3 G Data Card Or Dongle.

[BML]

When I go down to Blue Anchor Bay in Somerset from Oxfordshire I take my Laptop and a Vodafone 3 G Data Card so that I can pick up my E-Mails. The signal is atrocious and I can try to log on a dozen times before I get a connection and even then I can lose it.
I have just got my bill for the time I spent down there in May and it’s very high. Having attempted to find out if Vodafone have increased their charges by telephone I had to give up before I blew a gasket so I sent an E-Mail asking for their comments.
I go down to Somerset about 20 weeks in the year so does anyone have a suggestion as tto whether a Dongle is more cost effective solution than a 3 G Data Card.

[Neil_Brown]

As in, the Top Up and Go dongle? The mere fact you're using a dongle instead of a card won't increase the signal, unfortunately.

[JohnA]

Speaking in very general terms, and it does vary by model, I've found the data cards marginally better than the USB dongles. However the USB dongles have the advantage that you can use a USB lead to place the dongle in much more favourable position and a small change can make a big difference to your signal.

However, are you sure that it is weak signal? Another possibility is that because of your location, it's possible that you are trying to connect to a cell in South Wales which be may too far away to use despite having "plenty of signal."

[Neil_Brown]

However the USB dongles have the advantage that you can use a USB lead to place the dongle in much more favourable position and a small change can make a big difference to your signal.

The aerial sockets are often more easily accessible in datacards, though, and you could use a dedicated aerial to boost signal reception.

[JohnA]

The aerial sockets are often more easily accessible in datacards, though, and you could use a dedicated aerial to boost signal reception.

Yep that's certainly true and if the possibility I suggested about the problem being a cell too far away over the water is the reason then a a good directional ariel pointed to a cell inland would help.

[neo680]

I'm usually on the Storm forum, which talks a lot about VF signal.

For what it's worth, a contributor there commented on how, when visiting Doniford Bay (which is a stones throw from Blue Anchor) he gets a really good signal, better than when at home!

There's a lot of big hills, though!

Purely for info, if it helps.

[Retired-Lee]

Hi BML,

I've just answered your other query here.

As for this particular query, and the difference between a data card and a dongle, there's really no difference. It's more to do with the strength of the signal in that area. Do you have a handset that you can compare signal strengths with? If so, do they differ in signal?

I'd like to check this out for you, and can see what level of signal you should expect in the Blue Anchor Bay area, but I'll need a postcode if that's possible?

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team