[wavejockglw]

My Sky fixed line Broadband is down right now so after using 150MB of my Vodafone allowance (500MB a month) I thought it was time to fire up the 3 Broadband Dongle and activate a 3 month 3GB pre-paid 3 data sim. (They are cheap at about £11 on e-bay and you would never top one up. Just throw it away and buy a new one!)

I have a Huawei E53 HSPA+ dongle which supports 21Mbps and I live in an area covered by 3's 'Ultrafast' network, so imagine my surprise when I did a speed test and got the result below. (0.8Mbps down, 1.41Mbps up and 77ms ping).

Better than nothing but I'm dissapointed to say the least when O2 and Vodafone regularly manage 6-8Mbps locally.

http://speedtest.net/result/2562344588.png

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

My Sky fixed line Broadband is down right now so after using 150MB of my Vodafone allowance (500MB a month) I thought it was time to fire up the 3 Broadband Dongle and activate a 3 month 3GB pre-paid 3 data sim. (They are cheap at about £11 on e-bay and you would never top one up. Just throw it away and buy a new one!)

I have a Huawei E53 HSPA+ dongle which supports 21Mbps and I live in an area covered by 3's 'Ultrafast' network, so imagine my surprise when I did a speed test and got the result below. (0.8Mbps down, 1.41Mbps up and 77ms ping).

Better than nothing but I'm dissapointed to say the least when O2 and Vodafone regularly manage 6-8Mbps locally.

http://speedtest.net/result/2562344588.png

You live in an Ultrafast area, but you're not using a DC-HSPA dongle, if you were you'd be getting better speeds. Speeds will vary by times of day, different speed test sites etc, I guess they might have a capacity issue in your area. You could ask the Twitter team if they have any plans to add new cells or upgrades.

[wavejockglw]

3's speed in my area is a disgrace and always has been poor despite the upgrades they publish on their website.

0.80Mbps is pretty rubbish, as was the last test which was 1.2Mbps download speed.

3 might deliver decent speed in some parts of the UK but definately not in my 'Ultrafast' enabled area.

[djpalmer93]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

3 might deliver decent speed in some parts of the UK but definately not in my 'Ultrafast' enabled area.

It's irrelevant whether it's an Ultrafast area or not if your dongle only supports 21Mbps HSPA+ though.

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by djpalmer93

It's irrelevant whether it's an Ultrafast area or not if your dongle only supports 21Mbps HSPA+ though.

Indeed and I get no more than 2Mbps using a device that has 21Mbps capability and and a network that claims to be built for the Internet!

Vodafone and O2 deliver 4-6 times the speed 3 provide in an area they claim has been upgraded to their fastest data technology.

Not very convincing for a potential smartphone customer.....

[djpalmer93]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Indeed and I get no more than 2Mbps using a device that has 21Mbps capability and and a network that claims to be built for the Internet!

Vodafone and O2 deliver 4-6 times the speed 3 provide in an area they claim has been upgraded to their fastest data technology.

Not really convincing.....

Well because Three carry around 40% of the UK's mobile data traffic they're obviously struggling with capacity in some areas, but this should be fixed once they roll out LTE with the new spectrum.

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by djpalmer93

Well because Three carry around 40% of the UK's mobile data traffic they're obviously struggling with capacity in some areas, but this should be fixed once they roll out LTE with the new spectrum.

How does that relate to less than 10% of the speed expected using their most up to date device?

Having experienced their performance using a cheap dongle I am very far from convinced to invest in an expensive smartphone contract in my area.

[djpalmer93]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

How does that relate to less than 10% of the speed expected using their most up to date device?

Having experienced their performance using a cheap dongle I am very far from convinced to invest in an expensive smartphone contract in my area.

Because in some areas there are a lot more people using a mast than in others.

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by djpalmer93

Because in some areas there are a lot more people using a mast than in others.

I know that...... it does not improve the prospect of me buying a service that is far poorer than others in the same area.

Activating a 3 mobile broadband SIM has been very useful to judge whether their data service is worthwhile in terms of investment in a 24 month contract for a new smartphone.

From what I have experienced so far 3 will not be a network worth considering.

[djpalmer93]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I know that...... it does not improve the prospect of me buying a service that is far poorer than others in the same area.

Activating a 3 mobile broadband SIM has been very useful to judge whether their data service is worthwhile in terms of investment in a 24 month contract for a new smartphone.

From what I have experienced so far 3 will not be a network worth considering.

Okay, don't then

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by djpalmer93

Okay, don't then

Shame because it was on my shortlist.

Having seen some superb speedtest results posted I was impressed but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and sadly 3's performance is very poor where I live and work despite the hype.

[Thine Wonk]

Worth seeing what it's like at different times of day or if they have any plans to add more cell sites in your area. It does vary area by area. Three coverage is very poor where I work, but very good at home. Speeds vary from 2-12 Megs depending on load and time of day for me.

[jabbamk1]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Shame because it was on my shortlist.

Having seen some superb speedtest results posted I was impressed but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and sadly 3's performance is very poor where I live and work despite the hype.

Thats the same with all networks. All networks have their good and bad coverage areas. But if you take into account coverage and tech used etc... then MBNL have the best 3G network in the UK. But that doesn't mean everywhere in the UK. There will be a lot of places where MBNL may be worse or miles ahead.

