Vodafone 4G home broadband now 300gb

06-10-2019 11:07am #1

I’ve only just seen this now,
I’ve been checking weekly since I heard the tech journalist Adrian Weckler briefly mention it a few weeks back.
For those of us who rely on this they’re now calling it Simply Broadband 4G
https://n.vodafone.ie/shop/mobile-broadband.html
Also looks like 12 month contract.
Will be calling them tomorrow to see as I’m near the end of the 2 year contract.
Currently paying €55 for 250GB so at least this is something.

One line in the t&c is concerning from my reading of it
“ A speed cap of 10mbps is imposed on this tariff plan.”

Kavs · 06-10-2019 3:54pm

Do you know what model 4G router they use and can an external LTE antenna be connected, called into the shop today but the staff didn't know what I was talking about.

06-10-2019 4:25pm

What I got 2 years ago was a Huawei B528.
Pic on the site looks the same.
There’s no connection for an aerial on it.

Kavs · 06-10-2019 4:27pm

I think its also called the gigacube?, are the antenna connections hidden under a cover at the back maybe? see attachment
Thanks.

TimHorton · 07-10-2019 10:00am

Did they ever resolve the DNS issues they had on this service ?

07-10-2019 2:40pm

Kavs wrote: »

I think its also called the gigacube?, are the antenna connections hidden under a cover at the back maybe? see attachment
Thanks.

indeed they are, never copped them as never had signal problems, but thats another thread

TimHorton · 12-10-2019 6:49am

Got it during the week and it is working very well even at peak times, I was getting 30/40 meg in speedtest, I got an email yesterday saying my profile had been updated and every speed test since has been 20 meg exactly - The terms mentions speed being capped at 10 meg.

12-10-2019 7:59am

TimHorton wrote: »

Got it during the week and it is working very well even at peak times, I was getting 30/40 meg in speedtest, I got an email yesterday saying my profile had been updated and every speed test since has been 20 meg exactly - The terms mentions speed being capped at 10 meg.

I’d be happy with 20, here’s hoping

heffo500 · 13-01-2020 5:53pm

I have the 150gb contract and pay €45 a month, however I get speeds of 50-70 mb, I don't think I'd give that up for the 300gb.

14-01-2020 8:44am

heffo500 wrote: »

I have the 150gb contract and pay €45 a month, however I get speeds of 50-70 mb, I don't think I'd give that up for the 300gb.

I've been using this for the past three years.

At the start I was getting between 20 and 30mb. Now the max I get is around 7mb and often its between 1 and 2.

Netflix is often possible midweek, with occasional pauses, but rarely on weekends.

(Right now at 7.45am i get 7mb/4mb speed)

heffo500 · 14-01-2020 10:04am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I've been using this for the past three years.

At the start I was getting between 20 and 30mb. Now the max I get is around 7mb and often its between 1 and 2.

Netflix is often possible midweek, with occasional pauses, but rarely on weekends.

(Right now at 7.45am i get 7mb/4mb speed)

Are you using an external antenna?

14-01-2020 12:21pm

heffo500 wrote: »

Are you using an external antenna?

No, I use a B593 positioned at a second floor window. I was quite happy with 20mb so there was no need to erect an external aerial. Indeed a dependable 5mb would be enough for me but sadly I'm not getting that from Vodafone any more.

guano_jim · 16-01-2020 6:06pm

just signed up for this service.. no mention of a speed cap, i made a point of asking before signing, the vodafone guy said no speed cap just a 300GB/month data cap.
getting 45Mbps/25Mbps with 17ms ping in DunLaoghaire.

17-01-2020 12:02am

Right now at 11Pm, weeknight, the Vodafone 4G is giving me 0.27mbps download/ 1.68 Upload.

I kid you not.

As mentioned above, It was over 20mbps download when I joined.

Edit: this morning at 7am the readings are 13.3/4.7 which is perfectly acceptable, but will probably be unwatchable tonight...

Stewball · 16-02-2020 4:44pm

guano_jim wrote: »

just signed up for this service.. no mention of a speed cap, i made a point of asking before signing, the vodafone guy said no speed cap just a 300GB/month data cap.
getting 45Mbps/25Mbps with 17ms ping in DunLaoghaire.

A month on - how is it going now with them?
Thinking of joining myself but a little worried about some of the speeds mentioned above.

StickyMcGinty · 23-03-2020 6:15pm

Stewball wrote: »

A month on - how is it going now with them?
Thinking of joining myself but a little worried about some of the speeds mentioned above.

