Data Usage

[Hymerbell]

You could always turn off your WiFi when you are in the UK to ensure you use your data allowance & if necessary turn on the WiFi hotspot on your phone so you can use it with your TV, laptop etc.

Yes a lot of fiddling about though...plus Vodafone is limited to 25GB when roaming. I’ve got a MiFi attached to a roof aerial which worked really well. Just need a UK SIM that has 60GB with no restrictions on roaming. Don’t think there is one now though.

 

[dunnah01]

Superdrug unlimited sim £20 / month on a 30 day contract, been using it since November in Spain.

Use about 55GB a month streams without buffering.

On my online account data usage abroad does not show up.

+1 for Superdrugmobile. Used it last summer/autumn for a few months in France, Italy, Germany with no cap and >100Gb/month. Now using it in UK unlimited. For 20 quid it's hard to beat. Not used it post Bre*it abroad so didn't want to recommend it just in case but it sounds like it still works

 

[Hymerbell]

It’s Virgin Richard gus-lopez but your right we’ve not been capped

50% ? Rollover x 2 ? Eh ?

 

[Hymerbell]

+1 for Superdrugmobile. Used it last summer/autumn for a few months in France, Italy, Germany with no cap and >100Gb/month. Now using it in UK unlimited. For 20 quid it's hard to beat. Not used it post Bre*it abroad so didn't want to recommend it just in case but it sounds like it still works

Hmm that’s interesting. Bolti is that still working. Wonder if it will work after you’ve used it for 2 months from 31st Dec. I’d be interested to know. dunnah01 is that one a 30 day contract ? If so might have a go and if it doesn’t work won’t be tied in for a year.

 

[Odd-no-more]

Well because I tend to watch BBC and a local SIM won’t work

Is that the same with a VPN?

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[Hymerbell]

Is that the same with a VPN?

Ah haven’t done the VPN route fir a while. Yes might have to go back to that although not sure I I can make that work with my MiFi attached to a roof aerial.

 

[2657]

Hmm that’s interesting. Bolti is that still working. Wonder if it will work after you’ve used it for 2 months from 31st Dec. I’d be interested to know. dunnah01 is that one a 30 day contract ? If so might have a go and if it doesn’t work won’t be tied in for a year.

The Superdrug deal does sound good, I have just had an online chat and was told that the sim would be suspended if used for more than 4 months out of the UK, which is ample for most.

 

[Bolti]

Hmm that’s interesting. Bolti is that still working. Wonder if it will work after you’ve used it for 2 months from 31st Dec. I’d be interested to know. dunnah01 is that one a 30 day contract ? If so might have a go and if it doesn’t work won’t be tied in for a year.

Shows no sign of not working after 2 months. Not had any warnings Yes it's a 30 day contract.
Only down side for me is it will not work where I live in the UK (3 network) I also have the 60GB Vodafone sim and that will not work in Spain where I live, it will only allow roaming on the Vodafone es signal.

 

[MotorHomeJeff]

Is that the same with a VPN?

+1 for VPN usually working.
I have always used my own VPN from all around the world without any issues. (Sometimes Sky is tricky)
Either leave a Raspberry Pi at home as the VPN server (tunnel back to home, cost £30 for a RPi) or buy a cheap virtual server hosted in London (tunnel to VPS, cost about £5 per month).
(I don't use commercial VPN services because of security risks.)

 

[Lenny HB]

The Superdrug deal does sound good, I have just had an online chat and was told that the sim would be suspended if used for more than 4 months out of the UK, which is ample for most.

Going to try that on the next trip. Apparently you can turn the monthly auto renew off & on via the app.

Use a Three monthly sim on the last trip still having grief with them. I cancelled the contract last October but they are still chasing me for money, even got 2 texts from them offering deals to stay with them so it's obvious I cancelled.

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[Lenny HB]

Ah haven’t done the VPN route fir a while. Yes might have to go back to that although not sure I I can make that work with my MiFi attached to a roof aerial.

Mifi has no effect on it.

 

[2657]

+1 for VPN usually working.
I have always used my own VPN from all around the world without any issues. (Sometimes Sky is tricky)
Either leave a Raspberry Pi at home as the VPN server (tunnel back to home, cost £30 for a RPi) or buy a cheap virtual server hosted in London (tunnel to VPS, cost about £5 per month).
(I don't use commercial VPN services because of security risks.)

Sounds good but I am afraid that I and possibly many others don't have a clue what you mean?

