Comments on: Mobile Broadband and Netbook notes from the UK. http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/ portable pc, mobile computer, pocket pc and handheld computing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:29:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: peejay http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14444 peejay Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:47:12 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14444 Not wanting to mislead people, I wanted to correct something I said. The Virgin 30p per day DOES work with pay as you go. I know 'cos I've tried it! Not wanting to mislead people, I wanted to correct something I said. The Virgin 30p per day DOES work with pay as you go. I know ‘cos I’ve tried it!

]]> By: Arnie http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14120 Arnie Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:21:02 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14120 Been using the 3 5Gb/month mobile "broadband" package which I got via Quidco for £7.50/month (usual price £15/month). If you don't mind getting 25kbps upload and 200kbps download then it's fine. Put the usim in a Samsung i600 so it can be used via bluetooth to a laptop or straight on the phone. Anyway, just got a Medion E1210 form of all places Argos for £250 (web only deal). Basically, it's a MSI Wind that's £20 cheaper than from the Medion shop and £50 cheaper than buying an MSI. Been using the 3 5Gb/month mobile “broadband” package which I got via Quidco for £7.50/month (usual price £15/month). If you don’t mind getting 25kbps upload and 200kbps download then it’s fine.
Put the usim in a Samsung i600 so it can be used via bluetooth to a laptop or straight on the phone.
Anyway, just got a Medion E1210 form of all places Argos for £250 (web only deal). Basically, it’s a MSI Wind that’s £20 cheaper than from the Medion shop and £50 cheaper than buying an MSI.

]]> By: davetweed http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14109 davetweed Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:35:13 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14109 FWIW, I've been using a web-n-walk USB modem with my UMPC (which doesn't have 3G/HSDPA built in) and it's so-so. Firstly, whilst the software takes every oportunity to pop up a window saying "3G 7.2Mbps connected", I find the average is 100Kbps, with 200Kbps for brief spikes. The bigger problem is that I seem to have the connection get into a state where no packets are recieved by the OS (I haven't investigated which bit seems to be at fault yet) which requires loading up the manager and manually disconnecting and reconnecting. This means downloading anything over about 2MB is almost certain to fail. (There's also the guff that they technically talk about outdoor service in all their documentation; being indoors where it's the warm is not a conforming situation.) I haven't any experience with the other UK mobile internet services so this may be the standard level. I just thought I'd mention it for anyone who, like me, isn't in a position to get land-line broadband (changing address too often) and expects UK mobile internet to be their primary internet connection. FWIW, I’ve been using a web-n-walk USB modem with my UMPC (which doesn’t have 3G/HSDPA built in) and it’s so-so. Firstly, whilst the software takes every oportunity to pop up a window saying “3G 7.2Mbps connected”, I find the average is 100Kbps, with 200Kbps for brief spikes. The bigger problem is that I seem to have the connection get into a state where no packets are recieved by the OS (I haven’t investigated which bit seems to be at fault yet) which requires loading up the manager and manually disconnecting and reconnecting. This means downloading anything over about 2MB is almost certain to fail. (There’s also the guff that they technically talk about outdoor service in all their documentation; being indoors where it’s the warm is not a conforming situation.)

I haven’t any experience with the other UK mobile internet services so this may be the standard level. I just thought I’d mention it for anyone who, like me, isn’t in a position to get land-line broadband (changing address too often) and expects UK mobile internet to be their primary internet connection.

]]> By: Suppy http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14091 Suppy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:21:58 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14091 Oh, sorry. I meant Web'n'Walk tarrifs on pay monthly; mobile phone's tarrifs. I just took G1 with unlimited (3gb) internet. I also have Nokia E90 and Joiku software (works on any s60 3rd device) and use it with Netbook. The thing is, You can't use your phone/sim like a modem, but with Joiku it works great (makes Wi-Fi acces point). I should say that it is not just for the broadband contract; sorry for that. Oh, sorry. I meant Web’n'Walk tarrifs on pay monthly; mobile phone’s tarrifs. I just took G1 with unlimited (3gb) internet. I also have Nokia E90 and Joiku software (works on any s60 3rd device) and use it with Netbook. The thing is, You can’t use your phone/sim like a modem, but with Joiku it works great (makes Wi-Fi acces point).
I should say that it is not just for the broadband contract; sorry for that.

