Smartphone or 3G dongle as modem?

[Guest saqmaster]

Right.. I have a dilema.. I'm looking to upgrade my HTC Vox soon but I also need to mobilise my laptop (new job, no real internet etc.).. So i'm looking at all the 3G usb dongles out there, offerings from Three, Orange (who my mobile is with at the mo, may change), O2 etc.. The Three deal seems to be the best (I won't be doing huge traffic), the Orange deal seems hideous (£25/month for 2 years for 1GB/mo)..

BUT.. the question is.. should I just use my future smartphone as a 3G modem? Is it as good as using the dedicated dongles above? My future smartphone will most likely be candybar, although I am tempted by the HTC Diamond..

[Guest WearTheFoxHat]

Hi,

It seems you have three options:

1) Use your phone as a modem (Tethered)

2) Get a USB dongle

3) Get a HDSPA card for your laptop.

Both are pretty much the same, but here are some considerations:

* If you have it tethered to your phone, then the download allowance is shared between your phone and your laptop.

* Is it likely that while your laptop is connected to your phone, you will need to make calls? Think usb cable attached to phone.

* If you try connect your laptop and phone using bluetooth or wifi, then the battery will go flat very quickly.

* If you go the route of a USB modem, are you happy with another bit of kit to carry around?

* With regards to the HSDPA card, some of these will go into the PCMCIA slot, others are minicards which go into the laptop, in fact some laptops now have them built in.

I've looked at downgrading my WebNWalk Plus with T-Mobile where I get 3GB per month of traffic, to their normal 1GB, and getting either one of their USB Modems, OR possibly the Three one depending upon signal in my area.

Anyway just a few things for you to consider.

[Guest jimbouk]

If the smartphone you get is HSDPA/HSUPA, then it will be as good as a 3g+ dongle and Bluetooth PAN Internet Sharing is really easy to set up - however, I personally use my Tytn2 for email and voice and the Three PAYG deal for data as its a £10 top up to get 1gb for 30 days and if you don't need it, then you dont top up.

[Guest saqmaster]

If the smartphone you get is HSDPA/HSUPA, then it will be as good as a 3g+ dongle and Bluetooth PAN Internet Sharing is really easy to set up - however, I personally use my Tytn2 for email and voice and the Three PAYG deal for data as its a £10 top up to get 1gb for 30 days and if you don't need it, then you dont top up.

That sounds interesting. What's the 30 days constraint? Do I have to top-up at least every 30 days?

Regarding the above, i'd much prefer a PCMCIA card than a seperate dongle, but I think i'm limited for choice if I go that route.

[Guest Neil5459]

That sounds interesting. What's the 30 days constraint? Do I have to top-up at least every 30 days?

Regarding the above, i'd much prefer a PCMCIA card than a seperate dongle, but I think i'm limited for choice if I go that route.

The £10 update lasts for 30 days. Any web access after that is charged at the normal rate until youy do another topup. You do get an SMS to warn of impending expiry!

Beware that in some areas/with some devices you can't use mobile data when off a native 3 signal (which is with Orange at present). I think it may be device dependent. My Trinity and Ameo can't 'roam' with data, but an S730 Smartphone I tried could.

[Guest Menneisyys]

Make sure you read http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-ge...set-as-a-modem/ - it answers all your questions, speed, power consumption etc.-wise.

[Guest jimbouk]

The £10 update lasts for 30 days. Any web access after that is charged at the normal rate until youy do another topup. You do get an SMS to warn of impending expiry!

Beware that in some areas/with some devices you can't use mobile data when off a native 3 signal (which is with Orange at present). I think it may be device dependent. My Trinity and Ameo can't 'roam' with data, but an S730 Smartphone I tried could.

Actually it won't cost you anything extra if you are only using the 3 usim in your laptop/dongle cos when the 30 days or 1gb runs out, then it simply stops working. So you buy another top up. (£10 for 1gb, £15 for 3gb or £25 for 7gb).

[Guest Neil5459]

I was meaning that if you have a 3 PAYG SIM in a PDA, and your 30 days Mobile Web elapses, then you are charged the normal PAYG fee of £1 per MB for data access, which could soon mount up :D

I've just tried it, and although my Internet Bundle is elapsed by 2 weeks, I could still access the web from my PDA, so assume will be charged £1 per MB as stated in tthe PAYG T&C?

[Guest saqmaster]

I ended up going for a T-Mobile offering. £10/month for 3 months then £15/mo for the remaining 21 months of the contract (eek) for 3GB/mo with no hardcore enforced limits or fines (apparently)... I'll have a read of the T&C.. I can't see me using 3GB/mo for my purpose (so far my daily average is below that anyway)..

[Guest jimbouk]

I was meaning that if you have a 3 PAYG SIM in a PDA, and your 30 days Mobile Web elapses, then you are charged the normal PAYG fee of £1 per MB for data access, which could soon mount up :D

I've just tried it, and although my Internet Bundle is elapsed by 2 weeks, I could still access the web from my PDA, so assume will be charged £1 per MB as stated in tthe PAYG T&C?

I guess so. My point was that I only have the £10 mobile broadband top up on my sim anyway as I only use it for data. So once that runs out, they cut me off. But thats no good if you want to use it as a phone too.

[Guest Neil5459]

OK- I get you now :D If you don't have any more money in the 'account' they can't charge you any more :D