EM1L4
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Lol! Just imagine 10 years ago when 50gb a month was enough
- Thread starter RaceDiagnostics
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EM1L4
Member
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- 392
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- UK Warwickshire
Dev
8th generation, Weyland type
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On a dual sim router you can set monthly data limits so it will use SIM A for the first 20GB and then SIM B.
You can even plug in your landline ADSL connection as a fallback.
Yes it takes a read of the manual to do but it’s not beyond anyone with the will to learn.
You can even plug in your landline ADSL connection as a fallback.
Yes it takes a read of the manual to do but it’s not beyond anyone with the will to learn.
MattF
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Lol! Just imagine 10 years ago when 50gb a month was enough
I can remember 20 odd years ago when I had to leave a modem running overnight, just to download a 50mb service pack.
I switched to mobile broadband last year, and have the experience of regularly using mobile connections in the middle of fields.
Using a mobile phone as a hotspot works OK for most basic stuff, but I find it can be a bit hit or miss at times, with high latency, and device connections not always being reliable.
Dedicated mobile hotspots tend to be more reliable, while a dedicated 4G router is more reliable yet and usually gives you far more capability.
The big limitation to be aware off, is mobile connections don't give you a personal IP. The IP you'll be allocated will be shared by many other SIM cards on the network (there is a proper name for it, which I can't remember right now!), so if you try connecting to a server/service that wants a direct IP back to your own computer, it'll often not work. To get around that limitation, you either need a SIM card that offers a dedicated IP (expensive!), or you need to implement a VPN that will give you with a suitable IP address when connected.
Using a mobile phone as a hotspot works OK for most basic stuff, but I find it can be a bit hit or miss at times, with high latency, and device connections not always being reliable.
Dedicated mobile hotspots tend to be more reliable, while a dedicated 4G router is more reliable yet and usually gives you far more capability.
The big limitation to be aware off, is mobile connections don't give you a personal IP. The IP you'll be allocated will be shared by many other SIM cards on the network (there is a proper name for it, which I can't remember right now!), so if you try connecting to a server/service that wants a direct IP back to your own computer, it'll often not work. To get around that limitation, you either need a SIM card that offers a dedicated IP (expensive!), or you need to implement a VPN that will give you with a suitable IP address when connected.
We've got no landline either (miles of overhead lines, so ADSL was terrible), so use a fixed wireless ISP along with (previously) a 3G modem for failover.
The modem is just turned off these days, undoubtedly down to the network and mast locations, but our experience of the mobile data connection was that it was just too unreliable at peak times (latency and packet loss would skyrocket). Appreciate it works well for others, but just a counterpoint that is not always plain sailing.
As @m_c says above, carrier grade NAT can be a problem for some usage. Three used to have a special APN ("3internet") that would give a public IP, not sure whether that is still the case..
The modem is just turned off these days, undoubtedly down to the network and mast locations, but our experience of the mobile data connection was that it was just too unreliable at peak times (latency and packet loss would skyrocket). Appreciate it works well for others, but just a counterpoint that is not always plain sailing.
As @m_c says above, carrier grade NAT can be a problem for some usage. Three used to have a special APN ("3internet") that would give a public IP, not sure whether that is still the case..
I live in the middle of nowhere - right next to the back of beyond!
We use EE 4g. Mobile signal in the house is poor but with an external aerial mounted under the eaves we get about 80mb down and 7mb upload. Ping around 25ms. It works very well. Unlimited data for around £30 a month I think.
For about a year we also used the same in work as BT refused to upgrade our cabinet. We are in the middle of Swansea close to a new University campus and loads of houses. speed there is only 45mb - probably because so many people are using it.
It was ultra reliable - now gone to an expensive leased line for our new voip phone system.
We use EE 4g. Mobile signal in the house is poor but with an external aerial mounted under the eaves we get about 80mb down and 7mb upload. Ping around 25ms. It works very well. Unlimited data for around £30 a month I think.
For about a year we also used the same in work as BT refused to upgrade our cabinet. We are in the middle of Swansea close to a new University campus and loads of houses. speed there is only 45mb - probably because so many people are using it.
It was ultra reliable - now gone to an expensive leased line for our new voip phone system.
Ee haven't been with us and my brother constantly downloads 4k films. Some over 100gb.
When we lived in the Brecon Beacons our only option was tooway satellite broadband. 30mb download speed was great
They said it was unlimited when we signed up. Then they introduced a fair usage policy. Over 30gb of data download they would throttle the speed down to 256k. It was a joke.
I am heavy on useage but I can make 160gb last across 4 weekends away. I don't watch films but I stream and grandson watches YouTube.
Not sure how I manage .lol
How do you use an external aerial with a mobile on EE?
I don't we use a router.
Newlands
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I have a rubbish landline connection with John Lewis/Plusnet, which even at its best struggles to get 5 GB download. Son suggested a 4g router which I was very sceptical about (having occasionally tethered to my phone and found it flakey, slow and gobbles up my minutes). I was wrong - an unlimited data deal from Smarty for £16/month unlimited (an offer, I think it’s £20 now) and it’s faster and more reliable than the wired connection.
