I’ve just purchased a ‘3’ modem to use with my laptop, needed because I’ll be on nights out from 3rd March and would like to keep up with my email and of course use this forum.
The modem came with a sim, and after following the instructions its all set up on my laptop. That was the easy bit 
I assumed it was just a case of taking a top up card to a shop and topping up just like a pay as you go phone. No chance 
I went to carphone warehouse to ask if they do top up cards, well they do but not for a 3 modem. Phone ‘3’ they said 
So, I phoned 3. Yes they said you take your topup card to anywhere that does phone top ups and you pay £10, £15 or whatever.
But I dont have a [zb] top card 
Where do I go from here? anyone had a 3 modem on Pay As You Go?
Any help would be greatly appreciated please 
I don’t know anything about pay as you go 3 broadband but this and this should help.
Shows various options for getting a top up card half way down the page on the first link.
This may also help.
haven’t checked Tachograph’s links yet, but I’ve been looking into this recently - as I understand it you buy a normal 3 top up voucher and then convert it to a broadband voucher ( not sure if that’s on the phone or online )
you convert the voucher online
Thanks for that Denis, I was thinking from the outset that it was just a case of a getting hold of a top card. But because I had conflicting information from ‘3’ (told me to go to Woolworths and buy a voucher ) and Carphone warehouse (told me to phone 3 as you cant use a top up card) I wasn’t sure. Anyway the info you’ve posted should get things sorted - thanks again
Well chaps, it’s all set up and very impressive it is too. It was actually faster than my broadband at home 
The only downside was all the faffing about to get it set up, in the modem kit is a sim. But the sim is a normal phone sim with a phone number included, you have to phone 3 and get them to record it as a mobile broadband account. Once you’ve done that you have to get a ‘3 Voucher’ (I got mine in Woolworths), then phone 3 again and quote an activation code, and finally it’ll work.
It’s a pity you cant just get a normal top up card (like with a phone) instead of having to buy vouchers and all that goes with it.
Anyway, I’m quite happy with it and looking forward to my nights out with internet access, what more could I wish for … 
?
How long would say £10 last on payg broadband for example check email, bit of surfing and a read on here ? is it charged per minute or something else? 
cheers.
1GB of data lets you: Send 650 plain text emails AND surf the web for 30hrs AND download 30 two minute videos AND download 60 music tracks.
3GB of data lets you: Send 2000 plain text emails AND surf the web for 100hrs AND download 100 two minute videos AND download 200 music tracks.
7GB of data lets you: Send 4500 plain text emails AND surf the web for 200hrs AND download 200 two minute videos AND download 400 music tracks
1Gb costs £10, 3Gb costs £15 and 7Gb is £25 (I think), I bought 3Gb.
Some really good info on here thanks guys, just need to get a cheap laptop now!!!
SMc
I have just returned to the UK for a while and bought a 3 broadband 7GB £25
a month its very good and fast and you can use it in europe and the roaming charges are not that dear .Think they said it was free to use it in some countries
Just to update on the performance of my ‘3’ mobile modem. I’m currently doing 5 nights out and use the laptop every night on internet. I started off with 3gb on 20th Feb although it actually came out as 3072mb when loaded. Despite all the time I’ve spent on the net there is still 3002mb left, so in three weeks I’ve still got 3gb left which is pretty amazing! Not sure how you could use 3gb a month when on the road. Anyway just thought I would update this thread in case anyone is thinking of internet on the road. I give ‘3’ 100%
The USB modem is the same as I had with T Mobile except that I ended up with a 500 quid bill in 3 days
However I complained to T mobile and they cancelled my contract, took the modem and sim back and repayed the money. They didnt explain it to me as they did not seem to know much about it.
As already said though, it is simple and as quick as broadband.
I might try Three as the wife uses it too
Go for it wheel nut, I’m usually pretty cynical about gadgets that make astronomical claims and dont deliver, but this one does deliver.
Tiger.
i got three and will agree with all thats said here.
i got the 3 modem for my laptop,im with them on the phone anyway and got it free.i think its about £99 in the three shops.
its good and faster than my home pc.
and pay as you go means no nasty suprises when bill appear in the letterbox.
10 out of 10 for three internet.
I have used Three now for one month and really hammered it i am on the 7Gg and have had the statement and have only used just over 2.7 Gg so wish i had got the 3Gg one. You cannot go over your limit on any of the £10/15/25 payment plans .Because if you are near your limit they send you a text to let you know and then it 10p for 1mb. if you register with MY 3 on their website you can see how much you have left of your allocation .Its been fast all the time with no problems at all
Robertthegreat:
I have just returned to the UK for a while and bought a 3 broadband 7GB £25
a month its very good and fast and you can use it in europe and the roaming charges are not that dear .Think they said it was free to use it in some countries
Hi all…
This is my first post, so thought i’d throw in a spanner…
I run Europe every week, sometimes for 3-4 weeks at a time and took out the 3 modem for my laptop on contract…decided to go for the 7gb monster. Get to France…no signal. Phoned home and asked them to chase 3…only to be told that it wouldn’t work in France, or many other countries come to mention it 
I’d be interested to know how you got yours to work out there coz at the moment it about as much use to me as a chocolate ashtray!!!
Cheers…Dave
i havent tried mine in europe yet.
i have a three mobile phone.
three operate in italy/ireland/austria/uk…and i think denmark.#i have a 1000 free minutes per month and can use the in these countries.if you have problem,ring three,they tole me the internet will work outside the uk.also just use pre pay as the account internet is expensive outside the uk.
this was earlier today when i was in their shop in birkenhead.
They were talking about using mobile internet on Watchdog on the box this evening, some people had received horrendous bills for using them abroad, one was for £9000+ (!!!). It seems that the regulators have stopped the mobile phone service providers from charging too much for voice services abroad, but there is no such restriction on data services. From what was said on the program it seems that if you are not careful your can be seriously ripped off. BEWARE!!
kickstart:
They were talking about using mobile internet on Watchdog on the box this evening, some people had received horrendous bills for using them abroad, one was for £9000+ (!!!). It seems that the regulators have stopped the mobile phone service providers from charging too much for voice services abroad, but there is no such restriction on data services. From what was said on the program it seems that if you are not careful your can be seriously ripped off. BEWARE!!
If you stick to ‘Pay as you go’, it stops any nasty bills arriving. £10 a month should be more than enough for anyone on the road though you are restricted to UK use.
I have T mobile dongle for when I am in the truck, and it works fine. I pay a monthly fee of £20 and that is all I pay. Liz