I have had an O2 USB 3G Modem for a while and find it essential when travelling for internet access and using it to VPN back to my work network, but with it being USB it’s tied to one device at a time. When I was getting the iPad I didn’t want to get the 3G version and pay another data tariff so I looked at another solution called a MiFi. A MiFiis a 3G modem that you connect to via wifi so it means that any wifi enabled device can use the 3G connection so rather than having a USB device being connected to one PC at a time you can share the 3G connection to all your device. Using the Mifi I have full internet access on the iPad and any other wifi devices (like my Zune) and my light weight travelling kit is complete.
There are a couple of ways of getting a MiFi working, the easiest way is to order one from a company like 3 in the UK who charge £39.99 for the device and £15 per month. This is a good solution if you have no exisitng plans in place but no good for me as I already have a company supplied O2 USB device and they are ones from 3 are locked to a 3 SIM so I couldn’t just swap the SIM card out. On eBay there are lots of unlocked MiFIs so i took a punt and ordered one (Huawei E5830)
After the WiFI arrived I put the my O2 Sim card in to it and then I configured it to work with O2’s data settings which I found on this site. To edit the settings you go to the Mifi’s data settings and put in O2’s APN (mobile.o2.co.uk) and password details. Once I had done this I could connect to the internet from my iPad, Zune and laptop.
So this is a great solution for me, I carry multiple devices this is a great way to share one data contract between them.
Now I am not sure whether this breaks O2’s terms and conditions so if anyone from O2 is reading this I have packed it all away now and back using my USB device honestly!
0 thoughts on “Using a MiFI with an iPad, Zune, PC…”
Sounds like a good solution if you only have a basic phone.
If you have a smartphone like an Android or S60 though, you can use the phone as a wireless hotspot. It’s native in Froyo on Android (currently only Nexus One), or on any rooted android phone. With S60 phones just install Joikuspot. Even if you have an iPhone, jailbreak it and install MiWi. Then you have one less device to lug around, one less device to remember to charge, and as long as you have a inclusive data plan, one less bill to pay.
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I have had an O2 USB 3G Modem for a while and find it essential when travelling for internet access and using it to VPN back to my work network, but with it being USB it’s tied to one device at a time. When I was getting the iPad I didn’t want to get the 3G version and pay another data tariff so I looked at another solution called a MiFi. A MiFiis a 3G modem that you connect to via wifi so it means that any wifi enabled device can use the 3G connection so rather than having a USB device being connected to one PC at a time you can share the 3G connection to all your device. Using the Mifi I have full internet access on the iPad and any other wifi devices (like my Zune) and my light weight travelling kit is complete.
There are a couple of ways of getting a MiFi working, the easiest way is to order one from a company like 3 in the UK who charge £39.99 for the device and £15 per month. This is a good solution if you have no exisitng plans in place but no good for me as I already have a company supplied O2 USB device and they are ones from 3 are locked to a 3 SIM so I couldn’t just swap the SIM card out. On eBay there are lots of unlocked MiFIs so i took a punt and ordered one (Huawei E5830)
Sounds like a good solution if you only have a basic phone.
If you have a smartphone like an Android or S60 though, you can use the phone as a wireless hotspot. It’s native in Froyo on Android (currently only Nexus One), or on any rooted android phone. With S60 phones just install Joikuspot. Even if you have an iPhone, jailbreak it and install MiWi. Then you have one less device to lug around, one less device to remember to charge, and as long as you have a inclusive data plan, one less bill to pay.