Best mobile network for streaming music on the move?
Discussion
I currently have a Virgin Mobile SIM with a 1GB data bundle on a 30 day contract which I use with an ageing Nexus 4 which I keep threatening to replace.
My favourite radio station has gone off DAB and is now online only so I've finally emerged from the dark ages and just spent a few minutes getting the bluetooth hooked up to my car so I can stream music from the phone app to the car - and I have to say that it works fantastically sat on the drive, the true test will come when I'm on the move.
I know this is very much a YMMV one, but in general terms who is the best choice these days for a decent data allowance, 30 day contract (ideally), and the best data coverage?
I'm in the midlands in and move around a fair bit so it's not like I spend all my time in a large city etc.
My favourite radio station has gone off DAB and is now online only so I've finally emerged from the dark ages and just spent a few minutes getting the bluetooth hooked up to my car so I can stream music from the phone app to the car - and I have to say that it works fantastically sat on the drive, the true test will come when I'm on the move.
I know this is very much a YMMV one, but in general terms who is the best choice these days for a decent data allowance, 30 day contract (ideally), and the best data coverage?
I'm in the midlands in and move around a fair bit so it's not like I spend all my time in a large city etc.
What about 3G vs. 4G is there any real world benefit?
I"m assuming it's more to do with throughput which isn't an issue here.
My Nexus 4 isn't 4G capable anyway and whilst I keep meaning to upgrade it I've not yet found anything worth spending any money on - it's still a damned good phone.
I"m assuming it's more to do with throughput which isn't an issue here.
My Nexus 4 isn't 4G capable anyway and whilst I keep meaning to upgrade it I've not yet found anything worth spending any money on - it's still a damned good phone.
The coverage checkers are quite interesting, though I assume they're also a little optimistic? 
3 do indeed appear to be the best option. I guess 4G is academic until if/when I get a 4G capable phone, but is the switch between bands seamless i.e. you wouldn't see a stream drop out and then kick in again?
I had put a lot of stock in DAB in my car for choice, but if I can basically say that anything I can hear on the phone I can stream over Bluetooth it suddenly gets a bit more interesting.
3 do indeed appear to be the best option. I guess 4G is academic until if/when I get a 4G capable phone, but is the switch between bands seamless i.e. you wouldn't see a stream drop out and then kick in again?
I had put a lot of stock in DAB in my car for choice, but if I can basically say that anything I can hear on the phone I can stream over Bluetooth it suddenly gets a bit more interesting.
Fingers crossed things seem OK on Virgin/EE so far.
The main app for the station I wanted is s
t and seems to not buffer, and if the signal drops for a second the app stops, but the station is available via TuneIn which I'll try on the way home - it seems to offer more options and should simply be more robust.
Regards Three, I know I can get a SIM and try it, presumably you can port a number across at any time, not just when you initially subscribe?
The main app for the station I wanted is s
t and seems to not buffer, and if the signal drops for a second the app stops, but the station is available via TuneIn which I'll try on the way home - it seems to offer more options and should simply be more robust.Regards Three, I know I can get a SIM and try it, presumably you can port a number across at any time, not just when you initially subscribe?
mizx said:
'm guessing this is TeamRock? Haven't tried the app yet, one of the hosts more or less implied it's a bit st still, but I think a new version was out soon?
I need to work out what to do about it too, I was listening to most of the time while commuting and have been since it started testing on DAB. There's no 3g coverage until a few miles down the A38 from here, but fingers crossed I can get Tunein going at low bitrate from the driveway on GPRS. If that doesn't work I could try predownloading the podcasts.
Does Tunein handle being stopped by the car then restarting? I listen to audiobooks sometimes too and might swap back to R5 or talksport for a bit, occasionally when moving back to BT audio it starts the stock Android music player playing at the same time as the audiobook app
Good guess t still, but I think a new version was out soon?I need to work out what to do about it too, I was listening to most of the time while commuting and have been since it started testing on DAB. There's no 3g coverage until a few miles down the A38 from here, but fingers crossed I can get Tunein going at low bitrate from the driveway on GPRS. If that doesn't work I could try predownloading the podcasts.
Does Tunein handle being stopped by the car then restarting? I listen to audiobooks sometimes too and might swap back to R5 or talksport for a bit, occasionally when moving back to BT audio it starts the stock Android music player playing at the same time as the audiobook app
Yes it is, and whilst I don't want to sound too dramatic you know how good that station is if you like that kind of thing, so losing them off DAB was pretty annoying to say the least.The app seems a bit crap right now, fair enough it's a new app and I've only tried it once but I don't think it does any buffering or anything smart like reconnects, so I've downloaded the free TuneIn app which I'll try on the drive home tonight and see how that copes.
Personally I'd be happy enough just downloading the shows and chucking them on an SD card but they don't seem to have that option, it's live or on-demand only.
Seems much better with TuneIn and I stopped and got a Three SIM which I'll try for a few days to see if it's any better or worse on my usual routes.
Scary how much battery streaming + Bluetooth gobbles up.
At some point I need to replace the Nexus and honestly, I feel phones have got to a point where battery life is very probably going to be the deciding factor - and without wanting to get into a holy war from some random articles I've read Apple would appear to have a bit of an advantage over Android there?
Scary how much battery streaming + Bluetooth gobbles up.
At some point I need to replace the Nexus and honestly, I feel phones have got to a point where battery life is very probably going to be the deciding factor - and without wanting to get into a holy war from some random articles I've read Apple would appear to have a bit of an advantage over Android there?
First day on Three with this trial SIM and granted just my usual commute (with a detour through semi-countryside on the way home) and it was absolutely flawless.
Part of me feels stupid for not having done this before, but to be fair I've only had a car with a bluetooth radio for a few months and have never had the need until now.
I'll give it a few more days to be sure but I think I shall be getting a PAC and porting my number over.
Part of me feels stupid for not having done this before, but to be fair I've only had a car with a bluetooth radio for a few months and have never had the need until now.
I'll give it a few more days to be sure but I think I shall be getting a PAC and porting my number over.
Number's ported so now on Three. I think that sticking on PAYG is actually cheaper than moving to even a 30 day rolling contract.
I say that as an all you can eat data top up is £15 (All in One 15) and is valid for 30 days vs. £20/month for all you can eat on a 30 day contract.
What am I missing?
I say that as an all you can eat data top up is £15 (All in One 15) and is valid for 30 days vs. £20/month for all you can eat on a 30 day contract.
What am I missing?
Digitalize said:
The fact the contract will have minutes and texts?
No, that's the weird thing http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff...DervVW said:
£20 a month roling, £17 12 month sim only... guess there is no tethering?
Plus they can take it away since its PAYG
Not sure on the tethering, though it's not something I'm concerned about.Plus they can take it away since its PAYG
I guess they could retract it, but I also guess a 30 day rolling SIM only contract can be pulled or go up at a moments notice.
It just surprised me as I would have expected a PAYG package to cost more.
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