meteor pay as you go broadband Versus 3 pay broadband

swingking · 03-03-2009 2:22am #1

I'm thinking of getting one of the following broadband deals on pay as you go.

I haven't found any threads on the quality of meteor broadband but there doesn't seem to be many complaints about meteor. There does however with 3.

Has anyone used Meteor and if so have they found it any good in terms of speed.

I was talking to a guy in 3G store in town and he told me that meteor only has a 5gb limit but there are speeds of up to 7.2 MB/s as opposed to 3's 3.2MB/s

I'm just doing some research on the two

e-sull · 12-03-2009 12:37am

I'm using Three pay monthly with 15gb/month and 3.6Mbps..
I can get up to 3.4Mbps and I even live out the country!
At the same time, I've heard good reports about Meteor Broadband and it's speeds.. People usually get up to about the 6.8Mbps mark. Kinda confusing though cause Meteor have a 14.4Mbps network and only have hardware for up to 7.2Mbps..

Anyway, pricing:
If you were to get Meteor and top up with a day pass in the morning, you are essentially getting 500MB for up to 12 o clock the next night. Afaik, Three will give the same amount of data but will only give you until 12 midnight the day you buy your top-up (I'm open to correction here).

A day pass on Meteor is €2.99. Three is €5. Meteor are better there.

For 30 days, Meteor will give you 5GB for €19.99. Three will give you 10GB for €25. Depends on how much internet you plan on using.

Last factor is how mobile you plan on being..
If you plan on using your broadband outside Dublin or Cork (in fairness.. it is mobile broadband!), Three would be a safer bet for now at least.

All in all, I would recommend Meteor. But you might have a different opinion beacuse of the factors above...

Cheers, e-sull!

CutzEr · 12-03-2009 3:59am

Go with Meteor for sure

swingking · 12-03-2009 4:26am

thanks for the responses. I'll go for the Metoer broadband then. Sure if I don't like I can always return it after 7 days

e-sull · 12-03-2009 6:46pm

Good luck!

drunkmonkey · 12-03-2009 7:52pm

Go for 3, it'll work in a lot more places and there a lot longer in the Mobile Broadband game than Meteor, Expect 3's experience to improve a lot, expect Meteors to deteriate rapidly as new users are added.....

Sam Vimes · 12-03-2009 8:50pm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Go for 3, it'll work in a lot more places and there a lot longer in the Mobile Broadband game than Meteor, Expect 3's experience to improve a lot, expect Meteors to deteriate rapidly as new users are added.....

Both of those statements are 100% inaccurate. Meteor's will work anywhere in ireland, albeit at a lower speed in some places while 3's will not work at all in many parts of the country. It will work abroad better but that's not what he asked for. You know this full well

Also, 3 have been promising improvements in the service since 2007 which have yet to materialise. You also know this full well

On boards you have previously said how crap 3's broadband is

I despair at the thought of you in a shop filling people's heads with this nonsense

drunkmonkey · 12-03-2009 9:34pm

Sam Vimes wrote: »

3 have been promising improvements in the service since 2007 which have yet to materialise. You also know this full well

Ohh I know it alright, it has improved recently, 3, o2, Voda all went through a rough spell, my point is that meteors is yet to come...there new to the game, should be a very good service for a while but will go pearshaped....I could be wrong but if history has thought me anything..:rolleyes:

btw, Meteors parents are broke, I can't see this nationwide rollout being as swift as you hope, if eircoms comments today are anything to go by...

Podman · 12-03-2009 9:57pm

I'm using 3 and have 10 gigs to use per month which is fine. I find the speed ok but have brief disconnection issues in my fav internet game, ao.

By the way the speeds would be accurate if you were the only user and standing right beside the mast.

Check out the coverage though, 3's coverage is good but go to their site where you can zoom in to where you live/travel just to be sure.

3's Coverage page: http://maps.three.ie/coverageViewer/jsp/content/mapScreen.do

Meteor's Coverage: http://www.meteor.ie/bbtg/payg/coverage/

O2's Coverage: http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Explore+Services/Services/O2+Broadband/Check+Coverage/

Sam Vimes · 13-03-2009 1:25am

drunkmonkey wrote: »

btw, Meteors parents are broke, I can't see this nationwide rollout being as swift as you hope, if eircoms comments today are anything to go by...

