Anybody use solely a Dongle for home internet access ?

[KidKruger]

Thinking of cutting costs.

Currently with Virgin so I get some sports channels by subscription, but the landline is never used and cos it ain't BT you can't benefit from 0800 nos anyway. So thinking of canning the Virgin service, subscription channels, losing landline altogether (rely on mobile) and getting a dongle for internet.

Anyone done this / got suggestions ? Do dongles work OK ? Would rather just pay for the traffic as I use, if it's cheap enough.

[Gingerbeer]

I use a dongle for home internet, I use 3. It works much better than the broadband available in the house, but even with 10G a month limit I use up my data limit about 18 days in.

[womanofdulwich]

Can you make "Friends" with your neighbours and get their wifi password?

[KidKruger]

Gingerbeer - is that with loads of downloads / heavy use ? I just browse and sometimes download the odd album - 10G sounds HEAVY !!

Woman - yeah I thought about that, I used to have the guy next door's password (from when my WiFi was busted a while) but he's moved-out and I don't feel I have rapport yet with new folks. I could ask, but I'd feel a little 'dependent' on them. Good suggie tho, thanks.

Any additional advice / comments welcome.

[womanofdulwich]

If you have a smart phone you can do something called tethering-and I know there is something where if you are o2 you can use other peoples wifi and somehow get your phone to be the wifi/ router to your pc.

Maybe someone out there knows.?

[maxxi]

I use 3 dongle and sometimes don't get through 7G in a month - downloads and iplayer type stuff will use it up quite quickly though.

Reception not a problem (and I have the old type of dongle which was bought a few years ago not the newer 'faster' kind now on offer). Haven't had a landline now in 7 years and don't miss it - but then I don't do Netflix etc. or download much of anything.

[KidKruger]

Thanks Max.

You guys using Dongle - do you use Pay As You Go ?

[Gingerbeer]

No, I rarely download anything. I think its mostly from watching sporting events online. Although not many, Id say one a week. Other than that its just casual browsing.

I have a rolling 10G "contract", then once it runs out I use the broadband available in my house. But infinitely prefer the dongle, it always has a better connection, is faster, etc.

[zeban]

I used to use one solely. I got a contract with T-Mobile that was unlimited use however they have a fair use policy which once reached you are a little restricted in terms of not being allowed to stream, but you could still browse. It was ?20 a month but after a while as I had a T-mobile phone contract which I'd had for years, i asked for a discount on the broadband and they lowered it to ?5 a month. So whoever you have a mobile contract with, it might be an idea to see what they could offer you.

[Bic Basher]

I use a Three dongle and get through 14GB a month.

As mentioned, you can tether with some phone contracts, but check your contract before doing it as they can cap your speed or not allow it at all.

Three allow tethering with a mobile phone on their One Plan contract or you can have a Mobile Broadband contract which allows 15GB per month for ?15.99.

You can just have broadband from Virgin Media only. They'll try their best to coax you in keeping the digital TV and phone though.