Mifi recommendation any one?

dbroada wrote:

Paulmold wrote:The 12gb pre-loaded sim is now discontinued but some still around and getting cheaper..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Three-3-Network-4G-3G-SIM-Ready-to-go-Mobile-Broadband-12GB-Preloaded-Data-SIM-/262403729414?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

and from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004K2XO1G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

How can this be? One is less than half the price of the other! Every time I read these threads, I think, "I'm having one of these", but then whenever I hover over the "click to buy", I back off, with a well developed mistrust of info given about how the PAYG scenario actually works! So I find myself wanting to ask some dumb questions...
1. Is this fabled 3 sim card as it sounds? I.e. can I use it for a year, or does the 12Gig magically disappear after a month?
2. Folks talk about mounting it up high, and also using external aerials - can it be free standing?
3. Most CLs I use have relatively poor mobile signals, just how good is this 3 Network for coverage?
and finally, what is to be gained by spending 100 squid on, say the Huawei E5785 as opposed to 30 for an entry level one?
Thank you for your patience ;-)

My 12gb card ran out by date only last week. It still had 2gb left. To be honest O2 is now 4g almost everywhere now so I had little use for the 3 unit. I get 5gb per month on my O2 PAYG bundle. If I want to use my tablet I just tether it to my phone.

One of the problems I have with this forum is that, although we know the calendar date that responses are written I can't see what year. I suspect that my response was about two years ago so prices may not be particularly accurate.

As for using the 3 SIM, I have not had problems. I never write down the date I put one in and my MiFi only displays a single month's usage so I have no idea how much data I have left!

Last year I paid the £20 for a year's WiFi at most CAMC sites so have tended to use that although the MiFi is still available. As you point out though, a poor phone signal will leave you without WiFI. I'll make sure I have a new PAYG SIM with me when I go abroad later this year.

If you register with my3 you can find out how much you have left on your 3 SIM.

I must admit that £13.50 for 12GB and one year seem too good to be true! Wonder what the catch is...

dbroada wrote:One of the problems I have with this forum is that, although we know the calendar date that responses are written I can't see what year.

Not sure why the forum would have chosen an odd date format when you joined, but you can change to one that shows the year, by going to your Profile, under Preferences.

dbroada wrote:my MiFi only displays a single month's usage so I have no idea how much data I have left!

If you connect to the MiFi device with a phone, tablet or laptop and go to the MyThree website, it will show you how much data you have left and when it expires. You don't need to login (because it knows who you are from the SIM's ID info) and you can access it even when your data allowance has expired (because access to that site is free for Three users).

Thank you all for your responses - I think I will take a punt on the entry level model, as it is really quite cheap, all I want is to be able to pick up emails and look on CC websites etc. We don't watch TV on our van, so no streaming...will report back when it arrives and has been tested!

The "3" PAYG SIM that I bought last November to use in our MiFi for a Spanish trip in the MoHo, is now in my 4G Nexus 7 that was originally bought to fly a DJI Spark as the video monitor.

I've been using it to browse the web, both here and in Spain/France for a few months and it still has 5867MB showing, using the "3" app.

EDIT: Take care with buying an 'entry level' MiFi, it may only be 3G and not capable of 4G.

I’m about 18 months into my 24 month 3 data sim in a 4G TP-link mifi. Not had any problems with coverage in the UK. I’ve used it for checking emails, web searches, some downloads (not streaming), etc and doubt that I will get near to using the full data allowance. Very pleased with it so far.

We’ve used a 3 sim for about 18 months now , mostly abroad. When the first SIM expired after 12 months, as well as getting another Sim we got a better device to receive 4g. It is the next level up, costing about £60 from Amazon and has had much better reception than the first, better in most cases than my new Samsung phone. Even parked under trees in Germany it worked well when my phone wasn’t so good.

We put it on the ledge above the cab and haven’t bothered with an ariel etc as I read they were very hit and miss. It will receive TV, but beware that an hours TV will use about 1gb, so we don’t use it for that.

