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Old 02-09-2016, 23:55
John_Patrick
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Looking like we are going to move home and the area we are moving too isnt fully covered by BT Fibre broadband or Virgin Cable.

However a lot of the area is covered by EE 4G so was thinking of using that as the main broadband - I work from home and if the BT copper BB is as bad as we suspect, will be needed.

So have seen a couple of older threads on here that relate to EE's 4G at home offering but I already have a router (ASUS RT3200) that supports a USB 3g/4g dongle and is a very good router.

Wondered what is likely to be better, the EE hardware (http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-mon...adband/details) or a usb dongle with my router?

Does the EE solution linked to above have facility for an external antenna or can someone suggest a dongle (or other solution) that has an external antenna port?
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Old 03-09-2016, 00:14
Pedro_C
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I do not believe it has an antenna port. I would be surprised if they block the SIM from being used in another device though.
The Huawei B593 is a favourite here.
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Old 03-09-2016, 00:15
CheshireBumpkin
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I'd avoid both these setups to be honest. Whilst your router may be brilliant, any USB dongle is going to be a horribly weak point - especially if you're relying on it as your primary connection. Dongles are plagued with connectivity problems and only really suitable for temporary and emergency connections.

I don't think the EE supplied router and their suggested antenna is the best option to be honest. I think there's only one antenna input, whereas better 4G routers have MIMO (x2) antenna inputs.

If the local coverage is strong you may find you don't need an external antenna at all though, and it would probably be just fine.

I live in a rural area with no visible 4G coverage on a phone, but I can get 50 - 80 Mbps down and 25Mbps up via a router and external antenna setup.

I'd recommend the following hardware from Amazon, if it doesn't work for you, it can be returned to them as long as they are as you received them:

Router: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013P15G4K

Antenna: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C1DGFPS

(mount externally, and despite being omni-directional, it is sensitive to the direction it's pointed, so experiment)


Good luck!
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Old 03-09-2016, 00:17
CheshireBumpkin
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I do not believe it has an antenna port.
It's got a single SMA port.

I'd definitely go for a B593 or B315 personally. There is a CAT6 one too, but it's probably a bit of an unnecessary luxury...
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Old 03-09-2016, 00:22
Pedro_C
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L08+L18 EE CA around here!
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Old 03-09-2016, 00:30
CheshireBumpkin
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L08+L18 EE CA around here!
Alas, certainly not here! TBH, whilst I'd 'like' those speeds, I really don't need them. Even as my primary 'fixed' connection I find that the average of about 55/25Mbps is fine for me - although I was previously used to ADSL at 1.5/0.5Mbps...
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Old 03-09-2016, 15:03
John_Patrick
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I'd avoid both these setups to be honest. Whilst your router may be brilliant, any USB dongle is going to be a horribly weak point - especially if you're relying on it as your primary connection. Dongles are plagued with connectivity problems and only really suitable for temporary and emergency connections.

I don't think the EE supplied router and their suggested antenna is the best option to be honest. I think there's only one antenna input, whereas better 4G routers have MIMO (x2) antenna inputs.

If the local coverage is strong you may find you don't need an external antenna at all though, and it would probably be just fine.

I live in a rural area with no visible 4G coverage on a phone, but I can get 50 - 80 Mbps down and 25Mbps up via a router and external antenna setup.

I'd recommend the following hardware from Amazon, if it doesn't work for you, it can be returned to them as long as they are as you received them:

Router: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013P15G4K

Antenna: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C1DGFPS

(mount externally, and despite being omni-directional, it is sensitive to the direction it's pointed, so experiment)


Good luck!
Brilliant answer, thank you. I had seen the Huawei router linked to in other posts.

I assume that, if the Huawei router wasnt up to scratch in terms of wifi signal around the house, I could disable its wifi and plug into my Asus router and use that as I do now - or I suppose better still, connect via a long ethernet and use both in different areas of the house?

