[banjo21]

I work in a large IT consultancy which means most of my work is on a laptop and most of my time is spent on trains, at airports, in client sites without company network access and in hotels around the UK.

I need 24/07 connectivity and currently use WiFi at home over weekends, have a BTopenzone account for their and Tmobiles hotspots (mostly airports), use analogue modem connections on client sites (slow!!!!) and use extortionate hotel wifi rates in the evenings mid-week. BT openzone is £5 pm and hotels about £15 a night for connectivity.

I would like a better solution for train, airport, client office and hotels. Any suggestions?

I am not a mobile phone person (using one for only calls and hardly ever texts or any 'new stuff) and thus dont understand 2G, 3G, edge, HSPDA and any other mobile connection technology. I just want reasonable prices and 24/07 connectivity wherever I am in the UK - hopefully handling 25MB+ a day of data and speeds of 256K+ downstream. I need VPN and web access.
I also need a solution that falls back to a slower technology should the max speed not be available in a particular location.

Solutions, speeds, prices and provider ideas?

Many thanks.

[JuzzyD]

Look at T-mobile with their 3G card/3G USB modem.

[Sy1441]

Originally Posted by JuzzyD

Look at T-mobile with their 3G card/3G USB modem.

Definatly our T-Mobile USB Modem as mentioned.

£29 a month for a 12 month contract
£20 a month for a 24 month contract

Up to 3.4Mb (84% of the population covered) and GPRS on the rest of our network.

From plugging it in its about 3 mins till its installed and you'll be online, then after that its just a matter of opening the software and clicking connect when you want to go online.

Ive had one for about 6 months now and couldnt live without it.

[banjo21]

Many thanks.
I would go for the USB version of my home laptop doesn't have a PCMIA slot like my work laptop and I'd like to use it on both e.g. weekend breaks when missy lets me take a laptop

I see 3 offer their modem on £10pm . Am I right to assume they have a much lower coverage at the higher speeds and that explains a lot of the monthly price difference from T Mobile?

Money isn't the issue - its coverage and speed that matters to me.

Thanks again.

[Sy1441]

Originally Posted by banjo21

Many thanks.
I would go for the USB version of my home laptop doesn't have a PCMIA slot like my work laptop and I'd like to use it on both e.g. weekend breaks when missy lets me take a laptop

I see 3 offer their modem on £10pm . Am I right to assume they have a much lower coverage at the higher speeds and that explains a lot of the monthly price difference from T Mobile?

Money isn't the issue - its coverage and speed that matters to me.

Thanks again.

We have the best HSDPA coverage apparently meaning a 3.6Mbs connection covering 84% of the population.

We also dont charge for the modem (3 charge £99 i think it is on the £10 plan).
3 also have a 1Gb allowance on the £10 plan then charge 10p/Mb after the 1Gb. This would mean downloading a cd album for instance would more than likely cost more than buying the cd from asda!!

T-Mobile's data plans are all unlimited (their is a fair usage policy but you'll never be charged more than your monthly price).

[RohanM]

The T-mobile Web'n'Walk card is definitely Very Good. I have it plugged into the PCIMA of my work laptop - it first scans for Wireless Hotspots, then 3G then GSM, then you press the connect button and off you go...

So, it will always connect to the best available network-type. Coverage seems to be good, and the allowances are OK, too. Plus if works paying for it..

[banjo21]

Thanks All. A great show of support from this forum! Seriously you've just saved me £15x12 nights a month for hotel connections, £5 pm for Wireless hotspot account and endless frustrations at no connection at all on trains - every single month.

Can I owe you a virtual beer!

I have opted for the cheap/slow 3 service on the basis of its 14 day no quibble returns policy (which I hope is robust) and if the speed /capacity / coverage isnt good enough as I go between Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and London over the next fortnight I can always cancel and go with the T Mobile offering.

[mikeycubed]

Hi Banjo,

I don't have personal experience of the 3 modem but a friend at work got one about 3 weeks ago. He was happy with it at first but has since moved house about a mile and is having problems with it. The signal drops out and he struggles to get a connection quite often.
He phoned customer services last night and got an abroad call centre who were less than helpful, they hadn't even heard of the modem! He was going to try again tonight to see if he could get somebody who knew what they were talking about.
Sorry for being the bearer of bad news, i'll keep you posted how he got on.

Mike

PS- I take it from your gametags that you are a fan of Rhodes, we've been to Pefkos for the past 3 years and are planning to go again next year!

[banjo21]

- yeh go most years (May and sometimes Sep also). Got hitched there a couple of years ago (Lindos) hence the gamertags that Missy doesnt think are too sad.

PS. Put a request in to work to fund the solution at which point I can go for the more expensive TMob option.

[Sy1441]

Originally Posted by banjo21

Thanks All. A great show of support from this forum! Seriously you've just saved me £15x12 nights a month for hotel connections, £5 pm for Wireless hotspot account and endless frustrations at no connection at all on trains - every single month.

Can I owe you a virtual beer!

I have opted for the cheap/slow 3 service on the basis of its 14 day no quibble returns policy (which I hope is robust) and if the speed /capacity / coverage isnt good enough as I go between Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and London over the next fortnight I can always cancel and go with the T Mobile offering.

Bad choice.