Using phone get laptop online anyone?

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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I use a dongle when out and about... just wondering if anyone has used a phone to connect there laptop to the internet..

Many years ago I used a nokia phone and infra red to connect both but this was before anything(G) so very slow

Wouldnt mind using a 3g phone maybe..
 
wi-fi is no good to me... laptop can do that easy :) Need to be actual internet connection...
 
I do use a mobile to connect my PC or laptop to the Internet, but just when my broadband service is down. Works very well though.
 
JustJoe said:
No I mean you connect your laptop to the phone via wi-fi and it uses the 3G on the phone for the internet connection.
Click to expand...

My apologies.. thought you meant....


So what phone and any special setup guys? I have a naff old phone and ready to splash out.. can put through company.. But no idea what should get to do this?
 
My grandmas Samsung Galaxy S offers this, I used it at the weekend. Plus you can create the hotspur over wifi or tether it using USB.
 
i use my desire.. plug in USB, select "internet sharing" from the pop up option on the phone, wait for computer to see internet, off you go.

id check your phone contract for any limitations/costs however.
 
IPhone or one of the HTC Android handsets is probably best bet. I've never done it with my iPhone but my cousin uses his HTC Desire, I think it is, as an Internet access point for his laptop.

It is called tethering so maybe have a google read up on it. I'm not 100% certain if they still do, but o2 (perhaps others networks & handsets too) were being a bit greedy and charging users for using tethering with iPhone. They were requiring users to add it as an extra bolt on, so maybe around £10-15 extra per month on top of the standard tariff, to activate/allow it. There are ways of getting around it though but it's worth knowing in advance.

.
 
would be looking at PAYG.. sorry just old skool hate contracts...

neil_g i presume "desire" is a phone? will google it sounds simple enough:)
 
I've certainly done this numerous times with my old Nokia N97. I've recently swapped the Nokia for a HTC Desire HD and just haven't had occasion to use the new phone as a modem yet, but I'm sure it's possible and an easy enough setup.
 
Is there a reason for wanting to ditch the dongle? I was going to mention that I'd bought a 3-Network MifI thing last week and it seems like quite a canny little gadget, but if you're thinking of going the phone => laptop route so it's one less thing to carry then it's not really applicable :lol:.

I usually take a dongle in my bag when I go on holiday just to use with my netbook for online check-in, etc. but bought the MiFi and unlocked it myself so i could stick in a local sim card and connect my iPhone or iPad to it rather than only being able to use a laptop, as with the dongle, or being charged roaming data rates.
 
m1pui said:
Is there a reason for wanting to ditch the dongle? .
Click to expand...

Yeagh... Dongle works perfect atm...I use it to send my pics from football..

however cricket season is coming.. I will be sat photogrpahing that for hrs.. would like to go on internet with the phone and able to play some music... all using the phone... But whats the point of having that on the internet and paying for a dongle as well when i need to send pics to picture desk.. may as well have one thing that does both.. one account :) The laptops too big to lump about when a phone would do.. also lomng coach journeys to football stuff liek that...

So one phone does everyhting I want thats the idea... this htc desire looks the dogs.. but I was hoping for around 200-250 and thats more 300-350
 
Are you looking at any network in particular or you open to anyone?

EDIT: I was thinking to suggest the HTC Hero or the HTC Legend, but none of the networks seem to do it pay-as-you-go now so you might have to resort to finding somewhere selling it sim-free.
 
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I have a HTC Desire that can do this via an in built option called Wifi Hotspot. It is basically wifi tethering. Handy if you do not have a dongle.
 
I can get on the net anywhere on my laptop if I bluetooth it to my Blackberry .... bit slower than normal though
 
Pretty much any phone with internet connectivity should do it, it's no new thing.
I do it with my desire hd, and previously with my hero.
 
KIPAX said:
Yeagh... Dongle works perfect atm...I use it to send my pics from football..

however cricket season is coming.. I will be sat photogrpahing that for hrs.. would like to go on internet with the phone and able to play some music... all using the phone... But whats the point of having that on the internet and paying for a dongle as well when i need to send pics to picture desk.. may as well have one thing that does both.. one account :) The laptops too big to lump about when a phone would do.. also lomng coach journeys to football stuff liek that...

So one phone does everyhting I want thats the idea... this htc desire looks the dogs.. but I was hoping for around 200-250 and thats more 300-350
Click to expand...

Tony, the one thing that would concern me the most about what you've just said would be battery life.

The average One Day match is going to be 6-8 hours long, depending on the level, and that's a hell of a long time to keep one of the modern smart phones going with either constant internet connectivity or music/radio running. It will charge off your laptop, but then that's going to drain your lappy battery if you don't have a mains power supply.

At the very least I'd want to keep a PAYG dongle hanging about for back up.

There is a third option, but it isn't cheap. If you go for an iPad it will give you 3G + WiFi connection plus you can get the camera connection kit, allowing you to run you photos through it. Photomechanic aren't doing an iPad version, but there are alternatives which can embed the IPTC, such as FilterStorm.
 
neil_g said:
i use my desire.. plug in USB, select "internet sharing" from the pop up option on the phone, wait for computer to see internet, off you go.

id check your phone contract for any limitations/costs however.
Click to expand...


Yep, same here, only done once, sitting in a hotel room when dongle couldn't get a signal and phone [on different network] could, but it worked and was easy enough.
 
DemiLion said:
Tony, the one thing that would concern me the most about what you've just said would be battery life..
Click to expand...

hmm hadnt considered that.. although wouldnt be online al the time just checking now and then when theres a lull... would hopefully be playing music from my own collection on the mem card though..

Hang on.. I wouldnt have the laptop at cricket...

currently have laptop and dongle for when i need to send pics to papers

Want somehting to play music..check the internet and stuff.. laptop too big..

so whast the point of paying dongle fees and phone fees.... use the phone at cricket and also use the phone when needed as a dongle..
 
Gotcha! I thought that you were intending to upload from the cricket as well as chew all the battery up! :)

HTC may well be the better way to go then; don't touch the iPhone because they'll want another £5pm off you to unlock the tethering!
 
You'll need to get an answer from the Android buff for that, but my 2 year old Samsung 8910 does it if I'm pushed.
 
What you might want to consider is not using wifi, tether with a USB cable. Saves the battery a lot (disadvantage would be that you might start charging the phone from the laptop)
Most (if not all), windows mobile phones will tether in this manner
 
Nokia N95/N95-8gb and my Sony Ericsson X1i do it!
 
coldpenguin said:
What you might want to consider is not using wifi, tether with a USB cable.
Click to expand...

i never considered wifi in the first place.. would much rather use a usb cable.. everyone just says wifi so presumed that was only way... they are the answers there giving to the question... I am more than happy to use a usb :)
 
Kipax,
I would go for HTC hero, or San Francisco.San is not a HTC phone but running android and there is loads of people using it and all of them say it is great value for money. San Francisco can be bought on PAYG for $100 or even less :) I think even Argos is selling them as well.
As for thethering there's a small app that will do it for you.one click and done.
 
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