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HSPA and HSPA+ speeds

Yes.

I'll see how the router does with Three 3G when I get a chance to swap the SIM card out.
 
When was it fixed?

I'm very curious about this router you've bought. It seems to be perfect for what we want to do.

I haven't seen another router that supports external antennae.
 
It has two SMA sockets on the back (for 4G, you only need one for 3G) plus two built-in internal antennae.

So far with 4G it isn't really much different to the Alcatel EE 4G dongle though the ping times seem a little better - they're often in the 10s.

I have that back from the shop now. It was replaced after all. But I haven't tried it as the router arrived on the same day.

4G is really "snappy" compared with 3G thanks to the improved latency even with a poorer signal.

This router provides a genuine landline replacement in that you can plug landline handsets or a DECT base station into it and configure the VOIP SIP provider in the menus. We don't possess a landline handset any more, I thought about buying one, but I don't really see much point in it.

Hopefully tomorrow, I'll get time to try out the Three SIM in it, with the directional antenna pointed at the Bentley cell, and see what it manages.
 
OK then - tested with Three.

The router gives some handy diagnostic information.

Without antenna

1 PLMN: 23420
2 Service status: Valid service
3 RSCP (dBm): -92
4 ECIO (dB): -5
5 RSSI (dBm): -91
6 Roaming: No

3642669635.png


With antenna

1 PLMN: 23420
2 Service status: Valid service
3 RSCP (dBm): -75
4 ECIO (dB): -6
5 RSSI (dBm): -77
6 Roaming: No

3642667283.png


I only ran a few tests with each, which were all fairly consistent and the above is representative and fits with "normal" performance for Three round here.

The antenna does improve the signal strength - the lower the dBm number, the better, 92 is borderline poor and 75 is fair to good (from memory). The most obvious effects are seen in the latency and the upstream.

What is slightly unfair as a test is that "without antenna" has the router sitting on the window sill, whereas with the dongle, I'd put it on the top of the window outside facing the cell.

I do believe the antenna is pointing at the transmitter fairly accurately, as the guy could see it with the naked eye from the roof, and fine tuned it with binoculars. Both tests see the router connecting to the same cell e.g. even without the antenna, the device latches to the nearest one.

The conclusion I reach is that while the antenna does help the performance, the difference was possibly worth the circa £300 I spent on it + the fitting it to the chimney given that it was our primary broadband connection. It may also make a difference in poor weather. And it means you don't have to "bring the dongle in when it rains", it's a permanent, tidy setup. Though from these brief tests, it isn't much different in performance terms to having the dongle in its sweet spot. But then you can't do that when it rains.

For anyone reading this wondering why they can't get theirs to work - you have to plug the antenna for 3G into port #2 which is the left hand one on the back of the unit (for 4G you'd plug in a pair of antennae).
 
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Well, that's not at all bad for a 3G connection, is it? There must be a lot of people on a standard ADSL+ landline connection who would be delighted to see those speeds - being close to the exchange I get a bit more on the download on mine, about 18Mb on average, but the upload is not much more than 1Mb.

I'm still a bit stunned at the upload on this temporary 4G set-up here, incidentally - I did a database patch file upload to my main website last night using the Alcatel thingy, EE card and VPN, same as I used for that speed test that I posted earlier, and instead of the usual roughly six minutes it took seventeen seconds! :)

As for the expense - well, I don't know about you, but I don't begrudge spending money as a "one off" (rather than an ongoing monthly payment) if it gets me what I want thereafter, and if I lived where you do I don't think I'd be grumbling at the outcome.
 
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