Adam777

Hello All,

I'm moving to Barcelona early in 2019. I'm currently living in Malta and Vodafone here has a small portable WiFi device for 25 euros a month.
You plug it into the wall and hey-presto you have WiFi at home. No connections, no cables. It runs off a 4G sim card. This works great for my internet use, I work from home running a small online business.

Is there anything similar in Barcelona? I've looked at the VodaFone Spain site and do not see a similar device but may have missed it.

I like the quick and simple setup as opposed to having to get something physically installed. I plan to rent for 6 months in Barcelona and then buy something when my property in Malta sells. So I'd rather avoid the inconvenience of hard-wired internet connections.

Thanks in advance for any help and Merry Xmas to everyone.

Adam

missile

I have successfully used a Wifi dongle whilst visiting many regions in Spain, but not Barcelona. I am sure there will be good Wifi coverage there.

Merry Christmas

spainrico

Why should the WiFi coverage be poor in Barcelona?

Angelique Bonita

Wi-Fi dongles are very common in Asia, but not sure about Spain.

Loafing Along

Look for https://wifiaway.es/en/
We used it for a month when travelling this summer . Excellent service, sent to local pick-up point complete with return envelope etc .
Another service is : https://www.my-webspot.com/pocket-wifi-spain/
Not tried it but similar to WifAway

Assume you are aware you need to be careful as to what you have running on your PC as data consumption can be quite rapid with services such as One Drive on Windows 10, browsing the web etc.

Loafing Along

Another one I remember is : https://wifivox.com

Prices not as competitive as WiFiAway - I used their chat and got a discount .

Adam777

Thanks for all the tips. These are great for short term use with limited bandwidth but sadly do not replicate what I have currently at home in Malta. The first one would be ideal at 45 Euros a month (which is still double what I Pay now but it an ok price regardless) but it has a very low data limit.
I work from home and watch TV and Movies via Netflix, so that would use that data limit up in two days.

Still beggars and choosers. I'll likely have to go with one of these options for a month or two whilst waiting for Internet to be setup at home (if the rental doesnt come with it).

Thanks for the info, its helpful for sure.

Merry Xmas.

MikeJ

If you cant wait for 5G you'd probably be better off searching for a Wimax provider. I'm not familiar with Barcelona area but it is a technological hub so I would be surprised if there was not such a service.
We use a Wimax service which is quite adequate for TV -( even HD on a good day) etc. They charge around 25€ per month which includes the router and reduce charges to a maintenance fee of 7€ when you are not there..

Adam777

Thanks Mike. I'll take a look, a quick Google search has yielded nothing but I'll look into it in depth and thanks again.

Right now I have food to Prep for Xmas Day, Im selling my Apartment and also need to read and sign my Divorce paperwork..... a busy day

Merry Xmas

Adam

Loafing Along

Another solution would be for you to buy your own "dongle"- they are not so expensive, and then get a "pay-as-you" SIM with sufficient data.

calman014

Hello, some of the information posted is not so relevant. There are often misunderstandings as to what "WiFi" is as opposed to 3G or 4G.

Dongles are in general pretty useless.

However, you have other choices.

If you have an Apple iPhone or Android phone such as Samsung or Huawei, most of these will allow 'Tethering', in other words use of the phone's existing DATA signal for internet traffic.

If the tethering is not possible you can buy 3G and 4G modems or so-called 'portable hotspots', all of which will just need you to fit a suitable SIM card with a data allowance.

Take a look at these:

https://www.asus.com/Networking/4G-L...ters-Products/

https://consumer.huawei.com/en/mobile-broadband/e5770/

Once setup it will connect to the Internet and you can access it via WiFi.

Should work anywhere in Europe with decent phone coverage.

MikeJ

The problem with a PAYG 3G or 4G mobile hot spot or dongle is that , whilst OK for occasional internet usage, email etc, none of the PAYG will give you sufficient capacity to watch TV for more than an hour or two per month. 4G is mainly only available on contract.

almendro

Don't every use vodafone for anything.
They are a terrible company. (scumbags)
They will just tell yes to you anything to want then not let you out of the contract.
The agents want a commission and will say anything.

Try Pepephone for 23 gigas for 20 a month.
https://www.pepephone.com/

No permanencia so you can cancel anytime.

You can use a smartphone to get the connection and make a wifi network
or get a dedicated 4g wfi modem for about 50 euros.

MikeJ

Another issue that you might bear in mind is that most mobile operators operate a 'fair usage policy'. This means that when they oversubscribe their services they throttle your speed and capacity to even out the load. This usually means that your internet becomes so slow at peak times its practically unusable. Check with you provider - its often hidden in the small print.
At the current state of mobile comms you are probably always better off with a dedicated internet service using a physical or wireless link.

almendro

They only throttle you once you go over the amount that you contracted

I live in a place which has no telephone line and I was using a wimax company at 3mb per second. (Iberbanda)
They were bought out by movistar and I think movistar were forced by the government to offer an unlimited internet to people like me.

The contract is Movistar Internet Radio which is only available to people with no other option ie with no possibility of a fixed line

Since I have started in august 2017 I have used 2.35 Terra of bandwidth using the 4g modem provided by movistar.
146 gigas per month (I don't consider myself a big internet user)

I also have a house on the coast and a house in Granada where I have a fusion adsl.

On the coast I get 10 mb per second and in Granada I am supposed to get 10mb but only get about 6.

Here in the middle of now where I get 22mb per second using 4g which is much better than adsl.

So I don't agree with Mike that you are ALWAYS better off.

If you could actually get unlimited 4g it would be better.

The problem is that most people use tons of bandwidth.

25 gigas could be used up in no time.