Vodafone Mobile Broadband == EVIL!!

[t0p]

I recently bought a Vodafone (UK) (http://online.vodafone.co.uk) 3G "mobile broadband" dongle and started using their "service". I write "service" advisedly.

It costs £15 per 1GB of data. This compares to using my TMobile cellphone to connect to the internet, which costs £2.50 for 5 days' UNLIMITED data.

And what's worse... Vodafone censors my access! If I point my browser at an illegal download site, or a legal pr0n site, I get redirected to Vodafone's site! Nooo!!

The only way I can browse what I want to browse involves using a proxy service (http://www.your-freedom.net). Which of course throttles the already paltry speed considerably.

Anyone thinking of getting one of these gadgets? Don't buy Vodafone! The sooner I get my dongle sim-unlocked, the better!

[hyperdude111]

Thats bad, they censor your access. Its like china.

[ELD]

Illegal download site? I'm not suprised and you really shouldn't be either.

T-Mobile are apparently the best, looks like someone didn't do their homework!

[UbuKunubi]

I strongly recommend 3, but use a phone as modem!
I pay a mere £5 a month to get the internet access via 'Planet 3' internet add-on (NOT the mobile broadband option), and I'm not supposed to know, but the download allowance is 2gig a month.
Been using it with bluetooth dial up for over a year with no problem, except they do block some sites.

While the connection is not 'click-pop' fast, its perfectly useable, and I frequently get 40-70K connection.

Just to share,
Ubu.

[fatality_uk]

We, as a business, moved away from VodaFone about 18 months ago. We use O2 for all mobile data and voice. They have good UK customer services and so far, they have not blocked/throttled the service we get.

After personal experience with VodaFone of them charging me for 4 months for a service I never had, I doubt I will use them again in either a professional or personal capacity.

[t0p]

Illegal download site? I'm not suprised and you really shouldn't be either.

Maybe you're not surprised. But you should be outraged. Unless you're a complete idiot.


T-Mobile are apparently the best, looks like someone didn't do their homework!

Didn't I just tell you that I also use a T-Mobile phone to connect? What kind of mug would I be if I just stuck to their service and never tried the alternatives? I can get the dongle sim-unlocked then use it with any 3G service.

I'm posting here to warn people - but there's always one, isn't there?

[ELD]

Maybe you're not surprised. But you should be outraged. Unless you're a complete pric^H^H^H^Hidiot.


Now now keep your attitude where it belongs off the forum. I was simply implying you shouldn't be on illegal download sites anyway, if you don't know why, your the the "pric^H^H^H^Hidiot".
I am a little suprised since as far as i know they shouldn't be allowed to do that, but still.



Didn't I just tell you that I also use a T-Mobile phone to connect? What kind of mug would I be if I just stuck to their service and never tried the alternatives? I can get the dongle sim-unlocked then use it with any 3G service.

I'm posting here to warn people - but there's always one, isn't there?

That bit i must have missed i apologise, by the sounds of it the tmobile was a better option, why did you not just stick with that? Seems a bit strange.

[t0p]

Now now keep your attitude where it belongs off the forum. I was simply implying you shouldn't be on illegal download sites anyway, if you don't know why, your the the "pric^H^H^H^Hidiot".

What are you talking about? What law is there against browsing illegal download sites? And who made Vodafone the internet police, enforcing your imaginary laws?


That bit i must have missed i apologise, by the sounds of it the tmobile was a better option, why did you not just stick with that? Seems a bit strange.

Yeah I should have done. I didn't. Unless you've got a TARDIS I can borrow, what's your point?

[ELD]

I know there is no law about browsing an illegal download site, but 99% of people going to one, would be there to search for something to download illegally, i think it's funny how you complain about it but whatever.

That was exactly my point of saying what looked like you didn't do your homework, i missed the bit about t-mobile but now that have read it, well it seems even more strange that you say you did but you still got it anyway?

And your agreeing with me on it so yeah point made. But thanks for the warning, i dislike vodafone anyway.

[michaeldt]

OT: There's really no such thing as an illegal "download site" since the website is not illegal, even though the content may be. Same goes for an "illegal download" site. So really, they should not be blocking anything.

I am however surprised they block pr0n sites. I would have thought they'd keep that one fully open, considering they charge £15 per GB. That there would be an incredible money maker.

[ELD]

OT: There's really no such thing as an illegal "download site" since the website is not illegal, even though the content may be. Same goes for an "illegal download" site. So really, they should not be blocking anything.

I am however surprised they block pr0n sites. I would have thought they'd keep that one fully open, considering they charge £15 per GB. That there would be an incredible money maker.

You know what we both mean by it though.

And yeah the porn one is pretty suprising!

