Mobile internet on the cheap

OK so your on holiday and you get that call look at this email yap yap yap..., you know the one we need this that the other your life/job depends on it. Any sane person would tell them where to go. But you like me want to deliver excellent customer service and help in anyway you can. Right the internet cafe is closed and the cottage/flat/tent only has a tv without a remote you can't get to your email OK one lost customer or job.

With a little planning and ingenuity you to can have a mobile internet connection like the portly business man on the train just you wont be paying through the nose like him. Orange, Vodaphone and most big provider provide mobile internet access for users at around £30 a month. That's all good if your that business type who travel continuosly, but if like me you rarely need a mobile internet connection but sometimes it's a must there is an alternative.

The Setup
1 x GPRS enabled datacard source ebay (make sure you buy an unlocked one if it isn't specifically for orange)
1 x Orange handset cheapest possible
1 x Pay as you go Orange Sim card source any mobile phone shop, or hopefully you got one with your handset.

Now to get setup

Plug in and setup your GPRS card install drivers following manufactures instructions all good? Excellent

Now put your sim in your handset and dial 450 followed by 1,1,1 this should get you to the Orange extras menu where for £1 for a day you can purchase unlimited web access. Double check the sequence of numbers and make sure you listen as orange can change where you purchase things.

You've done now put the sim from the phone in the datacard. Put the datacard back into your laptop and goto network connections.

Choose "Create new connection from" from the left hand side
Click next
Choose "Connect to the Internet"
Click next
Choose "Setup my connection manually"
Click next
Choose "Connect Using a dial up modem"
Click next
Choose you GPRS card
Click next
Type a name for your connection
Click next
Enter this number as the phone number: *99#
Click next
Leave the username and password blank
Click next

Now open your control panel
Double click "System"
Click "Hardware"
Click "Device Manager"
Once open expand the modem + sign
Select the GPRS modem
Now right click and select properties form the popup menu
Select the "Advanced" tab
Now enter this line in the "Extra settings" box: +CGDCONT=1,"IP","orangewap";

Now you should be good to go. And can now check email on the beach and catch your bosses email even when relaxing...oh joy.