]]> By: peejay http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14033 peejay Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:52:02 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14033 Suppy, I can't find reference to that on the t-mobile website. It's saying £15 per month (£10 per month for the first three months): http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/data-plans/pay-monthly/mobile-broadband-laptop/plans/ Suppy, I can’t find reference to that on the t-mobile website. It’s saying £15 per month (£10 per month for the first three months):
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/data-plans/pay-monthly/mobile-broadband-laptop/plans/

]]> By: Suppy http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-14012 Suppy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:35:08 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-14012 T-mobile has 3 gb (every month) for 5 pounds on pay monthly. I use Nokia E90 with Joiku software and Advent 4212. Works brilliant. T-mobile has 3 gb (every month) for 5 pounds on pay monthly. I use Nokia E90 with Joiku software and Advent 4212. Works brilliant.

]]> By: Chippy http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-13986 Chippy Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:49:31 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-13986 Update on that NC10 3G here.... http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/samsung-nc10-3g-already-available-in-poland Update on that NC10 3G here….
http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/samsung-nc10-3g-already-available-in-poland

]]> By: Britman http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-13984 Britman Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:29:42 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-13984 I too am waiting for the NC10 to have built in unlocked 3G. peejay, cheers for the heads up, that's a decent deal, I paid £80 6 months ago for my 3 dongle. I too am waiting for the NC10 to have built in unlocked 3G.

peejay, cheers for the heads up, that’s a decent deal, I paid £80 6 months ago for my 3 dongle.

]]> By: peejay http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-13982 peejay Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:56:08 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-13982 The Virgin mobile 30p price looks good, but I think it's just for pay monthly people (i.e. not me). From the website: "If you Pay Monthly, you’ll be saying... hello to one simple rate for accessing the Mobile Web on your phone." My UK mobile tip: three.co.uk seem to have come up with a really good value mobile broadband starter kit: http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/starter_kit.omp This is £100 for a 12 month limit of 12Gb, with the dongle included. This is way better than their pay as you go option, which costs £50 for the dongle then £10 a month (ie £170 for the first 12 months), which gives you 1Gb per month which you can't carry over or bring forward. Is this really great value or have I missed a catch somewhere? The Virgin mobile 30p price looks good, but I think it’s just for pay monthly people (i.e. not me). From the website:
“If you Pay Monthly, you’ll be saying… hello to one simple rate for accessing the Mobile Web on your phone.”

My UK mobile tip: three.co.uk seem to have come up with a really good value mobile broadband starter kit:
http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/starter_kit.omp

This is £100 for a 12 month limit of 12Gb, with the dongle included. This is way better than their pay as you go option, which costs £50 for the dongle then £10 a month (ie £170 for the first 12 months), which gives you 1Gb per month which you can’t carry over or bring forward. Is this really great value or have I missed a catch somewhere?

]]> By: Sam http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-13981 Sam Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-13981 I pay £5 for 1 month 3G internet on 3 UK 'pay as you go' on my Nokia phone. They never seem to know how much data I use (they state 1GB limit). They also don't seem know when I connect through my laptop. The service quality / availability varies a lot though. They say they use GPRS from another network when their 3G isn't available but generally it's so bad it doesn't work. Also heard that their USB modems use a specific SIM that gives higher data speeds than their regular phone SIM. It's ok for the money unless you really need to have internet everywhere. I pay £5 for 1 month 3G internet on 3 UK ‘pay as you go’ on my Nokia phone. They never seem to know how much data I use (they state 1GB limit). They also don’t seem know when I connect through my laptop.

The service quality / availability varies a lot though. They say they use GPRS from another network when their 3G isn’t available but generally it’s so bad it doesn’t work.

Also heard that their USB modems use a specific SIM that gives higher data speeds than their regular phone SIM.

It’s ok for the money unless you really need to have internet everywhere.

]]> By: kornel http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk/#comment-13973 kornel Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:22:00 +0000 http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/12/mobile-broadband-and-netbook-notes-from-the-uk#comment-13973 The black hsdpa nc10 is already available in Poland :) really nice device. The black hsdpa nc10 is already available in Poland :) really nice device.

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