Another IT query

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
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How do dongles work?

I'm thinking of buying one to use with a borrowed laptop during the cheltenham festival but would like to know the basics plus the pros/cons of those Aussie-sounding things.
 
Well I'm not too versed on them but they usual work via a SIM card aka your phone. Slip it in the dongle,plug into lap top and connect and away you go.
MAKE sure you are with a company that as a good signal in the area or you'll be struggling.It works on the signal strength again like your phone.Connection can drop off occasionally which is a pain but its worth getting it all set up before you go cos if its anything like mine when I first got it I had some gremlins and needed to make a few calls to T Mobile to get it running properly.
Hope this helps.
 
Make sure you check out the coverage in your area, some providers are patchy at best.

I got myself a 3 mobile pay as you go one with 5GB bandwidth for £15 a month on a rolling contract - so far it's been very good but I do live in a high coverage area.
 
We have just got rid of a 3 dongle as it was appalling, even though we were in a good coverage area!

With Virgin now & its ok
 
Looks like a non-starter for me anyway. The chap in PC World checked the coverage of the area where the digs are and said I'd need to drive into the country to get mobile broadband.

He said if the flat had landline broadband - which I think it has as I'm sure there's a modem on the floor next to the phone point - an ethernet cable would allow me to access the broadband without it costing the owner. Does that sound right?
 
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