View Full Version : Slim based routers in the real world
Faced with 2 problems, very low broadband speeds over telephone cable or expensive upgrades to Virgin Media (my current negotiated price for VM broadband only looks to increase to £45 ish later this year)/Cable to Box services I started to think more about 4G LTE broadband routers.
I got about 25meg on my Nokia phone, havent tested my latest Honor but guess it will be the same or faster. I am thinking a dedicated SIM card router will give at least the same and Three offer unlimited Broadband for £23/month.
This comes with a basic Huawei router, but I am thinking about buying the higher spec Huawei B593 when I am next in China; for testing purposes; £45 approx. I can use my existing router as an access point if I need to improve wifi coverage etc.
Anyone gone down this route?
any problem in the real world with latency etc, video chat, VOIP, streaming HD etc etc
Sherwood
26-07-2019, 09:53
I lived in Vietnam close to the Chinese border. When you had a phone installed they gave you a traditional looking phone (i.e. handset and cradle) but it was powered by a sim card rather than a wired connection. Even 10 years ago I was able to download programmes from BBC iPlayer overnight, The connection was pretty good but not quite fast enough for real time video streaming. Audio streaming was perfect.
With current 4g speeds in the UK I am sure that you will have no problems. Just make sure that there are no restrictions on tethering.
No tethering restrictions, the supplied modem has voip blocked but third party router should sort that. Latency rather than speed is my main co cern. But thinking test with a payg sim and third party router and sell router on if it doesmt work
stairpost
26-07-2019, 18:19
I've got a Vodafone 4G SIM router I never use. Not sure if it's what you are after, but If you want to give it a try to see if it works PM your address and I'll pop it in the post.
Sorry for the delay in replying, internet access is a bit hit and miss with me at the moment. Your post was mega helpful thank you, Vodafone are offering 35meg for about the same price as sim card internet so for my GF that makes more sense. For me I am stuck with VM or 1meg so SIM seems to be the way to go unless I can cut a deal with VM at renewal. Testing wise though I think I need to test with a Three sim card, but many thanks for that super generous offer. Ian
stairpost
29-07-2019, 12:39
Sorry for the delay in replying, internet access is a bit hit and miss with me at the moment. Your post was mega helpful thank you, Vodafone are offering 35meg for about the same price as sim card internet so for my GF that makes more sense. For me I am stuck with VM or 1meg so SIM seems to be the way to go unless I can cut a deal with VM at renewal. Testing wise though I think I need to test with a Three sim card, but many thanks for that super generous offer. Ian
Hope you get it sorted. Good luck.
My VM has been down since the early hours of Thursday, so am 100% going to try this now. Tethering the pc via the phone worked but my old router would tether direct. Also seen some of the network supplied routers have voip blocked. Just need to find a suitable router and low cost 30 day test sim
i used to use an old 3g one and just bought sims when i needed them. havent used it for a while tho. Usually got about 5/6 mb with it which was ok. Im fibre to box now and its fairly good and reliable, plus i dont go out so much now. phone sim gives me a fair whack every month if i need it anyway.4/5 gb i think, not that it gets used much.
The new 4g mobile bb routers that are unlocked are pretty decent so im told
I can only get 1meg via the phone line despite it having fibre to cabinet so a 4g lte modem or VM are my only real choices. I think speed over 4g will be fine but latency might give a problem. Think the only option is a 30 day test before I cancel VM
how far is the cabinet?
Cabinet is about 50m from house but I didn't think it had fibre, but checking open reach looks like it's been installed and I can get up to 66meg. Need the phone line reactivated though and some cable alterations but if does give other options
Thanks for the prompt to make me check again
.
good, at that distance no reason you are even getting only 1 mb on normal bb... Fibre will be much better. Ive old wiring to house and cabinet is 2 hundred yds but on normal I got 3.. fibre i get 26
Checked again on a different open reach page and that says not available, I know its in the exchange which is about 5 miles away but it looks like the cabinet isn't fibre yet, ntl ran cables years ago so it's probable not prime target for bt
Thought an update on my findings would be of interest.
Smarty do an unlimited sim, data, calls, texts for £20/month on a 30 day contract. Connection id througj the Three network.
At home, out in the sticks. About half a mile direct line to the mast i get about 25meg up/down pretty consistent.
At my GF house in a busy residential area about same distance from the mast i can equal these speeds late at night or early morning. Midday things drop off to about 10 down 15 up and in the evening its hell maybe 2meg down, although the upload speed holds up.
My phone on EE is much better but the sim card costs are nearly double.
If you are a long way from an exchange then this is well worth trying.
Hit 32 Meg on download this morning and a std landline phone plugged into the router, huawei b525. Allows you to make. Recieve calls over the sim card. Network needs to be set to auto for the phone to work, cant lock router to 4g band/s and usephone
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