4G Broadband?

[J B]

We are currently in our third week of Airband not being able to supply us sensible internet after about 7pm each evening (it works fine during the day!)
They are, of course, promising to fix it but .....

Airband (when working) gives us 30 Mbps for £30, ADSL gives us about 3Mbps, FTTC is not possible and FTTP has just quoted £650 pcm!

So, I'm wondering about mobile broadband.
I've been tethering from my mobile most nights recently with the Three network and getting a steady 10/15 Mbps

Googling the 'big four' network sites suggests that only Three says we can get 4g inside and it seems to be the cheapest.

I saw a 4g router on FB Marketplace t'other day for £25 (TP- Link ARCHER MR200 AC750 Wireless Dual Band 4G LTE Router) just as an example.
Would something like that do the job?

Thoughts/Suggestions?

(I'm no longer a farmer so attaching stuff to chimney breasts etc is not practical really)

 

[milkloss]

Had a hauwai 4g modem here for a while and I thought it was good. Phones wouldn't catch 4g but it managed quite well.

edit to add: don't believe those computer generated maps the networks show on the website because they're sh1te. It's a suck it and see job really so get the wallet out and dont get baited into a contract straight away.

 

[Kidds]

It is how I get my broadband. What I find is that it starts off well but after a few months seems to fizzle out a bit.
Three went from being quite good to being useless, no idea why but I would be very reluctant to sign a 2 year deal.

 

[zero]

We have ee 4g broadband. Not sure of exact speed but i can watch amazon prime and use my phone online at the same time. Upload speeds are sometimes a bit slow but its alot more reliable that the crappy bt copper wire. Only have problems when it's foggy losing the signal, which could be our distance from the phone mast. And it sometimes slows alot on a weekend which I've wondered if the network can't cope with all the coast bound tourists using it at the same time.

 

[J B]

Is there a site showing the nearest masts?

 

[steveR]

Had a hauwai 4g modem here for a while and I thought it was good. Phones wouldn't catch 4g but it managed quite well.

edit to add: don't believe those computer generated maps the networks show on the website because they're sh1te. It's a suck it and see job really so get the wallet out and dont get baited into a contract straight away.

Yep a few PAYG type SIMS, are worth the investment.

Would think an external aerial pointed at the appropriate mast would be few quid well spent James, and doesn't need a poor old (Retd) Farmer up a chimney

 

[zero]

That's something I've never thought of looking for, I just asked delivery drivers if they could get a phone signal in my yard, then if they could i asked which network they were on.

 

[steveR]

That's something I've never thought of looking for, I just asked delivery drivers if they could get a phone signal in my yard, then if they could i asked which network they were on.

I have found that different phones on the same network can vary in performance here*, so better to have the SIM's and possibly a router, and check signal strengths.


A notorious black hole for mobile signals...

 

[J B]

A notorious black hole for mobile signals...

In the middle of Telford 'new town'?

 

[steveR]

In the middle of Telford 'new town'?

Periphery... thank God. It is getting VERY close these days though.... Still no land sold for development either...

 

[zero]

I have found that different phones on the same network can vary in performance here*, so better to have the SIM's and possibly a router, and check signal strengths.


A notorious black hole for mobile signals...

Aye, were in a funny place for phone signal. Think it's the ironstone thats under us? But generally, all ee gadgets work here but the other side of the hill vodaphone is best.
Only inconsistencies seem to be with the smaller companies where one gadget will work but another one next to it won't.

 

[JonL]

Is there a site showing the nearest masts?

https://www.cellmapper.net/
An external aerial makes a big difference, particularly if you are able to align it to your nearest tower

 

[upnortheast]

If you are getting 10 -15 speeds with your mobile there is a good chance you will get 40 - 50 with a 4G router. Key is to find somewhere in the house with the best signal Upstairs bedroom window, maybe even the loft. If this means the router is out of reach for best service round the house simple to run a cat 5 cable back to an access point unit in a convenient place. Before fttp came down our road we had ee 4G service for 3 years. Worked well. Was a bit expensive at the time but I think unlimited contracts are available now

 

[J B]

Speedtest with phone sitting on the corner of the desk downstairs

We have loft windows in the loft NE and SW ends of the house .... and data cable under each window which leads to our Abitanna box under the stairs in the hall.
Food for thought

 

[J B]

https://www.cellmapper.net/
An external aerial makes a big difference, particularly if you are able to align it to your nearest tower

Thanks - I just need to try to understand WTF all that info means ......

 

[upnortheast]

Speedtest with phone sitting on the corner of the desk downstairs

We have loft windows in the loft NE and SW ends of the house .... and data cable under each window which leads to our Abitanna box under the stairs in the hall.
Food for thought

Any better in other places in the house ?. Expect a 4G router to get better speed than your phone ( bigger on board antenna) If you buy a 4 G router get an "unlocked ' one. Then it will take any network SIM that gives you the best speeds / price. The routers provided "free" with a contract will be locked to that network.

 

[Kidds]

Solwise - Introduction to 3G/4G/5G Networking / Mobile Broadband | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

or just call them and ask advice

 

[Ukjay]

Thanks - I just need to try to understand WTF all that info means ......

I just ran Telford for you as I am not sure your exact location (all the dots are masts so you can zoom in on the map to locate your home). An External aerial will give you far better results than through a window I find, so for the cost - its a no brainer to me.

For EE

Cellular Tower and Signal Map

CellMapper is a crowd-sourced cellular tower and coverage mapping service.

www.cellmapper.net

For Vodafone:

Cellular Tower and Signal Map

CellMapper is a crowd-sourced cellular tower and coverage mapping service.

www.cellmapper.net

For 3:

Cellular Tower and Signal Map

CellMapper is a crowd-sourced cellular tower and coverage mapping service.

www.cellmapper.net

For O2

Cellular Tower and Signal Map

CellMapper is a crowd-sourced cellular tower and coverage mapping service.

www.cellmapper.net

 

[J B]

I just ran Telford for you as I am not sure your exact location (all the dots are masts so you can zoom in on the map to locate your home). An External aerial will give you far better results than through a window I find, so for the cost - its a no brainer to me.

Thanks
Our postcode/address is on my website
I installed the cellmapper app on my phone which tells me that it's picking up the signal from the 7852:8 transmitter which is at Loggerheads, just outside Market Drayton on the A53
This is incidentally where the Airband signal comes from so we have decent line of sight.
Will keep looking ....

 

[Ukjay]

Thanks
Our postcode/address is on my website
I installed the cellmapper app on my phone which tells me that it's picking up the signal from the 7852:8 transmitter which is at Loggerheads, just outside Market Drayton on the A53
This is incidentally where the Airband signal comes from so we have decent line of sight.
Will keep looking ....

If you go external aerial - all you need to know is which direction to point it, and that would be the mast with the clearest line of sight