Advice on home internet

Zelda247

I currently have broadband from Vodaphone but need to cut back on costs as massively. I use the computer for mainly browsing and phoning friends on Viber and Whats Ap. Would it be better to just get a dongle and use the data from that to save costs? I have some data on my phone as well which comes as part of the phone package.

I have recently become a widow so really not used to sorting this stuff out as my beloved husband always looked after it.

ED E

For a light user a Three PAYG sim card that you top up by €20 every 28 days is the most affordable connection and within Dublin should be reasonably fast.

Buying your own device (B593, E5186) is a small outlay but you save a chunk in your monthly rate going forward.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Huawei-B593S-22-CPE-Unlocked-4G-LTE-White-Router-Ethernet-Cable-2-Antennas/173122689137?epid=1107601262&hash=item284eea9871:g:kQIAAOSw301aa2Kt (just an example)

Zelda247

Thanks, is this the same as a Dongle?

eezipc

Hi
How much are you currently paying for broadband?

Zelda247

Think it is about 45 euro.

Ten Pin

If you have a smartphone, you can put an Eir data SIM in it and use it for Viber, browsing etc. It also lets you tether to a laptop / PC (via WiFi, or USB) if you find it easier than a smartphone.

If your usage is relatively low it works well unless you stream alot of video. Check signal at your home first by getting a SIM and putting it in the phone.

It costs 30 euro for 50GB and lasts for 180 days. The only drawback is that it won't accept incoming calls. Viber and WhatsApp will work. You would need a second phone for receiving voice calls.

ED E

Zelda247 wrote: »

Thanks, is this the same as a Dongle?

Much better than a dongle but using the same mobile infrastructure.

Zelda247

I am a Vodaphone Customer I dont have an account with Eir, how would this work.

Sorry I know I come across as really dumb but my late husband used to look after all this stuff and i have not got a clue.

Ten Pin

How much data do you get on your mobile plan? It might just be a matter of using the phone hotspot to connect your computer for browsing etc

Zelda247

I have 2GB on mobile phone. I mainly use my desktop or iPad for browsing at the moment. Can I get a mobile device that I can use with my iPad or Desktop, I went into the Vodaphone shop today and they said to use my Huawei mobile Wifi E5220.... is this good advice.

Again sorry for being such a twit but I am not sure how to go about these things and money is tight as when my husband died his pensions were cut off so money is a factor. The thing is most of my friends live abroad and the best way for me to keep in touch is to chat either via Viber, Messenger or What's Ap.

I was paying 40 euro a month for broadband but I have to sell the house and so I have had that cut off from next week so need to find a solution as I dont want to be in a position where I can't talk to my friends, as you can imagine it is a difficult time for me so need to chat to them.

Ten Pin

Is it a pay as you go or bill pay phone?
Is the phone a smartphone? If so you can use Viber and Whatsapp on it in the same way as on the iPad.

Do you have the E5220? Has it got a SIM card and credit on it? You can use that as long as what you need to connect has WiFi which the iPad presumably does. Does the desktop have WiFi? The only thing is you would be paying for 2 plans when one would probably do if its a smart phone.

Zelda247

My phone is Bill pay. It is a Smart phone and i am using Viber and What's App on it at the moment.

Yes it is the E5220, I think it has a Sim card but I don't have any credit on it at the moment. The desktop and iPad are Apple so they might have Wifi.

I pay 25 euros a month for my phone plan and don't want any other bills for Internet.

Thanks for helping me.

Ten Pin

The E5220 is effectively the same as a dongle. It let's you connect to the internet over WiFi or USB. Was it bought from Vodafone? If yes then you would need to buy top up credit from them.

If it's unlocked then you can use any SIM you want in it. The Eir 50GB 180 day plan would work with that.

Same idea with the smartphone, if that's unlocked then you can put any SIM you want in it. You can get all calls and more than 2GB data for less than 25 per month on pay as you go.

All smart phones can be used in the same way as a dongle but you would need more than 2GB of data for that.

Here's a summary of all the pay as you go plans, just to give an idea of whats available.

Zelda247

Thank you. I don't know if it was bought from VF but in the past my husband always brought the credit form them.

