mobile broadband v fixedline broadband

baegan

i'm getting broadband into my home.
anyone any thought on either mobile or fixed.

currently have irishbroadband 512k ripwave modem, but its not good speed.
thinking about either 3 mobile broadband or eircom fixed line into my home.
if going mobile will be used in blanchardstown and wexford.

Urban Weigl

It's a trade-off, similar to deciding between a laptop and a desktop. Mobile is handy because you can take it around with you, but it typically costs more, especially if you plan to download a lot, and the latency will also typically be higher than DSL or cable. Sorry for using a technical term; that basically means that if you're a gamer, you won't be happy with mobile broadband.

I wouldn't get mobile broadband unless I valued its mobility. Just like I wouldn't get a laptop unless I valued its mobility either. For your information, I have both.

watty

Mobile, typically slower, lower cap, worse latency and more expensive and you may not always get a connection in the same place due to congestion (worse than Fixed wireless Contention!).

rc28

I'm confused, why are people saying the mobile options like 3 are more expensive? I thought 3bb was only 19.99 per month(with 10gb cap) while eircom's 1mb package with 10gb cap is 24.99pm and that's not including the line rental which is about 24euro per month if i remember correctly?

Stephen

If you go over the cap the mobile operators will rape your bank account.

Firetrap

With the current dire speeds a lot of people are getting from the 3 datamodem these days, there's no danger of getting anywhere near the cap. It'll be interesting to see if people who've signed up for the new O2 service experience similar problems. If you can at all, go for the fixed line broadband.

WellyJ

There is no comparison

Tried 3 briefly in new apartment while waiting for DSL,

Laughable tbh

smellslikeshoes

Unless you need it for mobility its not worth the hassle.

Passenger

Currently there is no broadband available in my area yet, can I still use mobile bb and is it fast enough to justify getting?

Thanks

Myxomatosis

Passenger wrote:

Currently there is no broadband available in my area yet, can I still use mobile bb and is it fast enough to justify getting?

Thanks

It definitively CAN be fast enough at 3.6mbps, but contention or weak signal can lower those speeds significantly.

Try find out what kind of signals are available in your area from what companies. Three currently have the best priced offer, and even if your area is not HSDPA (high speed) and is just normal 3G, thats still quite a bit faster than a good dialup connection.

Passenger

Oh that's great thanks, I'll check out the mobile bb provider's coverage in my area and see who's the best, though I'd presume Vodafone would have a larger coverage of the mobile bb providers, at least I can enjoy a faster connection speed than I'm currently using.

Myxomatosis

Passenger wrote:

Oh that's great thanks, I'll check out the mobile bb provider's coverage in my area and see who's the best, though I'd presume Vodafone would have a larger coverage of the mobile bb providers, at least I can enjoy a faster connection speed than I'm currently using.

Vodafone are probably the worst in terms of mobile broadband, the most expensive and worst coverage. If your in a ruralish area, then the chances are that Vodafones signal while be 2G. ie, just as slow as dialup

Johnny Bitte

Im going with 3 because the last guy who used the land line in the house I rent left 100 euro on the bill.

3 is 129 for the modem and 20 a month after that,
2 weeks to bring it back if not happy
3 guy was actually helpful.

02 is 80 for the modem and 20 for the first 3 months and 40 after that.
O2 guy spent 20 mins talking to his "bud" then of his phone,
then no modems in store
1 week to bring it back if not happy.
Cheaper if you have an O2 mobile.

Boss had Vodafone and said it wasnt great bt he has as much tech in him as a spoon!!

Duiske

baegan wrote:

i'm getting broadband into my home.
anyone any thought on either mobile or fixed.

currently have irishbroadband 512k ripwave modem, but its not good speed.
thinking about either 3 mobile broadband or eircom fixed line into my home.
if going mobile will be used in blanchardstown and wexford.

I would definitely choose the fixed line option if i had that option. I take it from your post you are in Blanchardstown ? Why not consider Cable BB for the home, and 3 BB for down the country. The combination of both could well work out cheaper than fixed line.

LadyJane

Myxomatosis wrote:

It definitively CAN be fast enough at 3.6mbps, but contention or weak signal can lower those speeds significantly.

Try find out what kind of signals are available in your area from what companies. Three currently have the best priced offer, and even if your area is not HSDPA (high speed) and is just normal 3G, thats still quite a bit faster than a good dialup connection.

>>>>>
Are you taking about Three.ie wireless service or 3G Wireless BB Generally?
1/So Vodaphones 3G BB is rubbish?

2/.And O2's is aswell even at the advertised 3-6GB speeds

3/. Ripwave
by IBB
thats Mobile Wireless BB

So stick to wired dsl ? some people have said ICEBB is good ....

LadyJane

thebman

Well your using ripwave, why not upgrade to Breeze. Don't know anyone in your area but Breeze is working out well for me in Maynooth. Save you paying for line rental. Is Digiweb available in your area?

watty

Ripwave is not Mobile Wireless. It's portable Wireless.

uRbaN

My compnay trialed 3 Mobile for a week and handed it back....complete joke. We were always affiliated with o2 but thought to try it out. o2 seem to be much better...as long as you only want to browse / download the odd thing.

thebman

O2's coverage is worse though AFAIK. 3's main problem is they are promoting too agressively and have oversold out in most areas so speeds have gone to hell for most people.

Rockson

I'd 100% go for fixed line if I had the choice. Reasons: speed, download limit, latency and cost!

Definitely stay away from 3 mobile for at least the moment. Apparently they've taken on too many customers and their 'broadband' is about equivalent to dial-up speed (and often worse!) for some of us at the moment. See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055124889

LadyJane

So even though I live 100 metes from 02's Mobile 3G Mast Avoid?


Is that the general advice here?I am currently with UTV DSL 2 MB service 12 month contract?
What will they do if I try to leave them?

Court is it best to charge it over to a standing order from bank account?
that way it stops them hammering me?

Any experience here getting out of Contracts?

LadyJane

thebman

LadyJane wrote:

So even though I live 100 metes from 02's Mobile 3G Mast Avoid?


Is that the general advice here?I am currently with UTV DSL 2 MB service 12 month contract?
What will they do if I try to leave them?

Court is it best to charge it over to a standing order from bank account?
that way it stops them hammering me?

Any experience here getting out of Contracts?

LadyJane

I would never and I mean never go from DSL to mobile broadband.

Unless you need the mobile broadband for your job or something in which case you should get them to pay for it and keep UTV for home use. It just isn't reliable enough for a home user.

My parents have it and its fine for them and works most of the time for them but they have just started having the issues most 3 users are complaining about here.