PC840 , sorry I can't help as I don't use these dongles for internet. Seems as the extension cable you used is faulty. Luckily the dongle didn't burn out.

PC840,

Sorry to trouble you but I have asked elsewhere with no reply, and as you have a dongle I hope you may be able to answer my query.

I had thought that ALL dongles received their transmissions through a satellite and were independent of ground networks. Because my wife and I are going on a couple of holidays abroad using a PAYG dongle would obviate the need to use a local network, and would be much better being independent of them. But I can not find a satellite PAYG dongle, and was wondering if you know of such a beast.

Any information or advice would be very welcome.

Woolwell,

Thank you for your reply. Being brain dead I had thought that where there was no signal a dongle would cover your broad band use. This merely proves that a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing!! You see our first holiday is on a cruise and the broad band speed offered is 496 KB download and 450 KB upload, so it is quite slooooow, and the charges are not cheap. Our second holiday is to an island where the charges are $5 for the first minute and $2 per minute thereafter - very expensive. I had thought that if I had a PAYG dongle then I would determine how much I was prepared to pay. Now I am uncertain about the cruise but know I will not be doing anything on the island!!!

OH! Well, it had been a good idea, but it is just not to be.

Woolwell,

Many thanks for your reply. I know about wi-fi hotspots but - and I am not trying to crow - but the cruise we are on is 22 days and we visit 7 ports, so the vast balance will be at sea. So wi-fi hotspots are out, even if it is a good idea.

PC840 may I endorse Woolwell's point of view and apologise to you. I hope you understand that I was not trying to hi-jack your thread.