pay as you go wireless internet question

[cavuu]

I recently purchased a Vodafone pay as you go wireless internet USB card. This is the version that gives you 10 hours for 10 Euros with a published maximum speed of 1 mbps. The average maximum speed in Carvoeiro appears to be about 1/2 what they say and the system is running on Edge not 3G. Five minutes usage showed 2 Mb of download on thieer software.

Has anyone tried Optimus or TMN in Carvoeiro and is the system running on 3G or any faster than Vodafone?

[fmm]

No idea of the speed, but my vodafone dongle runs on TMN and seems pretty quick - certainly faster than the equivalent dongle was getting in the UK. However, I moved from the time allowance one immediately as it worked out far more costly as I tend to have the laptop turned on most of the day, rather than just using it for an hour twice a day.

[Matryx]

How far away are we from a broadband connection to your house at CVO?

[superbocker]

Cavuu, I've got the same set up as you. It is fine for browsing and dotcomming but theres no way you're going to get anything fast enough for media downloads (even with 3g).

I find EDGE in Portugal is better than most UK roaming.

Depends what you're trying to do but i doubt the wireless dongle connection will ever be a permenant solution.

It may be a processor problem if it's slow presenting internet pages though.

Cheers

[Farol]

I use this type of Vodafone dongle. The device switches automatically between types of connection according to signal strength. Where I am the strength is very variable and is affected by weather, which room I use it in and even whether the shutters are open. However the same is true with my mobile which also uses the Vodafone network.

I suspect if you get a good phone signal then you will also get a good service from a broadband dongle.

For emails and light web browsing it's fine and extremely cheap. As I'm meant to be on holiday when in the Algarve it's fine.

My understanding is that the dongles are locked to a network and are not enabled for roaming in other countries. However, as with phones it's easy to get them unlocked.

[fmm]

When I was doing my epic trip back via Spain and France during the ash cloud debacle last year, I discovered by Portuguese dongle works fine in France and SPain, but not the UK, and my UK dongle will work fine in Spain and France but not Portugal

[superbocker]

I forgot to mention. I use Vodafone in the UK and in Portugal, but they are different Dongles and not roaming. That would get really expensive.

[Aldo]

where do you buy the dongles?

[fmm]

i got mine in the vodafone shop in Guia - all the phone shops there sell them.

[cavuu]

Thanks for all the replies it seems that the speed we have is normal. Glad to hear that it works in Spain.

Matryx... I am at Monte Dourado and there is no wifi available from our location. The closest free wifi would be Cafe Fino.

[maccasa]

My vodafone dongle can select which network to use - they are all basically the same 1-2 mps - provided you arent doing large downloads they are fine and for €49.99 and then €1/hr that's dificult to beat.