As others say above, the 3 website will tell you how much allowance you have left.

Remember that MiFi is essentially just a mobile phone, set to be a Mobile hotspot. If your MiFi gets a signal, your phone likely will too. So, before purchasing anything new, do you have a sufficient data allowance for your needs with your phone already? Or would it be cheaper to increase your data allowance or buy a one off allowance boost from your provider?

We've just returned from a week and a half away. Using my phone as a hotspot, we were able to stream an hour of TV every night (TdF Highlights) on a tablet plus all the normal browsing, email, FB, etc., on two phones for less than 3.5 GB of data.

I only use "3" have the 12GB 12 month with the "3" modem, I just put it on the table in MH when using, connects immediately, I will not use the free WIFI in public places, I only use my own. I find this system brilliant. the "3" card I am using is still from last year, and I have another one for when that runs out. 1GB per month for 12 months or runs out sooner if you use more than the 1GBpm  if you do not use the 1GB pm you do not lose it, it carries over.

I’m currently slumming it in Portugal (minus MH) and can’t get our Mifi to work. It’s switch to data roaming and says it’s connected to the local network. My devices show it as IP but every time I try and access a web address I get the message that the server cannot be found. Any ideas?

It sounds as though it isn't connected to the internet.

Do you have a laptop that you could 'ping' a reliable IP address such as the Google DNS servers with at 8.8.8.8 ?

Open a command line and type - "ping 8.8.8.8" without the quotes. Google should reply with the 'ping' times in milliseconds, line after line until you stop or close the terminal.

If that doesn't work, try opening a browser to your ISP's homepage - e.g "3" or Vodafone etc. It could be that they think that you have no credit.
If that's the case they'll offer to top up your SIM.

If you have an app something like Netty it will show you any active networks and you should be able to identify yours

Early last year I did away with our 3 MiFi and decided to Tether to my phone as I had unlimited minutes and texts and 30GB/m data (from 3) since then its gone down by £1/m to £17.           I have even run our computers off it when the BT landline went down for 24 hrs and I also have a Network Radio tethered off it and I still have plenty of data left over

As far as I'm aware, and both I and Christine have 3 contracts, 3 don't allow tethering when abroad under the 'Feel at home' contracts.

Thanks folks, I’ll give those suggestions a try  I’m using 
a hotspot to send this, ok for occasional use but not a reliable source.

Are you using a laptop or a phone/tablet?

meanchris wrote:As far as I'm aware, and both I and Christine have 3 contracts, 3 don't allow tethering when abroad under the 'Feel at home' contracts.

I think they do now but you’re limited to only using about 75% of your data allowance. It’s all on their web site somewhere but you do have to delve for it. I have 8gb a month and can get 20 for £6 more so cheaper than buying a SIM card, 24gb sim now being around £45. If I can find the info I’ll post a link. 

Nora

I am thinking the same as Nora.    It may well depend on your contract

meanchris wrote:Are you using a laptop or a phone/tablet?

Itouch and Android tablet. I’m now thinking the mifi might not be connecting to the local 3 network although it says it has, just getting on to them (3 that is) to see if they can shed any light (but I’m not holding my breath)

Well, helpful chap at 3 has checked the system and told me it should all be working fine.....it’s not. The mifi has connected to the NOS network, strong signal and they’ve even sent me a text message (which will no doubt be about charges) that I can’t open to read. Guess it will be a game of hunt the hotspot for the next few days 

We also tether to our phones for TV through a Chromecast dongle and internet abroad - no faffing arround as satellite is so last year now!

Lots of useful help here thanks to all. I think I have settled on buying a TP link M7450 which I will also use instead of my current BT broadband at home.Today tethered to my phone I was getting a speed of 29.41 Gb speed but via the BT hub and alleged fast broadband just 19 Gb. Three engineers have failed to find where the line enters 'hog castle so have now given up.
Just now need to find the right sim deal.
Has anyone here used the TP link mifi please?