****The Official 5G Home Broadband Thread**** (Three/EE/Vodafone/etc)

[Ice Tea]

Was just reading about this:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...-mobile-plans-with-5g-standalone-support.html

And looking at EE the prices are between £42 - £48 a month on a 2 year contract. Ouch!

EE UK Launch Wi-Fi 7 Broadband Router and 5G Standalone Plans UPDATE3

Mobile network operator and UK ISP EE (BT) has today officially taken the wrappings off their new next-generation and Qualcomm powered Wi-Fi 7 router (Smart Hub

www.ispreview.co.uk

This was posted yesterday.

 

[thewanted]

Hey. Does anyone know if this deal from Argos actually includes the SMARTY unlimited plan or are you just buying the SIM? I know it's mentioned in the listing, but the price seems a bit too good to be true.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9447853

 

[Firegod]

Hey. Does anyone know if this deal from Argos actually includes the SMARTY unlimited plan or are you just buying the SIM? I know it's mentioned in the listing, but the price seems a bit too good to be true.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9447853

The would be nice haha - just for the SIM I think. Plan is added later. Looks like in the Q&A it is answered:

Hi Samantha,

After purchasing the SMARTY UNLIMITED 30 Day Pay As You Go SIM Card, you need to activate the SIM and go to SMARTY's website to check out their plan prices i.e. one plan may be £6 per month for 4GB or another plan is £7 for 8GB. (This information is correct at time of writing). Please visit their site for more details.

Thanks for using Q&A,

Answered by Justine

 

[thewanted]

The would be nice haha - just for the SIM I think. Plan is added later. Looks like in the Q&A it is answered:

Hi Samantha,

After purchasing the SMARTY UNLIMITED 30 Day Pay As You Go SIM Card, you need to activate the SIM and go to SMARTY's website to check out their plan prices i.e. one plan may be £6 per month for 4GB or another plan is £7 for 8GB. (This information is correct at time of writing). Please visit their site for more details.

Thanks for using Q&A,

Answered by Justine

Thanks That seems like false advertising to me. After fighting with TalkTalk and Virgin Media for months, I don't have the strength to fight with the ASA too.

 

[Pulseammo]

Wondering if anyone notices anything weird while using WhatsApp on 3 5G home broadband?

Basically I can be messaging fine, the messages go through instantly, but every so often I'll get the clock icon and it'll not send the message sometimes for up to a minute. Other oddities are things like the online and typing indicator disappearing. Switching to mobile EE data on my phone clears all those issues up. The desktop app displays similar weirdness also. On my old FTTC you'd open the desktop whatsapp and it'd be ready to go, on three it sits on "no connection" for about 30 seconds.

I've tried this on both 3internet and three.co.uk APN and same results. Checked my MTU as well and it always seems to be at 1500 when I ping.

 

[Firegod]

Wondering if anyone notices anything weird while using WhatsApp on 3 5G home broadband?

Basically I can be messaging fine, the messages go through instantly, but every so often I'll get the clock icon and it'll not send the message sometimes for up to a minute. Other oddities are things like the online and typing indicator disappearing. Switching to mobile EE data on my phone clears all those issues up. The desktop app displays similar weirdness also. On my old FTTC you'd open the desktop whatsapp and it'd be ready to go, on three it sits on "no connection" for about 30 seconds.

I've tried this on both 3internet and three.co.uk APN and same results. Checked my MTU as well and it always seems to be at 1500 when I ping.

Is there anywhere to change the protocol? I found an oddity with EE whereby IPv4/IPv6 had some connectivity issues (dropping 5G after a short period of time). Changing to just IPv4 fixed it. I wonder if you could try that for Three? I think it'll be in the APN settings.

 

[Pulseammo]

Is there anywhere to change the protocol? I found an oddity with EE whereby IPv4/IPv6 had some connectivity issues (dropping 5G after a short period of time). Changing to just IPv4 fixed it. I wonder if you could try that for Three? I think it'll be in the APN settings.

I've got my APN set to IPv4 already (I think I needed to for Passthrough mode to work), but under broadband Cellular WAN 1, 2 and EthWan are all ip4/ip6 dual stack. It does only get an IPv4 address when it connects, but I think I'll change all the options to IPv4 and see if it makes a difference and report back.

