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Wifi / mobile in France ?


Teflontim87

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As a first timer on forum and France ( see earlier post) let me start by saying this forum is fantastic and thank you Rachel stohart for pointing me in its direction.

 

But down to business. France first time, wife and myself have embraced the digital age, I pad, I phones etc. iPads are wireless and 3 g and look like they will prove useful on our trip ( if only for keeping in touch with the forum!)

 

What's the best / cheapest way to use them in France?

 

Thanks everyone.

 

Tim

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Guest JudgeMental

using a cellular phone network VERY expensive abroad, so as SS says it has to be wifi.

 

IPad good for this as its not like lugging a laptop around, but the prohibitive connectability with apple products a disgrace (we have one)..... A wifi booster aerial a good idea but dont know if one available for the IPad, but Im sure there is it has been discussed previously. Well it seems there is as found this and it may help

 

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/community/discussions/technical/general/WiFi-booster-for-iPad-or-tablet/rt/290606/

 

anyway.....forgetaboutit! your supposed to be on holiday! :-D

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Guest JudgeMental
lennyhb - 2013-04-25 1:27 PM

 

Eddie I believe you have a Rocket USB wifi long range aerial/booster Facility X do a USB wifi router which you can plug the rocket into about 50 quid.

 

no dont think its the rocket and seems to have disapeared from website now anyway *-)

 

http://www.faculty-x.net/direct-home.htm

 

but what we have works well with the laptop on sites or wherever, but the IPad handier for carrying so its OK for wifi when used out and about. can you ID what I need to use ipad in van from the link above, as I have not a clue :-D

 

EDIT: called them and they are calling back

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With a WiFi booster connected to your laptop you can use software (Clonectify??) to make your laptop into a Hotspot and then connect iPad etc.

 

I have my own booster based on a simple USB booster with a home built Yagi aerial connected and getting excellent results. Was connected to a BT Fon spot a mile away with clear line if sight and got excellent performance.

 

At moment on Stagecoach bus using iPad connected to bus WiFi

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JudgeMental - 2013-04-25 1:43 PM

 

lennyhb - 2013-04-25 1:27 PM

 

Eddie I believe you have a Rocket USB wifi long range aerial/booster Facility X do a USB wifi router which you can plug the rocket into about 50 quid.

 

no dont think its the rocket and seems to have disapeared from website now anyway *-)

 

http://www.faculty-x.net/direct-home.htm

 

but what we have works well with the laptop on sites or wherever, but the IPad handier for carrying so its OK for wifi when used out and about. can you ID what I need to use ipad in van from the link above, as I have not a clue :-D

 

EDIT: called them and they are calling back

 

Try This page it has the rocket & wifi router

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Sending this from my kindle fire hd using free WiFi provided by casino opposite grand plage in Biarritz, Jean using same wifi on here mini i-pad. there are many more places in France to find wifi than MacDonald. Some Aires now provide it free or low cost as do many tourist information office. Nearly always a bar or cafe in each town, we like these best as good excuse to try the local wine!
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Finding free wifi is always favourite of course. But we also carry a Huawei Mobile Wifi unit - tiny thing, smaller than your phone, which uses the 3G signal to create a Wifi "hotspot."

Gives a very good signal, usually about 72mbps, to up to 5 devices at a time.

 

It came with a "3" PAYG Simcard, which we use in the UK, but when we tried it in France it gobbled up money at a horrendous rate. So I've now got it unlocked, and plan to buy a local Sim from whichever company has best coverage in whichever country we visit. I'll post how we get on, during our next trip in June.

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sambukashot - 2013-04-26 2:39 PM

 

Im using an unlocked dongle in Spain and the coverage is great, never had any problems anywhere! already used 3gb of data this month and all this for 10 Euros!

 

Local sim? How do you top it up plse....

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Have thought of using our mifi but not yet found a reasonable deal on SIM in France, or if did easy way to top up. Now in St John De ,Luz where town provides free WiFi in various places throughout town. (Staying on aire which just opposite port and centre but set between main road and rail track with very tight spaces, so only for true Aires devotees).
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JudgeMental - 2013-04-26 3:23 PM
sambukashot - 2013-04-26 2:39 PMIm using an unlocked dongle in Spain and the coverage is great, never had any problems anywhere! already used 3gb of data this month and all this for 10 Euros!
Local sim? How do you top it up plse....

When you purchace the sim card you are allocated a mobile number that goes with it, just go to any shop that sells mobile cards (there are plenty of them around) give them your number and 10 euros they then place the credit in their computer and away you go instant top up! you can allways top up online with your credit card, done instantly :) 

You can send and receive SMS messages from your data card using the software for the dongle on your PC at no extra cost which can be a big saving over time...

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Just got back from another 4 weeks chugging around the south west quarter of France, and as usual we only needed to go to any McDonalds for free and unlimited wifi, anytime we wanted to go on-line.
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Guest JudgeMental
sambukashot - 2013-04-26 5:45 PM
JudgeMental - 2013-04-26 3:23 PM
sambukashot - 2013-04-26 2:39 PMIm using an unlocked dongle in Spain and the coverage is great, never had any problems anywhere! already used 3gb of data this month and all this for 10 Euros!
Local sim? How do you top it up plse....
[

When you purchace the sim card you are allocated a mobile number that goes with it, just go to any shop that sells mobile cards (there are plenty of them around) give them your number and 10 euros they then place the credit in their computer and away you go instant top up! you can allways top up online with your credit card, done instantly :) 

You can send and receive SMS messages from your data card using the software for the dongle on your PC at no extra cost which can be a big saving over time...

We are used to buying local Sim's when we go long haul...But I thought it more problematic in France...Spain OK I believe (we have one for Italy)
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Our current setup works well for us.

 

We use a laptop, with Faculty-x long range aerial if needed to find unsecured wifi. Then Connectify software to create a hotspot for Ipad and another laptop to connect with as required.

 

Also a useful arrangement when wifi is purchased but is only useable for 1 machine.

 

There are other solutions for Ipad only connections but the above covers our needs ;-)

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