Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Olly]

I use the internet and my smartphone widely but don't really understand how it all works I have an iPhone and at home I have a BT Homehub.

 

I'm now thinking of buying an iPad mini but I can't decide whether to go for the WiFi only or the WiFi with cellular. It seems that to use the 4G I will need to take out a monthly contract, something I am not keen on. I will use the iPad away from home sometimes, but not on a daily basis. I've never really worked out where you can get free WiFi - I believe it's even on some underground lines now, but I tend to rely on 3G on my phone.

 

So - how easy is it to find free WiFi?

Is it really worth the extra cost to have the 4G access?

I understand that it's possible to get WiFi via my phone, but how reliable is that and does it cost more?

 

I'm sorry if these are obvious questions, I have done some serious Googling on this but I am not getting clear answers so far. *cups hands and shouts* - Fred, are you out there?

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

By "free wifi" do you mean as in outside your home, like in public?

[Olly]

yes, sorry that's what I meant - obviously if I'm at home or visiting friends, I'll log onto theirs - it's more about using it if I'm out in public, or travelling (within the UK) with work.

[Cinnamon]

Ok, well I have an Android phone & it very cleverly tells me when there is an open WiFi link available to me.

Then you can click & see if it is available or a private locked one.

Lots of places like McDonalds,Starbucks & Costa have free access which you can just log on to,or the machine will do it for you automatically in some cases.

Not sure if an ipad does the same,but I know my Kindle Fire did.

 

Personally I tend to go for 3G access too, as my Broadband is slow & patchy,but I wouldn't be happy about it being paid by monthly contract either

Happily my phone has unlimited access on its contract & my Kindle is free anyhow.

[WitchHazel]

If you have BT Broadband or Infinity, you have free access to their Wifi network. There is some information here:

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/broadband/free-wifi

 

Everyone who signes up for Broadband has this unless they opt out. Some years ago you had to opt in (rather than out).

 

You should bee able to test out whether there are hotspots near you by using your Iphone.

 

EDITED TO ADD:

 

Try this link as well. OIt gives info on the BT WIfI App, and instructions on how to connect without it:

 

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11014/~/how-do-i-connect-to-bt-wi-fi-with-an-iphone-,-ipod-touch-or-ipad%3F

[Eggasperated]

My iPad has wifi and 3G but I have never had a monthly contract. As I have a BT home hub I use their free hotspots as well as lots of other free hotspots dotted about (restaurants, shops, airport etc). I also bought a Samba sim card for £5, although I believe they offer it free occasionally, where you watch adverts to build up credit to use on the 3G network. I find Samba quite useful when I get stuck for a wifi signal and I don't really find watching the adverts a hassle.

[charly1979]

We have bought ourself a mini wifi hub that is portable ours is through 3 I paid about £60 about 3 years ago for it but it was money well spent (im using it now in our wobbly box on wheels) It is pay as you go so we are not tied into any contracts we usually go for the £15 for a months access of 1G data (but you can have daily or larger data allowances) It gives us a wireless internet at the caravan that allows our phones ipad and laptops to connect (my husband is on call as he works within the oil and gas industry a lot hence the need for the laptop who would have thought that on occassions he is restarting an oil rig remotely and assisting them from a caravan )

 

Anyway depending on how you want to use the ipad mini it may be worth while looking at ?

[Olly]

Thanks for all the replies, especially about the BT wifi - technically I have this already but I have found it difficult to link up to in practice, I'll have a look at that link. I will look at the Samba card, but for the extra cost of the ipad mini to have one that is 4G enabled, I am now thinking maybe it's not worth it and I'll rely on there being WiFi in most places. Thanks for your suggestion charly, might be worth considering if I know I'm going somewhere that won't have WiFi.

 

Decision tonight, John Lewis double points tomorrow!

[WitchHazel]

Thanks for all the replies, especially about the BT wifi - technically I have this already but I have found it difficult to link up to in practice, I'll have a look at that link. I

 

Definitely try downloading the BT Wifi App, that should make it much easier.

[Eggasperated]

Definitely try downloading the BT Wifi App, that should make it much easier.

 

Although I use BT when I'm out I've never used the App - I must be very stupid as I looked on the App store and can't find it - what does it look like?

[WitchHazel]

Although I use BT when I'm out I've never used the App - I must be very stupid as I looked on the App store and can't find it - what does it look like?

 

You're not stupid, I can't see it on there either. I do find Itunes a pain to use though (I only use it when I am helping my Aut), so it could be there and I',m just not seeing it.

 

There is a QR code on one of the BT customer help pages. I haven't tried it as I already have the App installed on my Android and I don't have an Ipad here.

 

Here's the page with the QR codes:

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14321/~/how-do-i-download-the-new-bt-wi-fi-mobile-application%3F

[WitchHazel]

Although I use BT when I'm out I've never used the App - I must be very stupid as I looked on the App store and can't find it - what does it look like?

 

You're not stupid, I can't see it on there either. I do find Itunes a pain to use though (I only use it when I am helping my Aut), so it could be there and I',m just not seeing it.

 

UPDATE: It seems the App has been removed temporarily as there was a problem with the last update

http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Out-About/WiFi-app-for-ipad/td-p/822148

 

EDITED:

This is the topic discussing the specific problems, and this should be the one that will be updated when the problem is resolved

http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Out-About/New-Version-Of-iPod-Touch-BTWifi-App-Rejecting-Login-Details/m-p/819828

Edited March 30, 2013 by Guest

[Olly]

Well I've spent a couple of hours this morning researching my options, and it seems I can get an Orange PAYG Sim card at 12p/MB or I could take out a £5/month SIM card which will allow 250MB per month which would probably be enough. I can't apparently 'tether' through my iPhone as it's too old, but no doubt that won't always be the case. I'm still dithering over whether to get the cellular access or not, but thanks for all the information.

 

I have however been inspired to (a) set up the BT WiFi properly, (b) find out how to log on via the Underground and © look properly at my current mobile account so it's been useful!

[Geoid]

find out how to log on via the Underground !

 

You will find it quite hard, it wont work on the trains or the platforms, only the ticket hall bit (in my experience) and you have to pay for it too.

[Olly]

Well I haven't tried yet as I'm not on the Tube again till Tuesday (hurrah) but as I'm an EE customer I've got the code which will allow free access, and it should apparently be available on platforms - see the link here. If you are a Virgin Media, EE or Vodafone customer it's free to use.

[chickencam]

I have an iPad without 3G and I'm not sure that the 3G is worth the extra money, sometimes when there is no free wifi there is no 3G either.

[The Dogmother]

I have a (new) Android tablet, which is wifi only and I really don't miss not having 3G on it. My phone (also Android) is on Vodafone, which allows me access to BT Openzones, I can then set up a wifi hotspot on my phone to use with my tablet - I tried it out (after suggestions on here) and it works very well - the internet speed is slower that if I was directly connected to a wifi network but it's fine for my needs.

[Olly]

I just wanted to update on this: eventually I decided to go for the extra access, there's a particular place and time when I mostly expect to be using this and I know I'll have cellular access but no wifi.

 

I have taken a free simcard from Giffgaff (thanks to moneysavingexpert.com), which offers 500 GB/month for £5, and I know from checking my phone account that I am not likely to use more than this.

I just thought this might be useful to anyone else contemplating buying a tablet, thanks for all the advice above which was very helpful.