"BGN" <nickmooney@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:ejui44ptiif3hil2dhqemkitvt1jej2775@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:15:30 +0100, "tims next home"
> <tims_new_home@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>The one in McDs was "the Cloud", and I now see from their website that
>>it's
>>free (you are presented with a login screen but you make up an account
>>name
>>or something) so it's not surprising that it's not available away from the
>>store.
>>
>>I've been back to the Openzone website and discovered how to get the
>>provider's details. The four hotspots in the shopping centre are all "The
>>cloud" and the one that belongs to BT is on an Industrial site 4 times a
>>far
>>away as McDs is. However, the one thing that is weird is that it's at the
>>back of my apartment and the signal is strongest in the front.
>
> The joys of reflected (if that's the right word) radio signals!
>
>>Anyway, I'll just have to wander in that direction and see if it gets
>>easier
>>to connect to. I really do hope that I can get this to work, all the
>>other
>>alternatives require a 12, 18 or 24 month contract which IMHO is utterly
>>ridiculous.
>
> I'm sure there are 'mobile broadband' deals out there which work on a
> 30-day rolling contract.
>
> <rummages>
>
> Three* = £15 per 30 days (3Gb) on Pay As You Go
> <http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/detail.omp>
>
> Vodafone = £20 per 30 days (3Gb) (rolling 30 day contract?)
> <http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/mobile-broadband/mobilebroadband/&planDuration=30>

You're better at this than me. I just found the 24 month contract thingy.

thanks.

>
> And, another option: If you know that a neighbour has WiFi within
> range and has it on all the time (and has unlimited bandwidth to use!)
> then why not throw five or ten quid to them every month so they can
> share their WiFi key with you - no contract there, but might not be
> super reliable)


I had thought of this, but I can hardly go down the street knocking on doors
asking who is the owner of the half a dozen secure networks that I can see

> * My brother uses the Three option and hasn't had any problems. I
> suppose it all depends on which provider you know has good 3G coverage

Finding out who gives me a good signal could be tricky. Perhaps I could
find out in the local shops.

Thanks

tim