Mobile Wifi/data

[frazzledbutcalm]

I'm not techy in the slightest. Been away recently and dc wanted wifi as they don't get much data on their phone. Dsis was with us and produced a small box that she let dc connect to so they could use her mobile data. It's part of her phone package. So ... can I buy something like this and 'top up' with data for weekend/week away?
TIA

[ThreeFish]

It's called MiFi.
Mobile wifi that you take out with you to places where there is no public wifi available.
If you're not looking one on a pay monthly contract, you'll need to google for a pay as you go type one. I'm sure some of the big providers would offer them.
Check the costs though. Would it be cheaper if you have unlimited data on your phone, and your DC tether to yours?

[CointreauVersial]

I can create a hotspot with my mobile, so the DCs can use my data. The phone works in the same way as a MiFi device (or dongle), so anyone nearby can connect as if it were WiFi (with a password. of course).

I don't do this often as they hoover data at an alarming rate! However, it's useful as a one-off.

[frazzledbutcalm]

Thank you for the replies.

Mifi... this is the first time I've ever heard of it

My contract data's not an option .... I barely have any. I use my phone for calls and texts, pay £5 per month and get only 100mb of data which I don't use. I don't have Facebook, twitter or anything like that ... I just use internet at home for general browsing etc.

So my option would need to be mifi. Do I google pay as you go mifi or dongle?

I'm clueless really

[ThreeFish]

Pay as you go.
Be aware that the data allowance will expire after a set amount of months.
So if you dont use it, youve paid for it, but it wont carry over to the next month.
You'd need to be fairly sure you will use it, and not just a one off.

[MongerTruffle]

Here are some examples:
O2 Pay as you go:
www.o2.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/?contractType=payasyougo#sort=content.sorting.featured&page=1

O2 pay monthly:
www.o2.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/?contractType=paymonthly#sort=content.sorting.featured&page=1

Or if you prefer to use another provider just search "Mobile broadband".

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

For occasional use Virgin PAYG gives one day unlimited use for £2. Alternatively they do a "data only" SIM contract at £4/month for 1GB data, IIRC and they carry forward unused data.

I would recommend a NetGear Aircard, but they aren't particularly cheap.

[frazzledbutcalm]

Thanks everyone! I'll look into these options. 😃

[cdtaylornats]

If you have a BT home phone they provide free apps where you can phone using your home phone account from anywhere near a BT hotspot or from anywhere you are on free wifi. And if its a BT hotspot you can use it for data.

The calls appear on your home phone bill.

There are a lot of hotspots because every BT router reserves a bit of bandwidth to implement it