A Guide to unlocking mobile broadband dongles for people who like to blog on the move

Mobile broadband Internet is great for people who like to go online while travelling and especially for those who like to blog while on the go. Wi-Fi hotspots are not always available particularly outside of large urban areas, so in order to access the Internet you can either use smart phones or laptop computers with mobile broadband dongles. The dongle is a communication device that picks up the same broadcasted Internet signal used by Smartphone’s.If you already have a dongle for a major mobile Internet access provider, the likelihood is that the device is locked so that it only works for that network. Locking allows the providers to prevent users from switching to other cheaper dongle services.

Is my dongle locked?

While some third-party companies do provide unlocked mobile broadband dongles, most likely a dongle coming from an access provider is locked to a network. You can use software like DC-Unlocker to check if your dongle is locked.
DC-Unlocker is available at dc-unlocker.com and you can use the application to test your dongles for free. However, if you want to use the service to unlock the dongle, a fee is required.
To check your system with DC-Unlocker, download the software application and install on your computer. Remove the SIM card from your dongle and plug it into your computer, then select the appropriate brand. The software will automatically detect supported SIM cards and tell you if it is locked or not.
Unlocking a dongle is completely legal, but the mobile service provider will not be happy about it and you will likely lose any warranty offered with the device.

Unlocking your dongle

If you spot a good deal and want to switch service providers, you have several options for unlocking your present dongle. First ask your current mobile provider if they can give you the unlock code for your dongle. Some providers will give you these codes although they may charge a fee.
Once you have the unlock code, you simply place the new SIM card into the dongle and then enter the code when prompted by the device. If you do receive a prompt, then select “Install generic software.”
If your provider will not give you the unlock codes, you still have the following options:
• Use software applications like DC-Unlocker to remove software locks. A software lock can be removed by uninstalling the current interface software and replacing it with generic unbranded software that can be easily found online.
• Pay a mobile phone unlocking store to unlock your dongle. Some stores offer this as an additional service. Many online sites offer such services.
• If the dongle isn’t SIM locked, you can change the APN network settings when you insert the new SIM. For a list of network settings, visit this URL: https://www.filesaveas.com/gprs.html.
• Use manufacturer firmware to erase and replace the current dashboard application on the dongle. This can be a little complicated and you will need to follow instructions carefully. Once the old network is gone, you can install a new generic dashboard.
When travelling abroad, you will need to reset to the appropriate APN settings.

A guest post from Spencer Hogg from the website Broadband Expert where mobile broadband dongle providers can be compared.