 

[Pulseammo]

Is there anywhere to change the protocol? I found an oddity with EE whereby IPv4/IPv6 had some connectivity issues (dropping 5G after a short period of time). Changing to just IPv4 fixed it. I wonder if you could try that for Three? I think it'll be in the APN settings.

Set everything to IPv4 this time but sadly it persists. But thanks for the suggestion anyway .

 

[wh00sher]

Hey. Does anyone know if this deal from Argos actually includes the SMARTY unlimited plan or are you just buying the SIM? I know it's mentioned in the listing, but the price seems a bit too good to be true.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9447853

Just be aware, smarty exclude use for home broadband in their T&C. I looked at the same deal.

"
Responsible use – Unlimited Data Only Plans
5.15 Our Unlimited Data Only SIM plans are for personal, non-commercial use only and can be used in SIM enabled tablets or
laptops and portable mobile WI-FI devices and is uncapped for this use. This SIM card should not be used as a permanent
long-term alternative to home broadband. If we determine in our sole opinion that your use of the SMARTY Services is in
breach of these Terms and Conditions and/or exceeds that reasonably expected of someone using the Service for legitimate
personal, non-commercial use, then we may at our discretion terminate (in accordance with Section 9), or Suspend (in
accordance with Section 8), or restrict your SMARTY Service. As an example, without limitation, we consider that if you
regularly tether more than 8 devices that this is unlikely to be legitimate personal, non-commercial use. "

 

[bulldog147]

Just be aware, smarty exclude use for home broadband in their T&C. I looked at the same deal.

"
Responsible use – Unlimited Data Only Plans
5.15 Our Unlimited Data Only SIM plans are for personal, non-commercial use only and can be used in SIM enabled tablets or
laptops and portable mobile WI-FI devices and is uncapped for this use. This SIM card should not be used as a permanent
long-term alternative to home broadband. If we determine in our sole opinion that your use of the SMARTY Services is in
breach of these Terms and Conditions and/or exceeds that reasonably expected of someone using the Service for legitimate
personal, non-commercial use, then we may at our discretion terminate (in accordance with Section 9), or Suspend (in
accordance with Section 8), or restrict your SMARTY Service. As an example, without limitation, we consider that if you
regularly tether more than 8 devices that this is unlikely to be legitimate personal, non-commercial use. "

Nah take no notice, been using smarty for home broadband and use over 600GB for the last 2 years now. Nothing is suspended yet.

 

[thewanted]

Just be aware, smarty exclude use for home broadband in their T&C. I looked at the same deal.

"
Responsible use – Unlimited Data Only Plans
5.15 Our Unlimited Data Only SIM plans are for personal, non-commercial use only and can be used in SIM enabled tablets or
laptops and portable mobile WI-FI devices and is uncapped for this use. This SIM card should not be used as a permanent
long-term alternative to home broadband. If we determine in our sole opinion that your use of the SMARTY Services is in
breach of these Terms and Conditions and/or exceeds that reasonably expected of someone using the Service for legitimate
personal, non-commercial use, then we may at our discretion terminate (in accordance with Section 9), or Suspend (in
accordance with Section 8), or restrict your SMARTY Service. As an example, without limitation, we consider that if you
regularly tether more than 8 devices that this is unlikely to be legitimate personal, non-commercial use. "

Thanks, but as it turns out, our house is a black hole for mobile signal on any network I can't more than 12mbit/sec download out of any of the 4 big providers.

 

[Jon20]

Is there a way to tell whether the 5G signal that is available is proper 5G or just 5G in name only? There was some work done last week on the local EE mast/pole and my phone has been showing “5G” since. But the speed is no different to when it was 4G. The cell id is the same and Field Test Mode on the iPhone is just showing Band 3 20MHz. There is meant to be a pole swap according to the mastdatabase website, some point this week (there was a road sign showing a road closure for today).

 

[Firegod]

Is there a way to tell whether the 5G signal that is available is proper 5G or just 5G in name only? There was some work done last week on the local EE mast/pole and my phone has been showing “5G” since. But the speed is no different to when it was 4G. The cell id is the same and Field Test Mode on the iPhone is just showing Band 3 20MHz. There is meant to be a pole swap according to the mastdatabase website, some point this week (there was a road sign showing a road closure for today).

