My problems (location near Kalgoorlie WA Australia):
The only home-line telco in .au (Telstra) is unable/unwilling to give me an internet connection.
It seems my only solution is mobile internet.
Optus can deliver that but I have spent 2 days trying to place an order electronically from the local library and their system breaks all the time. They only do business through a "chat" system from which I get interminable loop in an html document - a pop-up survey which I cannot answer which ends up as a lost connection - connection lost when my laptop goes into sleep mode as well as when I minimise the window to do something else while waiting for their answer.
I know nothing about mobile phone (or cell phone in the US), in fact I hate them. But it appears that it is common to use an internet-connected mobile phone with a PC so that Internet access is possible from the PC ("tethering"?)

My questions:
Can anyone suggest what is involved, especially what hardware/software I need (using Debian 7) and phone and service provider to consider (that is all I need to do with the phone). I need to know if it is a normal business proposition or if it is an "unsupported" possibility, if I can buy a phone for that purpose and if I can find a provider from which I can obtain the service. I need this "tethering" to be transparent (to the desktop) if possible.

Thank you for your help.

I use a mobile broadband USB modem for work out in the field occasionally. Optus have such 4G devices available. You can also purchase a 4G Wifi modem (Huawei E5573) that connects to a 4G tower and provides a local wifi network that you can connect a number of devices to. For home use, I think the latter would be better.

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No-brainer with my Android phones. Apple used to have it as a chargable feature, but I wouldn't use their kit if it was the last on earth, so I can't help you there. Make sure you are in range of a strong (preferably 4G) phone tower and have a plan that includes a decent amount of data per month. Doesn't matter who it is - pick the carrier that has best coverage/price. Telstra are likely to have restrictions, but I've never used them either except for landline.

On the Android phone, go to settings, then depending on Android release, it may be under "Network and Internet" (Android 8), or "More" around the Network/Wifi entries for earlier releases.
Just look for Hotspot/tethering. You define a name and password for your Hotspot, and it appears as a option when you scan for wifi on your desktop. If you plug in a USB and enable Tethering you should see a new interface on the PC, but I've never used it.

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Googling 'optus mobile broadband' was enough to bring a web page showing devices and plans.

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I used to have one of them, but found it was less able to get a decent signal than my phone when out in the country. It went in the bin when my credit expired.
Maybe I was just unlucky, but now I just use the phone when in need.

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That depends entirely on your mobile internet provider's T&Cs. If your provider doesn't allow tethering, you could end up being disconnected or receiving a huge bill. Always read the small print.

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Yes, I guess it just depends on the design quality and available signal in the area. I also tether to my iPhone when necessary, but I have two different providers (phone and modem device), so that in remote areas I'm generally always covered by at least one of the providers. My only thoughts were that it *hopefully* might be simpler option for rblampain if he doesn't have to worry about the extra step of tethering... not that it should present any real difficulty.

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From a quick read of the Optus plans I note the following about tethering...

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I'm using the hotspot on my S7(\phone), connecting to it like any WiFi... my basic unlimited everything plan limits the hotspot to 10Gb a month so if I download some Linux DVDs &c I do so on the phone then transfer with USB.

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Another thought - have you checked on NBN ?. Just a matter of plugging your address in a webpage form. You might be in their fixed wireless footprint - if so that would be a better option most likely

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I use hotspot modems and tether from phone all the time. I suppose it will work in Debian 7 but I know the newer ones support it easily "IF" your isp allows it and your device allows it.

Another option is to find a cheap home router like Asus or one of the opensourced types that you can attach a usb to.

It is also possible that most of these allow wifi access so you tether via wifi.

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buy a resonably cheap cellular smart-telefone with a resonable internet data rate (unlimited preferable).
then either pay the monthly fee for the cellular companys wifi-hotspot app or install a 3rd party rom that has that feature in the menu (the cellular company will only provide customer support for paying customers). then connect your laptops, tablets, cellular-telefones, ... to your device and enjoy.

