Try Google
Submitted by alan h on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 08:17In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Google "Bagni di Lucca" and you'll find places like "Reliable access arrived with Jacquline's Internet point at via Vittorio Emanuele, 66 in Ponte a Serraglio. The eponymous, charming, and English-speaking owner offers a small number of Internet-connected PCs as well as a wi-fi link for those who want to connect their own computers."
Thanks Alan. I've just
Submitted by JanJ on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 12:25In reply to Try Google by alan h
BAGNI DI LUCCA
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 16:04In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Free Wi-Fi
Submitted by sagraiasolar on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 06:02In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
With visiting guests to many houses and Agritorismos it is usual to leave the access to Wi-Fi unprotected and therefor open for anyone to sneak a free go. We have some friends who often park outside the house to use their laptop and make calls etc If the modem is a powerful one as might be used to cover a borgo then free access can be gained from some distance. I know of a case where access can be had from about a kilometer away, right across a valley. You can buy wi-fi detectors or try for it with your laptop and eventually you'll find a convenient place to park and surf.
Careful ......
Submitted by alan h on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 07:16In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
"We have some friends who often park outside the house to use their laptop and make calls etc ...................... You can buy wi-fi detectors or try for it with your laptop and eventually you'll find a convenient place to park and surf." This may well be illegal in Italy - it appears that it is in the UK In the UK, the Communications Act 2003 says a "person who (a) dishonestly obtains an electronic communications service, and (b) does so with intent to avoid payment of a charge applicable to the provision of that service, is guilty of an offence". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm
from 1 Jan
Submitted by Ram on Sat, 11/27/2010 - 02:55In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Italy has had a laaw for 10 years whereby anyone who connects to the internet in a public place must provide ID, which must be photocopied and provided to the police on request and which has prevented WiFi zones. Its bad enough in internet bars. This law, finally, is being rescinded on 1 jan 2011 and wifi zones can be set up for public use.
GREAT NEWS
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Sat, 11/27/2010 - 05:17In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Great news, Ram, thank you. I generally use the Internet service provided at the Tourist Office in Bagni di Lucca and the last time I was there my ID document was left inadvertently in the office. The problem was that we left next day without realising I did not have it with me. Fortunately, the kind lady who runs the office realised it, found my overseas address and forwarded it to me. But I agree, it was a nuissance to have to fill up forms, etc.
That is good news. We won't
Submitted by JanJ on Sat, 11/27/2010 - 09:15In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
"Free" wifi?
Submitted by Il volpe on Mon, 12/27/2010 - 19:51In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Just to clarify, you won't get wifi for free. Jacqueline's is a paid for service.Anyone got any up to date info on the best Italian mobile dongle to use in this area? This would seem to me to be the most cost-effective solution for reasonably frequent visitors, but it would be good to find a pay as you go service where your credit isn't wiped after a month.Any ideas? Any experience of the 3 Italia shop in Lucca for example? (the 3 italia website is not a model of clarity!)ThanksMike, Bagni di LuccaMike
NO IDEA
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 04:17In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Vodafone
Submitted by Flip on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 09:15In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
WIND
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 16:31In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Check coverage
Submitted by coseperlacasa on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 17:22In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
It would be worth checking the coverage, as Flip suggests. 3 Italia's mobile and 3g coverage is sporadic at best in our locale (Eastern Marche), and locally Vodafone is the new king of the hill for broadband. If this gives 3 Italia impetus to improve, hurrah. If it wakes Telecom Italia from its enchanted sleep of semi-function, then double huzzahs with cheeries on top...
Vodafone in Tuscany
Submitted by Il volpe on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 18:10In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hello Flip Thanks for this, very useful. How did you go about getting a Vodafone dongle? Did you buy one in person locally, if so from where? Also, what about this business of wiping your credit every month - a pain if you're only in the country for a few weeks at a time? What's Vodafone's policy on that? Thank you Mike
Vodafone
Submitted by Flip on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 06:37In reply to Vodafone in Tuscany by Il volpe
Mike, I have 2 dongles; one I have from the UK and one I use in Italy as well. Both interchangeable just change the SIM card. I got mine from the Vodafone shop in Fornaci; and yes the credit only last 30 days but it's cheap enough and if you want a web connection when you're over, I think it's small price to pay over a phone line and ADSL modem charge. It only costs about €10 for a month, less than a good bottle of wine.....
