Suninfrance Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Asking on behalf of a friend who would like internet access while in France at their "renovation project". Is it possible to get an internet package that is like Pay As You Go, with no monthly fees, here in France. Friends only come over maybe 3 or 4 times a year for a maximum stay of a fortnight and would like to be connected and pay for only what they use while they are here.Any suggestions?Janxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 If they are in an area of suitable signal strength how about a PAYG 3G dongle? You don't have a contract and of course not even a phone line. Not super fast in France but OK for most things. If you get a good mobile phone signal you should be OK for a dongle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Orange do a scheme whereby you can 'turn it off'. Think you may have to pay for the line for a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Yes that's the problem for a full internet connection you would still have to have (and pay for of course) a land line. I don't know if you can turn that on and off when you want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Many tourist offices offer free wifi. Also branches of McDonalds and, I noticed today, the branch of Flunch in my local hypermarket.Unfortuately, all the above would require time away from the renovation project, and would not be available 24/7.Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinabee Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]If they are in an area of suitable signal strength how about a PAYG 3G dongle? You don't have a contract and of course not even a phone line. Not super fast in France but OK for most things. If you get a good mobile phone signal you should be OK for a dongle[/quote]Agree - we use one of these when on holidayhttp://boutique.orange.fr/ESHOP_mx_orange/?tp=F&ref=54848&IDCible=1&type=11&donnee_appel=ORESHbut it does not work everywhere (or only has a 2G signal).If you go for this option, I recommend buying the dongle online from the Orange boutique, as last time I looked they cost more than double in the Orange shop in town! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I have a Bouygues dongle. Well, actually it's not a dongle but a mobile router because ipads don;t have USB ports. It was the cheapest deal and it's on a "cancel anytime" contract for just under €10 a month. Not brilliant but it works well enough to let me check emails and stuff when I'm in France. Much less faffing about than having to set up and cancel Orange every time I'm in France, and it's there waiting for me when I arrive. I can't remember how much data I get for the month, but it's definitely more than enough and if I use more it just slows down rather than cutting off or having to pay more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Thanks everyone, that's really useful info. With the dongle option - would you be able to use SKYPE though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Not really...it depends on your reception and connection speed. I can't use Facetime successfully with mine, which is to all intents and purposes no different than Skype. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thibault Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 We have an EE dongle - just charge the card up in Blighty, then buy a Eurobooster when required. They come in various 'sizes' depending what you want to see on the Internet.It is possible to recharge your card over the Internet if you misestimated how much you want to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Not wishing to contradict Betty but you can use Skype (at least voice not video) but it all depends on your connection and supplier.Here in Luxembourg I get a solid 7.2 Mbit/s using on HSDPA and 10.8 on HSPA+ in most areas.In France generally I get 3G or even worse EDGE but as long as you are getting around 2Mbit/s or more Skype will work fineFree Wi Fi in Flucnch will work but you have to sit near the aerial and hope they remembered to start the router in the morning. It's not fast either so you can get old just waiting for the weather report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowland Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 HiWe too have a Bouyges Telecom 3G dongle which works well. Sometimes we can only get Edge but mostly have 3G. It was easy to set up but you do have to have a French bank account (unless that has changed), and it is easy to top up. Skype can be a bit hit and miss but again, sometimes is ok. You do have to have a bit of patience especially if you are used to super fast broadband but it is good to be able to keep in touch, book tickets and pay bills etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Not wishing to contradict Betty but you can use Skype (at least voice not video) but it all depends on your connection and supplier.[/quote]Which is what I said, but rather badly, I admit! I certainly can't use that or facetime unless I'm standing on one leg in the bedroom (which doesn't make for pretty video viewing) but one advantage of a dongle is that you can wander about )at home or further afield) until you find a signal that's good enough to allow you to do these things, if you're really desperate to see the person you're talking to, or to call them for free. However, something else to take into account is that often you're paying more for the data than you would for a normal phone call so it's a case of weighing up which is your best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Department71 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Changing tack a wee bit but if you are a UK resident and have BT Broadband they say you have the use of loads of hotspots all over Europe, would this work? or is it only localised in built up areas.Something we have looked into as well is satellite broadband, one I have found is on a PAYG tariff, I think its 7 pounds per gigabyte. Also I would be tempted to have a UK contract against a French contract. Saves getting any HADOPI letters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 It's worthless! Effectively unless you are invited into the home of someone who has enabled their wifi as a hotspot, your only chance is parking up outside their house and hoping their wifi signal is strong enough for you to link in with your BT credentials.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanS Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Re. PaulT's comment. Orange have a landline for 'maison secondaires' which you can turn on and off but not Internet. Unless it's something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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