I never said anything about a nationwide rollout. For mobile broadband edge does me just fine tbh. If I want a fast and reliable connection I won't buy use a mobile product, all I ask from it is that I am physically able to connect to the internet wherever I go

drunkmonkey · 13-03-2009 10:15am

Sam Vimes wrote: »

For mobile broadband edge does me just fine tbh.

well a lot of people think edge sucks and would rather have 3G coverage....but still if it keeps you happy:)

watty · 13-03-2009 10:20am

Compare Vodafone's and 3's coverage maps.

Consider that in 2002 that Vodafone had 1,200 masts and more now.

I suggest that 3's maps may be "optimistic" as they have about 440 masts now and will have 600 after the current roll-out. They originally talked about having 770 masts. They had to meet various coverage targets by 2007. They claim to meet them.

http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0416.pdf

it would be good if Vodafone had EDGE, but they only have GPRS. O2 and Meteor have EDGE. But Meteor has very much fewer masts and rely on roaming on O2. In some areas the O2 coverage is much better. If there is poor Meteor coverage, the Meteor modem/Handset won't roam to O2, it only does that in areas with no coverage.

No Operator has universal coverage in Ireland. If we had only one or two Operators and a toothy regulator and a 100% licence condition, then you would get 100% coverage. Four operators is inefficient use of the spectrum.

drunkmonkey · 13-03-2009 10:25am

watty wrote: »

Compare Vodafone's and 3's coverage maps.

But weren't Vodafone passing off 2.5G as 3G, where as 3 have 3.5G there is a difference in technology, no?
From what I understand vodafone have a lot of upgrading to to before they have a 3G(3.5G) network....Their network is under immesnse pressure if some of the engineers i've spoken to are to be believed...

watty · 13-03-2009 11:54am

There is only 2G (GSM) and UMTS (3G).

Any GSM mast can be upgraded to EDGE (so called 2.5G) and any 3G to HSPDPA, HSUPA or HSPA (so called 3.5G). But for phone calls, which have priority, the mast is still plain GSM or UMTS.

Meteor & O2 support EDGE on GSM which gives up to 245Kbps. It's possible to have 10 people on 2Mbps EDGE2 on GSM. Even 3G's HSPA only manages 1 to 2Mbps for entire sector on average (i.e. one or two people). No one does EDGE2 however.

3 is 3G /HSPA only. You only get GSM/GPRS if it is an area where they pay Vodaphone for coverage.

Vodafone don't have EDGE, only GPRS on GSM, which is 10kbps to 70kps. Vodafone's 3G network does HSDPA.

HSOPA or LTE is 4G, but only really if it has 20MHz spectrum per channel. On 5MHz with one user it's no better than HSPA, but with 40 users it's twice as good capacity as 3G/HSPA.

Sam Vimes · 13-03-2009 12:21pm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

But weren't Vodafone passing off 2.5G as 3G, where as 3 have 3.5G there is a difference in technology, no?
From what I understand vodafone have a lot of upgrading to to before they have a 3G(3.5G) network....Their network is under immesnse pressure if some of the engineers i've spoken to are to be believed...

No they were never passing off 2.5G as 3G. They currently have a 3.5G network

drunkmonkey wrote: »

well a lot of people think edge sucks and would rather have 3G coverage....but still if it keeps you happy:)

Well a lot of people think that not being able to use it at all in large parts of the country sucks and would rather have edge but whatever makes you happy

13-03-2009 2:42pm

Sam Vimes wrote: »

Well a lot of people think that not being able to use it at all in large parts of the country sucks and would rather have edge but whatever makes you happy

Exactly. I'm thinking of signing up for Meteor's service so I can get internet access when I'm away from home. I wouldn't be using it for anything heavy, I have my 10Mb UPC connection for that. I'd just want to be able to go online wherever I might be.

As I'd be using it as a secondary connection I'd only want to do it as prepaid, leaving me with either 3 or Meteor. Putting aside any prejudices I have of 3, I'd choose Meteor because they have EDGE rather than relying on dial-up speed GPRS outside of 3G coverage.

watty · 13-03-2009 2:57pm

Meteor, while making use of O2 masts, does have worse coverage/capacity. My phone call reliability increase immediatly after switching from Meteor to O2 was amazing.

