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Dogbiscuit
new user
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 2
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Hi there,
Can anyone help me to sort out my dad!!
He has retired recently and has bought himself a second hand laptop to see what this 'internet thingy' is all about.
Laptop is quite high spec but not internally wireless enabled but he got a D-link 802.11b PCMCIA card with it. He does not have a landline telephone only a mobile and we are looking for the CHEAPEST way to get connected for him to get an idea of what surfing is like. I expect he will be a very light user at first and then it will either take off in a year or so or could end up in the bin when he gets fed up of it.
I use broadband through a landline and have only used dial up through a landline about three years ago. I've got no experience of connecting through a mobile phone.
Laptop has PCMCIA card slot, Infra red, 2x USB2 ports, 1394 port. What do we need in terms of hardware and can anyone recommend a cheap ISP.
Thanks
Andy
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17646
Loc: Colchester
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What sort of phone is it? If it's a standard phone then the connection speed will be so slow (9.6kb) it would become almost unusable. If it's a 3g then it won't be too bad. Does the phone have an infra red port? If not is it internet ready? Give us a make and model number and we can advise.
I don't know of any ISP's that will set up a contract via a mobile phone. They all insist on a landline through which they can bill you for use. It follows that you will need a PAYG account and that will only be as cheap as the current cost of a call from the mobile. Have a look at this as an example of a PAYG company. No contracts needed, just connect the phone to the PC and dial the number.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Chrissyan
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 1075
Loc: By the Sea
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Don't know how this compares with the one Greysts has posted, but thought I would add this one too.Care4free
I know of it because my Aunt uses it, admittedly from a landline, but it states it can be used with a mobile.
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If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a terrible warning
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17646
Loc: Colchester
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Your link seems to be providing more in the way of backup than mine. You get a domain name, web space, spam filtering etc. with yours. I imagine the cost is more or less the same as you are paying the mobile phone company rather than the ISP for the time you're on line. I suppose the advantage with my link is that there is no contract to sign, just dial and go.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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LeeUK
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 45
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Go here for flat rate unmetered dial-up through a BT landline. Could work out cheaper than paying to dial a rip-off 0845 number for net access.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17646
Loc: Colchester
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That's a particularly good deal. £6.99 a month and a freephone number can't be bad. Unfortunately the original questioner said they only had a mobile phone and this company require a BT line.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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LeeUK
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 45
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Some really flashy mobiles these days have built in modems for connecting up a computer to use GPRS for net access but GPRS costs £2-£3 per MB which will soon add up and cost alot. It will be cheaper in the long run getting a BT line in and getting some cheap freephone dial-up access like the service I suggested.
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Dogbiscuit
new user
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 2
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Thanks guys. The mobile phone he is using is as old as the hills and it is difficult to explain to him why this could be a non-starter. I will try to convince him to get a landline installed and see where we go from there.
Thanks for all your help.
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