The EE deal seems to be £44 for 50gb of data in a 12 month plan, is there any SIM only equivalents? I currently have 25gb data shared between me, wife and daughter as SIM only 12 month, wonder if I could up that to 50gb shared between the phones and the 'Home 4G'.....?
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Old 03-09-2016, 15:52
CheshireBumpkin
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I assume that, if the Huawei router wasnt up to scratch in terms of wifi signal around the house, I could disable its wifi and plug into my Asus router and use that as I do now - or I suppose better still, connect via a long ethernet and use both in different areas of the house?
Yep - absolutely.

The EE deal seems to be £44 for 50gb of data in a 12 month plan, is there any SIM only equivalents? I currently have 25gb data shared between me, wife and daughter as SIM only 12 month, wonder if I could up that to 50gb shared between the phones and the 'Home 4G'.....?
I don't think there is a SIM only option, so you may just have to take the kit and keep it in case of emergency. Of course, you could always sell it at the point it 'becomes yours'.

I'm not sure on the sharing front I'm afraid.
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Old 03-09-2016, 19:19
david16
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Just popping in a three 3-2-1 sim in a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 @ 7" sim slot will do.
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Old 04-09-2016, 01:46
countyboy
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Worth a look at the Deltenna WiBE. Pulls in a signal really well, and stays locked onto it.
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Old 04-09-2016, 08:52
coolmp3
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I used this solution to bond my iphone and 4meg adsl connection together to get a half decent internet connection before fibre became available this month.

https://boosty.com
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Old 04-09-2016, 09:15
Richard_T
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Looking like we are going to move home and the area we are moving too isnt fully covered by BT Fibre broadband or Virgin Cable.

However a lot of the area is covered by EE 4G so was thinking of using that as the main broadband - I work from home and if the BT copper BB is as bad as we suspect, will be needed.
Have you actually checked to see just what the current situation is at this property you are moving into?

Put the phone number of the property into this BT wholesale checker to see

https://www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/main.html

you could of course always ask the current residents of that address
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Old 04-09-2016, 09:26
gds1972
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You also need to consider what you are using the connection for, If you are looking to do things like play video games online then using 4G may not give you the best experience.
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Old 04-09-2016, 10:30
John_Patrick
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You also need to consider what you are using the connection for, If you are looking to do things like play video games online then using 4G may not give you the best experience.
We dont really play online games, some games that son plays needs an internet connection but doesnt play online.

Have you actually checked to see just what the current situation is at this property you are moving into?

Put the phone number of the property into this BT wholesale checker to see

https://www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/main.html

you could of course always ask the current residents of that address
Yeah, done that, no virgin there and no fibre there (there is no DSLAM next to the BT PCP either - I used to commission the Huawei DSLAMs a few years ago so know the tell tale signs of if one is likely to appear some time soon too . The speed checkers reckon about 5mb/sec speed, next time we view the house i shall ask, although the current resident wouldn't know what a speed test was if it hit him in the face. Its a newish (10 years) estate

One side of the house does get 4G though, about 2 bars on my Galaxy S6, so likely to be more with the Huawei router and possible antenna noted above.

Not sure what to do when but at least I know that there are some solutions open to me, be it either having BT @ 5mb/s or EE at about 25mb/s or combining the two.
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Old 04-09-2016, 10:51
Richard_T
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he speed checkers reckon about 5mb/sec speed, next time we view the house i shall ask, although the current resident wouldn't know what a speed test was if it hit him in the face. Its a newish (10 years) estate
you could ask if you can check the wifi using a mobile app
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Old 04-09-2016, 12:05
moox
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Yeah, done that, no virgin there and no fibre there (there is no DSLAM next to the BT PCP either - I used to commission the Huawei DSLAMs a few years ago so know the tell tale signs of if one is likely to appear some time soon too . The speed checkers reckon about 5mb/sec speed, next time we view the house i shall ask, although the current resident wouldn't know what a speed test was if it hit him in the face. Its a newish (10 years) estate
Worth pointing out that BT could opt to do FTTP at some point, and thus wouldn't need any street furniture or copper finagling at all. In a newish build estate with underground wiring you'd never be able to tell that something is happening.

