ChatterBank9 mins ago
4G Phone Contract
20 Answers
We are extremely low users of our Samsung phones. 1000 minutes yakking would probably do us for a year, not a month. We do text, but again not teenage-levels.
Our data drawdown would be minimal - scarcely at all, but maybe occasionally we'd use it.
But we do need to upgrade from pay-as-you-go sim to some sort of 4G contract to avail ourselves of the various security devices that work on phone apps.
Question then, which cheap 4G contract would do us? We have O2 for pay-as-you-go sim only, which we find as cheap and cheerful as it needs to be, but their lowest 4G contract is £12 a month (for an 18 month term).
Is there cheaper?
Ta.
BillB
Our data drawdown would be minimal - scarcely at all, but maybe occasionally we'd use it.
But we do need to upgrade from pay-as-you-go sim to some sort of 4G contract to avail ourselves of the various security devices that work on phone apps.
Question then, which cheap 4G contract would do us? We have O2 for pay-as-you-go sim only, which we find as cheap and cheerful as it needs to be, but their lowest 4G contract is £12 a month (for an 18 month term).
Is there cheaper?
Ta.
BillB
Answers
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I can't see why you need to switch from PAYG to a contract in order to "avail ourselves of the various security devices that work on phone apps". Your phone (and the apps on it) have no way of knowing whether you're using a PAYG tariff or a contract one.
My own suggestion would be to use a 'midway point' between a basic PAYG tariff and a full contract by buying 'bundles' of data and call time that automatically renew each month. i.e just like a contract, a certain amount of money will be taken from your bank account reach month but, unlike a contract, you can increase/decrease that amount (or simply end the arrangement altogether) at any time. You're technically using PAYG but you get the advantages (and none of the disadvantages) of being on a contract.
I use Asda Mobile and currently pay £12 per month. However that gives me far more calls and data than I ever seem to use, so I can probably drop that down to £10 per month, or even possibly to £7 per month. With your minimal needs, you might well be able to pay just £5 per month with Asda Mobile:
https:/
Asda Mobile uses the EE network of transmitters, which provides good 4G coverage almost everywhere.
My own suggestion would be to use a 'midway point' between a basic PAYG tariff and a full contract by buying 'bundles' of data and call time that automatically renew each month. i.e just like a contract, a certain amount of money will be taken from your bank account reach month but, unlike a contract, you can increase/decrease that amount (or simply end the arrangement altogether) at any time. You're technically using PAYG but you get the advantages (and none of the disadvantages) of being on a contract.
I use Asda Mobile and currently pay £12 per month. However that gives me far more calls and data than I ever seem to use, so I can probably drop that down to £10 per month, or even possibly to £7 per month. With your minimal needs, you might well be able to pay just £5 per month with Asda Mobile:
https:/
Asda Mobile uses the EE network of transmitters, which provides good 4G coverage almost everywhere.
A phone does, indeed, need to be connected to the internet to work with a smart doorbell (such as those offered by 'Ring').
However that connection is made via a phone signal to/from the local transmitter mast. (There's not a separate signal for connecting to the internet. You get both services with the phone signal, just as most people get their home internet service through the same cable that provides their landline service).
If your phones are connected to the O2 network using their basic PAYG service (i.e. without buying bundles) then your phones can already connect to the internet (assuming, of course, that they're smartphones and not just very basic phones) but you'll get charged 1p per MB from your available credit for doing so. Using O2's own 'bundles' generally works out far cheaper for most people but switching to Asda Mobile (or, say, Giffgaff) and using their bundles can make things a lot cheaper.
However that connection is made via a phone signal to/from the local transmitter mast. (There's not a separate signal for connecting to the internet. You get both services with the phone signal, just as most people get their home internet service through the same cable that provides their landline service).
If your phones are connected to the O2 network using their basic PAYG service (i.e. without buying bundles) then your phones can already connect to the internet (assuming, of course, that they're smartphones and not just very basic phones) but you'll get charged 1p per MB from your available credit for doing so. Using O2's own 'bundles' generally works out far cheaper for most people but switching to Asda Mobile (or, say, Giffgaff) and using their bundles can make things a lot cheaper.
I've been trying to find out how much data smart doorbells use when sending a signal to your phone but I can't get a definitive answer.
I've just checked my own phone though, which gets used for quite a bit of web browsing (but nowhere near as much as some people use their phones), and I've used about 0.4 GB in the past fortnight.
I'd suggest that you go for the 2 GB package to start with but that you check up on your data usage occasionally to see what you're actually using. (Remember that you can change at any time. Once you're with Asda Mobile, you can call 2732 with any queries you might have. Their customer service is excellent).
I've just checked my own phone though, which gets used for quite a bit of web browsing (but nowhere near as much as some people use their phones), and I've used about 0.4 GB in the past fortnight.
I'd suggest that you go for the 2 GB package to start with but that you check up on your data usage occasionally to see what you're actually using. (Remember that you can change at any time. Once you're with Asda Mobile, you can call 2732 with any queries you might have. Their customer service is excellent).
PS: You'll need a Port Authorisation Code (PAC) from O2 if you want to keep an existing phone number with Asda Mobile. (Text 'PAC' to 65075 while you're still with O2, or call their helpline).
You'll then need to give that to the Asda team:
https:/
(Don't worry! It's a lot easier than it sounds. I transferred my number from Vodafone to Asda Mobile without any problems).
You'll then need to give that to the Asda team:
https:/
(Don't worry! It's a lot easier than it sounds. I transferred my number from Vodafone to Asda Mobile without any problems).
Thanks all. Can you clear up one confusing element.
Mrs B wants a camera on our shed - which is 35+ metres down the garden and out of range for our WiFi router (we’ve taken our iPads down there and can’t get a signal).
How do we see the pictures from ‘her’ camera? If we go 4G, is there some sort of phone app on which you could view what the camera sees? How does this work? How do our pictures get ‘up’ to the internet in the first place?
Ta
BB
Mrs B wants a camera on our shed - which is 35+ metres down the garden and out of range for our WiFi router (we’ve taken our iPads down there and can’t get a signal).
How do we see the pictures from ‘her’ camera? If we go 4G, is there some sort of phone app on which you could view what the camera sees? How does this work? How do our pictures get ‘up’ to the internet in the first place?
Ta
BB
The only way you're going to achieve what Mrs B wants to do is to extend your wifi signal out there. This site neatly summarises the various methods available:
https:/
As you'll need an electricity supply to the shed to power the camera, powerline networking might be the best way forward for you.
https:/
As you'll need an electricity supply to the shed to power the camera, powerline networking might be the best way forward for you.
Would camera on the house pointing down to shed work? By the way I have Cctv cameras and app on my phone. And my phone is o2 pay as you go. I use it on my own wifi which you would at home for doorbell views no need for 4g. Out and about checking cameras I switch on my mobile data to check cameras if need be.
You don't need a second router. You have a powerline adapter connected to your router via an internet cable. In the shed you have a second powerline adapter and connect it to your cctv controller with an ethernet cable. The camera in your shed transmits wirelessly to the cctv controller which, in turn, connects to the router in your house via the powerline adapters. The only drawback with that system (if it's like mine) is that you need a monitor connected to the cctv controller with a cable to set the system up. Once set up you can do most things on a PC or a smartphone, so the monitor can be removed.
No keyboard - the box comes with a USB mouse and a virtual keyboard on the screen (very little typing needed). Laptop won't do as there is no way to connect it to the box.
My system is a SMONET. If you go to
http://
you can see a manual.
My system is a SMONET. If you go to
http://
you can see a manual.
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