I was planning to get a fibre to the premises connection in the near future as its just been installed in out area, so the 4g router might be demoted to using when out and about (it’s a tiny little TP Link thing the size of a phone). And will probably do away with the landline as well.
I was planning to get a fibre to the premises connection in the near future as its just been installed in out area, so the 4g router might be demoted to using when out and about (it’s a tiny little TP Link thing the size of a phone). And will probably do away with the landline as well.
Dev
8th generation, Weyland type
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Had exactly the same experience with them.
What router do you use on EE with an external aerial then. Lol
Jesus we only get 21 channels on free view where our van is.lol
If you want a standalone device, they can be roughly categorised.
Cheapest is your pretty bog standard self-contained hotspot device which most carriers will sell you configured for their own network. They work, but don't expect many configuration options (some can be configured if you know about terminal access, and are willing to play with the barebones linux installation, but they're not high power devices so are still pretty limited).
Next are your more dedicated hotspots, things like the Netgear AirCard, which allow you to add their own external aerial. I personally use an older 2/3/4G AirCard when I need access in the middle of fields (The newer version only drops to a minimum of 3G).
Then you're into routers designed for more permanent installation.
I use a Teltonkia RUT-xxx at home, which again drops to 2G, whereas as the newer RUTX-xxx only drop to 3G.
The RUT(X) devices are aimed for industrial use, and they are highly configurable, but some configuration options require using terminal access, so not really for the non-nerdy types.
My biggest issue with the RUT I use (and it applies to all the range), is if you configure a VPN, you either have to go in manually reconnect it after connection loss, or write a script to do it automatically, as the manufacturer doesn't see why it should automatically recover, which means on connection loss, you lose all internet access.
The next step above that, is more configurable routers like some of the Draytek 4/5G routers, but they're another price level up.
Something not mentioned, is if you're a reasonable distance away from the nearest mast, bad weather will affect the signal.
At home, during quiet periods, I can get 20+Mbps on speed tests.
During busy times, that'll drop to around 5Mbps.
During heavy rain/snow, it can drop to less than that, but it'll also generally drop from 4G to 3G.
For anybody considering moving, I would suggest buying pre-pay sims for all the networks, load them with some data, run each one for a couple of days, and run a few speedtests at different times.
I found at home, although O2 gave the best signal, it had pretty poor ping test results and not that great bandwidth.
Vodafone didn't have as good a signal, but was consistently better on ping tests and gave more reliable bandwidth.
I didn't even try EE, as I know we were borderline for 3G signal, let alone 4G.
Once you know what network gives you suitable performance, then start looking at what deals you can get either direct, or via the various MVNOs - UK MVNOs: a guide to virtual networks (uswitch.com)
Although it's worth mentioning, an MVNO may not give you as good performance as the actual network operator. I know I use GiffGaff a lot when out and about, and for normal use it's fine, but if you load it up with a few computers/devices, I have found an O2 sim will often give better performance.
Cheapest is your pretty bog standard self-contained hotspot device which most carriers will sell you configured for their own network. They work, but don't expect many configuration options (some can be configured if you know about terminal access, and are willing to play with the barebones linux installation, but they're not high power devices so are still pretty limited).
Next are your more dedicated hotspots, things like the Netgear AirCard, which allow you to add their own external aerial. I personally use an older 2/3/4G AirCard when I need access in the middle of fields (The newer version only drops to a minimum of 3G).
Then you're into routers designed for more permanent installation.
I use a Teltonkia RUT-xxx at home, which again drops to 2G, whereas as the newer RUTX-xxx only drop to 3G.
The RUT(X) devices are aimed for industrial use, and they are highly configurable, but some configuration options require using terminal access, so not really for the non-nerdy types.
My biggest issue with the RUT I use (and it applies to all the range), is if you configure a VPN, you either have to go in manually reconnect it after connection loss, or write a script to do it automatically, as the manufacturer doesn't see why it should automatically recover, which means on connection loss, you lose all internet access.
The next step above that, is more configurable routers like some of the Draytek 4/5G routers, but they're another price level up.
Something not mentioned, is if you're a reasonable distance away from the nearest mast, bad weather will affect the signal.
At home, during quiet periods, I can get 20+Mbps on speed tests.
During busy times, that'll drop to around 5Mbps.
During heavy rain/snow, it can drop to less than that, but it'll also generally drop from 4G to 3G.
For anybody considering moving, I would suggest buying pre-pay sims for all the networks, load them with some data, run each one for a couple of days, and run a few speedtests at different times.
I found at home, although O2 gave the best signal, it had pretty poor ping test results and not that great bandwidth.
Vodafone didn't have as good a signal, but was consistently better on ping tests and gave more reliable bandwidth.
I didn't even try EE, as I know we were borderline for 3G signal, let alone 4G.
Once you know what network gives you suitable performance, then start looking at what deals you can get either direct, or via the various MVNOs - UK MVNOs: a guide to virtual networks (uswitch.com)
Although it's worth mentioning, an MVNO may not give you as good performance as the actual network operator. I know I use GiffGaff a lot when out and about, and for normal use it's fine, but if you load it up with a few computers/devices, I have found an O2 sim will often give better performance.
