Huawei MIFI modem configuration Vodafone/Tim plus speed of internet on a mobile phone....

I've been full time in Italy for a month or so and have had time to try out internet options. Because we're still not sure how long we'll be here for the expense of a landline internet connection is a non-starter unless anyone has a cheap suggestion that doesn't involve a 24 month contract? I've tried out monthly internet plans with both Vodafone and Tim. Vodafone gets a sllightly better connection but is more expensive. I have had real problems though configuring my Huawei E589 unlocked modem. With both Tim and Vodafone they have both resisted using my prepaid internet quota but used up the credit that the rotten mobile companies insist you have on the SIMS for the monthly plans to work. I've been into the shops on several occasions and had quite frankly very little help or helpful people who appear to have misinformed me! There seems to be different APN addresses that one should put in to make the modem use the prepaid plan as opposed to the sim eating up your credit. Any ideas on configuring to be sure I'm using my data package?The other question is that I've gotma fab €7 month mobile phone package with I WIND with 1gb data included. It seems to work pretty well within the phone and updates my emails and BBC news straightaway but isn't strong enough to stream Youtube etc. I was wondering whether any techno whizzes out there know whether these great deal mobile phone packages deliberately are set up to refuse to do streaming etc so that they are not overused in terms of data or if this is simply showing me that IWIND isn't worth my trying as a mobile internet provider as the signal wont be good enough? I'd be somewhat surprised if this is the case as I WIND is always the provider that my UK mobile phone latches onto when at home in Italy so I assumed it was the strongest signal. Sorry for being SO boring!!!!!! Any advice much appreciated!