 

[Bolti]

+1 for VPN usually working.
I have always used my own VPN from all around the world without any issues. (Sometimes Sky is tricky)
Either leave a Raspberry Pi at home as the VPN server (tunnel back to home, cost £30 for a RPi) or buy a cheap virtual server hosted in London (tunnel to VPS, cost about £5 per month).
(I don't use commercial VPN services because of security risks.)

+1 for VPN usually working.
I have always used my own VPN from all around the world without any issues. (Sometimes Sky is tricky)
Either leave a Raspberry Pi at home as the VPN server (tunnel back to home, cost £30 for a RPi) or buy a cheap virtual server hosted in London (tunnel to VPS, cost about £5 per month).
(I don't use commercial VPN services because of security risks.)

Is that a new language you have invented, didn't understand a word.
Could you please explain in idiot terms how that works.

 

[dunnah01]

Hmm that’s interesting. Bolti is that still working. Wonder if it will work after you’ve used it for 2 months from 31st Dec. I’d be interested to know. dunnah01 is that one a 30 day contract ? If so might have a go and if it doesn’t work won’t be tied in for a year.

30 days yes, but no contract as such - you just pay your 20 quid if you want to use the sim, if you don't pay then you just freeze the sim until you do pay. All online and hassle free. We just auto topup as it's our only data in the mifi and we use it via the van wifi full time for all of our devices (6 at last count)

 

[Hymerbell]

Mifi has no effect on it.

Not sure what you mean....if I put the SIM in my iPad then switch the VPN on then that’s OK. But if I put the sim in a MiFI and use my Avtex TV to use it how do I switch on VPN on my TV ?

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[dunnah01]

Not sure what you mean....if I put the SIM in my iPad then switch the VPN on then that’s OK. But if I put the sim in a MiFI and use my Avtex TV to use it how do I switch on VPN on my TV ?

The superdrugmobile sim needs to be activated in the UK, the plus side is when roaming it is still seen as a UK sim so no VPN required.

 

[Hymerbell]

The Superdrug deal does sound good, I have just had an online chat and was told that the sim would be suspended if used for more than 4 months out of the UK, which is ample for most.

So if one were to come back to the UK for a month does that mean you can then use it for 4 months overseas again or is it suspended for life ?

 

[dunnah01]

So if one were to come back to the UK for a month does that mean you can then use it for 4 months overseas again or is it suspended for life ?

I'm pretty sure the clock would be reset but I doubt anybody has been in a position to try it out yet. At worst you would just have to order another sim. A pain if you use it in a phone but not an issue if just used as a data sim.

 

[2657]

I'm pretty sure the clock would be reset but I doubt anybody has been in a position to try it out yet. At worst you would just have to order another sim. A pain if you use it in a phone but not an issue if just used as a data sim.

That's what I was thinking regarding ordering another sim, it will be interesting to know if yours is suspended after 4 months, if you stay that long, please let us know.
I have recently started using a Vodafone 60Gb contract in Portugal that I have never used, though I started the contract in August with a cash back deal, I will find out then if they actually do activate a 2 month cut off.

 

[Hymerbell]

That's what I was thinking regarding ordering another sim, it will be interesting to know if yours is suspended after 4 months, if you stay that long, please let us know.
I have recently started using a Vodafone 60Gb contract in Portugal that I have never used, though I started the contract in August with a cash back deal, I will find out then if they actually do activate a 2 month cut off.

I’m ditching My Vodafone 60GB. They have now started charging £3 per GB extra if used overseas for 2 months and once you have used more data roaming than at home. They have also limited it to 25GB for roaming.

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[Lenny HB]

Not sure what you mean....if I put the SIM in my iPad then switch the VPN on then that’s OK. But if I put the sim in a MiFI and use my Avtex TV to use it how do I switch on VPN on my TV ?

You would need to download a VPN app to the TV, may not be possible. I use an Android TV box connected to my Mifi so I can download any Android app to it.

 

[2657]

Yes a lot of fiddling about though...plus Vodafone is limited to 25GB when roaming. I’ve got a MiFi attached to a roof aerial which worked really well. Just need a UK SIM that has 60GB with no restrictions on roaming. Don’t think there is one now though.

Not sure what you mean....if I put the SIM in my iPad then switch the VPN on then that’s OK. But if I put the sim in a MiFI and use my Avtex TV to use it how do I switch on VPN on my TV ?

I’m ditching My Vodafone 60GB. They have now started charging £3 per GB extra if used overseas for 2 months and once you have used more data roaming than at home. They have also limited it to 25GB for roaming.

Vodafone contract sims are not limited to 25Gb/month other than the unlimited one, the 2 month rule is now in force but I will find out soon if it is enforced.

