Cellular 'Personal Hotspot' wifi router experience/advice?

[AMG Merc]

I'm moving to a poor broadband area (2-4mbps copper, no fibre or cable - I'm used to 100+ mbps cable!) and wondering if these wifi routers running off of cellular work better than what I'd get.

I've read that positioning in the house can be fiddly for the best signal.

Should I take a contract out on the unit with one of the mobile operators or buy online (so one-off charge) and who to look for an unlimited data SIM - or doesn't that matter?

Any tips appreciated

Thanks

Will also post seperately re FTTPod option.

[oilslick]

Long thread here is worth a read (ignore the thread title, it's diversified a bit from just discussing Three )

[telford_mike]

We use a TPLink Archer MR200 4G router in our holiday home in Switzerland. It's good enough to cover the entire chalet, and fast enough for Netflix etc with a local SIM. Much cheaper than fixed line internet.

[mmm-five]

What is the 4g signal like in the area you're moving to. If that's as bad as the broadband connection then no dongle/hub is going to help.

In the past, as a last resort, I've used my iPhone as a wireless hotspot for a workshop where the conference facilities broadband went down. I had about 20 attendees using my 20mbps phone connection (that was the best speed I could get in the area).

After that I bought a 4G Max one from EE, and that was getting me up to 80mbps...again depending on the location.

You could get a generic 4g box and try SIMs from all the big providers to see who gives you the best speeds.

[AMG Merc]

telford_mike said:

We use a TPLink Archer MR200 4G router in our holiday home in Switzerland. It's good enough to cover the entire chalet, and fast enough for Netflix etc with a local SIM. Much cheaper than fixed line internet.

OK, thanks.

[AMG Merc]

mmm-five said:

What is the 4g signal like in the area you're moving to. If that's as bad as the broadband connection then no dongle/hub is going to help.

In the past, as a last resort, I've used my iPhone as a wireless hotspot for a workshop where the conference facilities broadband went down. I had about 20 attendees using my 20mbps phone connection (that was the best speed I could get in the area).

After that I bought a 4G Max one from EE, and that was getting me up to 80mbps...again depending on the location.

You could get a generic 4g box and try SIMs from all the big providers to see who gives you the best speeds.

Thanks and a good question. I’m around there next week to do some tests on the broadband and also 3G/4G signal tests around the house. What’s the best way for the latter, just check the bars on my phone?

[wombleh]

That’d do it but only looks at one mobile network, something like the Speedtest app might help.

Ofcom used to publish maps with all the mobile masts on so you could see where the nearest one was, not sure if that’s still around but this might be useful: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-inter...

[AMG Merc]

wombleh said:

That’d do it but only looks at one mobile network, something like the Speedtest app might help.

Ofcom used to publish maps with all the mobile masts on so you could see where the nearest one was, not sure if that’s still around but this might be useful: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-inter...

Useful thanks, the map shows EE best coverage for voice and data then Three good too. Could look for unlimited data SIM with cell WiFi router I suppose.

[AMG Merc]

Re testing, I’m going this week. Here's my plan, what do you guys think?

Taking laptop, iPad and iPhone.

3G/4G:
- Walk around house noting bars on iPhone (iPad can only check WiFi signal as no SIM in) - and if 3G or 4G

Broadband (relying on their current Sky router/service):
- Connect to their router via WiFi on all 3 devices separately (will also try to connect to the router via direct cable on the laptop)
- Run Speedtest/s on each device
- Check Teams, access, mail, browsing, video streaming quality.

Anything else. Note isn’t my house so can’t get too technical and start unscrewing things smile

[Thats What She Said]

A bit pointless testing wifi coverage, as broadband has little bearing on that.

The only way to test, would be to get PAYG sims from all mobile operators that claim to offer 4G in that area. Pop each sim in your phone and run a speedtest at the property, to see which gives the best speed.

[AMG Merc]

Thats What She Said said:

A bit pointless testing wifi coverage, as broadband has little bearing on that.

The only way to test, would be to get PAYG sims from all mobile operators that claim to offer 4G in that area. Pop each sim in your phone and run a speedtest at the property, to see which gives the best speed.

Cheers

I’ve two phones- one O2 and one EE to try signal.

That’s why I’ll try to hardwire to their router. I’m only expecting a measly reading anyway.