Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Camping and Caravanning Equipment

Topic: Portable wi fi

misterg

13/8/2020 at 12:00pm
Location: East Midlands
Outfit: Coachman VIP 575.Santa Fe

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/12/2003

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1538

Site Reviews Total:	2

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Does anyone use portable wi fi when on site? If so does it work well and is it reasonably priced.?

-------------
Mister G

tamglasgow

13/8/2020 at 1:55pm
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: 1997 ABI Dalesman 450CT

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 14/7/2004

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 185

Site Reviews Total:	16

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	6
Site Reviews 2020:	6
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	23
Site Nights 2021:	30
Site Nights 2020:	25
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

I use personal hotspot on my phone which is the same idea, it all depends on the network coverage at a particular location. In 4G coverage it is excellent.

bigmac

13/8/2020 at 3:46pm
Location: North West
Outfit: Meriva + tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 16/4/2005

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 17

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Not so much on a site, but used one at home for about a year because it was much faster than I could get through a wire (I was getting around 35mbs).

Obviously, the speed will depend on your signal. I found that Three was really poor in Scotland, where EE was much better.

If you are using it every month, then a contract sim is cheapest - I was paying around £15 a month.
I also used Three pre-pay data sims, which are handy for more occasional but frequent use. 24gb is valid for 2 years, and costs about £45 (although sometimes Amazon do them cheaper).
If you just want one for say, a month, then there are much cheaper pre-pay options.

Ancient Uncle

13/8/2020 at 5:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Festival

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 22/5/2017

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 479

Site Reviews Total:	5

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	3
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	34
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

When I need mobile wifi on the ipad, I get a payg sim from ee. It has proved reasonable value for money and also works in europe.
The one I am using at present is giving me 8Gb for £10 over 30 days.

cliffbrown

via mobile 13/8/2020 at 6:57pm
Location: chesterfield
Outfit: Ford Kuga AWD & Lunar Clubman SI

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 02/7/2006

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1581

Site Reviews Total:	6

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	8
Site Nights 2018:	0

I also use anEE PAYG sim in a mifi dongle £17 for 6gb 90 days, if you update regularly you get extra data so I actually got 7gb

spiritburner

13/8/2020 at 7:01pm
Location: NE England
Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 02/8/2004

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1625

Site Reviews Total:	21

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	2
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	6
Site Nights 2018:	0

Is there not a difference between mobile data & wifi?

cliffbrown

via mobile 13/8/2020 at 7:29pm
Location: chesterfield
Outfit: Ford Kuga AWD & Lunar Clubman SI

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 02/7/2006

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1581

Site Reviews Total:	6

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	8
Site Nights 2018:	0

You get mobile data on a mobile but you might not get 4g signal to use it, my phone is Tesco mobile, we have just come back from Sewerby we only got E reception in the caravan so could only use for voice calls and texts, the mobile dongle when plugged into the mains gave a great signal me and my wife where able to surf no problems

Median

via mobile 14/8/2020 at 9:52pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 510 4

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 20/12/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 87

Site Reviews Total:	19

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	2
Site Nights 2021:	1
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	2
Site Nights 2018:	0

I use my phone as a 4G hotspot. Some super deals out there with lots of gigabytes for very little monthly cost. When we go away I have two kids using it too and rarely runs out. Most networks will meet/beat deals by other networks if you chat to them.
Of course it depends on your network coverage however most ‘dongles’ are linked to a single network too (at least the last ones I used were) so suffer from the same issue.

V6Steve

23/8/2020 at 6:55pm
Location: Chatham Kent
Outfit: Elddis Elf

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 17/7/2020

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 76

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Forgive me while I'm being maybe a complete numpty but does this involve the removal of your contract sim and replacing it with a sim with the paid gb on it, or do you put it into a second phone and just use that as a hotspot?

