Does anyone have any experience of these? We're looking at one because it would appear that Niblet is going to have to go into a hospital for a certain length of time and the access points in the hospital are [LIFTED] expensive.

Haven't got a dongle, but I do have a mifi, which will operate both as a 3G-wifi gateway and a dongle (if you plug it in via USB). Works very well, no complaints at all. 3's service is pretty good round my way and it's got a battery life of about 4 hours or so as a wifi hotspot (and obviously no battery issues if you plug it in to a USB port, in fact that's how it recharges)

Do they still get shirty about having mobile phones & etc on in hospital wards?. It might be a bit more discreet as you could leave it somewhere out of sight.

Same, I have a 3 Mifi.

I've managed a full day out of mine before.

Speeds of up to 10Meg too depending on where I am.

From 3 £20 a month for 15GB download a month.

I have 3G PAYG dongles from O2 and T-mobile. The dongles are used directly attached to computer - Ubuntu and Win XP - or with 3G capable Ediamx travel and Zoom deaktop routers to provide wifi access for multiple computers. What do you need to know? They work - if you have coverage - but are not lightening fast. T-mobile has best fair usage policy - you can keep using it even when your allowance has been used up. It also has a bizare (but removable) content lock to prevent you from seeing the seamy side of the net such as Yahoo Answers! Top-ups easiest for O2. T-mobile you have to add funds then buy plan from funds added. Check the coverage before purchase obviously. Check you can use the go down 3G and wifi router in the hospital. Check compatibility of dongle with router if you go down that route.

Overall they work but try it out before required. The PAYG dongles are pretty cheap so you aren't risking much. What do you need to know?

S

When my dad was in hospital recently, he was able to use his mobile phone. However, you weren't allowed to plug stuff in to the electrical outlets.

???
How are you supposed to charge the phone?
I'd insist on using my laptop if I was in hospital for any length of time. Thankfully I has a green PAT test sticker on it, so they couldn't object to based on that.

My mum took it home to recharge the battery.