4G for my PC

The Guvnor

I'm with Eircom - getting all of under a mb to power my pc atm on the 3mb line.

I'm in north Dundalk - will we get Fibre, will we get FTTH? Not soon enough.

I have an office in the house and therefore a slightly faster speed would be great.

I'd be ecstatic with anything around 10mb.

I used my phone yesterday as a hotspot and on 4G it was great - this is vodafone and I've got just 11GB per month which I'm certain would be exceeded.

Now 3 are an option but 4G is only achievable upstairs away from office and in office it is a low 3G.

I'm thinking of a 4G router and an antenna. Router easy enough but the antenna I'm completely green on.

Any advice on this be appreciated.

As I said currently under a mb so won't take much to make me happy as long as it's stable and a bit faster.

I don't want a contract dongle as fibre might get here in the next 12 months etc.

boardzz

Can't you place the mifi dongle upstairs and this will get the 4g signal and give wifi downstairs.
20 euro a month top up. unlimited 4g.

The Guvnor

Thanks boardzz.
Just buy a dongle and put the 4g sim in it?
Three don't have an unlimited data dongle do they?
The reason for the router or antenna is that the 4g via 3 is a bit patchy, plus the distance to the comp is long enough to drop the hotspot connection atm - a dongle will give a stronger signal?

boardzz wrote: »

Can't you place the mifi dongle upstairs and this will get the 4g signal and give wifi downstairs.
20 euro a month top up. unlimited 4g.

boardzz

Well with the mifi dongle you can place it anywhere that gives the greatest signal. The wifi signal returned can be boosted easily with cheap boosters.
The three pay as you go sim will work also in the mifi dongle. When you top it up with 20 euro every month you will get unlimited data.

2 Wheels Good

boardzz wrote: »

Well with the mifi dongle you can place it anywhere that gives the greatest signal. The wifi signal returned can be boosted easily with cheap boosters.
The three pay as you go sim will work also in the mifi dongle. When you top it up with 20 euro every month you will get unlimited data.

Which plan is that? Their broadband payg is limited I thought.

ED E

We really need a sticky on this....

Its PAYG phone not broadband, 20E/mo for AYCE data, 15GB FUP that is NOT enforced, tethering IS against the rules but is NOT enforced.

The Guvnor

It makes the most sense tbh.

The reason I was after an antenna of some sort was to pick up a stronger 4G signal as currently my best speed on 3 is 7mb but with 4G you'd expect to hit 20-25mb?

The Guvnor

Lads just an update and and additional question.

I think to receive a stable 4G signal via 3 a small antenna will be required not a problem - ideally something indoors - now for this I'd assume I'll need a 4G wifi router with sim slot - and maybe a wifi extender for the actual house itself?

The 3 4G is patchy - Vodafone solid but... the usage amounts etc.

charlie_says

Get something like this

http://www.irishwireless.net/networking/wireless-outdoor/outdoor-antennas/3g-4g-antennas/xpol-a0001

Cross polarized antenna is what you want and connect to a proper (not one of those mifi yokes) LTE router.

The Guvnor

Thanks Charlie.
Eircom out next week as fault on the line - apparently they might be able to push more down the line to me.

I might hit the heady heights of 3-5mb!

I'll still be getting a 4g set-up though as for the cost of doing so it makes sense plus it's portable(ish) as well.

charlie_says

The Guvnor wrote: »

Thanks Charlie.
Eircom out next week as fault on the line - apparently they might be able to push more down the line to me.

I might hit the heady heights of 3-5mb!

I'll still be getting a 4g set-up though as for the cost of doing so it makes sense plus it's portable(ish) as well.

Most of the Huawei LTE routers I have used have dual SMA connectors so you may need the convertor adapter job.

charlie_says

Also this is a better antenna, higher gain. Just a bit uglier.

http://www.dipol.ie/cellular-systems/gsm-3g-lte-antennas/lte/lte-mimo-antenna-atk-log-lte-800-2170mhz-10m-cable-sma-plug.html

Happy_Harry

charlie_says wrote: »

Also this is a better antenna, higher gain. Just a bit uglier.

http://www.dipol.ie/cellular-systems/gsm-3g-lte-antennas/lte/lte-mimo-antenna-atk-log-lte-800-2170mhz-10m-cable-sma-plug.html

Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I was wondering whether you if could fit this antenna using the same pole/ holder as my SKY dish is on ? Any idea what the max diameter is this would fit on ?

Riesen_Meal

I thought Dundalk was going to be one of the first Siro connected areas with Vodafone/ESB FTTH?

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Did you test a Eir/Meteor 4G sim for signal strength? Might be another option as it could have a better signal where you're located.

Meteor have new 4G broadband options. Highest appears to be 55Gb for 30 EUR per month on a six month plan.

I understand it's limited and not as cheap as the 20 EUR Three offer, but it might be a compromise if the signal strength is better.
To give you an idea what speeds you can get - I regularly get a solid 30-40mb on their 4G at home.

Btw, what is your usage like? How much bandwidth are you using on average each month?

The Guvnor

It is but I'm just outside the town. Lovely spot but sh1te broadband!

Fieldog wrote: »

I thought Dundalk was going to be one of the first Siro connected areas with Vodafone/ESB FTTH?

marno21

The Guvnor wrote: »

It is but I'm just outside the town. Lovely spot but sh1te broadband!

Have you tried fixed wireless such as Digiweb Metro? I believe they have presence in Mount Oriel so perhaps you might be in luck.