Aside from using plugging a dingle into the side of your laptop. Here are some other ways to access the internet:. Like dongles, these are little portable gadgets that connect to mobile broadband wherever you are.
Unlike a dongle, though, they do it by emitting a Wi-Fi signal. That means you can connect multiple devices at once, including smartphones, tablets, e-book readers, and more, but you'll need to remember to keep the battery charged. Compare mobile Wi-Fi deals here. Public Wi-Fi hotspots: The UK has a huge network of Wi-Fi hotspots that you can connect to - often for free - so you can get online when you're out and about.
Speeds can vary though, and you can't always guarantee there's one nearby. Take a look at our guide for more info.
Smartphone: Most smartphones can connect to mobile broadband, provided you've got 4G or 3G data included in your plan. Some can even be turned into Wi-Fi hotspots so your computer can 'tether' to it and use the internet. Keep a close eye on your usage if you do this, though. You just plug them into a free USB port and start using them.
This is very neat and compact, as there are no extra wires or additional devices to encumber you. They provide surprisingly fast speeds, so you can expect a decent performance, and when 5G options become available, performance will be even better. They can thus be used with any laptop or tablet device, or even an e-book reader. You can also get pay-as-you-go options, which are useful if you perhaps only need the dongle for a short period.
They are also great contingency cover for any failure of your home or office broadband. Should that go down for any reason, or if performance should drop off, you can just connect via the dongle instead. This would be especially useful in situations where you or perhaps a member of staff really needed to connect to a video conference and were having problems with the usual broadband connection.
There are not many, to be honest. During a cross-country train journey, for example, the signal may drop out now and then. You may have to reconnect to get it back when the signal returns. In extremely remote areas, there may be no signal at all. If you want to share the connection, this will be especially true. A 4GT dongle is designed for a single device and user, and while it is possible to share your dongle connection, that is going to impact the speed and performance you get.
On the plus side, you can connect multiple devices to the Mi-Fi as well as providing internet for devices without USB, like phones and tablets. The downside is that the Mi-Fi dongles are battery powered and chew through the juice pretty fast. If you need internet for your laptop computer and you regularly struggle to find a reliable WiFi network on the move, then a mobile broadband dongle could be an ideal solution. Or if you go abroad a lot and want a permanent connection, the dongle could be a winner.
If you need internet for multiple devices then a Mi-Fi dongle might be more useful overall, however. Sign up to our newsletter and be the first to hear about exclusive competitions , the best deals and the latest news. What is a mobile broadband dongle and is it worth buying one? All you need to know. What is a mobile broadband dongle? How fast is a mobile broadband dongle?
What mobile broadband dongles are available in the UK and how much do they cost? Should I buy a mobile broadband dongle?
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