Using GiffGaff with dongle

[Smudger]

Is it possible? A relative doesn't have a landline but wants to use mobile broadband, can you buy a generic dongle, put the Giff Gaff sim in and just get one of their data bundles?

[Flibb]

Yes you can physically do it, but it not allowed under their T&Cs. They also dont allow tethering. They seem to look for high usage to detect tethering or dongle usage.

[Agent]

They have dongle plans: http://giffgaff.com/goodybags

If you just try to tether on a normal sim, they can see it very easily and cut you off for doing so.

[Flibb]

Thats new, they didnt offer those when I left. Only reason I jumped ship was that 3 are the only operator with signal where I work.

[Smudger]

They seem to do gigabags, and say they allow tethering, but I was wondering if you could get a dongle to put the SIM in, as it seems less faff than tethering, plus I don't know if her phone does tethering...

[Flibb]

Yes that will work with a dongle (you need an unlocked one), your friend just needs to keep an eye on usage. When I was looking at mobile internet, I picked up a range of PAYG sims and tried them to see which offered the best coverage.

[Smudger]

It's looking like £100 for a sim-free dongle! Are the tied dongles like phones, where they have to unlock them after the contract ends?

[Flibb]

The one I used last year wasnt strictly locked, but did require me to use the manufacturers software, rather than the auto instal versoion, also hd to manually set it up.

Just had a quick look and this looks interesting
http://www.unlocked-dongle.co.uk/Blo...em-review.html
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Huawei-e35...item2eba5a595f

havent tried that exact one myself, so maybe worth hunting out reviews and comments. Unlock codes appear to be available if you ended up with a locked one