computer question please help

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:37 pm

Im at home at the moment..... im on my phone and able through my data to be on this site. But i cant get any other internet sig.al like wireless or broadband.

Or adsl. Ive tried to use my phone as a modem but the signalis not strong enough.

My question is ..... if i get a 4g dongle and connect that to a lap top or some other device am i likely to recieve a signal?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:56 pm

Have you tried to restart your modem and router? Also, your provider might be doing maintenance or have an issue.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 2:47 pm

I would say that a 4G dongle would be unlikely to get any better signal that your 'phone does.

As Ahso suggests, use the standard support get out - turn everything off, turn on the router / modem and wait for the lights to settle, turn on the PC and see if it connects. If not then 'phone the ISP.

Post by **spot** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:12 pm

I take the original post to say that there is no Internet modem or external-provider WiFi available, not that it's temporarily down. If it's temporarily down then yes, tech support will get it back again.

If an external Internet provider isn't an option then a 4G dongle will give the laptop or desktop - or both - the same level of Internet provision as the phone currently has.

If the phone is an Android smartphone then it ought to be able to act as a WiFi hub for the other devices. The phone's 3G/4G provider might suspend service if doing this is against the terms and conditions but it ought to work. I agree the range of the hotspot you create will be far less than a normal WiFi modem or hub but you should have no trouble if you're in the same room.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 1:50 am

Thanks spot youre gorgeous. Ill make the effort to ask in town . I just didnt want to buy a computer if it was goi.g to sit there useless. Someone mentioned the 4g solution but i thought id ask everyone first. But, we'll see what it costs first.

No guys no internet at all. But its annoyed me that i can get data on a simple phone (no its not a smart phone).

All i want is to send emails, come here , and do searches. Maybe load pics and blogs. But i dont. "Game" or download music or films. Surely there must be something to get connected.

Its pretty bad ehen the government sets you back 20 years as far as connectivity goes.

Post by **spot** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:11 am

7 GB 1 year $ 50

Australia | Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia

Optus, data-only SIM. You need a MiFi 3G/4G router or dongle to put the SIM in. I use http://www.netgear.com/home/products/mo ... /hotspots/ for example.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:16 am

Dont get optus out here.

May have to use telstra..... my sim is an ALDI . Cheapest you can get.

So? Sorry im so out of the loop these days. Is a dongle a modem or SIM or transister type thing or what?

Post by **spot** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:23 am

A dongle is a SIM-in-a-USB insert to a laptop which behaves like it's an Internet connection.

The MiFi I linked to is a Modem Wireless Router which takes a SIM and provides WiFi like any other WiFi Router would do, so you can link as many things like laptops to it at once without any wires. The SIM has to "allow tethering" for it to be usable in a MiFi router.

The SIM you'll need is a data-only SIM additional to the one you're currently using in your phone.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:28 am

magentaflame;1511351 wrote: Dont get optus out here.

May have to use telstra..... my sim is an ALDI . Cheapest you can get.

So? Sorry im so out of the loop these days. Is a dongle a modem or SIM or transister type thing or what?

Basically a dongle is a 'phone without the 'phoney bits set to act as a data portal all of the time (I'd say act as a hotspot but a lot plug into the PC and most of those don't provide wi-fi)

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:40 am

****! I tried wifi on my phone but it doesnt pick up anything..... so when wifi is turned off on the phone what is the phone using? 3g ? Signal? Not sure if ALDI has a data only SIM.

Post by **spot** » Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:19 am

I think we need to know the model of phone to answer that.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:31 am

So....its been suggested that i buy a 4g android smartphone and use that as a modem type thing with a laptop.

I think ill try that. Or at least ask about it.

Post by **spot** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:35 am

That would work, yes. You may have to switch your SIM plan to one with enough data. It's what I did when I was in a flat with no Internet.

How to choose a 4G Smartphone.

All 4G Android Smartphones are almost identical but some cost AU$150 and some cost AU$1500.

The "almost" is important, too. There are differences, as follows.

Some 4G Smartphones will give you security updates for the next three months and then never again. Some will give you security updates for the next three years. Some people think security updates are important. I'm not sure whether they are or not, I'd never do online banking on a phone either way.

If you don't care about security updates, go to https://www.chinavasion.com/china/whole ... martphone/ - I've used THL phones and they're cheap and do the job very nicely. Their advert is at http://en.thl.com.cn/ProductMain.aspx?pid=491

The absolutely best phone on the planet today at any price is the OnePlus 5 at AU$800. You need to decide whether it's worth five times the THL.

I'll be interested to hear what you end up with.