3 Ireland 5g

Moh72

Has anyone any experience with 3Ireland 5g broadband the one that an installer has to place a reciever out side. I live in an internet black spot and looking for something to run the house x

Dufflecoat Fanny

I just use a cheap 5g phone and hotspot it for the house. 25 a month

Moh72

@Dufflecoat Fanny I only get 4g on my phone that’s why I thought the receiver outside might help

Dufflecoat Fanny

You'd probably buy a cheap 5g phone for the price of a receiver

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058259127/3-ireland-5g

I have it. Get 400+ speeds on it.

It's great to be honest.

Recommended it to someone more rural and it wouldn't work at all. The installer will run a check for you before going ahead.

adm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119483620#Comment_119483620

Out of interest how far were they from the nearest tower (if you know). I assume they were in a coverage area on three's map?

Moh72

I’m not sure how far but I’m with 3 mobile and get 4g in the house.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119485067#Comment_119485067

I don't know. They live about halfway between straffan village and the N7 motorway if you know the area at all. Probably slightly closer to straffan than the N7

RonTon

Got this system connected this morning, technician was v helpful,no mess and he spent a bit of time getting a good signal (rural setup)

I didn’t use the router that was provided,plugged it into my mesh (orbi) ,I already had a hole drilled in wall from previous setup so used that for cable that went to outside modem (ZTE Mc7010 I think it was ) .

now it only got connected this morning and hopefully speeds stay stable and are ok in evening times , wired connection was about 350 Mpbs down 20 up.

wifi was 300 down , 20 up aswell .

If speeds stay like that I’ll be very happy, time will tell

Moh72

Thank you I am due for install next Thursday fingers crossed I get good speed, I’m in a rural area too. Can you let me know how it goes in the evening when you see.

RonTon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119559226#Comment_119559226

Will do ,I’ll get an average speed over next few nights and post up results

bennyc

Hi @RonTon did you have a 4G connection with Three before you moved to 5G, curious to see how much more you can get, I am on 4G and have 79D/L right now with 17.5 upload. This can go up to 130 and down to 25 depending on the time of day. To be honest we have no complaints as it very rarley drops which it did before I bought a Huawei B818 router to resolve the problem. So I am wondering if going to 5G for €40 a month would be worth it over €20 I currently pay ?

RonTon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119589711#Comment_119589711

Hi Ben ,I did have 4g beforehand with a b818 , the speed had dropped quiet a bit recently on the 4g setup,not sure why that happened so went with the 5G then , for €40 a month I’ll be happy if speeds stay consistent .

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610243#Comment_119610243

Three Ireland lost 2 blocks of spectrum in the 2100 MHz band near the end of July when the licence expired. This could be the reason.

Three blocks actually expired, Comreg offered to temporarily extend the licences for approximately 3 months but Three Ireland only extended the licence for 1 block citing the cost for not extending all 3 blocks.

FlubberJones

I will get my Three 5G router and antenna installed next Thursday, they said it was a two business day turnaround but that was NOT the case.

I have mentioned to them I'm in an apartment so the antenna install may be challenging but will have to await and speak to the installers.

Hope this works out as it will be cheaper than my current Virgin link and also gives me the reduction on my mobile.

FlubberJones

Had the Three 5G broadband installed two days ago, has been rock solid since the moment he turned it on.

Gold install, front of the apartment was poor, around 140mbit up and 10mbit down.... Too slow for the demand we have.

Asked to chance a look at the back of the apartment, even though no access and if installed would need a ladder and drilling through wall. Tested at 740mbit down and 80mbit up, even the installer said that was as good as he had seen. Instead of going outside he offered to install on the interior of the window (speed still the same). Suited me and is high enough behind a blind that you never see it, with the router on a shelf below.

As mentioned it has been perfect since it started... two working from home using video calls, live zoom sessions etc.

Just going though cancelling my Virgin media at the moment.

Andris299

Hi what speeds are u seeing at the moment?did they installed zte outdoor unit?just having some issues with mine at the moment with constant drop outs.

Daith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119656210#Comment_119656210

Hadn't realized that an indoor antenna could work. I have external insulation wrapping around the house and no contractor wants to go near it. Indoor at window could work.

FlubberJones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739747#Comment_119739747

It is a solid solution so far, no issues at all and super fast.

I understand that it may be heavily location specific though, but from my perspective, it is a good value option

The installer basically offered to install the 'outdoor antenna (5G Gold) internally, I agreed and it was perfect.

Had the 3 5g kit arrive today, no idea when the installation date will be.

I set it up and even a rough indoor setup I am getting speeds of 130mb Down and 30mb up.

Far better than my current 29mb down with Eir.

Will see what its like at peak times.

Hoping when the installer comes I will get more when they install it outside with a correct setup, but very happy at the moment with my current speeds with it.

bennyc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119589711#Comment_119589711

just an update on my own problems, my speeds have gone from excellent to unusable in the evenings in the last 4 weeks, I was putting it down to possibly an error on the mast, my signal and connection looks ok , always geting 4 bars of 4g, the sped right now is 30 down and 5 up however the ping is 165, by evening i wont be able to open boards with speedtest failing to load or getting 1-5mb with 300+ ping . This was 150 d/l at one point with a 40 ping. I tried to order 5g and the order was cancelled by three now when i go in my eircode is out of 5g coverage apparently. Even though I can see the mast that was advertising 5g last week. However when I go onto cellmapper.net the mast which I had been pointing at is not showing as having anything, also I drove over to it with a 5g enabled phone and not getting any decent signal beside it.

Can I assume that three have stopped using the cell tower ? getting close to ordering starlink at this stage.

RonTon

Have the 5G now a couple of months , it’s been very stable to be fair .

dl speed in evening averaging around 200 and upload about the 40-50 range , I had one day where service was down but I think that was a nationwide temporary fault .

happy overall ,and a decent improvement on my previous 4g setup.

wiresandmore

Hi, for those with the three 5G Gold service, what kind of antenna did they install? Will they put something on a mast on the roof or is it just wall-mounted on the house?

snowblind

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120053405#Comment_120053405

I was wondering this as well. Three are claiming that there is actually no antenna, just a box inside the house near a window? Sounds strange.

Daith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120209674#Comment_120209674

I know this is the solution for people in apartments, but I really thought they added a mast or external something on the house.

Moh72

When the engineer called to mine he was on the roof with a small reciever box. I didn’t have enough coverage in my area. Was charged for having the 5g for 4 months sent the equipment back 3 times as they kept returning it to me nightmare

Ah-Watch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210459#Comment_120210459

Never got charged because they did have 3 months free when I signed up but they kept returning it to me too. Submitted a complaint online and still took 2 months and lots of back and forth with them to get it cancelled. It would have been great if it kept speeds around 300 but when it was dropping down as low as 9/10Meg in the evenings it was a no go.

Daith

Am debating getting it because it's my only real alternative to Virgin and their prices, but I think I'd be better just buying a 4G modem and seeing.

chris_ie

My parents are hopefully getting fiber this year. Supposedly available to order in June. In the meantime I was going to get them a 5G router. They have 3 broadband but only 4G. They are out of contract so its rolling. They've been told to get 5G on that would need a new contract. They got the phones 5G enabled though. Is there no pre-pay or no contract 5G options?

smuggler.ie

You can buy 5G capable router from third party(Amz, Ebay, etc) and use current SIM in it, not cheap though. router itself does not guarranty service be better.

Is there steady 5G on their phones? What device is in use for current 4G?

If 4G is crap, 5G might not improove things, but 5G router will be one of latest models and it might enhance 4G experience.

chris_ie

4g speeds via router and phone are around 3-5mb most days. I was home and did a Speedtest on my phone on 5g (Three also) and it was 110mb. They’ve now said that 5g isn’t rolled out for broadband there yet. Just for mobile. Is there a difference? Figured 5G was 5G

smuggler.ie

This is not indicative of 4G being worse than 5G or v.v. It might be indicative that your 5G enabled phone is way more technologically superior to that router they use for their broadband. What device is there in use?

Out of two year 4G contract - they likely on Huawei B525, if contract dating longer than that, without device upgrade, perhaps they still on B593?

You dont have to be on 5G to get 100+ Mbps, you need later release device that is capable

When i was lately checking with them about my ancient €30 bill-pay rolling phone plan entitlement for 5G, i got impression that this is their tactics - get everyone onto new contracts, despite your current plan is/might be good as is. My plan is over 10 YO and it run on 5G . TBH, not sure how it works with broadband plans

Device location also play role in signal reception, hence the speed - move it around, to the windows, from room to room, attic.

chris_ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237755#Comment_120237755

Yeah 90% sure it’s the B525. Speedtest on my iPhone 14 Pro on 4G shows the same low speeds as their router no matter location in or outside house. 5g goes to the 100+ speeds. Mast is overloaded I think as loads of houses down there use Three as their broadband source due to lack of other options.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237810#Comment_120237810

Had B525 and had speeds in the range of 100+ back in the day.

Very strange that 4G would be so low where 5G available, indicating near mast proximity

Getting new contract (and new device) likely will prove to give better speeds, but if to avoid contract you might need to invest some effort and/or might need some/new gear - for short therm might not pay off unless second hand , then re-sell when no longer needed

https://ie.webuy.com/product-detail/?id=snetztemc801a3&categoryName=wireless-routers&superCatName=computing&title=zte-mc801a-5g-wifi-6-router-3&referredFrom=search&queryID=c41a844c78287bbc05d3e1160ef9500a&position=1

and PAYG €20/28d SIM only

chris_ie

Yeah the plan was to buy a 5G router and use his current sim, if they enabled the 5G, to avoid being locked into contract. But doesn't seem to be an options. Unless using a PAYG mobile sim in the router.

NIMAN

Have been thinking of making the switch to 3 5g broadband, as their availability checker says I can get it despite being in rural donegal.

I am currently on a 30meg package from a wireless provider in Derry, and would love to switch to a service that is delivering speeds in multiples of that.

I have read this thread, but could any of those who got it installed and were happy, could they update and let me know if you are still happy? I see a few comments about speed dropping over time. I wouldn't want to go for this, only to find out they are like Imagine, with poor speeds and poor customer service.

Also, how strict are they on the 750gb fair usage limit? I don't think I'd ever use that in a month, but you never know.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120263478#Comment_120263478

It will depend on actual signal/speed you get, dont rely too much on their maps. Test on the phone, 5G available? inside/outside? Don't fall for 5G adverts.

Extensive testing before commitment highly recommended, locate nearest masts, find services and frequencies they operate

Speeds might/will drop during peak time, sometimes badly, but if you get 200-300 off peak, and retain ~100 at peak its not bad.

4G below, custom setup - i don't care of their support much. 5G just about <100 off peak / 25 peak, inconsistent. YMMV

@7:30

Just few min ago, could go bit worse at times

There is NO LIMITS & NO FUP 1GB on many of their plans, if not on all, but check their web for latest plans/news

NIMAN

Thanks for that.

How would you find out your closest mast? Do 3 have their own masts or piggyback off another provider?

I have just read their website, and they still mention 750gb fair usage limit.

smuggler.ie

Comreg

Cellmapper

G maps

Three have their own

smuggler.ie

Let me correct myself

but i have not come across, perhaps on bill-pay they might charge

https://www.three.ie/pdfs/legal/3-broadband-5g-silver.pdf

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120263539#Comment_120263539

Go for a pre-pay €20 a month Three sim which has unlimited 5g data. Top up €20 every 28 days and away you go.

I went to go on a €29.99 3 Unlimited Broadband SIM Only and was informed to instead go with a 3 Prepay 20 Sim only plan with 'All You Can Eat Data' 5G for €20. The €29.99 plan did actually have a data cap of circa 750gb I think he said to me, he said no limit on the data on the prepay sim. Swapped out Sims and away I went. Hitting 30-120mbps (not on a 5g router, need to find one online), and need to find a good location for the router near a window facing the mast which can be seen out the widow a few km's away so trial and error. 750gb a month is a heap of data BTW anyway, I was only hitting 5-10gb per day on average when monitoring it.

3 Prepay 20 - https://www.three.ie/buy/prepay.html#sim-only

3 Unlimited Broadband Sim - https://www.three.ie/buy/broadband.html

*Ps already have a Three router so only needed a sim card btw.

smuggler.ie

According publications back then, three were removing FUP altogether, i had confirmation from three chat that there is no longer FUP and my statement was based on that , however, as they did not updated their publicly available T&C's , this leaves customers vulnerable/in doubt to this respect.

https://www.independent.ie/business/technology/three-removes-fair-use-limits-on-unlimited-broadband-plans-41952074.html

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276385#Comment_120276385

The Three rep in-store said there is still a fair usage limit on the mobile broadband sim but no fair usage limit on a prepay 'all you can eat data' sim. So not too sure what to believe and I searched all the T&C's and couldn't find anything concrete on it.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276747#Comment_120276747

What i hate most, once you sign up, you have no paper contract, generic page with links "see T&C's" and abyss of convoluted info on webpages. And this is not just three. Support on phone/chat/store are useless, full of contradicting information. Should it come to legal matters - only paper contract will stand and i am sure three would put the "package" that defend them , not customer.

Last year, on the phone, i was advised to purchase roaming add-on for data while asking about best roaming partners in Bulgaria (EU country) for best performance/coverage. My contract covers 26GB/pm data in EU - more than enough for holiday term. Shower crew there, perhaps some better informed than others .

With bill-pay - they could possibly charge as per print, with pre-pay - well that would be interesting to see implemented...