Spec me a Wireless Broadband Connection

peterattheboro

peterattheboro

peterattheboro

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I'm trying to find the best package possible for this new broadband service.

I'd like to be able to access my office server from anywhere without the need of finding somewhere with an internet connection.

Only need a maximum monthly usage of around 3gb.

3 are selling a modem for £50 on a 12 month contract and then it's £15 a month.

Vodaphone do a 24 month contract, £40 for the modem and £15 a month. (for the first 6 months i believe) £100 for the modem on a 12 month contract.

Apparently Orange and o2 also have a service but aren't really advertising it. If they are, I can't find where to sign up!

Are there any other companies selling this type of broadband?


TIA :)
 
Will you be staying in one place or moving around a lot?

3 is very competitive on price but if you get a bad signal where you're using it most, it's difficult to resolve with customer service, which is not as good as for other companies.

Vodafone has a good service but uses image compression (although this can be removed) and perhaps has stricter limits. Fast speeds available. Vodafone definitely worth a look.

T-Mobile. Reliable and widely available service, but not the fastest out there. Customer support relatively good I think.

Orange Mobile Broadband available at Phones4u and Carphone Warehouse, don't know what they're like tho.
 
I would say Vodafone is one of the most reliable mobile broadband companies, only things to check on are usage limits and the image compression I mentioned.
 
Another Q..

Is the mobile phone signal in Europe Quadriband or Triband? Because If I were to go to America and it's a different signal, would I still be able to access?
 
I note that Vodafone quotes a price for using its mobile broadband in America, so I would expect it to work there, although depending how long you're going for, it might not be the cheapest option.

I do believe there is a difference between American mobile broadband (EVDO) and European (3G), (someone correct me if necessary) but these cards can knock down to GPRS when you don't have 3G, so that would still work in America I think. Anyone else care to comment?
 
They can knock down to GPRS but the speeds are lower than dial-up when on it ~ 3KB/s. Realistically the only way to use these modems is on a 3G signal as anything else is just to slow in my experience.

I'm using three here and I find it brilliant. Chosen over O2 and Vodaphone because neither would give me a signal.

Pros:
€20 a month
10GB limit (I think Vodaphone offer 8GB, not sure what O2 were offering)
Faster than Dial-Up

Cons:
Most expensive modem out of the three on offer.
Always on connection becomes unreliable after an hour or so. (Requires a turn off of the modem then an upplug - replug to reinitialise it)
I find the modem has to ramp up to speed as when not in use it tends to idle with a gprs connection.
Can be very hit and miss and normally requies a bit of moving about to get a good signal much like waving the mobile phone around years ago.


The other thing to watch out for is if you use a program like outlook or thunderbird to check your e-mail then there may be problems with the smtp settings. Thankfully three have sorted this out now to a certain extent by providing a relay server but I don't know what the situation is with the other providers.

Personally I find three mobile broadband to be brilliant, especially seen as how I'm in an area that cannot and never will get wired broadband. The only thing now is for them to improve coverage in my area which is apparently due for the summer. Currently my average download speed is about 60KB/s so is about ten times better than dial-up.
 
Last edited:
Antar Boaleisk said:
They can knock down to GPRS but the speeds are lower than dial-up when on it ~ 3KB/s. Realistically the only way to use these modems is on a 3G signal as anything else is just to slow in my experience.

I'm using three here and I find it brilliant. Chosen over O2 and Vodaphone because neither would give me a signal.

Pros:
€20 a month
10GB limit (I think Vodaphone offer 8GB, not sure what O2 were offering)
Faster than Dial-Up

Cons:
Most expensive modem out of the three on offer.
Always on connection becomes unreliable after an hour or so. (Requires a turn off of the modem then an upplug - replug to reinitialise it)
I find the modem has to ramp up to speed as when not in use it tends to idle with a gprs connection.
Can be very hit and miss and normally requies a bit of moving about to get a good signal much like waving the mobile phone around years ago.


The other thing to watch out for is if you use a program like outlook or thunderbird to check your e-mail then there may be problems with the smtp settings. Thankfully three have sorted this out now to a certain extent by providing a relay server but I don't know what the situation is with the other providers.

Personally I find three mobile broadband to be brilliant, especially seen as how I'm in an area that cannot and never will get wired broadband. The only thing now is for them to improve coverage in my area which is apparently due for the summer. Currently my average download speed is about 60KB/s so is about ten times better than dial-up.
Click to expand...

Good stuff. Cheers.

I'll keep you posted which one I get and how good the coverage is :)
 
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