A local charity wants to go out to the elderly and lonely and use Mobile
Broadband to connect a laptop so that they can access online shopping,
or look at online resources that would help with reminiscences.
Looking at coverage maps, Three seems to have the edge around here
(although there are plenty of gaps - the charity understand this).
In locations where the maps offer the prospect of only an "outdoor"
quality signal, I was wondering whether a Three Mifi unit placed by a
window (or in the user's garden - it's a pretty safe part of the world)
would give us a decent chance of usable service - has any Mifi user
worked out whether it is any better or worse in handling a weak signal
than using a dongle in the same location?
The downside of the Mifi unit seems to be that Three's 12-months-12Gb
deal (£79.99 with dongle) doesn't seem to be available with the Mifi.
Could one buy a Mifi plus the dongle package and access the "dongle"
usage allowances from the Mifi ? (I presume it isn't as simple as just
shifting a SIM from one unit to the other).
>
> The downside of the Mifi unit seems to be that Three's 12-months-12Gb
> deal (£79.99 with dongle) doesn't seem to be available with the Mifi.
> Could one buy a Mifi plus the dongle package and access the "dongle"
> usage allowances from the Mifi ? (I presume it isn't as simple as just
> shifting a SIM from one unit to the other).
I can't recall where now but I did see something about it being as simple as
swapping sim cards as long as it's a 3 one.
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John Geddes <john@starmarkassociates.co.uk> wrote:
> A local charity wants to go out to the elderly and lonely and use
> Mobile Broadband to connect a laptop so that they can access online
> shopping, or look at online resources that would help with
> reminiscences.
> Looking at coverage maps, Three seems to have the edge around here
> (although there are plenty of gaps - the charity understand this).
>
> In locations where the maps offer the prospect of only an "outdoor"
> quality signal, I was wondering whether a Three Mifi unit placed by a
> window (or in the user's garden - it's a pretty safe part of the
> world) would give us a decent chance of usable service - has any Mifi
> user worked out whether it is any better or worse in handling a weak
> signal than using a dongle in the same location?
>
> The downside of the Mifi unit seems to be that Three's 12-months-12Gb
> deal (£79.99 with dongle) doesn't seem to be available with the Mifi.
> Could one buy a Mifi plus the dongle package and access the "dongle"
> usage allowances from the Mifi ? (I presume it isn't as simple as just
> shifting a SIM from one unit to the other).
>
> John Geddes
> Derbyshire
I don't know about Mifi (to be honest, I hadn't heard of it) - but I *do*
use a laptop with a '3' dongle when away from home. I use a long USB
extension cable, which enables me to dangle the dongle out of a window in
order to get 'outside' performance. Performance still isn't wonderful -
forget live video - but it's usually adequate for email, on-line shopping,
etc.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Roger Mills <watt.tyler@googlemail.com> wrote:
> I don't know about Mifi (to be honest, I hadn't heard of it) - but I *do*
> use a laptop with a '3' dongle when away from home. I use a long USB
> extension cable, which enables me to dangle the dongle out of a window in
> order to get 'outside' performance. Performance still isn't wonderful -
> forget live video - but it's usually adequate for email, on-line shopping,
> etc.
One option that's similar to the 'mi-fi' product is to use a 3G/HSPA phone
with bluetooth. Place phone in the garden, then connect to it with laptop
inside the house. It's a bit messier than wifi, but works reasonably well.
The top speed for bluetooth is only about 1Mbps so you probably won't get
super-fast speeds. See if you can get a phone with bluetooth extended range
and higher data rates - this tells you all the levels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetoo...s_and_features
The advantage of using the phone is you aren't restricted to the tariff they
supply with the mi-fi router. Or indeed to the Three network.
Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> writes:
>
> One option that's similar to the 'mi-fi' product is to use a 3G/HSPA phone
> with bluetooth. Place phone in the garden, then connect to it with laptop
> inside the house. It's a bit messier than wifi, but works reasonably well.
> The top speed for bluetooth is only about 1Mbps so you probably won't get
> super-fast speeds. See if you can get a phone with bluetooth extended range
> and higher data rates - this tells you all the levels:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetoo...s_and_features
>
You can also use a 3G/HSDPA phone, such as an N95/96/97, and run Joikuspot.
This will turn the phone into a wireless access point that can be secured
with WPA. It will give more range than bluetooth. Joikuspot is free.
Another advantage of using a phone rather than a dongle is that it has a
display that can tell you if there is enough signal before you switch the
laptop on.
--
Old protocols never die. They just get migrated over TCP/IP.
"Theo Markettos" <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote in message
news:8kc*hC2Ts@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk...
> Roger Mills <watt.tyler@googlemail.com> wrote:
>> I don't know about Mifi (to be honest, I hadn't heard of it) - but I *do*
>> use a laptop with a '3' dongle when away from home. I use a long USB
>> extension cable, which enables me to dangle the dongle out of a window in
>> order to get 'outside' performance. Performance still isn't wonderful -
>> forget live video - but it's usually adequate for email, on-line
>> shopping,
>> etc.
