanywhere
50 mins of calls
50 texts
10 Mb of swerfing
500 mins BT Openzone
(having said that gprs is free at the mo)

if you become a fon member ... when in range of a spot ... everything (including calls) is free.

the phone runs on windows CE ... and active sync allows the phone to act as a modem.


and you get a freeview recorder thrown in!!!!!

[ACtheTROLL]

didn't see that coming .... "real" photography ... I thought everyone had forgotten about learning the basics.

[ACtheTROLL]

oops .... wrong answer!!

[Brownlow]

Thanks everyone for your input - it has been most helpful.
I'm with Virgin Media, and could get a much better rate, but as I''m considering moving home, I'd have preferred not to be starting a new contract, with anyone. I thought a mobile broadband would be best; now I don't!