Please Explain A Dongle

[chanel5]

Can anyone please explain to me, in very simple terms, how a Dongle works? I have TalkTalk internet connection at home. However, i cannot log on unless a Dongle is inserted in my computer. Why is this. please? Also, someone recently told me that the Dongle costs a lot of money over and above the cost of the internet connection. Can someone please explain this? I am a complete idiot when it comes to internet technology, and need it explained very simply. Thank you to anyone willing to try to help me to understand.

[Gromit]

A dongle is a piece of hardware that enables your computer to have extra functionality. That functionality can be anything from connection to a printer or, in your case, connecting to the internet. The fact that you need a a dongle means your computer does not have wireless functionality, and the dongle adds that function.

[Hopkirk]

There are different sorts of dongles for different purposes, some cheap / some expensive.

If you just have a desktop and a wifi router, then you might need a dongle which is just a sort of aerial. They are quite cheap.

Laptops normally haver built in aerials so don't need one.

[Buenchico]

>>>someone recently told me that the Dongle costs a lot of money over and above the cost of the internet connection

Er . . . yes and . . . er . . .no!

This type of dongle
https://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-as-you-go-mobile-broadband/huawei-e3533/details
plugs into a USB socket and provides a wireless connection to a mobile phone network. All data sent and received by your computer has to pass over that network and is charged accordingly (which can get very expensive if you use the internet a lot). Your friend thinks that this is the type of dongle that you've got and that's why he/she told you it will cost you lots of money.
(You'd normally use such a dongle away from home, plugged into a laptop, so that you can get internet access anywhere that there's a mobile phone signal).

However the term 'dongle' is often loosely used to refer to a wireless adapter, such as this one:
http://www.wilko.com/memory-cards-dvds+cds/texet-usb-adapter-wireless-80211n/invt/0288976
That also works as a transmitter/receiver but, instead of connecting to a mobile phone network, it connects to a router (such as the one in your house, provided by TalkTalk). It works as an alternative to plugging in a cable between your router and your computer (so that you can don't have to have your computer near to a phone socket) and won't add anything at all to the normal cost of using your internet.

I strongly suspect that your 'dongle' is actually just such a Wi-Fi adapter and that you've got nothing to worry about regarding any additional costs (because there won't be any!).

[chanel5]

Wow! thanks for this. I defintely understand better now. My dongle is, I think, the one described above as a wireless adapter. I remember being told some time ago that my PC was "not wireless enabled" and now I have realised the connection between that and the dongle. As far as I know the dongle I use is not connected to a mobile phone. Thank you to everyone for the information. It is a mystery to me how you get to know all these things. But i am very impressed.

[Mamyalynne]

Chanel - aren't they great at explaining,amaze me all the time - so glad you got your answer sorted.

[mikey4444]

Its no mystery Chanel....we are just very, very brainy ! ! !

[chanel5]

Methyl, thanks for your suggestion. the only identification I can find on the Dongle are the letters TP-Link
I don't know if this will mean anything to anyone - it means nothing to me, I'm afraid.

[Buenchico]

If your dongle was of the type that connects to a mobile phone network it would have the name of that network (e.g. 'EE' or 'Vodafone') printed on it.

TP-Link is just the name of a company which makes routers and associated products (such as wireless adapters to be used with their routers).

So, as I suspected, you've simply got a wireless adapter (which will add nothing to your internet costs) and NOT the type of dongle which your friend was thinking of.