Internet service for a Men’s Shef?

[ShirleyMensShed]

Hi all,

I’m involved in helping to establish a Men’s Shed in Shirley, Southampton. One of the things I am looking at is provision of internet (and possibly phone) service once we have built our shed.

Does anyone have any tips for service providers?

Andy.

[SMS Network Coordinator]

Hi Andy,

At Portsea Men's Shed we use a Mifi (mobile WiFi using a data sim) device with a 12gb Three network data sim which is valid for up to to 12 months for a one off payment. The data sim will work until either the 12gb has been used up or the 12 months is up.
A mifi device costs from about £40 upwards and the data sim about £30 quid. When the data sim runs out you simply by a replacement sim and use it to replace the old sim in the device.
I see that Three are now doing a 24gb sim valid for up to 24 months for less than £40.
As long as you don't use it for video streaming you should find this sufficient for most of your needs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M3VJ2B2?pf_rd_r=A8AQ7WXM1J09AT5BSAXG&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e

Above is a link to an Amazon offer which offers a mifi device which can connect up to 16 devices simultaneously and a 24gb/24mth data sim for less than £80.

Before getting this, check that your area gets a reasonable Three network signal.

There is no calls with this but then most of us have mobile phones with us so probably not a priority.

Hope this helps.

Steve Redrup.

[WestWightShed]

Hi,

Our shed is in the local recreation ground and does not have a valid UK address so we can only use 4G mobile internet. We are currently using a Huawei B311 2020-4G/ LTE 150 Mbps Mobile Wi-Fi Router, with an XPOL-1 dual 4G antenna (We do have a spare that we could part with for a donation).

We then have a BT sim card in the router and get 12GB a month for £10. We then have a VoIP landline number with and Isle of Wight Area Code. We use a reconditioned Grandstream GXP2100 desktop phone plugged into the Lan port of the router. so that we can receive and make calls from the shed.

We also have the option of using the Zoiper App on a smartphone to receive calls when the shed is closed, which for us was very helpful during the lockdown.

Ian Wright, Trustee & UKMSA Ambassador