Meteor only pay for roaming to O2 masts were there is NO Meteor coverage at all.

13-03-2009 3:13pm

watty wrote: »

Meteor, while making use of O2 masts, does have worse coverage/capacity. My phone call reliability increase immediatly after switching from Meteor to O2 was amazing.

Meteor only pay for roaming to O2 masts were there is NO Meteor coverage at all.

Meteor switched to using Vodafone for their roaming didn't they?

Sam Vimes · 13-03-2009 3:14pm

Karsini wrote: »

As I'd be using it as a secondary connection I'd only want to do it as prepaid, leaving me with either 3 or Meteor. Putting aside any prejudices I have of 3, I'd choose Meteor because they have EDGE rather than relying on dial-up speed GPRS outside of 3G coverage.

There is no relying on GPRS outside of 3G coverage with 3, it just won't connect at all. 3 only has 3G masts and their roaming deal with vodafone only works for calls and texts

@watty, didn't meteor switch their roaming deal to vodafone a few years ago?

Sam Vimes · 13-03-2009 3:16pm

Karsini wrote: »

Meteor switched to using Vodafone for their roaming didn't they?

It seems they did:
http://kenmc.com/2006/11/14/meteor-roaming-with-vodafone/

watty · 13-03-2009 5:14pm

same principle applies. I guess they switched as Vodafone has most masts. They took over Eircell, the original eircom Mobile.

Tesco are still using O2?

13-03-2009 7:06pm

Sam Vimes wrote: »

There is no relying on GPRS outside of 3G coverage with 3, it just won't connect at all. 3 only has 3G masts and their roaming deal with vodafone only works for calls and texts

Ooh, another reason not to go with them! I never knew data wasn't working with 3's Vodafone roaming.

watty wrote: »

Tesco are still using O2?

Yes as far as I'm aware.

Sam Vimes · 14-03-2009 10:23am

watty wrote: »

Tesco are still using O2?

Yes they are. They don't have any of their own masts. They're an MVNO

Walkman · 14-03-2009 3:49pm

watty wrote: »

I suggest that 3's maps may be "optimistic" as they have about 440 masts now and will have 600 after the current roll-out. They originally talked about having 770 masts. They had to meet various coverage targets by 2007. They claim to meet them.

3 currently have 787 live masts nationwide.

watty · 14-03-2009 4:54pm

Walkman wrote: »

3 currently have 787 live masts nationwide.

Any authoritative reference?

If true, it's still less than 1/2 what they need. Or does the 787 include Vodafone masts they have agreed roaming on?

bealtine · 14-03-2009 5:13pm

Walkman wrote: »

3 currently have 787 live masts nationwide.

I think 3 have 400+ masts live nationwide, please prove me wrong.

Walkman · 14-03-2009 6:29pm

bealtine wrote: »

I think 3 have 400+ masts live nationwide, please prove me wrong.

Like I have sorted before a mate of mine works for them. No this figure is 3's own masts not any vodafone. Can I ask why you think they have 400.

bealtine · 14-03-2009 6:44pm

Walkman wrote: »

Like I have sorted before a mate of mine works for them. No this figure is 3's own masts not any vodafone. Can I ask why you think they have 400.

A mate of mine works for them and says different.

watty · 14-03-2009 10:18pm

Unless anyone's mates are senior and in the right department they won't know.

Curiously some people senior enough to know about these things in some companies make a point of NOT knowing so they can't inadvertently let cats out of bags.

We know that Vodafone has the most sites and there are definately 5643 "sites". Though GSM and 3G at same place and same operator might count as two sites. I'm fairly sure that a mast shared between 2 operators (with their own spectrum each) counts as two sites.

18-03-2009 8:02am

hello all, does anybody know if these mobile broadband services are suitable for gaming over xbox live??? i use digiweb 8 meg but lately the service has turned to poop on a stick. i would say the connection is dropped in at least half of all sessions, SO ANNOYING:mad:.

watty · 18-03-2009 9:35am

Which Digiweb are you on? DSL, Metro or other? Some Metro users may accidently be on wrong settings.

Contact them.

