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camperian

Having just returned from 6 months in Spain with free wifi on site at Camping Marhal, I was not looking forward as a fulltimer to the withdrawal symptoms of only getting I/A through cafes.

A friend of mine kept some newspaper adverts about dongles for me and I made contact with several companies.

So this is the situation.

Previously mobile phone only on O2 PAYG which was my first experience of mobile phones. I was spending about £40 a month on calls in the UK.

3 were offering broadband internet @ £15 month for three gigs. If I took out their dongle offer and joined their network with a phone, the price went down to £7.50. Total for both now £32.50.

Have I done the right thing?

After initial probs setting up, where the call centre in India asked me to re-boot the lappy and she would call me back in 15mins to save money on my old O2 PAYG she did so and I am now up and running.

Final question:

I would like to keep the old O2 number, how do I do it, can I use my new 3 before the change and how long does it take?

Wow, not much to ask in a post is it?

Ian

TR5

To transfer the phone number, you need to ask the OLD provider for the PUK number of your phone, and give this to the NEW provider, requesting a number transfer.
It can take 2 hours to 48 hours - but I believe there is new legislation either out or coming out soon, to make the transfer easier.

Best thing is take to 3, they can advise of the latest situation.

The 3 dongle works fine for me!

Rapide561

Hi Ian

The whole thing of net access and so on is such a minefield as there are so many deals on offer.

I tried a THREE dongle last September but had to return it as the connection was great....when it worked, but very slow in other areas. I am led to believe things have improved though.

The combined pricing you have seems very fair - what is included on the phone contract - eg number of minutes etc.

To transfer your number, when you disconnect from one operator they will give you - if you ask for it - a "something" code number. I forget the technical name, but you need that code to give the new operator.

There is a really good thread on MHF all about where people have used their THREE dongles.

I am still considering a THREE dongle but the THREE shop in Shrewsbury said there was no coverage where I am at present.

The other bonus with THREE, is the fact that when in certain overseas countries, you can use the THREE sister services - such as THREE Italia, etc at no extra charge to your UK pricing. You must be on the THREE network for that country though.

Russell

asprn

Spacerunner

I am using a Vodafone dongle at the moment. Its £15 per month with a 3gb limit. When in a 3G area its as fast as my home WiFi connection. Without 3G it still works at a reasonably acceptable speed. I also have a Virgin mobile phone for £10 per month 100 minute and 100 texts. These will rollover to the next month only. So if your mobile use is small then you can quickly build up to 200 minutes and texts per month.

pedrob1

camperian

Thanx everyone for your responses.

The only points that I don't yet understand are:

Can I use my 3 phone on the new number before the old No is transfered ( I am using up my PAYG on O2 at present)? Will O2 give me a replacement No so I have a back-up?

I get 300 mins on the 3 phone in the package.

Ian

artona · Moderator

Hi Ian

Yes you can. Your telephone number is linked to a pac. If the number you want to retain is out of contract or on a payg you can contact the provider that holds that number and ask for the pac code. O2 are good at releasing this code but they all have to.

Once you have the pac code then phone your new provider and ask them to associate your new line with that pac code/telephone number. Your number of minutes stay the same with the new contract

stew

camperian

Thanks Artona

The PAYG with O2 was non - contract. I bought the phone in Sainsbury's then joined O2 .Will O2 tho' give me a replacement number so I can keep the O2 active as backup or get a Spanish simcard for it when I go back out for the winter?

Ian