Also interested to hear how it's going, will pop you a PM

guano_jim · 23-03-2020 7:42pm

Stewball wrote: »

A month on - how is it going now with them?
Thinking of joining myself but a little worried about some of the speeds mentioned above.

No issues, went to the shop, signed up, walked out with the modem, worked fine ever since.
I checked my 4g signal and distance to transmitter before I decided, put the modem on an interior wall closest to the mast.
Speedtest.org tells me I'm getting around 60mbs d/L and a ping of 17ms.
Can slow a little from 7 to 10 pm but still well fast enough for Netflix.

Any other q, please ask!

murphman · 01-04-2020 9:17pm

I've had this since the start of January, working very well.
One issue where it stopped working but did a system reset on the router and it came back fine.

Biggest problem we have now is not speed but data limits.. 300GB. At the end of each month we are using the internet very sparingly. Netflix/Disney+/Amazon Prime/Youtube all eat it up and with kids etc at home more the data is disapearing fast. I reckon if Vodafone were any good they would up the limit during the pandemic or even remove it.

When you hit the limit it just shuts down your internet.. which now that we are working from home will be a disaster!

I'm out in the sticks so I don't really have an alternative which is my problem but I am already looking very hard into it.

heffo500 · 01-04-2020 9:33pm

murphman wrote: »

I've had this since the start of January, working very well.
One issue where it stopped working but did a system reset on the router and it came back fine.

Biggest problem we have now is not speed but data limits.. 300GB. At the end of each month we are using the internet very sparingly. Netflix/Disney+/Amazon Prime/Youtube all eat it up and with kids etc at home more the data is disapearing fast. I reckon if Vodafone were any good they would up the limit during the pandemic or even remove it.

When you hit the limit it just shuts down your internet.. which now that we are working from home will be a disaster!

I'm out in the sticks so I don't really have an alternative which is my problem but I am already looking very hard into it.

My limit on my plan is only 150gb and do exceed it especially now.

Can you pay to increase your limit when you breach it? I think I can pay €10 extra and get an extra 100gb for the month.

I also turned my Netflix streaming quality down from 1080p to 720p which helps, Can you that with your Disney+?

Gavman84 · 07-04-2020 10:20pm

Has anyone switched from the original plan of 150 gig for 45 to the new plan of 300 for 40 or is it possible even?
I'm just over a year into two year plan and with wfh etc the extra data would be useful. Kind of annoyed that they have doubled the allowance since. I'd pay 45 still if can get the 300 gig.

TimHorton · 08-04-2020 7:44am

The now have a corporate 4G Plan with 500 gb Monthly allowance (Got Dongle from work to WFH), So now I have 800gb a month allowance !

murphman · 08-04-2020 8:13am

heffo500 wrote: »

My limit on my plan is only 150gb and do exceed it especially now.

Can you pay to increase your limit when you breach it? I think I can pay €10 extra and get an extra 100gb for the month.

I also turned my Netflix streaming quality down from 1080p to 720p which helps, Can you that with your Disney+?

I've the netflix turned down already but Disney and Prime don't have the option to reduce. Not sure if you can top your vodafone when you hit limit, it just stops the internet. Watching every day, even have the kids watching the current balance of internet left.. its a modern day.. 'watching the immersion and not to leave it on'.

I use PLEX as much as we can with movies stored on local drive to try reduce internet usage.. currently 56.5 GB left with 6 days until reset..

Gavman84 · 08-04-2020 12:49pm

In case anyone is wondering. I got onto VF on chat this morning and they have changed me over to the 300 gig a month plan for 40 now so happy days.

heffo500 · 08-04-2020 5:15pm

Gavman84 wrote: »

In case anyone is wondering. I got onto VF on chat this morning and they have changed me over to the 300 gig a month plan for 40 now so happy days.

I tried it there and they wouldn't let me change as I'm still in a 24 month contract.

Grab All Association · 08-04-2020 5:22pm

Eircom is 750gb for €30 per month. Dependent on coverage of course.

Gavman84 · 08-04-2020 8:45pm

heffo500 wrote: »

I tried it there and they wouldn't let me change as I'm still in a 24 month contract.

They never said anything to me about that and I'm 14 months into 24 month. Iv been moved as got email confirming and can see new limit on my Vodafone. Maybe try another agent

I did say as I'm wfh I need the extra data so that might help.

Stewball · 09-04-2020 12:59pm

Grab All Association wrote: »

Eircom is 750gb for €30 per month. Dependent on coverage of course.

