mobile internet

meat_n2_reg

Hi all

Need a 3g connection for my laptop , checked coverage for my house on Voda phone website , said I should have good 3G access .

Bought dongle however can only get GPRS

Have returned dongle , however still need a mobile connection

Are all providers coverage checks a lottery ?

Cheers Steve

web_ferret

Bit late now but you need to set a dongle to "3G" and you need a good signal to get it to switch up to the faster speeds.
My dongle in my front room shows GPRS only. Using a 5m USB extension cable and putting the dongle outside in a waterproof box and I get 1.5Meg with no drops.

You need this site to check the actual location of mobile masts.

http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/

The map is a nightmare to use it but be patient and find out what the mobile masts in your area do.

UTMS is 3G
GSM is GPRS

If you get stuck PM me your postcode.

Jemma-T

These donlges will move you to GPRS (dialup essentially) speeds automatically if you have no higher speed service.

I find most dongles are either crap or poor but if you have a good signal they are great for sure.

Just try another provider and move the laptop around the house (leaving it in place 2-3 mins) to see if you can get a good signal or maybe consider an external aerial booster. Go into an O2 or T-Mobile shop locally and they'll give you a good guess about the signal because they won't want loads of people bringing used dongles back (happens all the time of course -you have a legal right too to return contract SIMs usually).

TBH if there's no decent signal you'll have to consider a landline. If it's that important you get a signal then do that.

web_ferret

Some examples:
Vodafone
In my lounge, GPRS,
In my lounge and dongle out of the window 3G and personal best 1.2 Meg

Three
In my lounge - No signal
In my lounge and dongle out of the window - No signal
Upstairs back bedroom - No signal
Upstairs front bedroom, Dongle out of window - HSDPA, Personal best 1.7Meg

Unlocked HUAWEI E220 on 5 meter USB cable