Decisions, decisions...

[rhythmaning]

As you may know, I am moving in about a month, and the flat I shall temporarily be living in currently has neither a phone line nor broadband. (These things are connected, of course. Or rather, there is no connection at all…)

I am not sure how long I will be staying there, so I really don’t want to embrace a phone company or get into an annual broadband contract, and have been thinking through what I might do.

I have two ideas: getting mobile broadband, or getting an up-to-date mobile phone which will allow me to access the internet through its connection (using the phone as a modem, in essence).

I was in my mobile providers shop yesterday, talking through the options.

I fell in love with the Android G1 phone. I thought it was wonderful. I am not particularly enamoured by gadgets – I have had my current phone for about three years, well past its replace-by date. But if I have to use my mobile for all my calls, I’ll need to increase my contract, and I might as well get a new phone out of the bargain.

I really, really like the G1. It just felt right.

Unfortunately, the one thing it can’t do is be used as a modem to dial up the internet from my computer.

Lots of other phones can do that – the guy said they were LTCH enable or some other irritating acronym… But not the G1. It could do that, but it can’t – the manufacturers haven’t bothered.

Which is a real pity.

So I could get a different, probably equally as good (but not so desirable) phone... Or I could get a 3G mobile broadband modem and stick with my current, old, not internet friendly phone.

Or I could get a 3G mobile broadband modem and the G1…

I guess it is all down to how much I want to pay.

There is also another proviso: the flat I’m moving to is a basement. Which means it might not get a 3G signal at. In which case, I’m fucked!

Comments

[andrewducker]

Depends also on the contract. The ones you get for mobile broadband tend to have much more data available than the ones you get for phones.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Good point - thanks! Definitely need to check, to avoid racking up big bills...

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Do you currently have a BT contract that could be transferred? I don't think that costs anything.

I am a bit wary of mobile broadband having been mis-sold it once when I was moving to a new area - the guy in the shop said that he'd checked the postcode and that it would be fine, only of course, it wasn't. And I've also had problems using it in my new house which is less than fifty yards away from my parents' house where it works fine. If you can, I'd suggest borrowing a modem from someone to check that there's sufficient signal in the new flat before you spend any money.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I definitely need to check - even in an area with good reception, being in a basement could scupper it completely!

I'll have to invite someone with a 3G phone around!

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

My brother mentioned a while back that certain providers transmit from on high and others from the ground, so I guess it's worth asking the question which for a basement flat.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

My preference is to find someone with a 3G phone and get them to test reception - that way, I'll know!

[fiendish-cat.livejournal.com]

I have basement (well lower and upper ground mainsonette) but have no idea whether my phone is 3G or not. It's a Nokia N95.

Normal phone call's are generally fine though occasionally some problems with signal. For t'interweb I normally use my broadband - but I'll happily check out 3G if someone tells me how to.