MiFi

I have had a 3 pay as you go MiFi for about 3 years now and find coverage fairly good. Mine is an old 3G model but perfectly adequate and gives download speeds of about 5 / 6 Mb when the signal is moderate to good. However, it is just like a phone, if there is no 3 phone coverage  the MiFi will generally not work either. I can wait till I get to a site and see how good our phones on O2 and EE are, and if inadequate, and 3 is available, go into a shop and buy a 3 top up. £15 buys 3 gig which is valid for a month. I think the unit cost about £60 when we bought it, complete with 3 gig of data. You still do find sites where nothing works however, although they are becoming rarer and rarer.

Stevel is spot on if your normal mobile wont work on site then your mifi on the same network wont work either. I have done the same as Steve and got a "3" sim, however i use this with a mifi with an external aerial with amp which is about as good a signal as you are likely to get and still have no signal in certain areas due to cell coverage, You can't amplify what is not there!

The only thing i will say is with my set up i do get a useable signal even in a lot of remote areas, Hope that helps

Thanks Steve and Jeff. I think you've both answered my question/s. I was a little surprised you both mentioned "3" network as it was quite bad 5-6 years ago when I had a dongle with them. However, like all things they have progressed and I suspect their coverage has improved. 

Thanks for your help.

Johnsy.

I also use a 3 MiFi. Rarely have I not been able to get a signal. Download speed can be as good as 8mb. If you can't get a 3 signal you can always use the tethering option on your smartphone if you have one and you phone uses a different provider.

We also have a 3 4G MiFi. Coverage and speeds are good. £9 per month for 2Gb. 1x USB and 10x wifi connections. Allows usage abroad with no roaming charges and allows FaceTime and Skype. Only need 2x Gb as have other availabe on our smart phones (also with 3).

I bought an EE buzzard 2 at the show in the spring and have found it very good. They may be there again in Oct promoting any new products- worth taking a look.

Anyone know of a decent well priced pay as you go unit I can purchase for use on sites that sometimes only have 'emergency calls only' signal on your phone? The sites, although Caravan Club, habe no wifi. Every time I see a router/modem that looks the ticket - the reviews are bad! Is the EE Osprey any good?

Cheers

'Emergency calls only' usually means that your airtime provider has no signal but one of the others has. 

To be safe, you need a SIMS for each airtime provider.

I go into a shop and buy a 3 top up. £15 buys 3 gig which is valid for a month.

You are paying too much!  Even direct from '3' you can now buy a 12GB/12month PAYG data sim for £30.(the 12 months only start on activation).  My last one cost £23.45 (post free) from an online supplier. The current  packs have a 'trio' sim to fit all devices.

When it runs out or expires just buy a new one  ... much cheaper than topping up!

I go into a shop and buy a 3 top up. £15 buys 3 gig which is valid for a month.

You are paying too much!  Even direct from '3' you can now buy a 12GB/12month PAYG data sim for £30.(the 12 months only start on activation).  My last one cost £23.45 (post free) from an online supplier. The current  packs have a 'trio' sim to fit all devices.

When it runs out or expires just buy a new one  ... much cheaper than topping up!

It will of course be dependent on how often you top up. Our phones on O2 and EE will often provide an Internet connection, so we usually only top it up twice a year. If it was more, it would certainly make sense to do as you suggest.

I use Three on my I phone £10 pm 2 gig data and 600 minute calls.  When out in the van I tether my Ipad or laptop to the phone. On a tour Moreton in the Marsh/York/Whitley Bay/Bowness on Windermere and Kidderminster I was able to use it with no problems. Using the topup facitiy when I ran out it cost £5.00 2Gig and then it goes to £5.00 for 4gig.