My Smart phone is unlocked but I have the a bill account (not including the phone) with VF for 25 euro a month which includes free calls and texts plus 100 international minutes, plus 2GB of data.

Do you know if Viber, Messenger and What's app use much data?

Ten Pin

You would need to put a non Vodafone SIM in the E5220 to see whether it's locked or not. Has it got Vodafone's logo on it?

Viber etc use about 20MB per hour of calls.

Zelda247

No VF logo. I don't have a non Vodaphone Sim, I will try to get one somewhere.

Zelda247

How many MB in a GB, is it a lot?

ED E

1000.

Ten Pin

No VF logo. I don't have a non Vodaphone Sim, I will try to get one somewhere.

Get the Eir prepay mobile broadband SIM, if you can.
It should be free of charge. They might try and sell you credit but just say you want to check signal coverage first (you would need to check it anyway) in your own device (the E5220).

Zelda247

I went into the Eir store in Kilkenny and they said they only did a 20 euro monthly top up prepare mobile broadband.... very unhelpful they were too. So I just bought the Huawei into the VF shop and got the 20 euro monthly one from them because it has a VF Sim. I might try another Eir shop maybe in Dublin.

Ten Pin

Would Eir not give the SIM card by itself?

Car phone warehouse might have them, worth a try.

The 180 day prepay broadband is on the eir website, Eir shop staff are incorrect.

Anyway, if you get the SIM, you won't need to go to an Eir shop after that, top up vouchers can be bought from Dunne's, Tesco, Post Offices, Spar, Centra etc. Vodafone top up is also available in those shops.

Zelda247

Thanks so much. Ten Pin.

If I get the SIM how will I know if it is working if there is no money on it..... I know this sounds daft but really don't know what I am doing......

Also... do you know if I can check what data I have left on the Huawei device?

orm0nd

Zelda247 wrote: »

Thanks so much. Ten Pin.

If I get the SIM how will I know if it is working if there is no money on it..... I know this sounds daft but really don't know what I am doing......

Also... do you know if I can check what data I have left on the Huawei device?

I got a free sim card from Eir shop in Limerick , it has €3 complementary credit and no charge.

Ten Pin

I'm not sure exactly how the Huawei works but see if any of the options below work.

Option 1
Normally they have a dashboard that you access via a browser on the PC that you connect to it. The address is usually http://192.168.1.1

If it asks for login details then try "admin" (without quotes) for username and password and see if it works.
If you get beyond the login page, there should be some information about credit etc. If there's a SMS menu then send BAL to 50233 and the balance should appear in a reply.

Option 2
If option 1 doesn't work then you would need Vodafone website login details. The details are the phone number of the Huawei SIM card and a password. If the SIM card was never registered for Vodafone login then you can set this up but you would need to put the SIM in a phone to receive a text verification code. Turn off data on the phone before putting the SIM in. Better to use a spare phone if you have one for that because you'll need access to Vodafone website to register. Use your own Vodafone phone for accessing Vodafone website.
Once you login then all the balances are available to view.

Option 3
Put the Huawei SIM in any phone (again turn data off if a smartphone).
Dial *174# to see the credit on the SIM
Send "BAL" (no quotes) in a text to 50233 and you'll get a reply with credit balance and the data balance (if there is any).


Similarly with the Eir SIM, put it in the Huawei, then connect to PC and go to http://192.168.1.1 and if it let's you login then it will give the same dashboard as before unless it's locked to Vodafone.

How are you inputting the Vodafone top up code for the Huawei?

Zelda247

I brought the Huawei into the VF shop and they did it? does that makes sense? I did not have to put in any code...

Ten Pin

They can apply a top up on their system.

If you bought a top up voucher in Tesco, for example, there would be a code on it that is entered using the keypad on a phone. But the Huawei has no keypad which is why the login page is used (http://192.168.1.1)

Vodafone shop staff should be able to tell you whether the SIM was ever registered online and show you how to check the balance etc

DrPhilG

Zelda I don't have any info or advice for you but I just want to offer my condolences and hope you can get things in order to make life easier.

I do worry about my wife if she found herself in your boots. She is in a similar situation in that I handle all the bills etc.

Good luck and God bless.