Which network for Mobile BB

dragon · 25-05-2009, 21:30

My contract on my mobile broadband dongle runs out in a couple months, Currently using t-mobile but considering just dumping the contract and going for a PAYG option as while there was a time where I used it quite a bit thesedays I find i'm mostly visiting people who let me use their wi-fi anyway.

I still want to have mobile broadband available just in case I go somewhere where is either no wi-fi or at a place that charges a stupid amount to use their wi-fi (some hotels are terrible for this!)

Vodafone's option looks interesting although it's the most expensive for 1gb the fact it lasts until it's used is pretty nice.

Anyone know who's the best for speed and coverage though as this would probably be a major factor in the decision.

Matthew · 25-05-2009, 22:49

I would recommend Three, we have been rolling our Panasonic Toughbooks at work with 3G access on them and Three have come out at the top, with Vodafone second. I have a Vodafone dongle and I mainly get GPRS connection, a few places I can get a 3G connection but as Three are new to the market there networks are not as saturated as the other operators, worth a look at, I would of gone Three is mine wasnt part of the deal when I got my Sasmsung NC10.

Down the Pub · 27-05-2009, 17:51

got o2 myself, and can say that it's very good. good coverage and not many places i can't get connection of some form. also on the plus side you can get unlimited access to cloud wi-fi if your in/near a hot spot of whic there are a fair few, of which are all listed in the connection manager software

AbyssUnderground · 28-05-2009, 08:19

I'm on T-Mobiles Pay and Go stick (Â£30 for the modem) and you just pay for when you use it, or get a bundle if you expect to use it a lot. Obviously its cheaper to buy more time than less.

Â£2 for 24 hours
Â£7 for 7 days
Â£15 for 30 days

3GB FUP allowance per month, but no extra charge if you go over (if you go over 3 times they reserve the right to "throttle" the speeds). Coverage so far has been pretty good, I get HSDPA at both home and my friends house, and I got dial-up speeds in the middle of the Welsh countryside earlier in the week. Well worth the buy I have to say.

dragon · 28-05-2009, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I'm on T-Mobiles Pay and Go stick (Â£30 for the modem) and you just pay for when you use it, or get a bundle if you expect to use it a lot. Obviously its cheaper to buy more time than less.

Â£2 for 24 hours
Â£7 for 7 days
Â£15 for 30 days

3GB FUP allowance per month, but no extra charge if you go over (if you go over 3 times they reserve the right to "throttle" the speeds). Coverage so far has been pretty good, I get HSDPA at both home and my friends house, and I got dial-up speeds in the middle of the Welsh countryside earlier in the week. Well worth the buy I have to say.

Do I really have to pay them Â£30 for the stick though, seeing as the contract one is with them could they not just change the contract sim to payg and use the T-mobile modem I already have...

AbyssUnderground · 28-05-2009, 22:15

Perhaps. Why not give them a call?

dragon · 28-05-2009, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

Perhaps. Why not give them a call?

I plan do once i'm in the last 30days of my contract

AbyssUnderground · 28-05-2009, 22:34

Sounds good to me. You could always call them now (as in tomorrow) and find out to avoid disappointment, then you could at least keep looking in the mean time.

dragon · 28-05-2009, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

Sounds good to me. You could always call them now (as in tomorrow) and find out to avoid disappointment, then you could at least keep looking in the mean time.

I don't actually mind buying another one, it's just as far as I know they've not rolled anything faster out since I got my dongle just under a year ago. At this rate i'll end up with a cupboard full of them

Still have the orginal E220 one in the cuboard as well (Unlocked, as I intended to ebay it and never got around to it.)

AbyssUnderground · 29-05-2009, 10:07

My stick only hits 3.6Mbps sync speed, but never get that. Infact I rarely get 1.5Mbps!

Zee · 29-05-2009, 10:23

Three are in the process of rolling out their next upgrades with speeds above or around up to 7.6Mbps...

http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband

dragon · 29-05-2009, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

My stick only hits 3.6Mbps sync speed, but never get that. Infact I rarely get 1.5Mbps!

I've peaked at 4.5 Once

But it was only the once.

AndyCambs · 29-05-2009, 13:00

If you have Virgin Media broadband and XL, then you get Virgin Mobile broadband (free dongle) for Â£5 per month (1GB).