[moox]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I know that...... it does not improve the prospect of me buying a service that is far poorer than others in the same area.

Activating a 3 mobile broadband SIM has been very useful to judge whether their data service is worthwhile in terms of investment in a 24 month contract for a new smartphone.

From what I have experienced so far 3 will not be a network worth considering.

Once again, the usual suspects have come out to bash 3 and they clearly have a personal vendetta against what is otherwise a very successful network and the best coverage... It is yet another thread to attempt to discredit 3 and they will post the same negative stuff that they have been posting for months.

(cont p94)


On a more serious note I have never really got truly mindblowing speeds on 3, but that may be partly because I have ancient HSPA hardware (7.2/2). I have managed 6Mbps occasionally though, and to me raw speed is not important. In my case the alternative is EE or no one, because Vodafone and O2 haven't heard of this new fangled 3G technology and think spotty EDGE is now.

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by moox

Once again, the usual suspects have come out to bash 3

No.

Just posting the facts:

http://speedtest.net/result/2562344588.png

The performance tonight using a 21Mbps capable dongle in an 'Utrafast' upgraded area.

The reality is far from the promised performance.

[Martin Phillp]

Not Three's best night for me either. But it is Saturday night at peaktime.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2562651149.png

[wavejockglw]

Admittedly it's good enough for browsing and better than nothing as an emergency service provison when fixed line broadband is unavailable but it's really poor compared with Vodafone and O2 where I live. I would not consider buying a contract on 3 with the level of performance they provide from personal experience which has been confirmed by your (Martin Philip) speed test posting.

[Everything Goes]

Managed to get Download 4.28Mbps Upload 0.3Mbps and Ping 186ms using an iPhone 3GS. Probably not the best phone to do speed tests with

[Thine Wonk]

Actually I just tried it and got the same result. I wonder if they have some limited capacity at the moment due to some peers or transit links down. It's unusually slow.

Whilst not a service outage, it's not as fast as normal for me.

[wavejockglw]

My latest result is poor.

Not great when my Vodafone mobile is delivering 6+ Mbps in the same area.

http://speedtest.net/result/2562385613.png

The network designed for the Internet eh?

I expect the usual 3 supporters and apologists to post some nonsense to try and justify the proven poor 3 network performance.

[Thine Wonk]

It will vary, you'll find you get higher speeds at times randomly when less users are using your cell and lower speeds when more are. One night it can be 2, the next it can be 12.

LTE will go some way to improving things and will come at no extra cost apparently. I'd rather have a more generous or unlimited 2-12Mbps service at a decent cost over and expensive 750MB plan at a silly cost with limited coverage though,

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

My latest result is poor.

Not great when my Vodafone mobile is delivering 6+ Mbps in the same area.

http://speedtest.net/result/2562385613.png

The guy posts to complain about a near enough 3Mbps speed test when only the other day he said the following!

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...13&postcount=7

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Who cares about whether it's 5, 10 20 or 40Mbps?

Unless it's replacing fixed line broadband it hardly matters.

As previously stated and confirmed 3Mbps is good enough for YouTube or BBC iPlayer HD streaming.

As I say wave try it at some different times and you may find the speeds vary, as they always will do on 3G by location and current usage in the area.

This IS the justification for LTE which you were arguing was pointless.

[WellHiddenMark]

You're extremely unlikely to get more than 10Mbps even with the latest equipment in an Ultrafast area. This is just the way the technology works - These theoretical speeds are only applicable in an R&D lab. That's not the way it's been marketed though, obviously.

From personal experience, I'd say an 'average' of speeds using Three is about 2.5Mbps - which is just about right for browsing, basic YouTube viewing and small downloads.

At my city centre location, at the top of a tower block, I rarely get more than 1Mbps with the latest MiFi. In the Wirral, I get about 2Mbps. In South Manchester, I get about 4.5Mbps, but at this location the mast is just over the road.

[wavejockglw]

Originally Posted by WellHiddenMark

You're extremely unlikely to get more than 10Mbps even with the latest equipment in an Ultrafast area. This is just the way the technology works - These theoretical speeds are only applicable in an R&D lab. That's not the way it's been marketed though, obviously.

From personal experience, I'd say an 'average' of speeds using Three is about 2.5Mbps - which is just about right for browsing, basic YouTube viewing and small downloads.

At my city centre location, at the top of a tower block, I rarely get more than 1Mbps with the latest MiFi. In the Wirral, I get about 2Mbps. In South Manchester, I get about 4.5Mbps, but at this location the mast is just over the road.

That is very interesting. Very realistic and not good reading for some who have posted that 42Mbps is possible via 3G.

I have been dissapointed by 3's speed locally. It's very stable at about 1-2Mbps but nowhere near even 50% of the claimed speed capable of the dongle in my 'Ultrafast' area.

[jabbamk1]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

That is very interesting. Very realistic and not good reading for some who have posted that 42Mbps is possible via 3G.

I have been dissapointed by 3's speed locally. It's very stable at about 1-2Mbps but nowhere near even 50% of the claimed speed capable of the dongle in my 'Ultrafast' area.

Just ignore my post then.

And I dont know anyone who is dumb enough to think you can actually get 42mbps on a dc-hspa+ connection