How to best get broadband.

[bogart]

Hope the following makes sense and isn't to long winded.
I currently have broadband over the phone line @approx 1MB
Having seen offers on web, in newspapers etc regarding using a laptop and a phone companies
broadband is this a good option to get a faster speed. I have cable laid into the property but
this was laid by NTL years ago and my address number 25 isn't logged as being available , it stops at number 23, nextdoor.
Some give the laptop free if you take out various subscriptions. What I also would like to know is the
broadband dongle thingy able to be used on a normal desktop PC also, so that I can use it at home on PC and out and about with the laptop?

[Viper81]

Can't on any specific offers but most of the ones I have seen that give you free laptop involve spending several hundred pounds on the contract (things like £40/month over 24 months). I'd say they're probably not worth it.
And yes, you should be able to use the dongle on your PC.
Have you checked to see that 3G reception is like in your house? Might be a good check to do first.

[bogart]

Is there any program I can download to work out my monthly usage? Don't have a clue as
to how much I use.

[Viper81]

Hmm, I don't know of any good free ones (other than MRTG but that's a bit excessive ) What ISP are you with at present? Most have a tool on their website that tells you your usage.

[gss03]

I am currently using a 3 3G USB dongle. I have been using this at home for the last month as I've moved and couldn't take our Virgin/ Telewest cable with us to our new home.
We've found this experience to be OK for the last month, but we are champing at the bit just not to get back onto a proper ADSL service.

These 3G USB dongle modems are OK for light use, but if you are after something that is reliable you should stick with your current provider.
Although we are in an area that has HSDPA (the 2.5MB+ mobile broadband) it jumps up and down from being this speed down to 3G. This is most annoying :-)

So in conclusion, its fun for a while, but I wouldn't want to rely on it in the long term.

Oh our usage has been about 1GB a month....but that is with me *really* holding back on my surfing habits.

[Giraffe]

Is there any program I can download to work out my monthly usage? Don't have a clue as
to how much I use.

NetMeter - free and highly configurable - from

http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/