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Questions about 3G/4G connection replacing existing ADSL connection.

Hello, I am here to unload my questions on setting up a home network using a antenna to connect to a 3G/4G mast that would achieve much better speeds than what I am receiving now.

Firstly, I am a gamer and want to be a content creator; uploading to YouTube and wanting to stream gameplay to twitch.tv @ 720p. So, let me give you some idea of how things are at the moment. I am getting ~3megabits downstream and 0.80megabits upstream. These speeds are terrible for the internet usage at my home. I have my sister who is constantly using bandwidth streaming, then I have my dad who likes to watch internet TV and then I have my self that is always downloading games, playing games and uploading videos and watching them and the internet cant handle this the way it is.

I want to know the best way of setting up a 3G/4G connection so that I can successfully do all that I want to do.

Now, I know that only two providers, provide Unlimited data and that is 3 and Giffgaff, but they limited download speed. Im not too sure about 3, could anyone shed light?

I want to know what the best setup for this would be. Routers, antennas to put on house etc.

I understand that signal and speed gets better closer you are to the mast? Its annoying that O2 and EE do not have an unlimited data plan because their masts are a nice distance from me.

Seen here:
O2 / EE
http://prntscr.com/a5wjtk

3:
http://prntscr.com/a5wkq9

Do you think that I will get a good connection with ping / latency below 100ms?

If this setup works well with good speeds, it will replace the existing copper connection.

Does anyone have screenshots of what speeds are like using a 3g connection through 3?

Cheers, any recommendations or suggestions are welcome.
Identifyd
 
3 is not unlimited for Data SIM Use. They have fixed allowance packages. When using a 3 phone SIM in a phone, there is a tethering limit of 4-12GB even on unlimited packages.

Giffgaff, on their unlimited package, prevents tethering usage at 6GB and massively reduces the speed.

Your best option is to get an EE data SIM which have data allowances up to 25GB.

3G speeds on EE/3 look to be around the 1-7mbps region.
On O2, they appear to be 3mbps

If you get a directional aerial, you should be able to connect to he masts in Dereham, which could deliver about 10mbps from all operators.

Speed data by rootmetrics tests.
 
Last edited:
You wont get 3Mbps on GG's 3G service, O2 throttle it to death; the best I have ever managed on speedtest.org is a little over 1Mb.

Despite my letter (and a reply) from the O2 CEO, the issues in Malvern continue unchanged; my last speedtest, with 5bars H+ was 0.02Mbps
 
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Hmm, do you think I would be able to negotiate a much higher data allowance on EE's top data plan? This household is very active online. What is the likely hood of being able to negotiate an unlimited data plan? Im currently on BT for phone and internet (unlimited) is there a chance that, that would be able to get prices lower. I understand that data is expensive. I would probably settle with a 80-100gb data limit, and if that is too expensive then maybe a 50GB one. Maybe they will better reason with me if I agree to a contract, just like my BT?

On EE's coverage checker, it shows that I am able to receive 4G at my post code (NR19 1Q) and I am surrounded by areas covered by double speed 4G. We have an existing Sky satellite dish, do you think I could hook that up to a router, for example the Huawei B593s-22 and then connect to the mast that is giving out the 4G signals?

http://prntscr.com/a632hu

I really am open to any suggestions / plans at this point. The cabinet im connected to is out side my exchange and thats about 3.6km away *sighs*

Oh and im assuming EE's data sim is one that I wouldnt have to get a VPN to hide that I am not tethering?

Cheers
 
Recently EE was doing 50GB for about £27.50 a month but that offer has since ended.
Data SIMS are designed for routers, tablets etc.
Your satellite dish will not pick up 4G signals.
There are ways to purchase wholesale amounts of data but even this is, by no means, cheap.
 
I assume you have checked tyo see if there are any altnets operating in your area.

Some cities have a wifi net system that links you to the internet via a series of wifi links (antenna mounted on roofs); cant remember the name of the company that runs them though.
 
Generally speaking, for what you want to do (uploading videos / live streams etc.), mobile (3G or 4G) is not the answer.. at least not via the major cell networks. The data allowances are simply too restrictive and performance, well performance varies depending upon your network and location; so nobody can really tell you what it might be like for where you are, it could be good or terrible.

I do however note that Three UK are trialling a new "home broadband" service, but it's not yet widely available and the top usage allowance is 40GB.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...le-broadband-service-in-northern-ireland.html
 
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Thats actually a really good idea! Yeah, it seems that everyone else around Dereham and Toftwood has FTTC. I even emailed the BBFN project manager to get some insight as to why im not enabled (probably due to small area). Will have a look into getting a second line!
 
Hello, I am here to unload my questions on setting up a home network using a antenna to connect to a 3G/4G mast that would achieve much better speeds than what I am receiving now.

Firstly, I am a gamer and want to be a content creator; uploading to YouTube and wanting to stream gameplay to twitch.tv @ 720p. So, let me give you some idea of how things are at the moment. I am getting ~3megabits downstream and 0.80megabits upstream. These speeds are terrible for the internet usage at my home. I have my sister who is constantly using bandwidth streaming, then I have my dad who likes to watch internet TV and then I have my self that is always downloading games, playing games and uploading videos and watching them and the internet cant handle this the way it is.

I want to know the best way of setting up a 3G/4G connection so that I can successfully do all that I want to do.