>
> One option that's similar to the 'mi-fi' product is to use a 3G/HSPA phone
> with bluetooth. Place phone in the garden, then connect to it with laptop
> inside the house. It's a bit messier than wifi, but works reasonably
> well.
> The top speed for bluetooth is only about 1Mbps so you probably won't get
> super-fast speeds. See if you can get a phone with bluetooth extended
> range
> and higher data rates - this tells you all the levels:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetoo...s_and_features
>
>
A Skype S2 on 3pay would be ideal for doing that, 50quid with 11quid
PAYG cashback (per transaction, so order one at a time) through Quidco http://www.quidco.com/mobiles-utilities/3-mobile/
Also phones are more sensitive than dongles, my S2 gives me an extra bar
over my ZTE 627 dongle, and the S2 is also powered up the same USB lead
"John Geddes" <john@starmarkassociates.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hbjv5i$27gj$1@energise.enta.net...
>A local charity wants to go out to the elderly and lonely and use Mobile
>Broadband to connect a laptop so that they can access online shopping, or
>look at online resources that would help with reminiscences.
>
What a completely stupid statement. Helping "lonely" people to be even
more isolated and locked away with a computer will not help them.
As for elderly people, I do not know of any that would use online shopping,
let alone want a credit or debit card. They would be pounced on by the
fraudsters.
So whoever this charity is, they didn't do much research or use common
sense. Is it a charity or a limited company registered as a charity for tax
purposes - one paying people from money collected as donations!
Older people do not understand or even want to learn how to use a
computer. At their time of life they want to put their feet up and not be
bothered.
> Looking at coverage maps, Three seems to have the edge around here
> (although there are plenty of gaps - the charity understand this).
>
That depends on terrain, maps are theoretical.
> In locations where the maps offer the prospect of only an "outdoor"
> quality signal, I was wondering whether a Three Mifi unit placed by a
> window (or in the user's garden - it's a pretty safe part of the world)
> would give us a decent chance of usable service - has any Mifi user worked
> out whether it is any better or worse in handling a weak signal than using
> a dongle in the same location?
>
Outdoor coverage means just that. The people concerned seem to
want to sell an internet connection, not help people. Are they that
cruel?
> The downside of the Mifi unit seems to be that Three's 12-months-12Gb deal
> (£79.99 with dongle) doesn't seem to be available with the Mifi. Could one
> buy a Mifi plus the dongle package and access the "dongle" usage
> allowances from the Mifi ? (I presume it isn't as simple as just shifting
> a SIM from one unit to the other).
>
This is a newsgroup. Company information is available from the company
concerned.
One thing I hate more than people running charities making a fortune for
themselves is people who take advantage of old people and take their
money. So why not post the charity name and we can see if it is a genuine
one or not. Then I will publish what people running it took as wages and
what their income was per year, then how much went to the charity.
If this WAS or IS a genuine charity some of us would donate the
devices you are after providing they were used by old people that
do want them. I still think the charity is making a big mistake. Old
people do not want computers! A lot don't want mobile phones and
do not want to learn how to use them. If they did, there would be no need
for the remote assistance devices people feel safer wearing. You need to
look at the people concerned. As for "lonely" people, the charity would
be better organising events to get people together more. Not leave them
isolated. It sounds like they don't really care, but just want to make
money out of old and vulnerable people - which is wrong.
"Roger" <roger20nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:hblhf4$lse$2@news.albasani.net...
>
>> Older people do not understand or even want to learn how to use a
> computer. At their time of life they want to put their feet up and not be
> bothered.
>
Not true, I personally know of one 87 year old, and one 76 year old, that
have taken to computing in the last few years, and one 70 year old that has
started in the last year, (after someone gave him a computer after an
upgrade). He is now researching the local history and local images, and
enjoying every minute of it, saying that he never realised how interesting
it would be. I have helped if they have encountered problems, or needed
security advice, but in all cases, the advice they have needed has been no
more than younger users have needed when I have helped them.
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Roger <roger20nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> "John Geddes" <john@starmarkassociates.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:hbjv5i$27gj$1@energise.enta.net...
>> A local charity wants to go out to the elderly and lonely and use
>> Mobile Broadband to connect a laptop so that they can access online
>> shopping, or look at online resources that would help with
>> reminiscences.
>
> What a completely stupid statement. Helping "lonely" people to be
> even more isolated and locked away with a computer will not help them.
> As for elderly people, I do not know of any that would use online
> shopping, let alone want a credit or debit card. They would be
> pounced on by the fraudsters.
I could be wrong, but I interpreted "go out to the elderly" as meaning that
people from the charity would be using the laptop while in the clients'
houses, and would access internet-based resources on their behalf rather
than leaving them for the clients to use by themselves.
Did you consider this possibility?
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
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Three mifi for marginal areas? 
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