Mobile hotspot for travelling

Forums › Off topic › Mobile hotspot for travelling

nate

6329 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 391

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Topic # 204883 21-Oct-2016 12:39

Wife and I are heading up to Europe at the end of the year, looking at buying a mobile hotspot I can put a prepay SIM in and share data between us.

Suggestions on something that'll do the job?

1 | 2

2772 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 555

Reply # 1655652 21-Oct-2016 12:42

A phone?

EDIT: That sounds a bit bluntly rude - But seriously - why not just a mobile phone?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

scottjpalmer

Minimalist
5500 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 431

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1655663 21-Oct-2016 12:53

I've got a pretty basic one going cheap

Linux

3833 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2181

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1655666 21-Oct-2016 13:04

Use the Hotspot on your phone

Linux

Ex JohnR VodafoneNZ 17 years 4 days

richms

21613 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4430

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1655672 21-Oct-2016 13:23

3 people support this post

IME phone hotspots chew thru the battery much faster than a dedicated appliance type one does.

Just watch out that there are still 3g only hotspots on retail shelves so dont end up with a slow one if you are buying new.

Richard rich.ms

Wade

2190 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 361

Reply # 1656543 23-Oct-2016 12:47

Depending how you are intending to use the hotspot 3G is still sufficient for most things, if price is any concern they are almost giving away 3g routers pricewise compared to 4G units these days. In real world terms when working remotely (outlook/SAP/networked spreadsheets etc) I can't usually pick any performance difference between 3G router or 4G hotspot from phone

richms

21613 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4430

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1656633 23-Oct-2016 17:03

If you are somewhere on holiday the 3g network is usually the first to turn to crap because of all the people there on holiday.

Richard rich.ms

jarledb

Webhead
2145 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 707

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1656643 23-Oct-2016 17:16

I have used the Huawei E5776 4G Mobile Wifi. Its a fairly small device and works nicely for sharing with up to 5 users.

Did a search and found this: Huawei R215 4G LTE It supports up to 10 devices. (PS: Don't know the shop)

Been happy with mine, but the last couple of trips now we have been getting prepay SIMs where we have been and used our own smartphones + sharing of data from them.

Jarle on Twitter - Senson NZ - WordPress experts

1eStar

1499 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 344

Reply # 1656713 23-Oct-2016 21:15

Spark MF910 is the most versatile unit I've found. Covers most international frequencies and NZ's 700MHz band 28 LTE also. $200 from spark.

ubernoob

539 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 79

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1656829 24-Oct-2016 11:02

http://www.store4g.com/huawei-e5786/

Just thought I'd throw it in the mix

SCUBADOO

104 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

Reply # 1656865 24-Oct-2016 11:27

1eStar: Spark MF910 is the most versatile unit I've found. Covers most international frequencies and NZ's 700MHz band 28 LTE also. $200 from spark.

Currently only $149 from Spark:
https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/mobilebroadbandandtablets/devices/spark-mf910-hotspot-white.html

Rickles

1865 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 143

Trusted

Reply # 1657089 24-Oct-2016 20:29

Nate ... I have a new 3G mobile modem/wifi hot spot available.

It's an Optus unit (Huawei E5251) that I bought and used a fortnight ago ... so virtually brand new. Battery good for about 4 hours, but works well when plugged in to power (comes with charger) or connected directly to a single computer.

Yours for $20 including delivery.

Bung

2600 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 364

Reply # 1657140 24-Oct-2016 23:02

In Melbourne a few weeks ago Woolworths were advertising Telstra 3g modems + 2G 30 day data for $15. No stock that I could find.

nate

6329 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 391

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1657368 25-Oct-2016 11:58

Rickles:

Nate ... I have a new 3G mobile modem/wifi hot spot available.

It's an Optus unit (Huawei E5251) that I bought and used a fortnight ago ... so virtually brand new. Battery good for about 4 hours, but works well when plugged in to power (comes with charger) or connected directly to a single computer.

Yours for $20 including delivery.

Thanks but I've already got a small unit like this and it not having a screen is a real PITA. :)

Rickles

1865 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 143

Trusted

Reply # 1657486 25-Oct-2016 14:11

>Thanks but I've already got a small unit like this and it not having a screen is a real PITA. :)<

OK ... doesn't need a screen unless changing the Passwords etc , and that can be done before leaving home.

nate

6329 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 391

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1657492 25-Oct-2016 14:27

SCUBADOO:
1eStar: Spark MF910 is the most versatile unit I've found. Covers most international frequencies and NZ's 700MHz band 28 LTE also. $200 from spark.

Currently only $149 from Spark:
https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/mobilebroadbandandtablets/devices/spark-mf910-hotspot-white.html

Thanks everyone, just picked up one of these today, came with 1.5GB of free data. I've got a whole morning of meetings out west tomorrow, with very patchy Vodafone coverage so this'll come in handy.

1 | 2