This may sound a silly question

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  1. Posts : 228
    w10
       #1

    This may sound a silly question


    Guys

    When watching interviewers on tv, even in a film, I see people just open their laptop on a train, a beach, in fact anywhere outside, and they connect to the internet, HOW ???

    I know that they can connect using cafe wi-fi, and I believe, outside a house/building if security is not good, but in open spaces ?

    Could it possible by using a dongle, which I did years ago, but had to pay £2 for 24 hours.
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  2. Posts : 207
    Windows 10
       #2

    When in the garden and l wanted to use wifi l brought a wifi booster that you plug into the mains that boosted my provider's wifi signal so can always connect to internet
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  3. Posts : 228
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    That was just to extend range to garden though ? on that matter, I have found in the past, that some routers (different suppliers) enable you to do that, but it does not answer question about other situations outside of home??
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  4. Posts : 207
    Windows 10
       #4

    frenchman96 said:
    That was just to extend range to garden though ? on that matter, I have found in the past, that some routers (different suppliers) enable you to do that, but it does not answer question about other situations outside of home??
    Dongles maybe your best option
    Guide on broadband dongles - Dongles: What are they, and how do I get one?
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  5. Posts : 913
    CP/M
       #5

    I see people just open their laptop on a train, a beach, in fact anywhere outside, and they connect to the internet
    Many notebooks and almost all tablets have builtin 3G/4G modem & slot for data SIM card. If not, most of current mobile phones can create a wifi hotspot, notebook can be coneected to it. External USB modem usage is another option.
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  6. Posts : 228
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Ah !! excuse my ignorance, so you are saying that if you have a SD slot, which I do, by inserting a card, I can connect to the internet, and data will be provided by the amount available on card.

    So if I read that correctly. I can if I wish, buy a card with data and just use it when out of range of my wi-fi or others ( like Costa/McDonald etc).

    Very similar to me turning on Mobile Data on my android?

    A lot to remember when you are my age, but it sounds like that's correct ??
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  7. Posts : 913
    CP/M
       #7

    Not SD slot for memory card but SIM slot for mobile phone card. Not all notebooks have it, check your documentation. If not, use your Android phone as your personal wifi hotspot/acces point. In both cases (extra SIM in notebook or wifi hotspot at mobile phone) mobile data must be allowed and enabled.
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  8. Posts : 16,712
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #8

    frenchman96 said:
    When watching interviewers on tv, even in a film, I see people just open their laptop on a train, a beach, in fact anywhere outside, and they connect to the internet, HOW ???
    I know that they can connect using cafe wi-fi, and I believe, outside a house/building if security is not good, but in open spaces ?
    I routinely use my phone's WiFi hotspot to connect my computers to the internet wherever I am [home or away].
    - The phone calls this "tethering" and you have to check that your phone contract allows this [not all do].
    - The only limitation I have seen recently is that I cannot "tether" abroad even though I can use my phone's internet connection for its own internet use in many countries.
    - By using my phone's hotspot & my phone's data connection, I avoid use of any dongle. The last time I routinely used a dongle I sometimes had problems with its driver after Windows updates but that was a decade ago.
    - By using my phone's hotspot & my phone's data connection, I avoid use of any internal 3G/4G card and therefore I avoid having to pay for a second 'phone' line for data.
    Connecting to my phone's hotspot & so to my phone's data connection is the simplest solution of all.

    frenchman96 said:
    Could it possible by using a dongle, which I did years ago, but had to pay £2 for 24 hours.
    You can get pay-monthly plans for your phone [and for dongles] that are much cheaper than the short-term rate you mention.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    It is always worth checking the price comparison sites for phone plans because the phone plan providers offer deals this way that they do not offer directly.
    - I always buy my own phone so I can opt for SIM-only deals with phone service providers & can switch between them with ease.
    - Here are some UK links
    Compare Mobile Phone Deals - Confused.com
    Compare SIM Only Deals Compare the Market
    Phone Deals - MoneySuperMarket

    - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Many hotels offer free WiFi.
    Many other locations, even trains & train stations, offer free WiFi but you have to accept their terms and, in general, you have to register your email address with them.

    Denis
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 228
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I have JUST put phone down from my mobile phone supplier(Tesco) and he explained, as you kindly have.

    Its not a SD card as that's for memory, its a sim card, which I ALREADY have of course in my phone, so if I have mobile near laptop I need to "tether" it and any usage comes off my mobile phone package.

    he told me to navigate to network, tethering, create password etc, but my phone may not have tethering as it is a Samsung J3 2017.

    So conclusion is, it would be a remote chance I would need it, but between W!0 forum and Tesco, I am a lot clearer.

    Please feel free to say if i have it correct and thanks to all.
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  10. Posts : 16,712
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #10

    Yes, you've got it right.

    Tesco never used to allow tethering so it's good to hear that they have changed.

    You'll need to read your phone manual to see if it
    - has a data connection
    - has a wifi hotspot
    and how to use them.
    [If you've lost the manual, you'll be able to get another copy at the Samsung website.]
    Samsung J3 2017 main webpage {there's a link to download the user manual about 5 foot down the webpage}

    Denis
      My Computer


 

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