Can I use my laptop in Langholm?

[JumboBeef]

Hello all,

I'm totally out of date on the mobile phone front (I mean, my phone still has buttons! ) and mobile internet.

I will need to spend sometime in Langholm (Scottish Borders) soon, and I want to take my laptop and connect to the interweb.

I've looked at dongles on different networks but to be honest, I am totaly confused if I can use any of them

Could someone who knows, please tell if any network would work there please.

Thanks!

 

[amwebby]

Is there a Starbucks or a McDonalds there? If so you could use them for free WiFi access...

 

[robert.saunders]

My sister lives up the road near Biggar; my Orange network works fine there, but as is usual for those parts, the coverage can be patchy.

 

[JumboBeef]

Is there a Starbucks or a McDonalds there? If so you could use them for free WiFi access...

No, it has a couple of pubs and a shop!

 

[grober]

While mobile phone communication is virtually nationwide, facilities to communicate t'NET via dongle to the mobile phone network at decent speed are still very restricted even with providers like O2 and Vodaphone as far as I can make out. Unless you are very close to the major conurbations Glasgow,Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen or can find a local WiFi hotspot- (some hotels do provide them) you will have no chance. Your best bet is usually to use a local town library but you will have to join the queue of Eastern block migrant workers and tourists waiting to "phone home"

 

[robert.saunders]

Orange seems ok for me in the wilds

 

[grober]

A quick look at hotels in Langholm found this hotel which appears to offer internet facilities. -there may be others?? http://www.langholm-online.co.uk/pages/content.asp?PageID=181&BusinessID=34

Keying in their postcode to the Orange site DG13 0JH as a test location ( nothing to do with their own inhouse facility) gave the result excellent 2G coverage no 3G or 3G+
defined thus:_
2G stands for Second Generation. It's just the technical name of our standard mobile network.
Outdoors, our 2G network covers over 99% of the UK population and allows you to make calls, send text and photo messages and surf the mobile internet.
From a data perspective, the Orange 2G network is also made up of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution). GPRS allows you to transfer data whilst using a mobile internet session, or a very basic connection for mobile broadband. 34.8Kbtes/sec EDGE is an evolution of GPRS and works at a much quicker rate.

 

[robert.saunders]

That's patchy innit! At my Sister's postcode, it shows Excellent 2G, 3G and 3G+; just goes to show

 

[grober]

That's patchy innit! At my Sister's postcode, it shows Excellent 2G, 3G and 3G+; just goes to show

Just goes to show what a lottery the faster coverage is as you say Robert. I came across this problem recently while trying to set up a laptop for a friend in the wilds of Aberdeenshire.

 

[Timster]

Hi There.

Langholm is not normally a problem for me. My Grandparents live there and have done so for the last 25 years.

I'm on o2 and get a fine reception. THe only problem I ever had was T mobile. Langholm is hardly remote.

Warning - Watch out for policemen with speed guns hiding along the A7. THey like it!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

The real issue is higher speed data access in less densely populated areas.

As many have stated covergae figures are typically addressed as a percentage of the population & not land mass / area.