Computer Dongle Advice

[Ithilstone]

Radio Paradise, Radio Swiss Jazz, and Radio Swiss Classic all have theirs Mobile Apps
so if thats all you want to use I can try and hook up you mobile phone to your DAC
then you can using apps download up to 12 hours of music each and you will be independent
from WiFi or mobile internet
unfortunately it only works on mobile and not laptop
but there is a way to record ( same quality as broadcasting ) as many hours of radio program as you want
just in real time so I could leave PC on and record over night for couple of days and then you can take it with you

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

It has to be laptop as I will (sometimes) be using a screen and youtube feed as well.

Please don't alter anything in my request, please just answer the question.

[Ithilstone]

well laptop will be at mercy of wifi or mobile internet
It will work in most of the places thought

you can use that EE mobile hot spot I linked earlier or buy from any other mobile network providers similar product

and if you dont want to be tied to any network then:

it is unlocked and work with any sim you put in it

[Ithilstone]

one more think if you want to use youtube
then you will need loads more data as video + sound is much bigger
one hour of YT:

240p ~ 150 MB
360p ~ 250 MB
480p ~ 400 MB
720p ~ 800-900 MB
1080p ~ 1.2 -1.4 GB

and since YT now ties up music quality to video quality then to get the best music quality you have to go for biggest size...

1 GB will give you
around 6h of RP AAC 320
and around 45min of YT 1080p with music AAC 192

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Soooooo based on my job requirements what is the best plug in thing a mi bob to get and how much per 6 or 7 hours is it likely to cost me.

[terrybooth]

Any of the devices Ithilsone has listed - you then need to consider how much data you need to pre-pay for . If you are only using Radio Swiss etc then you need 1gb data (for 6 hours playing). If you want to mix video in (You tube) then 2gb data will give you a days radio with four or five videos (worse case).
The data bit is where different providers do things differently.

Just looking at Currys http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/phones-bro ... 4-pdt.html £9.99 and a rolling monthly contract of £15 for 5 gb data but you need to give 30 days notice to stop or they will keep on charging you.

The ee one http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/phones-bro ... 3-pdt.html has 4 difference contract. £24 a month for 15gb data (but you can buy less) again I think you will have to give notice to stop.

If you can find one that is 'sim' free Virgin, Tesco Mobile, GiffGaff, ID, and so on all provide some sort of Data only monthly plan.

[Ithilstone]

well 4-5 hours of RP plus 1-2h you YT you are looking at 5GB
so make it 8-10 to be safe

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare ... sim-deals/ ( look for 1 month contracts not 12)

But As Terry Said it is a lot of faffing around with cancelling the contract

I think from big providers only Three offer true PAYG

https://store.three.co.uk/view/content/mbasket?ID=1523

you buy this sim for 40GBP and it comes pre loaded with 12GB
should be enough for first bake off
then you can buy more
7GB data. Lasts 30 days. for 25 GBP

more expensive but no faffing with contracts

[Geoff.R.G]

I bought a 3G USB Dongle some years back and it was fine for internet access but I didn't try streaming music as I used my iPod. Since then I have used my phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot to which I connect my MacBook Pro, this is cheaper but again I haven't streamed music so I don't know how good, or otherwise, the service using the mobile phone network might be.

Whilst using a phone that can act as a Wi-Fi hot spot would be cheaper than buying a dedicated device I can see that you wouldn't want to leave it connected all day as it would hit the phone battery and be inconvenient if you then needed to move away to make/receive a phone call. Going down the Dongle route there are two significant variables, the hardware and the network. Good hardware on a good network should do all that you want, for a price, but I have no experience of which network or hardware is best and networks all have their pros and cons. As an example, when I was visiting Cardiff regularly my O2 phone was more reliable than company phones on Vodafone but at Heathrow Vodafone works much better. If you have a recommendation on hardware, and it isn't locked to a network, you can get a SIM from any network you like and then stick with the one that works best.

[Ithilstone]

went to EE shop to check if they offer PAYG internet
well they do but...
box 50GBP
8GB top up 40GBP !!! ( valid for 3 mth)
2GB top up 15GBP !!! (valid for 30 days)

[shanewhite]

Better to get one on a 30 day contract.