Iphone Internet Tethering vs Mobile dongle

nesf

Just looking for advice here. Have an iPhone on O2 and am using it for internet on my laptop at the moment. I'm trying to figure out whether I'd be better off going for an internet dongle or not as an alternative. I've heard O2's mobile internet service is much worse than Vodafone's but don't know personally. I only get 1GB of data on my iPhone plan so am a bit concerned I'll eat through that very quickly if happen to be using the laptop out and about a lot during a month.

Any thoughts or advice?

drunkmonkey

15GB + can be used for tethering on 3, it's included with there max plans, with the update to 4.3 and the personal hotspot addition it's a gift. o2/Voda aren't even at the races price wise or network wise.

nesf

drunkmonkey wrote: »

15GB + can be used for tethering on 3, it's included with there max plans, with the update to 4.3 and the personal hotspot addition it's a gift. o2/Voda aren't even at the races price wise or network wise.

Personal Hotspot is Iphone 4 only unfortunately, I've a 3GS. Not hugely interested in switching networks for my phone at the moment. Maybe in the summer when I upgrade to an iPhone 5 I'll switch.

watty

Performance and signal generally better on a dedicated Modem.

copacetic

I get much better performance and more reliability with iphone tethering on O2 than I did with a 3 broadband modem. Erratic though and they seem to have constant problems with masts that take forever to be fixed. You will eat through your allowance very quickly too.

watty

but that could be that O2 is better than Three where you live. Unless you can compare alternately on same mast at same location on same day with same operator ...

copacetic

watty wrote: »

but that could be that O2 is better than Three where you live. Unless you can compare alternately on same mast at same location on same day with same operator ...

Of course it could, but as it happens it is all across Dublin that O2 were better than 3 for me. I didn't say I was doing scientific testing though, just giving a real life experience to the OP.

drunkmonkey

I've the opposite experience in Dublin on 3. Time you changed modem.

drunkmonkey

nesf wrote: »

Personal Hotspot is Iphone 4 only unfortunately, I've a 3GS. Not hugely interested in switching networks for my phone at the moment. Maybe in the summer when I upgrade to an iPhone 5 I'll switch.

You can still tether via bluetooth or cable on the 3GS, it's not capped at 15GB they say they might throttle it after 15GB. for €35pm it's hard to beat.

ingen

drunkmonkey wrote: »

You can still tether via bluetooth or cable on the 3GS, it's not capped at 15GB they say they might throttle it after 15GB. for €35pm it's hard to beat.

tethering now as a test with my iphone 4 on three, i might as well now cancel my 30 day sim only three mobile broadband a/c as the iphone 4 wifihotspot will now cover me for use.


speed test using wifi hotspot with iphone 4 on three




now testing with the three e585 mifi unit




seems like the three mifi e585 is better, signal is good, full signal on the e585, and 4 bars on iphone 4


the three offer is very good indeed.

drunkmonkey

Were you holding the phone correctly:D

Mifi is pretty good for reception. I've a galaxy s I don't use any more but it always gave way higher speeds than the iphone4.

ingen

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Were you holding the phone correctly:D

Mifi is pretty good for reception. I've a galaxy s I don't use any more but it always gave way higher speeds than the iphone4.

haha