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Subject Topic: Dongle Instead Of Onsite WiFi?? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGCMS2012
17/4/2016 at 7:49pm
 Location: Northumberland
 Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK View GCMS2012's Profile View Profile   Reply to GCMS2012 Reply   Quote GCMS2012 Quote  
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What is everyone's thoughts to using a 'dongle' instead of a caravan's sites own Wi-Fi??

Do you think it's cheaper, and maybe better than using a sites own Wi-Fi compared to maybe it having a slower speed too???

Got mentioned at work and so got us thinking for when we're away.....

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Damned if I do...

Damned if I don't!!!!


PersonGraeme_Cooke
17/4/2016 at 8:03pm
 Location: County Durham
 Outfit: Elddis Encore 254 View Graeme_Cooke's Profile View Profile   Reply to Graeme_Cooke Reply   Quote Graeme_Cooke Quote  
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Where possible I use the 3G / 4G on my phone via a hotspot. As I have a contract with data I've already paid for it. Whilst abroad we use a 3 MiFi device.

Site wifi can be very expensive and slow.


Persondk168
17/4/2016 at 9:18pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
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My dongle is next to useless in areas with poor mobile phone coverage.

Nowadays, I do not load the dongle in advance in case of poor reception.

Besides, I have data on my mobile phone contract, and prefer to use that instead of the dongle.

If mobile phone coverage is poor, then I shall pay to use site's WiFi.

DK



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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
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Personrobert/julie
17/4/2016 at 9:23pm
 Location: Ivybridge Devon
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Burgundy series 6 View robert/julie's Profile View Profile   Reply to robert/julie Reply   Quote robert/julie Quote  
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depends on what site you are on. some sites have good speed and free wifi. We used to use a dongle but did find it very unstable and at least half the time wouldn't connect to the o2 network. This was prior to smart phones so don't know if the reception is better now as not been back to the sites


PersonBernie47
17/4/2016 at 9:25pm
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I found that my dongle rarely got a signal as I tend to camp on sites in remote areas.

Most of the sites I use now have free WiFi so this year I have cancelled the contract for my dongle.

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Bernie


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PersonThe Vicar
18/4/2016 at 9:10am
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 525 4 View The Vicar's Profile View Profile   Reply to The Vicar Reply   Quote The Vicar Quote  
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We use a 3 Mifi as both of us can be on the computer at the same time. We have found it very good and are getting signals in North Norfolk !!

Unfortunately we find site wifi unreliable and slow and non existent at bust times.

Would recommend !!

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A Fart is only Natures Ringtone

Finish what you sta


PersonPickled Onion
18/4/2016 at 10:32am
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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I got rid of my dongle when I found out that I could tether it to my iPhone as a Hotspot instead.

Dave

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


Persongeoffprinter
18/4/2016 at 5:06pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent. View geoffprinter's Profile View Profile   Reply to geoffprinter Reply   Quote geoffprinter Quote  
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Yup. tether from your phone if your contract allows it. OH has unlimited data on hers, but because its an old contract it doesnt allow tethering. So will cancel her contract and go sim only which is cheaper anyway. Just check how much usage you can use. On our network even if you have unlimited data on your phone, they only give you a maximum of 12gig a month tethering as a wifi hot spot. Which is plenty for us anyway although I dont understand why they put this limit on it anyway greedy b******s.


Personsuperbbird
18/4/2016 at 6:06pm
 Location: Sunny Greater London
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I don't have tethering on my mobile contract so have just bought a MiFi router & a 12 month prepaid 12GB sim from 3. The coverage maps on ofcom show EE as having better coverage but when I spoke to EE they don't seem to do a prepaid sim anymore at a reasonable price. Looking forward to trying it out in the next few weeks.


PersonTimCESmith
18/4/2016 at 6:26pm
 Location: London
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I'm on a 3 SIM only tariff with 12GB data. An extra £5 "bolt on" gets you another 18GB tetherable data within that month's' billing period. Another £5 gets you 30GB tetherable and unlimited personal on top of that. This seems to have changed recently. Now a lot cheaper than PAYG or paid WiFi.


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PersonGCMS2012
18/4/2016 at 7:59pm
 Location: Northumberland
 Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK View GCMS2012's Profile View Profile   Reply to GCMS2012 Reply   Quote GCMS2012 Quote  
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Scrap the dongle idea....

Forgot about tethering phone to lap top via the 'hotspot' thing (depending on cost though)....

-------------
Damned if I do...

Damned if I don't!!!!


Personskygazing
19/4/2016 at 2:52pm
 Location: Scotland
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The only dongle I ever had was way more trouble than it was worth. I'd use the WiFi on my phone every time.


PersonSGThomas
19/4/2016 at 4:05pm
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We find using the computer and emails the best and cheapest way, with a signal booster
signal booster

Currently we are using the free wifi, which is available around bar area.
Our pitch is about 150metres from the bar, but with the booster, works well.
The alternative was to buy into the charged wifi at €22 for a week.
Booster has practically paid for itself in one week


PersonRonni54
19/4/2016 at 9:37pm
 Location: Shropshire
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The site where I have my seasonal pitch does not have Wi-Fi and I only have a basic mobile phone. I use a Huawei 5330 mi-fi on a 30 day SIM only rolling contract from 3 (so I don't have to pay for it during the winter). I pay £8 per month for 2GB and it works fine.

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Ronni



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