question about internet access without a phone

(I've learnt more since last posting, so hopefully won't come across
as a complete newbie).

I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy (whether
PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop to the
internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or
separate phone account.

Criteria as follows:

1) time unmetered
2) I don't mind about a maximum on bits downloaded or uploaded
3) paid for up front (e.g. renewable annually if required), i.e. no
direct debit
4) proper email, i.e. I can use my email client to send and receive
through a server, without using webmail or a proprietary interface
5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area

Many thanks! Hope this isn't too unrealistic!

Michael

> I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy (whether
> PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop to the
> internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or
> separate phone account.
>
> Criteria as follows:
>
> 1) time unmetered
> 2) I don't mind about a maximum on bits downloaded or uploaded
> 3) paid for up front (e.g. renewable annually if required), i.e. no
> direct debit
> 4) proper email, i.e. I can use my email client to send and receive
> through a server, without using webmail or a proprietary interface
> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area
>
> Many thanks! Hope this isn't too unrealistic!
>
> Michael
>

There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that can do this, under a "pay
as you go system"

Neil wrote in message
news:iNCdnRRpDdwLjLbanZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d@bt.com...
: > I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy
(whether
: > PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop
to the
: > internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset,
landline, or
: > separate phone account.
<SNIP>
: There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that can do this,
under a "pay
: as you go system"

He doesn't want to use a phone or landline of any description. He
said ........

[Q] connect my laptop to the
internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset,
landline, or
separate phone account.
[/EndQ]

I took that to mean he wants a device that will be inserted in
his laptop that will connect directly to the net without relying
on other devices.

--
Regards,

Him & Her

<hanrahan398@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1193994806.679541.73440@o38g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
> (I've learnt more since last posting, so hopefully won't come across
> as a complete newbie).
>
> I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy (whether
> PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop to the
> internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or
> separate phone account.
>
> Criteria as follows:
>
> 1) time unmetered
> 2) I don't mind about a maximum on bits downloaded or uploaded
> 3) paid for up front (e.g. renewable annually if required), i.e. no
> direct debit
> 4) proper email, i.e. I can use my email client to send and receive
> through a server, without using webmail or a proprietary interface
> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area
>
> Many thanks! Hope this isn't too unrealistic!
>
> Michael
>

Not making it easy, are you ?

Have you thought about either a PCMCIA Wi Fi card or a USB Wi Fi device ?

T Mobile and The Cloud both do PAYG Wi Fi access.

T Mobile are slightly cheaper, but you still need a phone "initially" to
text them for your "login" details.

Then T Mobile deduct 75p from your credit for each 10 minute period.

Check out their websites
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobil...pay-as-you-go/
http://thecloud.co.uk/for-you/

I am not sure if "credEcard" are still involved in this part of the
business, they do/did a "WI-FI CARD" that could be topped up at Paypoint
stores.
http://www.credecard.com/uk/

It's not a phone but T Mobile sell a USB modem at £99.99p, and it costs £4 a
day for "Web n Walk Plus" which can be topped up using the swipe card
provided if Direct Debit is not an option.

There is a "Broadband Casual" offering from "Three" at a "Pound a Megabyte"
with the same/similar USB modem but this could quickly cost more than their
1Gigabyte tariff and would probably require a Direct Debit.

Googles Gmail is one option for sending email if you are using Wi Fi access.

Hope this meets "some" of your requirements.
Alan

"Him & Her" <contact.us@the.group.ok> wrote in message
news:Z42dncE31s0HiLbanZ2dnUVZ8vydnZ2d@brightview.c om
: : Neil wrote in message
: : news:iNCdnRRpDdwLjLbanZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d@bt.com...
: : : : I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what
: : : : gadget to buy (whether PCMCIA card or USB dongle)
: : : : enabling me to connect my laptop to the internet
: : : : without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset,
: : : : landline, or separate phone account.
: : <SNIP>
: : : There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that
: : : can do this, under a "pay as you go system"
: :
: : He doesn't want to use a phone or landline of any
: : description. He said ........
: :
: : [Q] connect my laptop to the
: : internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset,
: : landline, or
: : separate phone account.
: : [/EndQ]
: :
: : I took that to mean he wants a device that will be
: : inserted in his laptop that will connect directly to
: : the net without relying on other devices.

