Forum Discussion

AndrewC_1273566's avatar
AndrewC_1273566
SMARTY Pioneer
12-08-2023

Data only USB dongle


Hi all

Asking for an elderly friend.
He is looking to get a USB dongle with a data only SIM to give him internet access in his house.

I can see there are e.g. £5 for 2GB plan which rolls over each month.

My question is will my friend need to buy a USB dongle first or does that come with the plan? If he has to buy one, any recommendations?

Once plugged in, is it a simple installation process?

Cheers

Andy

7 Replies

  • JJP2's avatar
    JJP2
    SMARTY Pro-coach
    12-08-2023

    Very valid points from MSF there,  AndrewC_1273566 

    When using mobile broadband to access the internet, 2 GB of data isn’t going to last very long. 

    As you neighbour is elderly, I wonder if he would qualify for the “social tariffs” offered by the likes of British Telecom amongst others.

    BT offer a social tariff on fixed line broadband with unlimited data for £15 a month. (My concern would be that your neighbour may start with 2 GB a month, for £5, use that 2 GB, and then need to part with more money for another data package, so £15 a month for unlimited data on a social tariff may actually work out cheaper)

    This would be worth a read :

    https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs 

     

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      12-08-2023

      JJP2  The Smarty Social Tariff is £12 per month for unlimited. The customer needs to be in receipt of certain income-based benefits to qualify.

      • JJP2's avatar
        JJP2
        SMARTY Pro-coach
        12-08-2023

        Yes indeed, as they are elderly, they may be in receipt of pension credit. 

        The BT social tariff is for fixed line broadband, where the Smarty tariff is a mobile tariff, which, as you yourself quite rightly point out, isn’t a replacement for fixed line broadband. 

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    12-08-2023

    AndrewC_1273566  A few points here.

    The 2Gb data plan does not roll over as far as I can see. It lasts for 30 days or until used if that comes first.

    Smarty do not recommend using mobile data as a broadband replacement.

    Your friend would not receive a USB dongle with the sim - he would need to buy one (afraid I cannot advise due to lack of knowledge)

    Are you certain that the friend has a good signal in his home and also will not need more than 2Gb data per month?

    If he gets a dongle, he would need to ensure that the APN setting was changed to mob.asm.net; this change should be explained in the manual.