Flip. I know this sounds
Submitted by JanJ on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 17:42In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Flip. I know this sounds stupid but I'm really not well up on dongles! What would I need to do to use one in Italy? Could I buy one here in the UK and use it in Italy? If you could give me more info would be grateful - approximate cost etc, buing a SIM in Italy etc. I currently use Orange over here in UK but thinking of changing to Vodafone, pay-as-go. I don't use my mobile enough to warrant a contract! Would only need to access internet whilst staying in Italy for a few weeks at a time at most, so don't need to be tied into anything long term. Thanks Jan
Dongle
Submitted by Flip on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 19:36In reply to Flip. I know this sounds by JanJ
Jan, a dongle is a USB device (looks like a memory stick) that enables your PC/Laptop to access the Web via phone signals (usually 3G) via a SIM card. Vodafone UK is not the same as Vodafone Italia, so you cannot use one for both countries. When in Italy, go into a Vodafone shop (or other provider of your choice) and buy one, you can use the web to look up costs etc; but they cost around €20 and give you 3mb of usage which lasts upto 30 days; all this on PAYG tariffs, so you can use it whilst on Holiday and top up again when you're next over. If you use up your allowance you just top up like a pay as you go phone, and off you go again. How much you use will depend on how much you use, but checking emails and browsing only and it will last ages; if you start downloading music/films etc it will go pretty fast. Speed can be a little slow and that depens on your signal strength, so pick a strong signal for your area and Vodafone seems to be the bstrongest in most areas out of large towns. Suggest you go online and look them up on Vodafone/3/Orange etc sites. Hope this helps. F
Interchangeable dongles
Submitted by Il volpe on Thu, 12/30/2010 - 18:24In reply to Dongle by Flip
Flip, thanks for your patience on this. So you can use a British-bought dongle in Italy, it's enough just to change the SIM to one bought in Italy? Finally - how do you usually top up? Do you do it online via your phone's own browser, or do you go back to the shop in person? Mike
top up
Submitted by Flip on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 06:26In reply to Interchangeable dongles by Il volpe
Mike If you get one in the UK, and set it up ready for your trips, then all you will need to do is get a 'Mobile Internet SIM Card' from a shop in Italy; and then swop over. The Top up options will be installed when you connect the dongle for the first time and it downloads the software, and then to top up all you need to do is register a card (as with anymobile provider). Your SIM has a number (like any mobile SIM 07********) so you can top it up at any ATM that allows you to do it like you would your mobile phone. Ask then in the shop for info, Carphone wharehouse is a good one to start as they do Vodafone and most other networks. Flip
Thanks Flip
Submitted by Il volpe on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 06:33Not if the dongle is locked...
Submitted by stevegwmonkseaton on Thu, 12/30/2010 - 18:56In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
... I would strongly suggest you look at a "MIFI" router (don't ask what is "MIFI" , basically a wireless mobile dongle). If you can get one in the UK and have it unlocked - "3" will do this for a price, but sure other "backstreet" guys will do it cheaper, you will have something you can put in the best place in the house for reception without having to put your PC there.... You can also carry it with you and have access as you travel e.g. car, airport where ever you have reception... You can get one from "3" UK on a monthly deal (no link to "3", just so happens that's what I'm using right now...) ... Go in to the shops they have in the UK and ask ("3" and/or the others) them.. tell them exactly what you want to do... If like they are anything like the "3" shop I visited, they are very helpful as they told me exactly what I needed to do and which way to go... In Italy go to one of the bigger shopping areas and into one of the big electrical stores where they sell mobiles... The one we went to had 3-4 staff who spoke English... Be prepared to not be online for a few days... and take your Codice with you... They all do monthly deals the same as here in the Uk... we had a WIND dongle last summer for 6mth at €10 per mth on offer.. .Expect to pay up to €20....
Great information, Flip!
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 03:58In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
.. you should be able get
Submitted by stevegwmonkseaton on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 12:57In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
£15
Submitted by Flip on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:14In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You never got Wifi for free
Submitted by Ram on Mon, 01/10/2011 - 11:06In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You never got Wifi for free in Italy, because it wasnt allowed! For any wifi/internet access you needed a licence from the questura. Since 1 Jan this is no longer the case, only internet cafes still need a licence, so hotels, restaurants, bars etc should begin to set up open wifi zones like in normal countries! If you have to buy a coffee its a small price to pay, and unlike some well known coffee chains, the coffee will be good
Dongle news update!
Submitted by Il volpe on Fri, 04/22/2011 - 20:09In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Just to let you know that a few days back I bought an Italian USB dongle from the Euronics shop in Castelnuovo for internet coverage. It's a Vodafone and the reception in Bagni di Lucca is excellent. Cost was a one-off 29 euro for the dongle and 19 euro for 3 gb, which lasts for a month (or you top it up if you run out earlier). You can pay less for less download capacity or more for more. Not exactly a steal, but for the convenience of web access from our house halfway up a mountainside it's a price worth paying.
Tim Dongle
Submitted by IBarfoot on Sat, 04/23/2011 - 12:25In reply to Dongle news update! by Il volpe
Been using a Tim (Alice) dongle in the house half way up a mountain in Abruzzi for a couple of years now whilst on holiday, seems to work OK. I admit it was not as easy to obtain as one in the UK (be easier as my language skills improve) but it costs me around 10 Euro's a month to keep in touch via e-mail and Skype so pretty good, not really good enough for video Skype but hey I am on holliday.
TIM DONGLE
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Sun, 04/24/2011 - 07:07In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
My dear husband solved the problem for me. He saw a guy near our place using a notebook with a dongle, so he sent us to the TIM representative at Fornacci di Barga (on the main road). There was a special valid until the end of the month which is giving us the dongle or "chiavetta" at 29 euros plus 3 months of unlimited Internet for 30 euros (we shall be staying in Italy for a bit over to months), total 59 euros which we thought very reasonable. No contract or minimum time with them, the man told us to come and see him next time we will be in Bagni di Lucca and he will find a good deal for us. Great service and advice. Highly recommended.
Wind ricaricabile
Submitted by Smeralda on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 07:50In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have a house nearby, close to Diecimo, and I tried out the different reception qualities with my mobile phone and found that the best for us is Wind. I bought the sim ricaricabile at the Wind shop at Carrefour in Lucca and put it in my mobile router which also have an extra antenna. It works excellently, and gives us wifi in most parts of our (stone) house. I load the card using an italian Paypal account via their website wind.it - very easy! It is €9 a month for 50 hours. For me unlimited download for a certain time period was better than the fixed maximum Gb deals. That way I can manage my work remotely and not need to worry about running out of bytes :-) I can pause and restart (costs €5) the card anytime I want, or just let the money run out on the account, then when we come back again in the spring I just load it with money again and it starts up automatically. To get the current remaning hours and "saldo" I just send a free sms and get an sms respons directly.