Using 3G for home broadband?

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
Does anyone use 3G for their home broadband? The combination of being miles from the exchange and what I can only assume is shoddy cheap wiring in my flat means my unlimited internet from Sky is actually connecting at 2mbit, but gives an actual usable bandwidth of 1mbit at best. I've no other options other than BT resellers as there is no Virgin or FTTC at my address yet.

However I just did a check on my phone and I got 5mbit and a ping 1/4 of Sky over 3G on Virgin Mobile (so the EE network).

Does anyone use 3G for their home broadband? How would you set it up to work with the router? I have a number of devices connected wired and wirelessly so would still like to use the router. Is there a way to connect to 3G using something with an ethernet port that can be connected to a router?

Also, what plan would I use? Most places are going to scream if I start using 3G for my broadband for downloading ans streaming. I imagine it would be difficult to find a proper unlimited tariff, and if they do exist they will be rather expensive?
 
KIA said:
Which exchange?
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Botley. BT resellers or Sky LLU are my only options. I've removed the bell wires and tried the master socket and its not improved it. The FTTC cab has arrived at the end of my road, but I'm expecting at least a 6 month wait.

IronWarrior said:
Say good bye to large downloads and gaming.
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Already have. Large downloads just don't happen and I game at 200ms ping.

billysielu said:
3g is awful, not a good idea
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Gotta be better than what I get down my line at the moment. A quick speedtest on my phone was 5x faster and had a ping less than 1/4 of my broadband.
 
I'm miles from the exchange and the cab at the end of my road was one of the first to go up on the estate. There's nothing in it yet either. Plus I may end up moving before it goes live.

I've just got fed up with being unable to stream anything like iplayer or even YouTube.
 
i used 3g for while and its fine for browsing forums checking email but once you start to use youtube you will run out of ur limit in few days its very expensive for data usage. i would stick with what you have for now.
 
Nothing in what? They're shipped as complete units.

How long has the cab been there?

Might be worth dropping an email to [email protected]

You can get routers that accept SIMs & USB dongles.

It might be best to buy an unlocked dongle & Three 15GB pre-loaded SIM from Amazon.
 
Well now my internet is down to a connection at 1.5Mb, with a normal Speedtest showing about 800-900k :(

Is there no cheap way to connect a 3G modem to an existing network? Some sort of 3G device with an Ethernet port? Maybe connecting my old phone via USB to my server and using that as a gateway? Virgin Mobile do an unlimited tariff for £12 a month rolling contract.
 
I've been using Three 3G mobile broadband at home for a few years now. I was planning on moving so didn't feel the need to get proper broadband.

I've been paying on average £30 a month (£25 per 7GB) and have finally seen sense and order Sky Fibre Unlimited. 7GB usually lasts me around 3 weeks. It's expensive for what you get.

You're probably still better off even if your current connection is only 1.5mb. 3G is unreliable at best. I've finally got sick of it slowing down or even cutting out when the weathers a bit dodgy. I've just done a 'speedtest' and I'm getting 0.61mbps!
 
I am in a similar situation and I currently use this.

I originally got this plan with Virgin Media

150 minutes/Unlimited texts/Unlimited data including tethering for £12 per month 30 day rolling contract.

I now have this plan with Virgin Media after calling twice to cancel

Unlimited landline calls/2500 minutes/Unlimited texts/Unlimited data including tethering for £8 per month 30 day rolling.

So you might want to get one of the plans I originally got, then call to cancel to get a better deal. Now, in terms of the sim card. I get 10 or 11 meg down and around 1.5 to 3 up.

However, take the time to read through the terms and conditions of any contract you consider. This contract is unlimited, but if you go over 10 GB data they will throttle you...but between 12 midnight - 12 dinner you will not be throttled. Last month I used 120 gb data.

This month so far I have used 18 gb data. I am throttled in the day, but at night I can use it to my hearts desire.

The other cheapest option I found that came close was with 3 UK. They offer 200 minutes/Unlimited texts/Unlimited data 30 day rolling contract for I believe £12.90 per month. However, you also need the £5 tethering bolt add-on so this is £17.90 total.

I have read through their terms and conditions, there is no fair usage policy, but they do use something called 'Traffic Sense'. I would read up as people have advised that they become throttled. So again something to look in to.

Then either chuck your sim into a mi-fi or chuck it into your main phone. Be aware, different phones are limited to what speeds they can receive, so ensure yours is a decent speed, else this would be a limiting factor.

These are your only and best two options with regards to 3G mobile broadband, believe me I've looked :) It is by no means ideal, but it gives me limited internet, whilst I am in the middle of buying a house. Just to note, I can happily get 40 ping whilst playing Counter Strike: Source :)
 
Skeeter said:
Well now my internet is down to a connection at 1.5Mb, with a normal Speedtest showing about 800-900k :(

Is there no cheap way to connect a 3G modem to an existing network? Some sort of 3G device with an Ethernet port? Maybe connecting my old phone via USB to my server and using that as a gateway? Virgin Mobile do an unlimited tariff for £12 a month rolling contract.
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Are you able to connect the router to the BT test socket & post the router stats?

TL-MR3420 http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?categoryid=218&model=TL-MR3420 (check dongle compatibility before purchasing).
 
I don't have one. I don't know where it is. There are 3 sockets in my flat and none of them have a master socket behing the face plate. There are no other sockets in any of the cupboards or in the cupboards outside the flat that have the electricity and water meters in.
 
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