I don't know if such a device exists....

[flipchart]

however I'm sure that I read of a portable wifi device that enables me to use my iPad in non wifi areas.

Is there? If there is what do I need to know?

Do you have a smart phone. You can broadcast a signal

You want a Mifi.

It connects to your mobile and uses it to turn the 3G into a wireless hotspot your iPad can connect to.

Or you get a contract Mifi, which is a monthly payment and does the same thing as above but without tethering your mobile

The high end smart phones have the ability to turn themselves into WiFi hotspots. This should not be confused with tethering.

My iPhone contract lets me tether DD1's iPod, DD2's lap top, my kindle fire and me MN on it all at once.

Wouldn't let anyone try to stream video, but checking up on the storm and Kik/Instagram messages seem ok.

I was in the pub the other day with someone who had a thing (not a dongle) It was about the size of a smartphone. We all logged onto it with our phones. No idea what it was called. It was on a mobile network (three maybe?) and so dependent on how good that signal was.

It's called a mifi.

Mi-Fi