3 Mobile broadband?

outlaw777

Hey,

I'm thinking about getting 3 mobile broadband, is it any good? Whats the feedback?

fayraz

I have had no issues with it so far, it depends what area you are in I am currently in Newcastle and this is the speed I am getting at the moment:



When I am in the West Yorkshire area I probably get half the above speed.

PlutoinCapricorn

It has had some very bad reviews, and there are many people who are very dissatisfied with it.

However, I have been using it since September 2008 and am very happy. I get the prepaid dongles: there are no contracts, no giving credit card etc. details and no huge charges for going over the limit.

It is not very suitable for people who download lots of films and music and play games, or who need an ultra fast service. It is more like fast dialup.

You could get a 1gb or 3gb prepaid starter kit and see what the service is like.

Widelats

I used my friends 3 internet, i was impressed, exactly the same as normal broadband, but he said T mobile were rubbish and so were vodafones, but 3 as far as i can tell was totally fine.

dylanuk

If you're a light user - meaning emails and occasional browsing (not streaming or downloading) - then whether any mobile broadband provider is any good really depends on where you are.

You should check coverage on the network website's coverage maps - you're looking for 3G coverage, ideally HSDPA - this means you'll be getting "proper" 3G mobile broadband and you can expect around 1Mb - 3Mb speeds.

outlaw777

Whats their customer services like?

web_ferret

When its good its very very good - When there is no signal you are burning money.
It depends on how good the signal is where you intend to use it.

Get a PAYG deal and test it. If its good and you use it a lot switch to a contract.

There are a lot of horror stories on here of people on contracts who can't get a signal.

I have a PAYG SIM in an unlocked dongle and for occasional use its fine. If I can't get a signal then the vodafone sim goes in the dongle!

Money_Doctor

3 very good where i use in London, even areas that were patchy a year or so ago now really good, I have had good reports about Orange as well but wouldent move from 3 in terms of the coverage, never had to contact customer service so cant comment

Hank_Marvin

The closer you are to a UMTS mast the better signal you'll get. But don't expect a proper broadband coz you'll be dissapointed. 3 Use an indian call center but they do speak fairly good english. I would do a postcode check, and reads some info off the net coz you'll find a gazillion hits on 3 mobile broadband.

mickeypops

I use my 3 dongle up and down the country, usually in hotels. The signal quality varies (it helps to have a USB extension cable so that you can position the dongle near a window sometimes.)

The most common complaint with 3 is "disconnection." Sometimes after a few minutes of inactivity it just disconnects, but not always by any means. Usually it just reconnects readily - but it can be a pain nonetheless.

I also have an o2 dongle (one is business, one personal.) The o2 one is defintely more reliable, but somewhat more expensive. So you pays your money and you takes your choice.....

Timalay

I only brought a Three 3GB about a week to, apart from the odd disconecting (which unplugging it and replugging it in seems to sort it out). It seems pretty good.

It surprising how far 3GB can take you if you don't download much with it.