Regarding a VPN I have used these in the past but use the VPN on laptops and a small Asus transformer, both on Windows and both have HDMI connections so that I can connect to the TV, sometimes just watch on the laptop anyway.

 

[2657]

You would need to download a VPN app to the TV, may not be possible. I use an Android TV box connected to my Mifi so I can download any Android app to it.

I bought a smart TV last year but it's not quite smart enough, can't download a VPN and can't cast from phone using chromecast so can only cast content actually downloaded onto the phone and not live TV. The TV won't stream live commercial channels either, only iplayer so I have to watch on the TV via laptop and HDMI cable on the rare occasions that I watch any commercial channels.

An Android TV is top of the list when I can go to the shop again.

 

[Hymerbell]

Vodafone contract sims are not limited to 25Gb/month other than the unlimited one, the 2 month rule is now in force but I will find out soon if it is enforced.

Regarding a VPN I have used these in the past but use the VPN on laptops and a small Asus transformer, both on Windows and both have HDMI connections so that I can connect to the TV, sometimes just watch on the laptop anyway.

I got lots of texts from Vodafone saying they would now be charging me £3 per GB as I had been overseas for more than 2 months. Stopped using it for last few weeks as 60GB would have cost me £180 for the month plus my £20 charge. Now back in the UK for a bit so never got to find out if they actually would have taken the money. Not worth the risk though....maybe better to go with Superdrug

 

[Bolti]

You would need to download a VPN app to the TV, may not be possible. I use an Android TV box connected to my Mifi so I can download any Android app to it.

Lenny HB what make of android box are you using and do you recommend it?
I am toying between a box or a firestick for the van.

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[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB what make of android box are you using and do you recommend it?
I am toying between a box or a firestick for the van.

I have an H96 Max Plus the 64gb version also has USB & SD card slots, which means I can download hundreds of hours of content. The remote is a bit naff I use a wireless mouse with it. It's in permant use at home & just take it with us when we go away. Runs off 5v so just bought a USB power lead for powering it in the van.
These cheap boxes tend to be rooted, a lot of apps from playstore won't download to a rooted device, its not a problem I just sideload them.
Have got a Firestick somewhere but don't use it, I don't like it.

 

[EdwardFT]

Netflix, IPlayer and Amazon expire after about 1 month so downloading has limited benefit - ask me how I know

On Amazon Prime, I downloaded a film that was about to be removed from the catalogue on 31st January. I couldn't watch it then, so I tried on 1st February. I had carefully not run the app while connected to the internet, after 31st January.

On 1st February I disconnected from the internet, ran the app, and watched the film with no problem. Then as a test I exited the app, connected to the internet, and started the app. It then wouldn't play the downloaded film, saying it was no longer in the catalogue.

So that works for a programme after it has expired on Amazon. Does it work for a programme whose download has expired? in My case it needed to connect to Amazon to know that it had been removed, but for a download it may just need to know the date.

Could you download a load onto a spare tablet, then keep it off t( internet and change the sys5em date?

 

[EdwardFT]

VPN: I just checked from France, and BBC iplayer website works on Express VPN.

I used the website, I seem to remember from last year that it worked with bbc.com but didn't work with the app. That may be because I had installed the app in France with an Apple ID registered in France, so it detected that.

 

[Lenny HB]

Amazon changed it recently before you couldn't even watch a program that was downloaded unless less you were connected. Also after logging in if you left your device connected to the internet it would stream rather than play the download. Guess how I found out?
At least they have fixed that now but I think Netflix still has that problem.

 

[JockandRita]

Ah not sure if I have two LNB’s (or even what they are ) . How do you get it to lock onto Astra 1. I attached it to my Avtex TV and switched it all on but it didn’t seem to lock on to any Satellite

The best I can do for you, is to direct to to information available, pending your actual system. The LNB is the device which brings the signal in to the satellite receiver, with the help of the dish.

Programming an Oyster System.

Advice I gratefully received from Satandpcguy very recently, was that if the frequency my set up uses to tune into Astra 1 is turned off for some reason, I can just choose another frequency which is still live.

There are Satellite specialists on FUN, who will be able to guide you better than I can. Good luck with it.
Anthony OysterTech is another known to give excellent advice.

Back on topic. Re not being able to use a VPN on your TV, if you install an Amazon Firestick 4K, this enables you to use your TV as a Smart TV, and you can download a VPN to the Firestick, which you connect to first, eg, London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc, before connecting to any of the UK Catchup Channels, which also provide Live TV viewing.

If using a UK sim card to bring in your internet on your MiFi or phone, a VPN isn't required for iPlayers.

Cheers,

Jock.

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