[koantemplation]

I was just wondering how far the out going signal travels from a 3g dongle.

If the mast is a mile away does that mean that it can send a signal a mile away?

Must be a lot of signals in the airwaves if that is the case. I've always thought they only had a small range.

[psionic]

They are exactly the same as your mobile phone - hence need to communicate with the mast.

[Thine Wonk]

They have to communicate with the mast the same as a phone, it's a transmitter and a receiver, so yes up to 3 miles maximum really.

[koantemplation]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

They have to communicate with the mast the same as a phone, it's a transmitter and a receiver, so yes up to 3 miles maximum really.

It didn't occur to me that they'd have to send the signal out so far and are capable of doing so with such a small device.

It's weird though, I have 43% signal compared to 70% earlier and yet I have a better connection now than before.

[Thine Wonk]

Speed isn't really about signal, with digital communications if you have 1 bar you have signal.

My best speeds have come from work where I get 1 bar, at home I can see my mast from the window and with it being in an area with lots of houses and users I get lower speeds typically.

Just think of it like sharing a wifi connection with other people, sometimes you speeds will be higher and sometimes lower depending on how many people are downloading and how much they are downloading, it can vary from 1 minute to the next.