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Linux* uses WiFi, a hotspot is WiFi...

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Thank you for the answers.

The only local shop, the local supermarket, had only under lock-and-key a 3G modem which I purchased and tried ($au 29.00 and expiry date of Dec 2016 - not 2017), they had bigger and more expensive boxes but I anticipate they are not what I was looking for since a 4G modem seems to be of the exact same size. Since a till is unattended while the shop assistant shows you the gear from a distant cabinet, I had no opportunity to investigate the other gadgets without upsetting someone eager to re-lock the cabinet and return to the till.
The 3G stick did not work under Debian 7, either laptop or desktop. The Debian disk utility finds it but is unable to display its characteristics regardless of whether the 3G stick is plugged directly in a USB socket of the mobo or in a Netgear router/modem (I prefer this possibility for a stick, as suggested by jefro, since it's then available to any machine connected). I will investigate how I can upgrade to Debian 9 with a download from the local library (I could not locate any disk sale in .au and in the process of cancelling my credit card - only able to pay by debit card).
The USB 3G modem is also unsuccessful under Windows 7 (a working but replaced HDD on my laptop), I was able to access the optus.com.au/activate site but Windows IE keeps breaking down.

Following all the useful answers, I have a few more pertinent questions, any hint welcome:
1) Should I return the stick for a refund due to its expiry date?
2) Is IE breaking down due to poor reception from the tower? Or due to the inferior technology of 3G compared to 4G? Or a combination of both? Or anything else predictable (it is only Windows after all)?
3) With the option to tether with a suitable mobile/cell phone plan and phone, could I expect roughly the same result than if I had a home-line Internet connection? My downloads/uploads are small and educational only (both ways but no game, no music, no movie, no picture), I previously used a satellite Internet plan with a 3GB/month allowance which was always enough but uploads are as important to me as downloads.
4) As far as reception/connectivity is concerned, could there be a noticeable difference between a 4G stick/modem and a mobile/cell phone if both were on similar plans?
5) What should I be expected to pay for a good and reliable plan in my circumstances - small traffic but easy and reliable. Optus is offering the service @ $AU 70/month (200GB if my recollection is correct which is far more than I need) with USB modem for my address in their "chat" sale that kept breaking, so it is available and I was trying to subscribe?
6) If I understand correctly, the only cost difference between tethering from a phone or using a USB modem is the cost of the phone itself compared to the cost of the "hotspot/WiFi" stick?
7) With a phone, I anticipate I will get clear instructions on how to get a "plan" but I am not too sure how to proceed if I get my own "hotspot/WiFi" modem, is it easy? What should I then "google" for to find a plan without purchasing their hardware?

Incidentally:
1) Before any activation, Optus tries to sell you a "recharge plan" for this 3G stick at a minimum starting price of $AU 20.00 PER WEEK which is a definite no-no as far as I am concerned although I do not mind paying even more for a business-like option where one only needs to make the regular payment and has good results from good options.

2) The nearest Optus shop (60k away) offered a phone number. I rang this phone number and got a number of invitations to press an option number which I carefully considered before pressing any digit. This happened five or six time but the final result was "Thank you for calling Optus" and the end of the call. This is the new way (at least in .au) for business to refuse to help you with your questions (or your complaints?) as this makes you go back to their sale websites from which you have to blindly select and hopefully for them, buy what you do not need or is unsuitable from which they can make easy profits.

If at all possible, I would return the USB mobile broadband device. It could well be the case that the signal level is impacting on the quality of service here. That could well manifest in delays and timeouts when trying to browse. I wouldn't expect your tethering experience to be any better. In NZ , we have he option of subscribing to a rural broadband service using mobile broadband (via selected cell towers) with a couple of the main service providers. They typically supply a 4G modem with a decent directional antenna and feeder cable. They are usually installed by the provider's contractor. Are there not telcos in your area that can offer a similar service and hardware?

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