Use a Dongle for Longer

A dongle is a USB stick which gives you internet access using mobile broadband and requires just a SIM card and a laptop or PC to get started. To make your data last a little longer, start with Step 1 below to use your dongle.

Steps

  1. Understand how the internet works. In short the internet works by downloading pages from servers allowing you to view them. Depending on that page depends on how big it is in memory. This applies for emailing and downloading.
  2. With low data (3gb or less) try not to download much or anything at all. If you do need to download something then make sure it's a small file, otherwise expect your internet data to run out quickly.
  3. Limit your emails and make email short as the more words and files in an email the bigger size in memory it's going to have. Also don't attach a file unless you really have to (e.g. for a deadline of some sort).
  4. Once you're on a page and providing you don't refresh it, it shouldn't take any data. For example if you're on Facebook, providing you don't keep clicking on links to your profile then to a friend's photo album you should be able to talk to friends for ages before your data gets low (although Facebook chat may take a small amount of memory up).
  5. Disconnect from the internet whenever you're not using it. Even if you're just going to be 5 minutes away from the PC it's best to disconnect and save the most of the internet until you're using it.
  6. Try to use free wifi where possible. Say if you're on holiday and there is free wifi at the local pub, then use that when you can and only use the dongle if you're in your hotel or lodge. Although some hotels may offer free wifi, most of the time they block websites such as Facebook and Youtube.

Tips

  • Figure out the maximum time a day you can reasonably spend on the internet if you're only going to need a dongle for a week because you're away from home.
  • Don't download large files or any if you can help it.
  • Use free wifi where available.

Warnings

  • Uploading can also use your internet data.
  • Dongles aren't recommended for full time use.

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