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Using laptop on the move?

bturner

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 2:30PM

I am subscribed to the BT homehub.

In a couple of weeks time I plan to drive up country a couple of counties looking at properties.

Is there anyway I will be able to use my laptop in the car?

I unserstand there are BT hotspots around the UK but I wont be near any large towns.

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onthelimit1

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 3:50PM

The only way to use a laptop away from places that provide WiFi is to buy a PAYG broadband mobile dongle. Most of the main players sell them.

Have a look here.

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onthelimit1

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 3:52PM

And some info on hotspots

here

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bturner

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 4:35PM

onthelimit, many thanks for the link regarding wifi spots.

A dongle is a great idea, that will be ideal.

I saw a documentary a couple of years ago where it was reported that people could park on a housing estate and connect to wireless broadband that someone had in their house, is that a myth?

Of course I would never want to do that but often wonder if someone is using my wireless connection from my home without me knowing about it.

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onthelimit1

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 6:13PM

'is that a myth'

It is true if their broadband is unsecured - most people these days (particularly in a housing estate) will have security. Anyway, if you connect to their signal it's theft!

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bturner

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Posted December 4, 2012 at 6:43PM

Thank-you again, I think a dongle will be just fine.

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mgmcc

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Posted December 5, 2012 at 10:54AM

"It is true if their broadband is unsecured - most people these days (particularly in a housing estate) will have security. Anyway, if you connect to their signal it's theft"

BT have a system where, in addition to providing users with a secured WiFi connection, their routers also broadcast an unsecured signal which is available to any other BT broadband customers. Additionally, a connection to the unsecured network is available to non-BT customers by purchasing a daily or weekly subscription to the service.

Recently, when away from home in an area where I couldn't get a 3G signal, I was able to get online via someone's BT router by purchasing a weekly subscription from BT. This use of someone else's router is, of course, quite legal.

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