I've used O2's 3G/HSDPA and it's not suitable for gaming. My Metro has about 1/4 of the BEST ping of mobile and nearly x10 speed.

The clue is in the name. These Mobile services are designed for Mobile use. Great for that.

19-03-2009 8:27am

watty wrote: »

Which Digiweb are you on? DSL, Metro or other? Some Metro users may accidently be on wrong settings.

Contact them.

I've used O2's 3G/HSDPA and it's not suitable for gaming. My Metro has about 1/4 of the BEST ping of mobile and nearly x10 speed.

The clue is in the name. These Mobile services are designed for Mobile use. Great for that.

thanks. i am on metro. i am also using a set of these to connect my xbox :http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-85pe.htm
but i doubt this has anything to do with it. i'll give em a ring.

watty · 19-03-2009 9:56am

Powerline adaptors CAN have problems. Also you need a ethernet/cable router to reliably connect them to the Digiweb modem.

Test direct.

Consider either a coax to move the modem or a Cat5e cable as the PowerLine / homplug can be unreliable and can generate a lot of interference.

C:\>ping www.heanet.ie -t

Pinging samhain.heanet.ie [193.1.219.57] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=19ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=19ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=58
Reply from 193.1.219.57: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=58

Ping statistics for 193.1.219.57:
    Packets: Sent = 10, Received = 10, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 17ms, Maximum = 21ms, Average = 18ms

WiFi on 7 year old laptop. Dlink ethernet router/WiFi base.
(if a Router is for DSL only, i.e. with DSL modem built in , it won't work properly)

achtungbarry · 23-03-2009 4:29pm

Has anyone used a webcam with meteor or 3 pay monthly and how did it perform. I am thinking of scrapping land line but obviously want to keep internet and would need something that would give decent webcam performance to chat with family abroad.

bealtine · 23-03-2009 4:50pm

achtungbarry wrote: »

Has anyone used a webcam with meteor or 3 pay monthly and how did it perform. I am thinking of scrapping land line but obviously want to keep internet and would need something that would give decent webcam performance to chat with family abroad.

Chat and webcam on mobile...not a chance. Latency is too big.

achtungbarry · 23-03-2009 4:59pm

bealtine wrote: »

Chat and webcam on mobile...not a chance. Latency is too big.

Thanks. I am no expert in these matters but that's pretty much what I thought.

Looks like I'll have to find another way to express my exhibitionism...... I mean chat to family....ahem.

aoifespen · 23-03-2009 5:32pm

how the#####do post new threads

Amalgam · 24-03-2009 12:39am

The USB modem Meteor are distributing is the very attractive Huawei E180, which trounces the Huawei E160 and E169 that the 3 Network use. I myself use a Huawei E169.

http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/products/view.do?id=1300

If someone wishes to use another carrier, they are also easy to unlock.

Could a few Meteor using members post Speed tests..

x in the city · 24-03-2009 1:24am

If I buy the modem from meteor for 69e can I get it unlocked on line or etc and put my 3 sim into it.

I bust my 3 modem...:rolleyes:

That price for 69e is a take home price, its not under contract is it?

Amalgam · 24-03-2009 9:28am

x in the city wrote: »

If I buy the modem from meteor for 69e can I get it unlocked on line or etc and put my 3 sim into it.

I bust my 3 modem...:rolleyes:

That price for 69e is a take home price, its not under contract is it?

I think it is a take-home price. Take a look:

https://store.meteor.ie/broadband/

---

Not sure if it is okay to mention this, hence the ****, but DC-U******r will unlock both the Huawei E180 and E180G online. You buy credits then select the service you want, as in, unlock..

Meteor have tailored the built in software, you will need to reflash the software yourself using the Huawei default, this is easy to do.

I might buy one just for the modem.