No such thing. Unless you count public access wi-fi networks, which are
unlikely to cover residential areas. They are also excessively priced, it
cost me £10 for a couple of hours at Heathrow Airport last month.

Ivor

"Alan" <alandotsemple@nospam.ukonline.co.uk> wrote in
message news:bGHWi.2024$pg.947@newsfe6-win.ntli.net

[snip]

: : Not making it easy, are you ?
: :
: : Have you thought about either a PCMCIA Wi Fi card or a
: : USB Wi Fi device ?
: :
: : T Mobile and The Cloud both do PAYG Wi Fi access.
: :
: : T Mobile are slightly cheaper, but you still need a
: : phone "initially" to text them for your "login" details.

But they're unlikely to be available over the entire area the OP mentions
he wants coverage.

Ivor

hanrahan398@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
> (I've learnt more since last posting, so hopefully won't come across
> as a complete newbie).
>
> I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy (whether
> PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop to the
> internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or
> separate phone account.
>
> Criteria as follows:
>
> 1) time unmetered
> 2) I don't mind about a maximum on bits downloaded or uploaded
> 3) paid for up front (e.g. renewable annually if required), i.e. no
> direct debit
> 4) proper email, i.e. I can use my email client to send and receive
> through a server, without using webmail or a proprietary interface
> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area
>
> Many thanks! Hope this isn't too unrealistic!
>
> Michael

Satellite? Or sit on the wall outside a house that has an unprotected wi-fi
system.

hanrahan398@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area

That's the tricky one. I'd suggest 3 Mobile Broadband (usb device, £18
per month) but although there is coverage in Derbyshire for it, there is
also quite a lot of Derbyshire without coverage. Have a look at their
coverage map and see if it is good enough for your needs.

"Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote in message
news:5p15n2Fp21udU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Alan" <alandotsemple@nospam.ukonline.co.uk> wrote in
> message news:bGHWi.2024$pg.947@newsfe6-win.ntli.net
>
> [snip]
>
> : : Not making it easy, are you ?
> : :
> : : Have you thought about either a PCMCIA Wi Fi card or a
> : : USB Wi Fi device ?
> : :
> : : T Mobile and The Cloud both do PAYG Wi Fi access.
> : :
> : : T Mobile are slightly cheaper, but you still need a
> : : phone "initially" to text them for your "login" details.
>
> But they're unlikely to be available over the entire area the OP mentions
> he wants coverage.
>
> Ivor

I thought the OP wanted to:
"connect my laptop to the internet without a phone,
i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or separate phone account".

There's also a "no direct debit criteria".
So that would boil down to a PCMCIA or USB device on PAYG.

FWIW
I felt some of the OP's criteria were somewhat at odds with the others.
I then thought a Wi Fi device would fill in "some" of the OP's requirements.

That's why I put the "3" or "T Mobile" USB modem options in as a last
resort.

BTW
I did look at the other newsgroups the OP had crossposted to.
Manchester have 115 Wi Fi Hot Spots but Derby only has 38.

So:
Web'n'Walk Plus Daily for 4 pounds a day with whatever device required.
Anything else would appear to require a direct debit.

I hope this fills in "most" of the requirements.

BTW Ivor

If it's not bad form.

I see on "uk.telecom.voip" that you have a Fritzbox 7170.

Can I ask where you got it from ?

Alan

In message <1194035000.12338.0@iris.uk.clara.net>, Iain
<no-one@hairydog.co.uk> writes
>hanrahan398@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>
>> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area
>
>That's the tricky one. I'd suggest 3 Mobile Broadband (usb device, £18
>per month) but although there is coverage in Derbyshire for it, there
>is also quite a lot of Derbyshire without coverage. Have a look at
>their coverage map and see if it is good enough for your needs.
>
Just to re-inforce the need to look at coverage maps in some detail:
Derbyshire is a pretty big and varied place.

Stayed on a campsite there in summer.

