If you're using a laptop on wi-fi, have a look at the BBC iplayer if you haven't already.
This allows you to download almost all BBC TV programmes from the last 7 days and watch them in high quality on your laptop. You can watch them up to 30 days after downloading (for copyright and legal reasons).
This could be a great way of accessing TV programmes when on a site with poor TV reception. For legal reasons, it only works if you're on a UK ISP.
Oh, and it's completely free!
Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
Quote: Originally posted by Belinda H on 23/3/2008
I just looked at the 3 ones but they don't cover much of Wales and that's where we like to go
hello
Don't know the reliability of this info but i did read that Tmobile & 3 are going to share their info. If so this would increase the area where you could use one or the other.
if your with 3 and cannot pick up their network it now automatically piggybacks the orange network therefore giving you nationwide coverage......almost!!!!!!
Quote: Originally posted by The Welder10 on 24/3/2008
Hi my mate Tim has just bought 3 and is just trying it out now.
Can you ask Tim to report back on reception and the general area he uses it in please? I can compare it with their map of coverage so that I can assess whether it will be any good for me.
just spoke to Tim, the coverage in Deeside ( North Wales ) is 100% , Anglesey 50%, but working fine, he's very happy with it, he's new to computers but learning fast, i would think he will be on this site soon,
Can I add, you don't need much of a signal for internet to work, I learnt with T-Mobile that while I could not make a phone call I could send an email?!
The more signal though the faster it gets, here NG12 5xx I've got a signal with one bar, it's sluggish but works ok
If anyone want's to test how fast download this as above with poor signal it peaked at 100Kbs and downloaded 6Mb in 47 seconds?
I've been following this with interest as I would also like to get a laptop with mobile broadband just for Internet, emails and banking, home and away. Been in contact with 3 mobile who tell me that signal is not good for broadband here ( St Ives) so will have to keep waiting.
I've been following this with interest as I would also like to get a laptop with mobile broadband just for Internet, emails and banking, home and away. Been in contact with 3 mobile who tell me that signal is not good for broadband here ( St Ives) so will have to keep waiting.
£15 per month, Free USB 'pen' modem, 3GB per month fair useage policy
I used Orange pay as you go data last week for laptop in caravan in Croyde, Devon, it was fine. If it can't get the faster 3G+ or 3G signal coverage it uses a GPRS (I was getting 384kps)
Rich
PS. I also use laptop for DVD and TV with a USB tv card (not freeview) and a portable directional tv antenna as backup over the roof mounted omni-directional one.
I have a 3g dongle and it works great, and the bonus is if you are a 3 contract customer it is half price. It cost me nothing for the dongle it's free until end of may I am on the 1GB allowance for 18 months and that costs £5 a month.
Marc - whats it like for coverage? if you can't get a 3G+ (does it have HSDPA?) or standard 3G signal does it use GPRS? ... . £5 per month is very good ... but I'm with Orange so it would be £10 per month.
I'm deciding if I should move from the pay as you go data package i'm on and go with one of these new monthly all in packages.
I have found that even spending an evening checking emails, forums and using messenger it's only using a small amount of data - 3mb max. I disable all the data hogging services like Windows update or virus definitions and even images when reading forums. The PAYG can be very effective - Orange World Access Daily bundle for pay as you go is £1 for 25mb used in one day. Here are the PAYG data charges
So on a weeks holiday I might spend £7 in pay as you go data as opposed to £10 per month every month ... Thats not to say I wouldn't use it more if I had it!
Im a long distance wagon driver and have used it all over the uk with no trouble but I would say I dont get out in the country so not to sure about some camp sites.
First it tries to use the new turbo service (HSDPA) if no signal is there it reverts to 3g and still if no signal it then goes on to use GPRS which is a last resort, I have not had it on GPRS yet so cant coment on the speed but on 3g is fast enough and turbo is almost like home speeds.
Now had Mobile Broadband over a month now and I used just over half a gig in the first month, it's a great saving but my only concern is overall speed
The dongle used is generally the same for any of the operators so could I ask those with mobile broadband to take note of if it stays on HSPDA or constantly drops back to 3G?
Reason is I've to date always had problems with locking on to HSPDA and while it's messing about getting back on from 3G the speed is very slow. I don't know if it's meant to do this or once it's found an HSPDA signal should it stop on it? this does not matter if I have a strong signal or a weak one!
Quote: Originally posted by arc systems on 23/4/2008
Now had Mobile Broadband over a month now and I used just over half a gig in the first month, it's a great saving but my only concern is overall speed
The dongle used is generally the same for any of the operators so could I ask those with mobile broadband to take note of if it stays on HSPDA or constantly drops back to 3G?
Reason is I've to date always had problems with locking on to HSPDA and while it's messing about getting back on from 3G the speed is very slow. I don't know if it's meant to do this or once it's found an HSPDA signal should it stop on it? this does not matter if I have a strong signal or a weak one!
Something you learn to live with after awhile. I think it mainly happens during "peak" periods.