---

Just to add x in the city, you might actually prefer the Meteor service, from what I've been reading, it's a tad faster up and down, you'll be less likely to smash your modem off tables as a result..

aoifespen · 24-03-2009 10:15am

HOW DO I POST NEW THREADS ON BOARDS CAN SOMEONE TELL ME
AS

Fiend-Foe · 06-04-2009 1:50am

Got Meteor yesterday. Live in Dublin City Cenre connects at 7.2Mbps 3G/HSPA nearly everytime. Occasionally 286kbps or something when it connects to the EDGE network but disconnecting and reconnecting sorts that. No complaints so far. Might be a problem with th 5 gig limit though.

aoifespen wrote: »

HOW DO I POST NEW THREADS ON BOARDS CAN SOMEONE TELL ME

AS

That little "X" in the top right corner.

drunkmonkey · 06-04-2009 8:38am

Fiend-Foe wrote: »

connects at 7.2Mbps 3G/HSPA nearly everytime

could you back that up with a speedtest, I think your getting a notification from the Meteor software to say you are now connected at 7.2Mbps, you are not connected at 7.2Mbps everytime, www.speedtest.net

Fiend-Foe · 06-04-2009 3:59pm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

could you back that up with a speedtest, I think your getting a notification from the Meteor software to say you are now connected at 7.2Mbps, you are not connected at 7.2Mbps everytime, www.speedtest.net

Hmmm, you are right

drunkmonkey · 06-04-2009 4:20pm

that's pretty dismal seen the low amount of users...they must be working on it or something, I doubt there offering is that bad unless a lot of people signed up in the last few weeks....

call to customer care is in order I think....

Fiend-Foe · 06-04-2009 4:34pm

Doesn't bother me, does just fine for what I need it for.

Just got this,

EDIT: This is a bit better. Still only 2G Speed is it? It says HPSA.

watty · 07-04-2009 8:59am

Basic 2G is 14.4kbps. (GSM)
2 slot call gives 28.8kbps but costs twice as much per second

These are fixed speeds

GPRS (GSM 2G) is 10kbps to 70kbps
EDGE (GSM/2G) is typically 180kbps to 240kbps, but can be slower, and in theory up to 2Mbps (not in Ireland).

3G(UMTS/W-CDMA) is UPTO 350kps, but could be as low as 5kbps, possibly.

HSPDA, HSUPA, I-HSPA and HSPA+ are all protocols on 3G air interface sometimes called 3.5G. They can in theory do UP TO 21Mbps on a single 5MHz channel. But speed drops rapidly as signal is lower, interference higher or more users to about a minimum of 50Kbps to 120kbps, when the operator may disconnect. So you can get better speeds on 2G than so called 3.5G

Less than 3% of people on a cell might get 21Mbps (21,000kbps) if that was the top speed. As 3G/HSPA becomes more popular, on average about 50% of users would get < 300kbps.

It's designed for Mobile Digital Voice (5kbps to 12kbps rate) with Internet usage as an afterthought, Internet usage was never invisaged for Fixed Broadband Replacement, but a quick email check or info look up less than 5min on a phone. The Mobile system can only handle sustained traffic at reasonable performance for about 5 to 10 users per sector. Even that can be poorer than entry level DSL.

faoile@n · 09-04-2009 5:36pm

Is it possible to get a meteor pay as you go sim and use their broadband pay as you go? My old phone is a Huawei phone and is 3G capable so i'd like to get it for occasional 1 day uses here and there if possible.

Fiend-Foe · 09-04-2009 5:46pm

faoile@n wrote: »

Is it possible to get a meteor pay as you go sim and use their broadband pay as you go? My old phone is a Huawei phone and is 3G capable so i'd like to get it for occasional 1 day uses here and there if possible.

The package I got is prepay. €79 upfront for the modem and then €20 for 30 days access or 5gb download, which ever runs out first. You can just use normal meteor call credit to topup.

I doubt if you could use the sim in a phone though, I'd say they are configured for data only. I tried to call my number and just got silence, no voicemail or recorded message. I'll have to pop my sim into my phone later and see what happens. I'll let you know.

watty · 09-04-2009 7:38pm

many 3G phones are 384k. Some only 115k when tethered to laptop. It needs to be explicity an HSDPA or similar support to be faster.

The O2 data sim works in phone and vice versa. Calls cost more on a data SIM.

usually you can add a Data account to a Phone Sim.

Only SMS works for non-data to a modem phone number sim in a modem.

con1982 · 13-04-2009 4:06pm

bealtine wrote: »

Chat and webcam on mobile...not a chance. Latency is too big.

I was thinking of getting wireless broadband for using skype (audio only). Is this possible?

Thanks in advance

CG

meteor pay as you go broadband Versus 3 pay broadband

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