My O2 phone - no signal
Child 1 - a T Mobile variant - no signal
Child 2 - Orange - no signal
Work Phone - Vodafone - no signal

5 miles away, all had useful reception.

I'm sure Voda used to do a payg version of their data card but it was
about £200 upfront. Not seen it advertised recently. You could get it
bundled with some Acer laptops.

--
Richard C

On Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:18:24 -0000, "Him & Her"
<contact.us@the.group.ok> wrote:

>> There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that can do this,
>>under a "pay as you go system"
>
>He doesn't want to use a phone or landline of any description. He
>said ........

He doesn't. But I wonder what his REAL requirement is. Ifind it
difficult to understand why someone does not want to have a mobile
phone as part of the solutjoin. Does he realise that it does not have
to be physically connected to the computer?

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

"Steve Slatcher" <steve.slatcher@pobox.com> wrote in
message news:liboi350r2p62hbbt1j3ph7g5ml8ngfefe@4ax.com
: : On Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:18:24 -0000, "Him & Her"
: : <contact.us@the.group.ok> wrote:
: :
: : : : There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that
: : : : can do this, under a "pay as you go system"
: : :
: : : He doesn't want to use a phone or landline of any
: : : description. He said ........
: :
: : He doesn't. But I wonder what his REAL requirement is.
: : Ifind it difficult to understand why someone does not
: : want to have a mobile phone as part of the solutjoin.
: : Does he realise that it does not have to be physically
: : connected to the computer?

I suspect he wants free blanket-coverage wi-fi. There *are* places where
it exists, but I don't think his area is one of them.

Ivor

On Sat, 3 Nov 2007 10:06:27 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
<ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:

>I suspect he wants free blanket-coverage wi-fi. There *are* places where
>it exists, but I don't think his area is one of them.

You don't even get mobile phone coverage in many parts of Derbyshire.
I managed to find a couple of them myself with particulalrly trying
very hard.

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

<hanrahan398@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1193994806.679541.73440@o38g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
> (I've learnt more since last posting, so hopefully won't come across
> as a complete newbie).
>
> I'd be grateful for recommendations as to what gadget to buy (whether
> PCMCIA card or USB dongle) enabling me to connect my laptop to the
> internet without a phone, i.e. without a phone handset, landline, or
> separate phone account.
>

Assuming you are going to use the device over a 3g "phone" service, which is
probably the only way to get decent coverage, buying a device bundled in
with a contract is the best way to go. So once you choose a contract that
will fix the device. Both "three" and "T-Mobile" have mobile data offereings
that DO NOT include a "real" phone or line.

> Criteria as follows:
>
> 1) time unmetered

No problems, 3g is an "Always On" so they expect you to be connected all the
time...

> 2) I don't mind about a maximum on bits downloaded or uploaded

Again several options with several limits ....

> 3) paid for up front (e.g. renewable annually if required), i.e. no
> direct debit

I think the basic answer to this is "No chance". I am not sure why they
won't take 12 months in advance, (possible because of the way Direct Debits
work). Also rather than stop service they want to surcharge you for extra
bandwidth, hence a direct debit..

> 4) proper email, i.e. I can use my email client to send and receive
> through a server, without using webmail or a proprietary interface

There are ways round this for most folks, might involve more cash, but there
are ways round it...

> 5) useable in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire area
>

I think Derbyshire will be a problem. See the coverage here:-

http://www.three.co.uk/personal/prod...ollout_map.omp

or here

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/c.../street-check/


> Many thanks! Hope this isn't too unrealistic!

I think that these are new services, so expect teething troubles...

>
> Michael
>

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:21:26 +0000, Steve Slatcher
<steve.slatcher@pobox.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:18:24 -0000, "Him & Her"
><contact.us@the.group.ok> wrote:
>
>>> There are modern devices called MOBILE PHONES that can do this,
>>>under a "pay as you go system"
>>
>>He doesn't want to use a phone or landline of any description. He
>>said ........
>
>He doesn't. But I wonder what his REAL requirement is. Ifind it
>difficult to understand why someone does not want to have a mobile
>phone as part of the solutjoin. Does he realise that it does not have
>to be physically connected to the computer?

What kind of dick uses a mobile phone for the Internet out of choice?


--


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