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Internet in the van

Jennie

Jennie

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Location
Hertfordshire UK
Vehicle
Motorhome
What dongle/or other such things does anybody use to connect laptop to internet please- sad I know but sometimes it is better to have to work a bit while away in the Cali than not go away!!! Thanks Jennie
 
Another vote for just using my mobile as a Wi-Fi hotspot...
 
the downside with a mifi or similar hotspot is that if you connect yours and all your families devices they suddenly start to do functions reserved for wifi connections like syncing all their photos and videos to the cloud etc. as they think they are now on a full broadband connection and this can very quickly eat up your allowance, at least if you are using your phone you can disable it when you need to.
 
Mobile as hotspot. Limited data means I'm more disciplined and only go online for essentials.
 
£25 Vodafone MiFi 45 gig
£15 VF iPhone Mrs Amarillo 5 gig
£15 VF iPhone Mr Amarillo 5 gig

£55 per month; £660 per annum;
~2% of total trip budget.

Thank God the boys haven't started on phones yet!



Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu
 
We use mobile broadband for our home connection as our ‘street’ connection is less than 1mbps.

We have a sim only deal with 3 for about £25 per month- unlimited data and speeds of around 75mbps. When our van eventually arrives, I’ll take the router with us for longer trips.
 
We use mobile broadband for our home connection as our ‘street’ connection is less than 1mbps.

We have a sim only deal with 3 for about £25 per month- unlimited data and speeds of around 75mbps. When our van eventually arrives, I’ll take the router with us for longer trips.
Does it work on 12v?
 
the downside with a mifi or similar hotspot is that if you connect yours and all your families devices they suddenly start to do functions reserved for wifi connections like syncing all their photos and videos to the cloud etc.

This only applies to Apple products. With an Android device you can simply restrict the connection. Settings->DataUsage->Restrict Networks. Android will treat that WiFi connection like a mobile connection. Photos etc will be synced the next time you connect to a unrestricted WiFi.
 
Has anyone with a Three device, mifi or mobile, seen 4G data speeds abroad?

Whilst travelling to ‘feel at home’ countries over the last few weeks I have not seen 4G but, others I’ve travelled with who are on Vodafone have.
 
That makes me feel better about shelling out £25 pm for 45 gig.
And that makes me feel even more chuffed with my 100 GIG at 19.95 EUR (French operator Free). Of those 100 gig I can use 25% abroad.
 
Does it work on 12v?
Our mifi works off mini usb so we use either a mains usb or 12v usb to power. It also lasts several hours on its rechargeable battery.

Has anyone with a Three device, mifi or mobile, seen 4G data speeds abroad?
Whilst travelling to ‘feel at home’ countries over the last few weeks I have not seen 4G but, others I’ve travelled with who are on Vodafone have.
We have had 4G in France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland as far as I can remember. Our EE mifi has been a good performer for reception and speed.
 
Our mifi works off mini usb so we use either a mains usb or 12v usb to power. It also lasts several hours on its rechargeable battery.


We have had 4G in France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland as far as I can remember. Our EE mifi has been a good performer for reception and speed.
My Huawei MiFi using a 3 Data sim has performed faultlessly in Western Europe including Scandinavia on 4G. Also in California, Singapore and Australia ( Queensland, NSW and Victoria) on a combination of 4G and 3G.
 
Has anyone with a Three device, mifi or mobile, seen 4G data speeds abroad?

Whilst travelling to ‘feel at home’ countries over the last few weeks I have not seen 4G but, others I’ve travelled with who are on Vodafone have.
I have faced the same problem in europe. My three connection stutters while my wife's VF is chugging away at 4g speeds. Maybe time to leave three for sometime ...?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 
My Huawei MiFi using a 3 Data sim has performed faultlessly in Western Europe including Scandinavia on 4G. Also in California, Singapore and Australia ( Queensland, NSW and Victoria) on a combination of 4G and 3G.

That’s good to know @WelshGas . I did think it was only 4G data speeds on mobile phones that was restricted but hadn’t tested the mifi.
 
I have faced the same problem in europe. My three connection stutters while my wife's VF is chugging away at 4g speeds. Maybe time to leave three for sometime ...?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Yep, think I’ll keep the Three Mifi but change my mobile phone to Vodafone.
 
"roam like at home" is a bit of a joke. I assumed that it meant what it said, that I could use my contract allowance in the EU as at home. I should have known that that there would be a "fair use" policy.

This sets a limit (on Virgin anyway) on the amount of data that can be consumed determined by the amount you pay and the wholesale price of data. In my case, I pay £9 per month for 5GB of data etc. My allowance in the EU is calculated as 2*9/6.084=2.95 GB. Not fair in my view and certainly not "like at home"! I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies!

I don't know if this applies to data only contracts.
 
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