DONGLES
 

Just a quick questions for the techie people here (Andy lol :rofl:)

I have a Tata Nano plus internet dongle which I bought about 3 years ago
Assuming I can still use this for internet in Goa, is this dongle usable with the Apple iPad ?
(I am not familiar user of iPad but very likely to be very soon !!)

Thanks

Dread - x

Re: DONGLES
 

It depends if your ipad is the cheaper one that only has wifi and no usb ports to plug the dongle into.


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Re: DONGLES
 

Which iPad is the 'cheap one with no usb port' ?
As I am completely unfamiliar with iPad stuff I thought I would seek some advice from you techie bods on here............

(personally I didn't think any iPad was cheap :p)

Dread - x

Re: DONGLES
 

Sorry Dread, should have said cheaper!

Base models only have wifi, so will not work with a dongle unless it is a mifi wireless type.

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_ipad/compare

The price difference, on any model, is precisely one hundred of our English pounds................:thumbdown:

Re: DONGLES
 

Thanks dude.

Will have a look....must admit the hike in price for every little extra is quite outrageous !

Dread - x

Re: DONGLES
 

Unless your iPad is the 3G version (i.e. it can take a MICRO - sim), it will only connect to the Internet via wi-fi. A USB dongle is as far as I am aware no use with an iPad. Last year the small local,phone shops didn't have prepaid micro sims - you can buy a micro-sim cutter on EBay in the UK for £2.50 or so (looks like a stapler - slot the sim into the bottom & squeeze the 'levers' together - hey presto your standard sim becomes a micro sim).

Don't forget to buy a data pack for the sim & activate GPRS on the SIM (in a phone) before you 'cut it' & put it into the iPad.

I'd imagine mi-fi 'dongles' would be quite expensive in Goa as even normal dongles struck me as expensive when compared to the UK.

H.

Re: DONGLES
 

You may have to reregister the dongle but go back to where you bought it to do that. There is no USB port on an iPad so you have to buy a router and I bought one for about 3000 rps and its brilliant. The download speed is faster than the normal dongle on its own and I can use the laptop while my wife uses the iPad..in fact I can order dinner that way.
Just plug the dongle into the router with a long lead so you can move it for good reception.

Re: DONGLES
 

OK - to re-cap from a number of threads:
Your dongle contains a sim, if the sim hasn't been used for 6 (or choose number) months then it will have been de-activated so you will need a new one. Newer cellphones e.g. iPhone (other smart phones are available) allow you to tether other computers/tablets/etc. - i.e.they act as wireless access points.
Since 9th Nov foreigners can only have sims valid for 3 months (an Indian driving licence may get round this???) and outlets can not issue pre-activated sims and must forward 'authenticated' documents before the sim is activated - rumour is that no sims have been activated since 9th Nov 'cos no-one knows what to do.
In other news, the Indian Government is trying to attract more tourists ......

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: DONGLES
 

Bollox to all that..........will just take the netbook and get the dongle rehashed or reloaded or whatever you do !!!!!!!!!!!!
Unless of course Santa brings me an iPad then I may have to talk to you Chris about this router and where you buy it :D

Dread - x

Re: DONGLES
 

Am about to register for Tata Photon + dongle at the shop by the Post Office, Calangute 1,800 R/-. They say it can be reactivated months after it has been disconnected on orders of the Govt. i.e. automatically, when my visa expires.

They want a letter of introduction/reference as well as xerox of my passport and visa.

That aside, they say the 300 R/- a month package giving only 10Gb a month use is faster than the 1,000 R/- unlimited monthly use subscription.

Can anybody verify this? And, what has anybody's experience been like with the Tata Photon + ? Any better alternatives?

Thanks.

Re: DONGLES
 

Hi Babu

I have had the same Tata Photon + dongle for for about 4 years now and I am pleased to say it still works.
I took it to the Elephant Shop in Candolim and paid about 2000 rupees which gave me unlimited use for the whole time I was in Goa (5 months).....and as you know I did use it a lot this season ;)

Some friends were having to wait days/weeks for their dongles to become activated..........by the time I walked across the road to Noni's place mine was fully working.

I was hearing from friends that they were also having to wait several days (one waited for 3 weeks) to get a phone SIM activated. Again I got mine form the Elephant Shop......and it was working as I left the shop.

Dread - x

Re: DONGLES
 

I have had a Tata Photon Plus since they started and although I am not in Goa all the year it constantly works. I added a Wifi modem last year and plug the dongle into that and it is even faster and the only way I can use my iPad. I give it to a friend in Goa to use while I am away. I have heard however that it will stop when my visa expires. I will have to wait and see.

Re: DONGLES
 

So, is it true that the one month unlimited subscription is slower than the 10Gb a month limited subscription? How come?

Activation time is not a problem, quality of connection, page refresh and multiple pages at same time is the issue.

Re: DONGLES
 

300Rs for 10GB?? You sure? If you're right then I'm getting one...!

Re: DONGLES
 

That's what I was told, a month, shop on same side as Post Office Calangute.

Re: DONGLES
 

personally i`d give the 300 rs option a try if i was in your situation.....

Re: DONGLES
 

Chris...Just bought an IPad so would like to be able to get a wifi link from my laptop / dongle this season.

I was using a MBlaze dongle last year but they have pulled out of Goa so will need to get a different one this year. Would you recommend the Tata Photon Plus? Which Wifi modem do you use?

Cheers ...Dave

Re: DONGLES
 

I liked the MBlaze and used up until the finished in Goa, Tata Photo Plus is very similar, although I have not used it on an Ipad, just a PC.

Re: DONGLES
 

the debate here seems to about the advatages of Dongles vs Mifis and down load speeds.The crucial matter here though is how close are you to a mast and whats in front of your building.One of the problems in Goa is the material they use for construction.Laterite.It contains iron particles and they interfere with reception. in the UK its slate roofs for the same reason- metal content in this case i think its graphite.so before you spend your Rupees check your enviroment and ask the locals about download speeds, you might be wasting your money on an up-grade etc....Also i picked up an article in the Herald about unauthorized mobile masts being targeted by the panchyats. you can read this as backhanders wanted etc.