[JohnFH]

Why are you complaining when a company doesn't allow you to do something illegal? Why should they allow you to do that? You seem to have no conscience at all and yet you are calling Vodaphone the evil one??

On top of that, quit with the hypocritical attitude. Calling people complete idiots for not agreeing with you is just very immature at best.

[The Toxic Mite]

I have an Orange phone, and you can get a daily browsing package for only £1.

Bargain innit :P

The only time I will use it as a modem is if my wireless is unavailable, or I'm on the train (although National Express have wi-fi on their trains :P)

But yeah, the Vodafone thing sounds like a complete rip-off - we should be allowed to browse whatever site we want - from news to pr0n.

[benj1]

just ring them up and complain, after all im sure most 'illegal' download sites have some legal content.

anyway i think the 3 package is cheapest, but doesn't work in a lot of areas, im using an orange dongle at the mo and its £15 for 3gb p/m.

[t0p]

Why are you complaining when a company doesn't allow you to do something illegal? Why should they allow you to do that? You seem to have no conscience at all and yet you are calling Vodaphone the evil one??

Maybe you didn't see the post where I explained that browsing an illegal download site is not illegal.

This is akin to the case when Comcast were caught blocking peer-to-peer traffic (http://www.eff.org/wp/packet-forgery-isps-report-comcast-affair) by injecting phoney RST packets. EFF got involved and Comcast conceded their actions were wrong. While what Vodafone is up to is not a direct equivalent, it's certainly in the same ball park - traffic shaping to prevent legal online activity.



On top of that, quit with the hypocritical attitude. Calling people complete idiots for not agreeing with you is just very immature at best.

I didn't call anyone a complete idiot for disagreeing with me. I questioned the intelligence of anyone who can't see the evil in Vodafone's actions. Including you, smartie.

[meeples]

i used to have vodafone mobile broadband. had to phoene up to get sencorship taken off...

and i was not good with keeping in the 3 gb limit either because my first bill was £50>



I strongly recommend 3, but use a phone as modem!
I pay a mere £5 a month to get the internet access via 'Planet 3' internet add-on (NOT the mobile broadband option), and I'm not supposed to know, but the download allowance is 2gig a month.
Been using it with bluetooth dial up for over a year with no problem, except they do block some sites.

While the connection is not 'click-pop' fast, its perfectly useable, and I frequently get 40-70K connection.

Just to share,
Ubu.

40-70K??

is that all? wow 3 are really cheap but that speed is terrible dude. with vodafone you get at least 200k. i just dont want to pay over 50 pounds a month for it.

[hyperdude111]

TPB
Mininova
bitjunkie
demanoid ---ALL have some legal content, these sites are not illegal not are the torrents but the content the torrents link to IS illegal.

[meeples]

and um FYI the censorship on vodafones service is not to stop you going on illegal content its a parental control, you can easily get it took off like i did.

[Greenwidth]

browsing an illegal download site is not illegal.

Couldn't agree more.

According to Talk Talk, sadly my ISP - which I can't currently change in my location, all torrents are bad and they shape traffic heavily.. So, no downloading any distro torrents for me..
N+ however works just fine, so that's something I guess.

[t0p]

and um FYI the censorship on vodafones service is not to stop you going on illegal content its a parental control, you can easily get it took off like i did.

Hmm I didn't think of that.

Should have done though. Both Orange and T-Mobile do a similar thing. It's the download site thing that threw me I guess. Eep!

I shall phone Vodafone later and see if they will lift the block. If they do, I shall fill this thread with heartfelt retractions and grovelling apologies.

That doesn't change the fact that people who think it's okay to block download sites are wrong wrong wrong.

Nor does it change the fact that Vodafone's rates are bloody expensive. I'm still going to sim-unlock my dongle as soon as possible. Thanks to all who've posted details of other mobile broadband deals. I think what I'm going to try is putting the sim from my phone into the dongle. See if I can browse through the dongle for the same price that I browse through the phone. If anyone has any thoughts/info on that, I'd love to see them.

[The Toxic Mite]

and um FYI the censorship on vodafones service is not to stop you going on illegal content its a parental control, you can easily get it took off like i did.

Aye - one of my mates tried to access UbuntuForums using his phone as a modem, but it got blocked because of Orange Safeguard :/ lol

[t0p]

Aye - one of my mates tried to access UbuntuForums using his phone as a modem, but it got blocked because of Orange Safeguard :/ lol

Vodafone don't block this site. But they ought to, it's full of unmitigated filth and horror! ;)

[The Toxic Mite]

Vodafone don't block this site. But they ought to, it's full of unmitigated filth and horror! ;)

shut up :lolflag: