3G Dongle Internet Portugal

The availability of a a good mobile phone signal DOES NOT mean you will have a good signal with a dongle!!! It is very very important to understand this.

In Portugal, and most of Europe, most operators still operate 2G/UMTS mobile networks which only transmit data (i.e. Internet) at a slow speed.

Broadband over the mobile phone network (such as in Portugal, Vodafone/TMN/Optimus Dongles), only operates at full broadband speeds when one in in range of a 3G equipped mobile phone mast. 3G is more powerful but its range and strength is much less than 2G. Furthermore, in some cases, one can receive a 3G signal outside a property, but if the walls are thick, one may find that you can only get a 2G inside a house. I have had several clients who have had this experience. They have bought a dongle and then find it does not work at the speeds intended inside the house. They then have to trail back to the shop and get their money back.

It is, therefore, imperative to test that you can receive a good 3G mobile signal in your property before purchasing the gear.

Unlocked 3G USB Sticks/Dongles

Companies like vodafone have programmed the USB Sticks/Dongles to be country and company specific. This means that, in general, a vodafone UK stick will not work with a vodafone portugal sim.

However, just found this site on the web selling unblocked sticks that might help you:

http://bit.ly/b4lbEZ

Apple Retailers in the Lisbon/Lisboa, Portugal Metro Area

List of all offical Apple Retailers in the Lisbon Metro Area courtesy of Apple.com. (May 2010)

1. EL CORTE INGLES - LISBOA
AVDAS ANTONIO AUGUSTO DE AGUILAR
MARQUES DA FRONTEIRA E SIDONIO PAIS
1069-413 - LISBOA
Tel. 351 213 711 700

2. TB STORE AV 5 OUTUBRO
AV 5 DE OUTUBRO N.º 26B
1050 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-291-002 340

3. TB STORE COLOMBO
CENTRO COMERCIAL COLOMBO
AVENIDA LUSIADA, LOJA 0.022
1500-392 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-210 129 632

4. IBERDIGITAL
AV. COLÉGIO MILITAR, 28-9º ESQ
1500-185 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-217156510

5. INFORMANTEM
URB.DO POLO TECNOLÓGICO
DE LISBOA,LOTE 3
1600-546 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-217101600

6. PLACALOGICA
RUA FERNÃO LOPES Nº 9-5º DTº
1000-132 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-213521206

7. FNAC CHIADO
RUA DO CAMO, 2
ARMAZÉNS DO CHIADO, LOJA 407
1200-094 - LISBOA
Tel. 21 940 47 00

8. POWERHOUR
AV. INFANTE SANTO, 70 G
1350-180 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-934554305

9. RESOLUÇÃO GRÁFICA
CALÇADA DA PAMPULHA, 35
1200-751 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-213959076

10. DISTRILOC
RUA DOS LUSÍADAS, 6B
1300-370 - LISBOA
Tel. 21 315 89 54

11. FNAC ALMADA
CAMINO MUNICIPAL, 1101, LOJA 1.49
VALE DE MOURELOS
2800 - ALMADA
Tel. 21 940 47 00

12. VOBIS ALMADA
FORUM ALMADA, LOJA 1.33
RUA CAMILO MUNICIPAL, 1011
2800 - ALMADA

13. COLORFOTO
PRAÇA DE ALVALADE Nº 2D
1700-035 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-217932475

14. WORTEN COLOMBO
AV. LUSÍADA
CENTRO COMERCIAL COLOMBO
1500-392 - LISBOA
Tel. 21 711 3940

15. MEDIAMARKT BENFICA
AVENIDA GENERAL NORTON DE MATOS
1500-213 - LISBOA

16. FNAC COLOMBO
C.C COLOMBO LOJA A-103
AVDA LUSIADA - CENTRO COLOMBO
1500-392 - LISBOA
Tel. 21 940 47 00

17. VOBIS COLOMBO
CENTRO COMERCIAL COLOMBO
LOJA A005, AV. LUSÍADA, LETRAS CC
1500 - 392 - LISBOA

18. WORTEN BARREIRO
LUGAR ALTO DO ROMÃO, LT 32
2830 - VILA CHÃ - BARREIRO
Tel. 212149320

19. AVANTGARDE
RUA FERNANDO NAMORA Nº 44-B
1600-454 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-217122010

20. WORTEN AMADORA
ESTRADA NACIONAL 249-1
VENTEIRA
2724-520 - AMADORA
Tel. 214179214

21. WORTEN TELHEIRAS - WRT
AVENIDA DAS NAÇÕES UNIDAS
TELHEIRAS
1600 - LISBOA
Tel. 217114482

22. WORTEN FORUM BARREIRO
RUA STARA ZAGORA
URBANIZAÇÃO DAS CORDOARIAS, LOJA 0,29
2830-364 - BARREIRO
Tel. 212067440

23. NORMATICA
RUA PEDROUÇOS, 28
1400-290 - LISBOA
Tel. +351-213041600

24. INFORMÁTICA EL CORTE INGLÊS,S.A.
RUA QUINTA DO PINHEIRO,
16 - 4º E - EDIF. TEJO
2790-143 - CARNAXIDE
Tel. +351-214166100

25. FNAC ALFRAGIDE
AV. DOS CAVALEIROS
C.C ALEGRO ALFRAGIDE - LOJA 52
2790-045 - ALFRAGIDE
Tel. 707 20 36 22

26. WORTEN SEIXAL
RIO SUL SHOPPING, QTA. NOVA DO JUDEU
ESTRADA NACIONAL 10; FOGUETEIRO
2840-293 - SEIXAL
Tel. 212279765

27. VOBIS VASCO DA GAMA
AVENIDA D. JOÃO II
CC VASCO DA GAMA, LOJA 2115
1990 - 094 - LISBOA

28. WORTEN VASCO GAMA
AV. D.JOÃO II
CENTRO COMERCIAL VASCO DA GAMA
1990-094 - LISBOA
Tel. 218930827

29. VOBIS SEIXAL
QUINTA NOVA DO JUDEU
EN 10 FOGUETEIRO
2840 - AMORA

30. CPC NET
RUA ALFREDO SILVA, Nº 2 - 4º
2610-016 - AMADORA
Tel. +351-214720322

31. DECIMAGEM
RUA ALFREDO SILVA, 8
- PISO 1 ESCRIT. C
2610-016 - AMADORA
Tel. +351-214707530

32. FNAC VASCO DE GAMA
C. VASCO DE GAMA
AV. D. JOAO II LOTE 1.05.02
1990-094 - LISBOA
Tel. 21 940 47 00

33. MEDIAMARKT ALFRAGIDE
RUA DO CANAS, Nº5
2790-204 - CARNAXIDE

34. WORTEN ALHOS VEDROS
ESTRADA NACIONAL 11 -1
(EXTINTA CORTICEIRA IBERICA)
2860-004 - ALHOS VEDROS
Tel. 212029430

35. WORTEN DOLCE VITA TEJO
DOLCE VITA TEJO, LOJA 0005
AV. CRUZEIRO SEIXAS, 5 E 7
2650-504 - AMADORA
Tel. 211 550 212

36. WORTEN ARROJA
URB. COLINAS DO CRUZEIRO, LOTE1
ZONA 6 - POMBAIS - ODIVELAS
ODIVELAS
Tel. 219349650

37. WORTEN LOURES - WRT
ESTRADA NACIONAL 250
QUINTA CASAL DA PIPA
2670 - LOURES
Tel. 210 424 258

38. WORTEN S. JOÃO TALHA
EN 10 GAVETO COM A RUA BRASIL
2695 - S. JOÃO TALHA
Tel. 219947370

39. VOBIS MONTIJO
SÍTIO DO PAU QUEIMADO
2870 - 100 - MONTIJO

40. WORTEN MONTIJO
EST. CIRCULAR ARNEIRO Nº22
2870-152 - MONTIJO
Tel. 212308358

Portugal - 3G Mobile Internet

Have a look at this article on my blog.

http://bit.ly/clGPxo

Although Vodafone UK and Vodafone PT are the same company.... the dongles sold each country cannot be used in another country..even if you put a Portuguese SIM card in.

If you have a good 3g mobile signal (as against a "UMTS) signal at your property here in Portugal, you should be able to buy a Vodafone PAYG (as against PAYE:))))) dongle here in Portugal as indicated above. Note you really MUSY check that you can receive a good 3G signal inside the house her in Portugal, otherwise you will be wasting money

The Vodafone PAYG dongle rates can be found here: (in portuguese)

http://bit.ly/dBAOXH

Dongles from Vodafone, TMN and Kanguru are available from the respective shops in any good Algarve Shopping Centre or Town Centre.

Fixed internet access over 3G networks in Portugal

On a technical level PT are usually pretty quick these days in addressing line issues in the Algarve. However, you may well have problems with the bureaucratic process.

There may be another solution depending on your property's geographic location. Forget PT!

Depending on the volume of bandwidth you need each month, Vodafone have now launched a product called BestNet and TMN have a similiar one.
Kanguru Optimus probably have a similiar product but their site is a mess at the moment and it its difficult to ascertain package options..

This gives you broadband access over the mobile phone system. No phone line is required.

You could perhaps them make do with a mobile phone for voice calls and have broadband using the above system. I would suggest that you take the account out in your personal name.

Vodafone Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:

http://bit.ly/cyxzR5

TMN Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:

http://bit.ly/cyxzR5

However, I really do strongly recommend that you get a site test done at the property before going down this road to ensure that you can receive a stable 3G signal within the property and therefore receive the maximum speed available.