Advice On Finding A Signal


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Hiya

At home we have WI-FI so no problem with signal,but at Perranporth, Cornwall we have none at all. Can anyone recommend anything that will enable me to get a signal, so long as its not to expensive, £20 quidish is OK, or i will have withdrawal symptoms if i can't get on Nottstalga in the wee small hours of sleeplessness. :rolleyes: Thank you for any tips.

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As we go to Cornwall pretty regular and finding that signals for Vodaphone were pretty dire , we changed to Orange, they seem to have better coverage down there, (On saying that , we've mostly been in North Wales since the switch and Orange isn't too clever there !

Go to a Phones 4 U / Carphone warehouse etc (Truro will be your best bet) and get yourself an "Orange dongle" with a tenners credit , it will easily last a week , depending on what you're downloading, it'll cost around 20 quid.

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Hi Carni

I've heard that The 3 Networks signal has a wider coverage than most and Argos sell the little wireless dongles for around £20 failing that depending when you go I have a spare dongle with 3 network sim fitted that you could borrow so all you have to do is buy a top up voucher for it

Let me know if I can help

Paul

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I have a 3 dongle and it's pretty rubbish in Cornwall, get an orange , a lot better coverage (as it uses 3 and a n other that I can't remember at the moment.) as well as it's own network

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Hi carni I suppose it all depends where in Cornwall you happen to be we had a very good signal in new quay. Last year apologies if beefsteak knows better,all I was doing was trying to save you money. If the signal turned out not to be brilliant all you would have lost is £2.99 for a days data to find out because as I said I would have sent you my spare dongle.

My offer still stands if you want to try

Paul

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I was recently looking at Three, they do a very good Sim Only deal fo Calls and they assure me absolutely 'All you can eat' Internet @ £15 per month. You can 'Tether' Tablets and other devices as well.

2,000 any network minutes
5,000 Three-to-Three minutes
5,000 texts and All You Can Eat internet

The One Plan from Three - Just £15 a month. No Data Limits‎

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I have a 3 dongle and it's pretty rubbish in Cornwall, get an orange , a lot better coverage (as it uses 3 and a n other that I can't remember at the moment.) as well as it's own network

Its EE that Orange uses as well. What about finding somewhere that offers free wifi, often for the price of a cup of coffee, though not so good in the small wee hours I suppose noblue

Have a jolly good holiday Carni. Hope the weather improves for you :)

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Thank you so much for the tips,I will have plenty to look into now, If i go a bit quiet for a few days you know i had no luck, but i will stay optimistic until i have tried your suggestions , Orange seems to be the favorite, so thank you all.

fch782c, Thank you for your kind offer.

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The trouble is with looking for 'free Wi Fi in Cornwall is that the places like McDonalds that provide it are as rare down there as rocking horse poo !

Pretty sure there's one near St Ives (Hayle) One near Truro, one near St Austell, one near Newquay and one near Indian Queens on the main road south.

I could never find any where else !! I could get a signal on my 3 dongle in Tescos carpark in Truro though ..... :biggrin:

I've just had a look at McDs site and there's one between Cambourne and Redruth , one near Penzance and one near Falmouth too.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Restaurants/restaurant_locator.html#

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Oh and don't forget if you're not using a dongle you need a wifi ready laptop/tablet

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Most reliable source of free WiFi I have found in England has been Public Libraries!

McD's have "free" WiFi, but every one I have tried has been so slow it was impossible even to do basic e-mail, similar problem with other coffee houses that give free 20min tokens!

Still can't figure out why free WiFi is such a problem over there. Here in Pentwater (no McD's, or any other fast food joint) we have at least five sources along a one mile street! One of which has "high power" outdoor antennas! There is even free WiFi at the beach!

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If I'm near somebody with BT broadband I can get free internet as they become what is known as a "BT Hotspot" It doesn't cost them (Or me) anything as it comes as part of my our package.

(I get some free sports channels on the telly and PC too now)

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Hi All,

I am sitting here in Perranporth, Cornwall, and as you see we have found a signal, a Vodafone Dongle Thingy, lent to me by a neighbor to try out. Every thing is happening very slowly but at least i can keep my eye on what ever you are all discussing at the moment.My purpose in this message is to let any one coming to Perranporth for a holiday know there is hope of getting a signal. Thank you every one for all your tips. :tanning:

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Carni, Vodaphone are terrible. sorry you couldn't get a signal. I couldn't either my phone wouldn't work. unless I stood on a hill in my village, practically standing up on my head, with my arm stuck out at a 45 degree angle and holding my breath. So much for the glossy ad's.

​Reminds me of the good old days, a bit like a harry Worth sketch, with a portable indoor areil, having to be a contortionist to get a signal.

De Da.

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Not wanting to say it but "I told you so" . The Vodaphones signal IS rubbish in Cornwall !! It may be OK where you are Carni so stick with it .

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#21 Beefsteak,

Yup ya wuz right, this is the the first time i have got a signal since Saturday(enough to sign in) here in Perranporth. I have managed to get on a couple of times but only enough to see whats going on, and then the signal would break up. So all i can say to add to all of your advice is ...if you come to Cornwall its seems to be a problem with signals especially if you are surrounded by hills.. We went into one of the shops to see what choices we have, but i'm not prepared to pay £39, when, because we are near the sea and surrounded by hills there may still be a problem and we are only here for a week and need the dosh for Pasties and Ice cream, So if you Don't hear from me again, its cos i have lost the signal again. Bye All for now

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Well Hello, I'm back in rainy W-ton, just to say whoopee, no more climbing walls dangling my vodaphone dongle thingy from high up places, just got enough signal early morning and last thing at night to have a peep at Nottstalga.There are internet cafes in Perranporth and it is possible to get a signal, but because of the location it will not be fantastic.

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Well there you go folks, when you ask for advice and someone gives it to you , you'd do well to listen to them ! ........................................... slywink

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Thank you Beefsteak, you advised me well. It was worth taking my laptop, just to have a look in the wee small hours, but i couldn't participate most of the time as you say the signal is rubbish.

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