Now, I know that only two providers, provide Unlimited data and that is 3 and Giffgaff, but they limited download speed. Im not too sure about 3, could anyone shed light?

I want to know what the best setup for this would be. Routers, antennas to put on house etc.

I understand that signal and speed gets better closer you are to the mast? Its annoying that O2 and EE do not have an unlimited data plan because their masts are a nice distance from me.

Seen here:
O2 / EE
http://prntscr.com/a5wjtk

3:
http://prntscr.com/a5wkq9

Do you think that I will get a good connection with ping / latency below 100ms?

If this setup works well with good speeds, it will replace the existing copper connection.

Does anyone have screenshots of what speeds are like using a 3g connection through 3?

Cheers, any recommendations or suggestions are welcome.
Identifyd

Forget the "unlimited data" option.

We use EE 4G and it's plenty fast enough to stream HD TV with between about 30 and 50 down and 45 and 50 up most of the time. We haven't had a phone line in 7 years.

EE's website is dreadful and breaks quite often. I can't "top up" our allowance since it's broken again, so I've flipped back to Three.

Performance varies hugely depending on where you are; ours will, if allowed, flip between 3G and 4G on Three and this is perfectly normal (taken just now)

5113432691.png


It's noticeably slower than EE. 3G here is about level with BT's "VDSL Fibre to the cabinet" expected performance. EE's ping times on speed tests are normally circa 20ms. Latency and upstream are, all other things being equal, much improved with 4G over 3G except with Three who seem to have managed to get the "4G" service to light up on the device, but don't seem to have provided much extra backhaul at sites so the speed uplift isn't much over 3G.

If you can get a decent connection that isn't strangled by congestion (others having the same idea) then you may well see very good speeds, and it may well be perfectly acceptable for gaming albeit with potentially a little more jitter than a fixed line.

For downloading game updates and watching streamed TV and movies - it will be expensive.
 
See, I really like the idea of setting up a home 4G network. There would be a go ahead if there was just more data. Do you think I would be able to get a good connection (even double speed 4G..) from looking at this map http://prnt.sc/a632hu? To be honest, I dont think anyone tethers where I live. Everyone either uses VDSL or has good speed ADSL. People are either just old and/or dont care about internet where I live, and 3-4mbps is good for them. I dont think congestion should be a problem, wont know unless I run tests for an extended time.
 
Put your postcode into the coverage maps on each of the websites and see where you are relative to the "circle" of connectivity you see when you pan the map outwards, the cell will normally be roughly in the middle of any circular pattern that you see if there's only one. You may well find two or more operators draw an "identical circle" since their cells share the same site though that doesn't mean the performance will be equal between them.

NB Our Three coverage is stated as borderline, and yet it's on 4G delivering about 14/3 at the moment so it can work both ways. The coverage maps will narrow down a potential operator and cell site.
 
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I just want to make a few things clear. If I call EE and get 50GB for x amount a month, then I will take it. I dont need to stream. I only play one game and that's Counter-Strike (don't like anything else) and the updates for the game are anything between 10mb and 2gb. My parents may watch the occasional movie on the TV through the internet, no more then 3-5GB a month. And my sister doesnt even have Facebook anymore, at most, I would say she uses circa 15GB a month and the rest is me.
 
Just remember the Data allowance is for UPLOADS as well as downloads.
 
Do try a PAYG SIM card first before you agree to enter any kind of contract. You can normally get those free online from the provider's website.
 
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It looks borderline if I'm reading it right - "Weak outdoor coverage, no indoor coverage"?

Are there hills (those dots) to the west of you, by any chance, which are in between the transmitter(s) to the west (EE 4G - the big yellow blobs) and you?

That's not to say that it won't work and/or that it isn't worth trying though. You appear to be in with a chance of connecting to more than one possible transmitter.

I did come across a wireless ISP that operates in Norfolk, if that's where that is - my geography isn't my strong point.

http://www.itswisp.co.uk/area-map/

Might also be worth an enquiry.
 
Yes, for 4G - "Weak outdoor coverage, no indoor coverage". No hills here. It is Norfolk. I did a check on that website and got full green http://puu.sh/nkSne/186334f77c.jpg though they only offer 8 mbps down and 1 mbps up. Though did see your comment on a review page ;)

Here is the map including terrain. Its pretty flat, with the exception of some trees - http://puu.sh/nkSHL/f4eacd57af.jpg

What equipment do you recommend I test signal etc with? Is connecting to more than one possible transmitter a bad thing?
 
You're going to need an unlocked device to try multiple networks with.

A 4G mobile phone will give an indication. If yours is unlocked then try that.

The B593 modem is a lot more sensitive and better with weak signals. It will outperform a mobile phone at the same location as it has a pair of very good antennae far larger than those in a phone.

I think the model has been superceded now. But it's still £150 new on Amazon. I think that's more than I paid for ours.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-B593s-22-Unlocked-Wireless-Router/dp/B009QW3ZG4

That accepts the SIM card directly so you can swap between networks. NB Vodafone requires some config settings in the profile to work properly. Others work fine straight away.

It also shows you signal strength accurately (not just number of bars) and this is a help in optimising it.

On the other hand that's quite an outlay for something that may not work for you.

So an alternative would be a second hand one, or, a second hand 4G dongle unlocked to all networks.

A faster route would be to buy a 4G dongle from EE directly loaded with e.g. 3GB of data. Though bear in mind that it will only work with EE.
 
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