I was paying €30 per month for 50GB, but I switched to a new plan back in February - I'm now paying €38 for 250GB for the first 6 months then up to €53 for the final 6 months.

What's the likely hood they'll let me switch to this new plan?

heffo500 · 14-04-2020 12:22pm

Gavman84 wrote: »

They never said anything to me about that and I'm 14 months into 24 month. Iv been moved as got email confirming and can see new limit on my Vodafone. Maybe try another agent
I did say as I'm wfh I need the extra data so that might help.

I tried again last week and I think they changed me over, told me to check my next bill to see if it has been approved.

Scruff · 11-05-2020 8:14am

would a regular sim for one of the phone plans work in this router? might be a good option to get unlimited data with the new plans when out of contract!
https://n.vodafone.ie/shop/bill-pay-plans.html

Could always try it with an unlimited vodafone X plan, limited to 10Mbps speed but could be a cheap test
https://n.vodafone.ie/shop/pay-as-you-go-plans/vodafone-x.html

Consonata · 13-05-2020 3:56pm

Is there any higher cap than 300gb. It looks like we’re going to be hitting that cap pretty soon

14-05-2020 10:03am

Scruff wrote: »

Could always try it with an unlimited vodafone X plan, limited to 10Mbps speed but could be a cheap test
https://n.vodafone.ie/shop/pay-as-you-go-plans/vodafone-x.html

Does anybody know how the capping works on a technical level?

My normal speed from Vodafone is 2-4, frequently less than 1 and virtually never over 10 (i did get over 20 at times three years ago) . I am located 7km from the mast. For my use 4 is good enough and 8 is brilliant !

I am paying full whack.

If i switched to this plan, would it leave my signal as it is now, saving some money, or would it further degrade it, which given how poor it is now would probably destroy it alltogether?

Ten Pin · 14-05-2020 11:16am

The speed cap isn't pro rata on your current speed, everyone will get the same max speed.

Regardless of whether you get 80Mbps or 2Mbps now, it will be max 10Mbps on the new X plan.

Is there not already a speed cap of 10Mbps on the 300GB VF 4G broadband plan?

No one knows yet what Vodafone mean by "unlimited", they're unlikely to allow a 3-like all-you-want situation. It's unlikely they will allow more than 300GB on Vodafone X as they would be competing with themselves.

VF might block any SIM that's not the broadband SIM in the router they supplied so a different device might be needed to test out a PAYG VF X SIM

robbiep958 · 16-05-2020 8:21pm

Well according to the vodafone website it says the new unlimited plan has no fair usage policy, i will be testing it for the next month and regarding the speed cap 10mbps im pulling over 20.

Taken from vodfone website:
Yes. Vodafone X does not have any data limits so you’ll have unlimited data, maximum speed 10MB/s, to use in Ireland and Europe. With Vodafone X unlimited really means unlimited.

Taken from extra.ie

Vodafone Ireland has launched an unlimited mobile data offering for new and existing customers, with no fair usage policy restrictions in place.

veXual · 18-05-2020 10:04pm

I've been using the 4G package with no issues for the last 2.5 years. Do the odd bit of gaming and I've noticed in the last 3 weeks the latency goes through the roof in the evenings where as before I got a steady ping that was grand for games. Anyone experienced the same?

mayo.mick · 19-05-2020 11:05pm

I've been thinking about changing my plan. I'm eligible for an upgrade and was looking at the Red super, 30GB for €30. That's double what I'm currently getting for only a fiver more a month.

Reason I need to upgrade is I'm moveing a lot more raw video that I shoot. Starting to max out my monthly 15GB more often. I currently have pretty good download and upload speeds. My worry would be changed to a different APN and your speeds throttled.

I got onto vodafone this morning, what a nightmare to actually get to talk to a person, in person, on a phone! For a PHONE company......

Girl I was talking to in India (and struggling to hear/understand) was very pushy about the simply broadband for €40. I had'nt looked into that plan, so I kept asking to upgrade to the Red super for €30. Put me on hold, for 20 mins then said the upgrade dept were very busy and would get back to me. Obviously I'm still waiting.....

Will ring thm back again in the morning. I might actually chance the 300GB plan.

robbiep958 · 20-05-2020 1:09am

The quality of the vodafone network isnt what it once was , It seems that 3G is now officaly faster than 4G which is completely backwards!! ..
And now with this unlimited vodafone x its really gonna go downhill one would think!

mayo.mick · 20-05-2020 3:12pm

robbiep958 wrote: »

The quality of the vodafone network isnt what it once was , It seems that 3G is now officaly faster than 4G which is completely backwards!! ..
And now with this unlimited vodafone x its really gonna go downhill one would think!

