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3 bb - will new faster dongle help?

  • 07-12-2011 02:40PM
    #1
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 18,043 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I live in an area with a fairly weak 3G signal. I have an old 3 dongle as a backup to my normal home bb (which I'm happy with), and have been paying €9.99 p/m, despite rarely using it.

    The old dongle has a 3.6mbps speed rating. It works when needed, albeit a bit slowly.

    I was thinking about buying an up to date dongle Huawei E1820 offering up to 21.6mbps, and using a payg sim.

    Will the faster dongle improve the signal? Does my idea make sense?


Comments

  • #2
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Not really, any problems you have are distance from cell and/or congestion related most likely. You might irmpove speed by putting a router like the Dorado in the attic or outside perhaps and hooking the old dongle to it.


  • #3
    downwithpeace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭downwithpeace


    No, distance and congestion would be the main reasons for bad reception and speeds so having a faster rated modem wouldn't do anything.


  • #4
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 18,043 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    The 3g signal is normally 2 or 3 bars. It's a rural/coastal location, so congestion is unlikely I'd imagine.

    Either way a switch from contract to payg seems to make sense.


  • #5
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    If you're rarely using it then changing to PAYG is probably a good idea. Changing modem will most likely make no difference. The speed that the modem is capable of will only be available in some cells, most likely the city based ones. Even then, those high speeds are only available at the centre of the cell, and when no one else is using that cell sector. Since this is infinitely unlikely to be the case for any customer, the quoted speeds are a pipe dream.

    If what you currently have works, stick with that.


  • #6
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    I think all cells/sectors no matter whom are 7.2mbit max thruput rated nowadays, most will do 14.4mbits such as Meteor/eMobile/3 and a very few such as Voda in Cities will support the 21.6mbits max thruput.

    See here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056350841


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  • #7
    downwithpeace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭downwithpeace


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    The 3g signal is normally 2 or 3 bars. It's a rural/coastal location, so congestion is unlikely I'd imagine.

    Either way a switch from contract to payg seems to make sense.

    Might be hard pressed to find an uncongested Three mast ;)


  • #8
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    There would be the odd quiet sector on any network. Once you find one then Don't tell anyone about it. :D


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