PAYG Mobile Broadband

[BertieBotts]

I'm moving and won't have internet access at the new place for a few days while I get it set up. I was thinking about getting one of those pay as you go mobile broadband dongles to tide me over, as I understand it you just top it up and can use that allowance until it runs out (so useful for temporary internet access) - do I have to get one from the same network that my mobile phone is on, or can I just get any one? (The 3 one looks cheaper/better value) Also, do I need a 3G phone, or for that matter a working mobile phone? Mine is dead and I can't get it to charge - it's too old to be 3G as well. (Hoping to pick up a cheap/second hand phone to actually use but prob won't be 3G either)

A dongle is a self contained device. You don't need a phone to go with it. I've heard that 3 coverage isn't great and I wouldn't be too inclined to go with that. You might find that 3G coverage is patchy at best and you may only get dialup speeds anyway.

The Vodafone PAYG dongle sounds ideal for your situation. The credit doesn't expire for at least 180 days, so if you don't use it all up straight away, it's available for emergencies and/or traveling. Buy the dongle via Quidco for £10 cash back.

T-Mobile coverage is not good either - when they advertise excellent coverage they are referring to their phone signals not the same as internet now we're locked into a 3 year contract with internet that often kicks us off every 2 minutes or goes down for hours.

Best to check coverage from the Three website for the postcode of the intended address.

I'm using it now, and have been using Three for the past year without any significant problems (small town in N Wales, home is a village of about 150 homes an hours walk from town centre).

Speed is variable, but you can get the Three 'startup' pack and once you've opened it and connected, you have 2-3 days in which to "accept" it or decide to return it to Three.

Hopefully if you are just browsing you won't even get to need it past 30 days usage, and can flog the USB modem on Ebay afterwards (for 15 quid or so - they are sold for 20 brand new) and in the first week or two sign up for an internet provider on the phone line.

See ISPreview.co.uk and ThinkBroadband.com for views and comparisons of different ISPs. TB allows you to choose up to 6 firms and get graphs showing how users rate them for speed, reliability and customer service. Do remember that there are generally more complaints than positive comments about ISPs...

Seeing the comment about Vodafone not expiring for 180 days, that's worth checking too, as you might want help in first month or two with some ISP service and (as long as you have e-mail on Google or some other non-ISP service) you will have a backup for chaing the new ISP (if there is some issue).

Good luck!

ooops - typo - "chasing"