It's unlikely (especially if you don't live in Cornwall, which seems to comprise most of BT's FTTP rollout to date) but possible
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Old 04-09-2016, 12:32
Thine Wonk
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Worth pointing out that BT could opt to do FTTP at some point, and thus wouldn't need any street furniture or copper finagling at all. In a newish build estate with underground wiring you'd never be able to tell that something is happening.

It's unlikely (especially if you don't live in Cornwall, which seems to comprise most of BT's FTTP rollout to date) but possible
You still need to have a point where all the fibre aggregates for each street or local area. no?
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Old 04-09-2016, 12:37
moox
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You still need to have a point where all the fibre aggregates for each street or local area. no?
They're pole mounted or in an underground pit, but not necessarily anywhere near the existing copper cabinets

e.g. http://www.thinkbroadband.com/images...e-splitter.jpg and http://www.thinkbroadband.com/images...nd-highres.jpg

There's one estate near me that predates FTT*, but has been retrofitted with FTTP. I didn't know that it'd happened until I saw BT people fiddling around with a fibre splitter inside one of the pits
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Old 04-09-2016, 14:18
preecey
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Not entirely on topic, but I've been using 4G as my home broadband connection for over a year and a half. Initially I was using the EE promotional 100GB SIMs, but am now using a Three AYCE data SIM with 30GB of tethering for £23 a month on a one month contract. I do miss using the EE SIMs as I could use those in my Osprey MiFi device (Alcatel Y855). I can't with Three.

With speeds via Three averaging 50Mbps down and 20Mbps up (was around 80Mbps down with EE), and the fact I'm not a gamer (so 50ms pings aren't an issue), this setup works for me.
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Old 04-09-2016, 14:34
moox
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Are 3 properly able to distinguish when you're tethering?

If so, you could consider moving back to EE - their £28 for 32GB data SIM (1 month contract) is roughly similar in terms of price/usage
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Old 04-09-2016, 16:42
david16
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Are 3 properly able to distinguish when you're tethering?

If so, you could consider moving back to EE - their £28 for 32GB data SIM (1 month contract) is roughly similar in terms of price/usage
A handset sim inserted in a samsung galaxy tab 3 or tab 4 7 incher with a sim slot is not tethering as these devices work exactly the same way as samsung galaxy smartphones.

They even include the phone app as per the samsung galaxy smartphones. If you use any third party security or cleaning apps on the tab 3 or tab 4 you will see the phone app on the devices.

Three can't say you're tethering if it's one of their own 3-2-1 sims you're using.
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Old 04-09-2016, 17:31
Textmainiac
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I used Three Mobile Broadband for five years as my main BB service. All of that was on 3G with a USB dongle stuffed into a TP link router or a Wifi. Works the VOIP phones, TV, Skype etc.

I had only three service interuptions during that time which Three credited me for.

I also have a good EE signal at home, and get 18/20 Mb/s on my 4g phone.

The only reason for switching was the 15GB limit, which Netflix now eats, and a £12 a month phone line with 18 months free broadband from SSE. When that expires I can got back to mobile broadband, depending on the tariffs.

Naturally, the OP would test the service with a PAYG sim before signing up for a contract. Mobile broadband can be very good, if you have a good signal back to the mast.
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Old 04-09-2016, 17:46
Thine Wonk
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They're pole mounted or in an underground pit, but not necessarily anywhere near the existing copper cabinets

e.g. http://www.thinkbroadband.com/images...e-splitter.jpg and http://www.thinkbroadband.com/images...nd-highres.jpg

There's one estate near me that predates FTT*, but has been retrofitted with FTTP. I didn't know that it'd happened until I saw BT people fiddling around with a fibre splitter inside one of the pits
Ah thanks, poor engineers! I bet it's a lot harder working down on the floor trying to find an issue.

Interesting though.
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Old 04-09-2016, 19:37
Dave_Lee
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Im using a Three 3-2-1 sim for main broadband with a £25 add on.

All in One 25, All-you-can-eat data, 500mins, 3000txt
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Old 04-09-2016, 20:40
John_Patrick
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Naturally, the OP would test the service with a PAYG sim before signing up for a contract. Mobile broadband can be very good, if you have a good signal back to the mast.
Of course.... was checking my phone as we walked around the house doing speed tests !!
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