Tablet - Connecting to the Internet

Suvv

Suvv

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Kev
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I used to be an early adopter of technology (first computer in 1980 :))but have fallen behind lately.

I have not got a Tablet as it did not seem to add much to my PC and Laptop but I now have a use for one :clap:

So my basic question is - if I buy a Tablet (I am looking at the Samsung Tab 2 at present) with only WiFi connectivity can I access the Internet when there is no WiFi available either by physically connecting to my phone, which does not have bluetooth, or plugging in a SIM card etc.

At present I can just connect my phone to my Laptop with a cable and I get the option to connect via the phone, I do not use it that much but it is handy and the downloads are part of my package.

TIA
Kev
 
Hi Kev

In order to connect when there is no wifi you need a tablet with 3g so you can add a sim, with data and use it when you do not have wifi.

The other option is to teether the table to your phone if your phone allows this and if your mobile network provider allows you to teether.

What phone do you have?

Hope this help.
 
Just discovered that my phone, basic Nokia Asha 300, does have Bluetooth :bonk:
I assume that I can just connect to a Tablet using that?
 
Suvv said:
Just discovered that my phone, basic Nokia Asha 300, does have Bluetooth :bonk:
I assume that I can just connect to a Tablet using that?
Click to expand...

No, the tablet will connect via wifi. There was a Nokia app called Joikuspot that allowed a Nokia phone to create a hotspot, you might want to check if it's compatible with your handset.
 
Don't think you can use bluetooth. You need a phone that creates a wifi hot spot. Looking on line the nokia does not.
 
Thanks for the replies. The phone does not have WiFi just 3G & Bluetooth so it will not be much good for connecting to a Tablet.
Its a bit annoying as it is so easy to tether the phone to the Laptop.
I would only use the Tablet away from WiFi a few times a year, a max of 2 weeks at any one time, so its not really worth going for a 3G Tablet.
Time for a rethink :thinking:
 
The 3g ones cost extra as well. If you do go this route have a look at the ovivo sim deal.
 
Look for a MIFI device, the earlier generation ones are pretty cheap second hand now (I sold one for under £20 a few months ago).

It takes a SIM card and sets up a wifi network just like a router.
 
Dave1 said:
Look for a MIFI device, the earlier generation ones are pretty cheap second hand now (I sold one for under £20 a few months ago).

It takes a SIM card and sets up a wifi network just like a router.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, could be the way to go.
 
sep9001 said:
Don't think you can use bluetooth. You need a phone that creates a wifi hot spot. Looking on line the nokia does not.
Click to expand...

You can use Bluetooth for tethering (depending on devices etc).

I use it to tether my S3 to my tablets as it uses less power than wifi


//edit//

Buying a mifi + another SIM (PayG or contract) may be more expensive than a phone upgrade ?
 
Last edited:
mrgubby said:
Buying a mifi + another SIM (PayG or contract) may be more expensive than a phone upgrade ?
Click to expand...

£15-£20 for a mifi, and £0 a month for an Ovivo data sim is pretty cheap, cheaper than a decent phone on upgrade or the additional monthly charges and new contract.
 
I'd compare the cost of the tablet with sim to the cost of one without but with the cost of a MiFi unit.

You don't need a contract for the data, simply get a payg data sim. This is what I use as I only need WiFi on my iPad on an irregular basis, and this works for me.
 
Chappers said:
I'd compare the cost of the tablet with sim to the cost of one without but with the cost of a MiFi unit.

You don't need a contract for the data, simply get a payg data sim. This is what I use as I only need WiFi on my iPad on an irregular basis, and this works for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that is what I am looking at now.
I would normally use the Tablet where I have WiFi access but it would be good to have the payg option for the odd occasion when WiFi is not available. I would not use it enough to justify any sort of contract.
 
Dave1 said:
Most people would feel £600 is a lot more than £0 ;)
Click to expand...

And I am one of them :D
The Nokia is my wife's phone - £5/month contract!
My phone is on payg - £12 last Year!!
 
I connect my tablet to my Samsung S3 (mini) by tethering, it was pretty straightforward, O2 gave me all the instructions I needed but tbh creating a hotspot away from home is ok but only just ok, on the train in to work (London) its pretty hopeless and slow and I havent found it much better when out and about, other may not agree but on the odd occasion I have tethered it doesnt seem worthwhile. The S3 connetcs to the net anyway and O2 upgraded me for free, monthly charges are less than I was paying before, admittedly not £12/year :)

Why do you want to connect away from home?

matt
 
Tbh I didn't read all the replies but I use a tab2 and S3 phone. When out and about my tab2 is tethered via wifi to my phone that connects to internet via 3g. I'm with virginmobile and can get about 5mbps download. Fast enough for hd youtube and BBCi player. Also if you have BT internet at home you get free use of hot spots.

Warning though: I use dropbox (to sync everything) googledrive for work filing and Onedrive aka Skydrive for photos and personal sharing. These will not know you are mobile and will continue to transfer. It doesnt worry me as I have unlimited data.

Bluetooth is too slow & who wants cables.

Make sure you get the tab2 with sd card slot. I have 32gb card in mine
 
I'm not sure why you want a tablet, but I thought once that I did too. I got an Asus TF300, which is supposed to be pretty good. If I had it to do over, however, I'd forget about a tablet and just get a smaller laptop with Windows. Tablets are fun... I play games on mine ... and possibly useful for checking email when connected to wifi, but I've not yet found anyone who prefers them for doing anything serious. I can't even imagine trying to use a spreadsheet on one, but even using a word processor, they're a pain to type on, especially if you're a died-in-the-wool mouse user like me. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone and don't like typing things on that either, but at least the predictive text on the Samsung is brilliant. I'm sure someone on here will protest that he/she uses a tablet for everything, but that has not been my experience nor that of anyone I know.
 
I'm with you to some extent although I absolutely loathe win8.
Tablets are not as yet PC replacements. I use mine (anti)sociably, like a phone. I do use it for photography out and about. There is one raw app this galf decent. Great for watching back videos email etc.
But a million miles away from my laptop.
 
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