"Svend" (svend)
09/02/2014 at 14:58 • Filed to: None
0
6|
"Svend" (svend)
09/02/2014 at 14:58 • Filed to: None | 0
| 6 |
I know some in car entertainment head units now come with a built in Wifi connection to use your devices whilst travelling either just to stay connected to the world or merely to keep the kids in the back quiet while they watch some TV or surf the net.
However mine doesn't (basic radio, still a good radio but no sat nav, etc...) and though I've used my mobile phone as a Wifi hotspot it's not ideal for using my data plan or can be used in the car when I'm not in it or I haven't my phone.
Now you can get these mobile 3G and 4G Mifi units that have to be charged or plugged into the car's 12v outlet to top it up but then mobile phone service provider EE comes out with the Buzzard a dedicated 4G device to be plugged into the car's 12v power supply and is always on and getting power while it's plugged in.
Now the device itself is £40, £60 for device and 2Gb preloaded allowance and £75 for device and 6Gb preloaded allowance and both can be topped up with credit with it's swipe card at a store or from an ATM via your bank account.
Now with a little looking about on eBay I found a device for £39 so thought what the hell and ordered one to try, I saved £1 or so I thought, turns out it has a 2Gb sim card sealed with it and so have saved £21, hence, pleasant surprise.
So now I've got to choose a place in the car to plug it in (thankfully mine has three sockets).
Dashboard (lower centre console).
Rear seats (rear centre console) (this one isn't my car).
Or in the boot (again, this one isn't my car).
But as it's 8pm here and starting to get a little dark already I'll have a play with it tomorrow.
It's amazing just how much technology has come in the last few years.
EDIT:
Used it the other day. Fantastic little device when put in the boot area is completely out of sight.
Fits nicely up out of the way when the boot is full of car cleaning stuff.
and is nice and discreet in the rear seats also.
A really good value for money purchase.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Svend
09/02/2014 at 15:06 |
|
Its a double edged sword, hotspotting, because when it goes dark for whatever reason (tunnel, bad service area, etc) and your kids are in the middle of Daniel tigers neighborhood....so help you.
|
Svend
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/02/2014 at 15:11 |
|
I'll be putting in a microSD card to put films etc... on for devices to share if there is a 'lul' in connection. I don't have kids but I wanted to try one so I could get one for a friend who does for when they are travelling (a two and five year old).
KirkyV
> Svend
09/02/2014 at 15:18 |
|
I love the idea, but I hate having to deal with preloaded data allowances. It's a fair bit more hassle, but if I need wifi on the move, I'll generally just plug in my phone, and use that as a hotspot.
|
Svend
> KirkyV
09/02/2014 at 15:25 |
|
You get messages when the allowance runs low and like I say it's easy to top up through an ATM or on the internet and over the phone.
|
KirkyV
> Svend
09/02/2014 at 15:27 |
|
It's more the cost that puts me off than anything else. I'm only paying £12.50 a month for unlimited data and texts, so the amount you have to pay to top-up most pay-as-you-go hotspots seems a mite exorbitant.
|
Svend
> KirkyV
09/02/2014 at 15:41 |
|
I've a Giff Gaff sim card as well which I get 3Gb for £12.50. The 2Gb and 6Gb data allowance on EE are valid for 90 days.