I'd beg to differ, as my post below will show! (from my experience anyway).

mayo.mick · 20-05-2020 4:00pm

Right, I rang vodafone back again this morning. Got talking to a different girl in India or Pakistan, I'm still not sure if I've sold my soul or agreed to her marriage proposal :pac:

Anyway, after a lot of "sorry, can you repeat" and "sorry, can you speak a little slower" I think I've been upgraded to the 300GB tariff. After getting the confirmation email though, they are sending out a new sim and modem, a "Vodafone WIFI Modem R218 device"

Not bothered with the modem, I've always had my own.

A little history....

I first got mobile broadband/midband back in 2006 or 2008, I can't rightly remember. Back then it was 3G with a mifi dongle on the end of a 18" usb lead. Did the job at the time, worked OK. As the interwebs speeded up, with the likes of youtube and social media being invented, these began to struggle.

Went through many different dongles during the years, each as bad as the previous. Then, around 2011 or 2012 I think it was, I cam across a company in Clare, selling the Dovodo router designed to work with the stick modem. This was a game changer at the time! Set it up in an optimum position and you had pretty good wifi all around the house. (I still use this router, as an AP on the network).

Dovodo Router

Speedtest 3G through Dovodo Router 2013
Date - Ping - Download - Upload

In 2015 I upgraded my MBB to 4G and was now getting 15GB for €14.99 a month. I also upgraded my router to the much lauded Hauwei B593.

Hauwei Router

These are the results, on average that I was now getting with 4G here.

Speedtest 4G Huawei b593 2015
Date - Ping - Download - Upload

In the last year or 18 months or so, there has been a huge improvment in the 4G speeds here. I use a signal checker app and it showed that vodafone have built another mast here near me. The phone seems to connect to the old mast, which is also 4G and the MBB now connects to the new mast. I'm thinking these are seperate networks for data, using different APN's?

Here's my latest speeds. I'll check again when I get moved over to the new tariff, see if there's any change.

Speedtest 4G Huawei b593 2020
Date - Ping - Download - Upload

Ten Pin · 20-05-2020 4:36pm

I'll check again when I get moved over to the new tariff, see if there's any change.

The 300GB plan is capped to 10Mbps according to the terms & conditions on their website.

robbiep958 · 21-05-2020 1:16am

mayo.mick wrote: »

I'd beg to differ, as my post below will show! (from my experience anyway).

Well i guess its all down to location...

On 3G where i live believe it or now i can pull speeds of over 30mpbs!!! And that never drops below 20mbps no matter what time of the day it is.

Regards to 4G ... I can pull speeds of nearly 60mbps but thats at like 2am lol! Middle of the day dont go higher than 5mbps!

mayo.mick · 21-05-2020 2:02pm

robbiep958 wrote: »

Well i guess its all down to location...

On 3G where i live believe it or now i can pull speeds of over 30mpbs!!! And that never drops below 20mbps no matter what time of the day it is.

Regards to 4G ... I can pull speeds of nearly 60mbps but thats at like 2am lol! Middle of the day dont go higher than 5mbps!

Yeah, its down to contention and location of mast. Vodafone installed a second mast near me about 18mnts ago, that's what my router connects to all the time, even though its a little further than the existing 4g mast.

As regards capping at 10mbs, someone here said they are getting double or trible that? Anyway, if my speeds dropped from 50+mbs to 10mbs, that would still be plenty for me (at the moment anyway!)

darrenheaphy · 22-05-2020 3:36pm

Has anyone noticed a performance change as a result of this new price plan? I was just talking to Vodafone tech about their crappy service (used to be OK, now grinds to a halt or disconnects completely). The lady was insisting that the new plan guarantees a different/better performance but I don't see how that could be unless they're using some other APN?

mayo.mick · 22-05-2020 5:48pm

My account was switched over to the new 300GB tariff at midnight last night. I did a few speedtests just before and after as well as a few during today. No great difference in speeds. Actually quite happy with them if they stay at this!!

22-05-2020 6:03pm

darrenheaphy wrote: »

Has anyone noticed a performance change as a result of this new price plan? I was just talking to Vodafone tech about their crappy service (used to be OK, now grinds to a halt or disconnects completely). The lady was insisting that the new plan guarantees a different/better performance but I don't see how that could be unless they're using some other APN?

Yes, I cant see how they do it either. Surely they are not monitoring every individual number with the capability to cap all speeds individually?

