scoobydooby
ULTIMATE Member
Having had 24 months on Three wireless home broadband, using the ZTE MC801A my contract has just about expired. It's been a revelation to me because previously we only had the copper wire, through the phoneline type home broadband. There were initial problems with the router, firmware updates that bricked some of the routers but Three did resolve those and sent me a new router. There have been a few disconnects and slow speeds in that time due to engineering works but mostly it's a great alternative to the fibre companies that are all of a sudden, available to me.
I really do not want to sign up for another 24 months, or even 12 months, we go away as often as we can and I don't want to be locked in if there are further faults or if, as is happening, the peak times get too crowded.
So I bought a used Zyxel nr5103ev2, Three branded with the idea of using a Smarty or ID Mobile unlimited sim on a 30 day, rolling contract. That did not go well, the router went back to CEX who were helpful, turns out my ZTE was faster and more reliable, the Zyxel dropped internet on various devices no matter what settings I tried. On reboot especially. The firmware is not yet good enough, IMO and the settings very complicated.
Well what to do now?! Three offered me a new, 24 month contract with a "new" Zyxel nr5103V2 at £19 per month. Or a rolling deal at £24 per month. Not really what we want as we can stay as we are with our old router, at about £21.90 as things stand.
I am hoping I can keep my 2 year old ZTE if we end the rolling deal, I would not think Three would want to use it again, they don't last forever... but if not I will have to buy another one or other type of router. There is some EE service in my area but probably not 5G and more expensive than Three.
What have your experiences been in this regard? Did you leave Three, renegotiate or switch to Smarty, ID or other? Did you have to send back your router?
What is the best router available now in your opinion? Best deals? Let's discuss our options after being locked in for 2 years!
Freedom!!
I really do not want to sign up for another 24 months, or even 12 months, we go away as often as we can and I don't want to be locked in if there are further faults or if, as is happening, the peak times get too crowded.
So I bought a used Zyxel nr5103ev2, Three branded with the idea of using a Smarty or ID Mobile unlimited sim on a 30 day, rolling contract. That did not go well, the router went back to CEX who were helpful, turns out my ZTE was faster and more reliable, the Zyxel dropped internet on various devices no matter what settings I tried. On reboot especially. The firmware is not yet good enough, IMO and the settings very complicated.
Well what to do now?! Three offered me a new, 24 month contract with a "new" Zyxel nr5103V2 at £19 per month. Or a rolling deal at £24 per month. Not really what we want as we can stay as we are with our old router, at about £21.90 as things stand.
I am hoping I can keep my 2 year old ZTE if we end the rolling deal, I would not think Three would want to use it again, they don't last forever... but if not I will have to buy another one or other type of router. There is some EE service in my area but probably not 5G and more expensive than Three.
What have your experiences been in this regard? Did you leave Three, renegotiate or switch to Smarty, ID or other? Did you have to send back your router?
What is the best router available now in your opinion? Best deals? Let's discuss our options after being locked in for 2 years!
Freedom!!