Band 3 is a 4G band so that is still using 5G NSA.

 

[Jon20]

Band 3 is a 4G band so that is still using 5G NSA.

Thanks. This is what the phone is showing. Should it show 5G NSA under capabilities? 4G and 5G tests are pretty much identical.

Speedtest by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

Use Speedtest on all your devices with our free desktop and mobile apps.

www.speedtest.net

Speedtest by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

Use Speedtest on all your devices with our free desktop and mobile apps.

www.speedtest.net

 

[Pulseammo]

Wondering if anyone notices anything weird while using WhatsApp on 3 5G home broadband?

Basically I can be messaging fine, the messages go through instantly, but every so often I'll get the clock icon and it'll not send the message sometimes for up to a minute. Other oddities are things like the online and typing indicator disappearing. Switching to mobile EE data on my phone clears all those issues up. The desktop app displays similar weirdness also. On my old FTTC you'd open the desktop whatsapp and it'd be ready to go, on three it sits on "no connection" for about 30 seconds.

I've tried this on both 3internet and three.co.uk APN and same results. Checked my MTU as well and it always seems to be at 1500 when I ping.

This is magically behaving its self a lot more these days, so I'm not really certain what was causing it in the end.

 

[jonorigin]

I've been struggling with poor quality fttc, and realised recently that I can get 5G from EE in my area. Testing on my phone I can get 200mb plus download and 50 plus upload. What's the best way to get home broadband up and running on 5g with EE, buy a 5g router and a SIM only contract (any recommended SIM only deals?), or go direct with EE for their home broadband contract with the higher FUP?

All other networks have poor signal in my area, so EE would be my only option

 

[Balb0wa]

I've been struggling with poor quality fttc, and realised recently that I can get 5G from EE in my area. Testing on my phone I can get 200mb plus download and 50 plus upload. What's the best way to get home broadband up and running on 5g with EE, buy a 5g router and a SIM only contract (any recommended SIM only deals?), or go direct with EE for their home broadband contract with the higher FUP?

All other networks have poor signal in my area, so EE would be my only option

Get a cheap 5G router from CEX £110 ish Zyxel NR5103E 5G , try various positions around the house, loft usually good and run a cat cable down.

Buy a EE scancom sim "EE 5G Unlimited Data Sim Card - Preloaded each month until 8th JUNE 2026" £219
, ive had several over the last few years, works out about £12 a month if that, if you get it when its on a good deal.

You will have a usage limit though, 600GB and if you go over it will cut off till the next month, used to goto 4G.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I've been struggling with poor quality fttc, and realised recently that I can get 5G from EE in my area. Testing on my phone I can get 200mb plus download and 50 plus upload. What's the best way to get home broadband up and running on 5g with EE, buy a 5g router and a SIM only contract (any recommended SIM only deals?), or go direct with EE for their home broadband contract with the higher FUP?

All other networks have poor signal in my area, so EE would be my only option

Exactly what Balb0wa wrote.

It is a pity you can't get Smarty, just bought a preloaded Sim until August 2026 for a daughter that works out at £6.50 a month.
Look on Amazon for preloaded EE.
Also you may get it cheaper if you work out you only need 500gb a month, the above Smarty sim was about £2 until August 2026.

 

[Firegod]

I've been struggling with poor quality fttc, and realised recently that I can get 5G from EE in my area. Testing on my phone I can get 200mb plus download and 50 plus upload. What's the best way to get home broadband up and running on 5g with EE, buy a 5g router and a SIM only contract (any recommended SIM only deals?), or go direct with EE for their home broadband contract with the higher FUP?

All other networks have poor signal in my area, so EE would be my only option

If it helps, I have a Zyxel NR5101 if you wanna try it out. If you like it and it works well, you can buy it. Wouldn't be after much. Or just send me it back.

 

[jonorigin]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

If it helps, I have a Zyxel NR5101 if you wanna try it out. If you like it and it works well, you can buy it. Wouldn't be after much. Or just send me it back.

That would be amazing if possible mate, thanks very much!