It’s a no-brainer that mobile broadband is the best optiion to keep you connected to the Internet on your laptop as you travel. But with so many options available it’s tough to know where to start. 3’s cheap packages? Vodafone’s insane speeds? T-Mobile’s hotspot support?
And it’s not just choosing a plan - after you’ve paid up, how and when you surf and what browser you use can all help to increase speed or save you money. Luckily for you then we break down all the dilemmas. Think of us as the Jeremy Kyle of the phone world. Read on for our guide to helping you pick the best plan and find out how to boost your speeds with our top tips…
How do you surf?
Do you just fire off emails on the train and have a landline broadband connection at home? If so, pay as you go is one of the most sensible ways forward. But if you’re planning to use a mobile dongle as your main Internet connection you’ll want anything up to unlimited monthly bandwidth use. This simple self-diagnosis of your usage is simple but crucial before you even begin.
Be a speed demon
Just how fast do you need to surf? Vodafone currently leads the way, with speeds of up to an ear-bleeding 7.2 Mbps, ideal if you frequently download large files at bullet-speeds.
Where are you going?
Sure, fast 3G mobile broadband coverage is extremely good, however, before you travel it’s worth checking the signal coverage where you’re headed. Mobile Broadband Info offers a handy service which lets you type in your postcode and find out which providers have coverage in your area.
Play the waiting game (or not)
Longer term contracts can be tempting for lower prices, and if you need to send email that’s fine. But if you’re a bandwidth hog and need your video fix, you might consider paying for a shorter contract, so that you can upgrade to a faster connection sooner.
Be mobile in the right place
Mobile broadband isn’t always as fast as a fixed Wi-Fi hotspot, so T-Mobile’s convenient hotspots dotted across the country offer super speed Wi-Fi, even to laptop owners without a mobile dongle if you sign up.
Reduce your bandwidth
Avoid going over your data cap by using nifty Firefox settings and plugins to reduce the amount downloaded every time a web page loads. Bookmark text-only versions of your favourite websites if they offer them, and if you use RSS, use Google Reader’s list-only option as default.
Get online abroad
Data charges abroad can be huge, so be careful not to get burned. If you can’t find any Wi-Fi, T-Mobile offers the best rates of £1.50 per Mb in the EU, and 3 has the cheapest outside the continent at £6.50 per Mb. Make sure you stick to just sending emails.
Know your limits
If you think you may occasionally run the risk of going over your data limit, go with a plan with a fair use policy that’ll give you a warning instead of just fining you there and then. Vodafone’s handy calculator meanwhile gives you a rough idea of how much bandwidth different media and sites use.
Mac or PC?
If you use an operating system other than Windows it’s best to check beforehand with providers whether they’re compatible. Mac users are unlikely to have any problem nowadays, but some packages still require XP or Vista to activate, and Linux is not officially supported by any providers. Check forums for advice on a package you have in mind.
Wanna go slow?
If you already have a 3G phone you might not even need to fork out for a mobile dongle (if you’re prepared to connect at slower speeds) - just connect it to your laptop via bluetooth and you’re away. Watch out for data limits though.
100% secured payment