Median

via mobile 23/8/2020 at 9:49pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 510 4

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 20/12/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 87

Site Reviews Total:	19

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	2
Site Nights 2021:	1
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	2
Site Nights 2018:	0

This is just changing your contract and using your phone as a hotspot. I have one sim, which is my contract sim, that has a decent data limit. As I said I then turn on the ‘hotspot’ on my phone and anyone with the password can use it like a dongle.

Whatamess

24/8/2020 at 8:17am
Location: North Wales
Outfit: Bessacarr E540

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 31/7/2005

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 4554

Site Reviews Total:	33

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	2
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	6
Site Nights 2018:	0

Quote: Originally posted by Median on 23/8/2020
This is just changing your contract and using your phone as a hotspot. I have one sim, which is my contract sim, that has a decent data limit. As I said I then turn on the ‘hotspot’ on my phone and anyone with the password can use it like a dongle.

What do you mean about changing your contract?

Speaker12

24/8/2020 at 11:58am
Location: NW England
Outfit: Tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/8/2013

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 236

Site Reviews Total:	25

Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	3
Site Reviews 2022:	4
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	3
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	3
Site Nights 2023:	11
Site Nights 2022:	13
Site Nights 2021:	3
Site Nights 2020:	8
Site Nights 2019:	15
Site Nights 2018:	0

Quote: Originally posted by Whatamess on 24/8/2020

Quote: Originally posted by Median on 23/8/2020
This is just changing your contract and using your phone as a hotspot. I have one sim, which is my contract sim, that has a decent data limit. As I said I then turn on the ‘hotspot’ on my phone and anyone with the password can use it like a dongle.

What do you mean about changing your contract?

I assume they mean getting a contract with a good amount of data if you don't have one already. If your contract has a decent data allowance you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot and connect laptops/tablets to it to access the internet. Thereby avoiding the need to have separate data only SIMS.

V6Steve

24/8/2020 at 6:24pm
Location: Chatham Kent
Outfit: Elddis Elf

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 17/7/2020

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 76

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

At the moment I have a sim only contract that I'm more than happy with. I think it has 4gig of data included and I can top it up any time I wish, so I could just do that.
I'm sure I read somewhere that you could buy a data only sim as some Jaguar owners use them in their sat-navs for some kind of satellite info supplement.
If that's the case, I could buy that and stuff it into my spare phone.

Median

via mobile 24/8/2020 at 10:04pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 510 4

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 20/12/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 87

Site Reviews Total:	19

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	2
Site Nights 2021:	1
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	2
Site Nights 2018:	0

It’s definitely worth shopping around if you haven’t looked for a while. There are SIM only deals with 50+Gb of data for surprisingly low monthly costs. There are even unlimited data deals out there.

Pixie_Hez

25/8/2020 at 8:23am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/7/2003

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1939

Site Reviews Total:	121

Site Reviews 2024:	15
Site Reviews 2023:	15
Site Reviews 2022:	14
Site Reviews 2021:	11
Site Reviews 2020:	8
Site Reviews 2019:	17
Site Reviews 2018:	8

Site Nights 2024:	78
Site Nights 2023:	75
Site Nights 2022:	66
Site Nights 2021:	57
Site Nights 2020:	39
Site Nights 2019:	68
Site Nights 2018:	44

We were surprised at how much mobile data (4G) we used when using our phones as a hotspot. We were away for 3 weeks in July and only really used it for checking emails and a bit of browsing for weather and local information during the day, downloading our daily newspaper through their App and then maybe an hour of streaming video in the evening. My husband ate through his 10gb in about a week and then had to start using mine for the rest of the holiday. I have 60gb that I rarely use at home, it’s just what came as a deal with the phone, but we ended up using at least 30gb of that in the 3 weeks so between us, we must have used 40gb in total.

If all you are using it for is email and browsing the internet, then a few gb of 4G data will be fine but start downloading or streaming and you will need a lot more!

-------------
Pixie

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Camping and Caravanning Equipment - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

6214 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Shop!]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024

UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder