Which router for Three 4G broadband?

Ardent · 08-08-2016 01:31PM #1

Left with no option but to get wireless broadband with Three. I see they offer two devices:

Huawei E5573
Huawei B315

For those currently with Three, which should I go for? Or should I go sim only + some other device?

I have a great Cisco WiFi router I'd like to reuse if possible.

Thanks.

ED E · 08-08-2016 02:05PM

Buy your modem/router from Amazon and sign up for the €20/mo phone deal (not a broadband plan). Its agains the rules but wayyyy better value and they dont enforce the terms.

E5186 is the one to buy IMO.

niallb · 09-08-2016 03:42PM

Of the two you mention, go for the B315.
It has larger internal antennas, so if signal is reasonable you might not need an external one.
It also has ethernet ports, so you can connect it to the WAN port of your Cisco router and reuse that.

Unless portability is your number one requirement, stay away from the much smaller E5573.
It's a good enough device, and will take an external antenna, but is very limited in comparison.
How likely is it that you have less than 10 devices in the house that need a connection?

M5 · 14-08-2016 08:21PM

Any recommendations on an external antenna for a B315? Indoor or outdoor

Mountain-Master · 17-08-2016 10:22PM

My advice is stay well clear of 3 broadband. The customer service is appalling and the14 day cool down clause is a farce. I signed up last Saturday and was told he had good coverage in our area and any hassle I could cancel the contract. Far far from the truth. I have informed them I will not be paying any bill and have logged a complaint with com Reg

Ardent wrote: »

Left with no option but to get wireless broadband with Three. I see they offer two devices:

Huawei E5573
Huawei B315

For those currently with Three, which should I go for? Or should I go sim only + some other device?

I have a great Cisco WiFi router I'd like to reuse if possible.

Thanks.

Mountain-Master · 17-08-2016 10:23PM

My advice is stay well clear of 3 broadband. The customer service is appalling and the14 day cool down clause is a farce. I signed up last Saturday and was told he had good coverage in our area and any hassle I could cancel the contract. Far far from the truth. I have informed them I will not be paying any bill and have logged a complaint with com Reg

Ardent wrote: »

Left with no option but to get wireless broadband with Three. I see they offer two devices:

Huawei E5573
Huawei B315

For those currently with Three, which should I go for? Or should I go sim only + some other device?

I have a great Cisco WiFi router I'd like to reuse if possible.

Thanks.

Mountain-Master · 17-08-2016 10:23PM

My advice is stay well clear of 3 broadband. The customer service is appalling and the14 day cool down clause is a farce. I signed up last Saturday and was told he had good coverage in our area and any hassle I could cancel the contract. Far far from the truth. I have informed them I will not be paying any bill and have logged a complaint with com Reg

Ardent wrote: »

Left with no option but to get wireless broadband with Three. I see they offer two devices:

Huawei E5573
Huawei B315

For those currently with Three, which should I go for? Or should I go sim only + some other device?

I have a great Cisco WiFi router I'd like to reuse if possible.

Thanks.

bossdrum · 18-08-2016 03:43AM

niallb wrote:

Of the two you mention, go for the B315. It has larger internal antennas, so if signal is reasonable you might not need an external one. It also has ethernet ports, so you can connect it to the WAN port of your Cisco router and reuse that.

Thanks for the info.

I'm currently using an old Samsung phone as a hot spot with a three sim card.
I'm getting on average 2.5 my download speed during the day. It does go to 5mb at times and sometimes to 1.5mb.
Could the b315 have better reception capabilities than an old phone?
Also can I just go to a three shop and buy one without a contract or plan or should I get off amazon?

ED E · 18-08-2016 11:18AM

Three will never unlock a Mifi device or cellular modem/router unit so its really worth buying it SIM free then just topping up by 20€ per month.

Amalgam · 18-08-2016 11:36AM

Ardent, your choices have different roles.

Portable, battery or USB: Huawei E5573
Stationary, mains: Huawei B315

You can pick up a pair of external antennas for the B315 on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-External-Antenna-Increases-Strength/dp/B01CU9XQX6/

One thing to think about is the firmware, have Three modified it to allow/not allow use of the external antennas. This has been an issue with one or two users of Meteor's B315, here on boards.ie.

You'll get a better signal/wifi broadcast, with a larger unit like the B315, this might be crucial if you live in a house/flat/etc with thick walls. Portable/battery Huawei modems generally have to be stuck to a window to maximise reception, often you'll be left with blackspots somewhere in your house, with maybe the need for a wifi repeater.

Three's service has improved, I've used it from about 2009 onwards, back when you could have no service (close to Dublin), during waking hours. Nightime Internet!

People love complaining, but without Three, we'd be stuck with chancers like V******* and E**.. [shudder]

Which router for Three 4G broadband?

Comments