And if the signal is capped en masse, if the cap it so that the person near the mast is at 10, with contention that signal would be at 1 for somebody a few Kms away...

Maybe the idea of a cap is just a PR move so that people getting over 10 feel they are gettig an excellent service?

Vodafon used to say that they took measures to ensure network was never overloaded (unlike 3) but seem to be moving away from this.

mayo.mick · 24-05-2020 10:24pm

Well, 2 days in on this new 300GB plan, and I must say, I'm pretty happy with the speeds! Streamed the local mass this morning for the mother, first time ever it streamed without a dropout or pause!

Am in the process of upgrading my network and adding a media server and connecting up smart tv's. Just as well I've changed to the new plan, I've nearly 10 gig used all ready, in 2 days. that would be 2/3rd's of my old monthly allowence!

One thing to note on this new plan though. If you rely on having to use a VPN, this plan seems to block it. Its blocking the VPN I use, luckily its not often I use it so its not much of a problem.

Speedtests since switching over.

Stewball · 25-05-2020 12:54pm

I can only dream of them speeds. I've been using it for the past two weeks and just cancelled the service within the 14 days. Absolute rubbish.

Noelmcgov28 · 16-06-2020 10:48pm

I got a 4G Broadband plan today and so far I'm impressed with the speeds as I am in rural part of Cavan & Leitrim and seeing anything over 10mbps makes my eyes glow lol.

Seeing as I am gonna be working from home and I need a fast internet connection I am getting about 15-25mbps average download speed in my house. I was even getting as near enough to 50mbps in one of the old sheds on my farm but it's a fair distance from my house I may need a lot of cabling to leave it there.
No sign of a 10mbps speed cap yet. I asked today in the store about the 10mbps cap but the staff there said: "it is there but not really but you'll be averaging 15-30mbps for most of the day".

Whatever the **** that means.

I say they don't know themselves why that is there. I assume in case the unlimited Vodafone X can't handle thousands of users at once Vodafone will decrease the speeds maybe it is just something to cover their ass in case people complain hence why it is in the small print of Simple Broadband plan whereas in the Vodafone X plan it is heavily emphasized.

fifth · 20-07-2020 12:57pm

Sorry to bump this thread from last month, but I'm thinking of getting this 300GB 4G Vodafone Simply broadband thing.

It's the only network that gives me reasonable speeds (4-5Mbps) on my phone out at the new house.

Does anyone knowL
1) if the speeds are limited to 10Mbps (doesn't look like it?)
2) what add-ons are available for over 300GB usage (I use 700GB on average)

Cheers.

heffo500 · 20-07-2020 1:07pm

fifth wrote: »

Sorry to bump this thread from last month, but I'm thinking of getting this 300GB 4G Vodafone Simply broadband thing.

It's the only network that gives me reasonable speeds (4-5Mbps) on my phone out at the new house.

Does anyone knowL
1) if the speeds are limited to 10Mbps (doesn't look like it?)
2) what add-ons are available for over 300GB usage (I use 700GB on average)

Cheers.

My speed is not limited. I think it's an extra €10 a month for 100gb of data

MFenix · 29-07-2020 8:24pm

Thanks everyone for the info here.

Does anyone know if the 300GB-capped "Vodafone Simply Broadband 4G" plan is capable of 4G+? I can't for the life of me find out where is read it, but I noticed somewhere that it was restricted to 4G only. I know the modem itself is capable of it (LTE Category 6), but I wondered if there is some network restriction.

Reason I'm asking is that I've done some testing with a different cat-6 router (B525) and a Vodafone PAYG SIM. Speeds are great with that setup. I can enable and disable individual bands and the router has an indicator when connected via 4G+. Speeds on 4G+ are much better.

Thanks for any help you guys have.

TimHorton · 30-07-2020 8:47am

MFenix wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the info here.

Does anyone know if the 300GB-capped "Vodafone Simply Broadband 4G" plan is capable of 4G+? I can't for the life of me find out where is read it, but I noticed somewhere that it was restricted to 4G only. I know the modem itself is capable of it (LTE Category 6), but I wondered if there is some network restriction.

Reason I'm asking is that I've done some testing with a different cat-6 router (B525) and a Vodafone PAYG SIM. Speeds are great with that setup. I can enable and disable individual bands and the router has an indicator when connected via 4G+. Speeds on 4G+ are much better.

Thanks for any help you guys have.

4G+ Shows on my Router some of the time ,

Vodafone 4G home broadband now 300gb

Comments