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Internet access

J

janewatt

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,528
Location
Baie du Mont Saint Michel, N.E. Brittany, France
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
This is not a diabetes related question, but I hope someone will be able to help. I live in France where I get (from Orange) landline, mobile, broadband WiFi and TV and calls are all free unless I go abroad.

During the summer, I have to let out my home as a holiday rental as I'm desperately short of money. I go to stay in an old mobile home on a campsite. Past years have been difficult as Internet access via a paid for WiFi company is awful - very slow when it does work, and I have to be outside the mobile home. As I try to get translating or editing work for the summer and like to use this website, this is a real problem. One year I bought a device which I also had to pay to use - a "dongle" I think it is and it was really slow and unreliable too.

I now have a basic smartphone so I can access and send e-mails, but working and spending time on Diabetes.co.uk just doesn't work.

I've just been over there for three weeks and tested the Internet access - it's worse than last year and has doubled in price. I visited an Orange shop and they advise paying another 10 € a month to use the device again and I have to pay that all year too.

I have to go back to the caravan on June 17th for the rest of the summer so really want to sort something out.

Any other ideas/possibilities anyone?
 
You could try a powerful wifi adapter, like this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfa-AWUS03...f=pd_bxgy_computers_img_y/280-8059272-9505450

This one is used extensively by the yachting community to pick up hotspots in marinas or at anchor to bars ashore. There is also a router, which allows you to create your own hotspot, thus allowing multiple connections simultaneously.

If you are on a budget, the adapter may be enough. There is an outdoor version available, should you need to go to that extreme:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ALFA-802-11...17?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1400977893&sr=1-17

You may find these items cheaper elsewhere. They are retailed by Crucial Wifi, and can also be found on eBay, including used options.

We have both the adapter and router, which we use,on our boat. The adapter is super-simple, plug and play, with the router requiring mild concentration to set it up properly to include sensible security arrangements.

We also have another high power wifi antenna, but it was pretty costly, and in reality these little things do the same thing almost as well.

Good luck!

P.s. This one on beat isn't the absolutely latest model, but next to nothing!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-AWUS...SB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item43ca09292c
 
Avocado Sevenfold said:
That's a funny thing for a forum moderator to say!

Hope you get it sorted :)
Click to expand...


Well what I mean is I always said I didn't need Internet at all! And have very quickly become dependent.

Now love researching stuff and it can be nearly as good as being in a reference library. But I feel I really need it in order to write and translate. I can't do these things without it! I worry about what will happen when (if?) it all collapses.
And of course not being able to use this Site would be a major gap in my life!

Jane.
 
janewatt said:
Thanks so much for all this info. will certainly explore these possibilities.

Feel annoyed with myself for being so dependent on Internet, but have to accept it!

Thanks again,

Jane.
Click to expand...
Jane - I had a bit of a play with just the adapter today.

On our boat, on our home dock, using a Dell Windows 7 laptop, I found the following.

Laptop alone, using its internal wifi card- 4 Wifi networks

Laptop, plus Alpha wifi adapter - 20 wifi networks. The farthest is Around half a mile, as the crow flies; a bar. No great obstructions (tall buildings or pylons). in the way, but not in the line of sight, and the signal strength was certainly useable.

The one on eBay could be worth a flutter. It's currently sitting at £4.20, with 17 hours to go. The latest version only offers faster speeds (N technology), and I'd be happy enough with this one, if I could pick it up cheaply. As full retail price is just under £20, it's no immense investment, should it disappoint. I didn't do any research with the router as it only adds the potential to share a connection with other users.
 
Thanks for this.

I decided to go for it but ran into trouble reseting EBay and then Paypel. Was completely unsuccessful in sorting it all out in order to try to buy it8

So, now off on holiday for a week, so will leave it for now.

But can you tell me how this thing works? Does it just amplify whatever is available? So that I have to get access to the source whatever it is?

Jane.
 
It's just a wifi card (like you have on your laptop), but with a strong antenna, so it picks up more. You still need any relevant login details, but it usually gives more options and stronger signals.

If you go for it when back from hols, I can help you with the set up if you get stuck.

Perhaps put a watch on for others coming up at bargain prices? If I was in UK, I'd handle it for you, with pleasure.

Have a great break.
 
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