Forum Topic

Mobile Broadband Device for Self Isolating Person

I am looking into getting a mobile broadband device for an elderly relative who is self-isolated in a property without a phone line. The intention is to allow them to make Whats App calls and use digital stream services on a Smart TV. How should we gauge the amount of data  we should purchase relative to the hours that might be spent watching TV?

Ken Seally ● 2415d12 Comments

A 10GB plan will let you stream234 hours of low-quality music140 hours of normal-quality music85 hours of high-quality music32.5 hours of low-quality video14 hours of standard definition video11 hours of 720p video6.5 hours of 1080p video3 hours of 2K video1.2 hours of 4K video

Rob Reynolds ● 2415d

Thank you. Which category would watching Netflix or Prime on a 32 inch smart TV fall into?

Ken Seally ● 2415d

Watching TV shows or movies on Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video.
giffgaff have a current deal offering 80GB of data for £20 without any contracts. There are other networks like Smarty that offer unlimited data for a modest premium over this but I am not sure if you are tied into a contract.

N V Brooks ● 2415d

Without WIFI it can be very pricey. Even using my iPhone to listen to BBC Sounds are into my allowance within a day! Is there no way someone can let them use their WiFi? If not try arrange to download programmes onto the iPad or device to save data. You can get a WiFi doddle thing for portable WiFi which works out cheaper. I have one from EE we used until we have broadband installed.

Caroline Carrington ● 2415d

Caroline, I am no techie but I think a wifi doddle and a mobile broadband device are the same thing. When you had the gizmo from EE did you use it to watch streaming services like Netflix?

Francis Rowe ● 2415d

How tech savvy is the elderly person. I live with my elderly father and relatives are always buying him technology to make his life easier. It usually lasts about 10 minutes before the stress levels hit the roof - both my father for trying to work it or me trying to show him how to work it. Or maybe that's just my family ;-)

Tania Bapuji ● 2415d

No Tania, it's not just your family.Getting the person to engage in WhatsApp video calls might be a long shot but the TV in the flat has a button on it marked Netflix so she should be able to cope with that.The recommendation by NV Brooks for the GiffGaff data package looks a good deal so I am going to go with that. I will report back if we have any success.

Ken Seally ● 2415d

Ken, this elderly person may like channel 81.Talking Pictures who show films, documentaries from days gone by.I am a bit of a sucker for old movies etc.

Adrian Irving ● 2415d

Talking Pictures is absolutely brilliant with re-runs of Rumpole and some great old films.
It is amazingly operated as a small family run business (father and daughter) from their home in Watford.
Long may they thrive.

N V Brooks ● 2415d

Another suggestion is an outfit which was called Relish and is now part of Three, www.threebroadband.co.uk.  About 2-3 years ago, my daughter used them for 6 months or so.  She says that the service was generally good (she had a good 4g signal in North London).  A bit pricier now but you do seem to be able to have a monthly contract.

Mary Oppe ● 2415d

Ken, I have been doing a bit of research on the giffgaff forums and this appears to be the most popular router that won't break the bank, it is also noted as being easy to set up.
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/service-provider/lte-3g/m7350/
Hope this helps.

N V Brooks ● 2415d

...just to clarify that it sounds like you need a mobile WiFi "hotspot" that connects to the mobile network for internet access and connects to devices in the house using WiFi.This isn't the same as a mobile "dongle" that you plug directly into a computer to give mobile broadband access.  You won't be able to plug a computer dongle directly into a TV.Before buying anything, you should check that the TV supports WiFi (which it probably does, but it still needs to be configured to talk to the WiFi) and whatever device they will be using for WhatsApp (phone, tablet, computer...)

Michael Robinson ● 2415d