Sparrow Clan

Hello!

I will be in Toronto, Canada (Hamilton) for 4 weeks (woo hoo!). I unfortunately need to take my work with me (dammit!).

I am looking for a device that will provide me with mobile internet access where ever I am! I know in the UK we have Dongles and USB Data sticks, are they easy to come by in Toronto? Where do I go?! Can anyone recommend any providers or plans?

As always, your help is appreciated!

Sparrow

SivoxII

Hi there Sparrow Clan!

Yes indeed, shouldn't be a problem finding your "tech stuff" in Toronto.

One of the major electronics outfits (now that Future Shop has closed it's doors) is Best Buy. I believe there are 3 locations in Toronto:

1) Toronto Eaton Centre · 65 Dundas St. W
2) 695 Wilson Avenue
3) 2400 Yonge St

Here is a link, showing current prices for USB drives:
Results for - Best Buy Canada

Hope this gives you a starting point?

Kind Regards.

Siouxie

Umm Hamilton isn't Toronto, lol

These are 'most' of the providers - but it would be advisable to check out the plans, some are more costly than others.



Rocket Sticks or Express Cards | Business Mobile Internet

Internet | Phones & Devices | Shop | Fido.ca // https://www.fido.ca/web/content/mont...etdevicesplans

WINDspeed E8372 /

Mobile Internet | 4G high speed wireless Internet | Mobility | TELUS.com

Turbo hubs & Mobile Internet sticks, Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Hamilton - Ontario - Canada - Free WiFi Spots

Steve_

Well listing a bunch of stores isn't going to help much.

My advice is to find something that you can roam with in Canada. Canada is notorious for uncompetitive and gouging telecommunications costs. And because you don't have an account with Rogers or Bell Canada or whatever you can't use any of their wifi hotspots.

Prepare yourself for really high roaming costs.

http://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Products...72-Turbo-Stick

$200 plus tax. And that's just to buy it, not use it. Says $10 a month but I'd check on the data limit.

Sparrow Clan

Hi SivoxII!

I'm not really looking for a flash drive but thank you for the link nonetheless!

Thank you for the locations. I will check out best buy! when I get there!

Sparrow

Sparrow Clan

Hi Siouxie!

I know Hamilton isn't Toronto! But I will be in Toronto during my trip and moving around that area into Hamilton. Sorry I should have been more specific!

Thank you so much for the links! Very helpful

Sparrow

Sparrow Clan

Hi Steve_!

Hmmm I didn't think it was going to be cheap! But $200?! Yikes! I thought perhaps around the $40-$60!!!

I will have to do my research for sure!

Thank you

Sparrow

Aviator

The Internet sticks and access devices are pretty much all around $200 with no contract.

Google Internet Stick+Canada and you'll have lots of options.

Gozit

The Rogers options are best-priced compared with Bell , with Telus coming in last (dont even bother with them)

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/mobile-plans

You will still have to buy the device at $200 or so.. If you get a device like this one https://www.rogers.com/business/on/e...ernet/hotspot/

it is easy and can fit into your pocket. If you just pay for the mobile hub (the plans are "flex rates" meaning you always start on the lowest tier, then it moves you up based on how much data you use, and the next month you are back to the lowest tier again, etc) then you may not need to worry about a local mobile service, as UK roaming isn't terribly expensive for calls and SMS.

Since you have to take work with you, will work pick up the cost of the device maybe?

Just some food for thought

Shirtback

Timmies? Starbucks? McDonalds? Your hotel? (You get the gist...) Free wifi...

SivoxII

Apologies SC,

When you initially said "USB Data Stick" ... I assumed "Flash Drive", not USB wireless transmitter. It sounds like knowledgeable people have put you on the right track. As far as free Wi-Fi, like Shirtback mentions, there are a ton of places available to access unsecured networks (or free Wi-Fi hotspots).

In our area, anywhere from big box stores, coffee shops and even small grocery stores like Cooper's Foods have free internet access! (not forgetting BC Liquor Stores!!)

Kind Regards.

Collie

Koodo do a good deal pay-as-you-go (they call it prepaid).
(a) buy a prepaid SIM from them online or in one of their shops/kiosks in malls and pop it in an unlocked phone: first make sure it works on Koodo's 3G or 4G frequencies!
(b) Activate the SIM
(c) buy a 15-dollar "base plan" for unlimited texts, or possibly one of their more expensive voice-call base plans. These base plans last for a month. You need a base plan of some sort in order to buy buy data.
(d) buy 1 Gb "Booster add-ons" for data as and when you need them - $30 each.

We find this is the cheapest solution for data on the move - wireless tethering allows other devices to access the internet acceptably fast. And of course you can just buy the base plan for one month; no contract.

Gozit

This is also an option and has the convenience of unlimited texts to anywhere, but $45 including the base plan fee for 1 GB only, is not cheap. One that I didn't mention in my OP is Bell's prepaid data packages as well, as long as you have a device you can put the SIM into. $35 for 5GB is much better. But this, like the Rogers option I posted, is on a data-only SIM as well.

http://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Cell_pho...0_Day_Pass.tab

not2old

WIND offer a mobile internet for unlimited $35/mth * fair usage applies generally up to 10GB

https://www.windmobile.ca/plans-and-...internet-plans

https://www.windmobile.ca/plans-and-...special-offers

Gozit

This is also a good deal, just beware Wind are a new entrant and outside major urban areas have no coverage and no 4G. Whereas Bell/Telus/Rogers and their subsidiaries have 4G LTE nationwide basically.