4G Router Recommendations
Discussion
Hi all,
We live in an area where our fixed line broadband runs, on a good day, at 7Mbps and generally somewhere between 5 and 6. (Scottish Highlands),
Our BT broadband is currently down after the storms and power outages of the last few days and the anticipated fix date is sometime next week. In the meantime BT have sent me an EE mini hub with unlimited data to keep me going.
The EE mini hub is working fine, and Fast.com shows connection speeds of between 22 and 25 Mbps, significantly more than my fixed line. So, I am thinking about changing permanently to a 4g router but have some questions of those of you doing this.
1) how resilient is the connection in bad weather like heavy rain and so on?
2) I do play the odd online game, Destiny 2, will it work for gaming or is there too much latency or drop out?
3) what are you using and would you recommend it, both hardware and software?
TIA
We live in an area where our fixed line broadband runs, on a good day, at 7Mbps and generally somewhere between 5 and 6. (Scottish Highlands),
Our BT broadband is currently down after the storms and power outages of the last few days and the anticipated fix date is sometime next week. In the meantime BT have sent me an EE mini hub with unlimited data to keep me going.
The EE mini hub is working fine, and Fast.com shows connection speeds of between 22 and 25 Mbps, significantly more than my fixed line. So, I am thinking about changing permanently to a 4g router but have some questions of those of you doing this.
1) how resilient is the connection in bad weather like heavy rain and so on?
2) I do play the odd online game, Destiny 2, will it work for gaming or is there too much latency or drop out?
3) what are you using and would you recommend it, both hardware and software?
TIA
Latency on 4g is pretty bad. If you can get true 5G it may be a good alternative to fixed line but 4G may be too laggy for gaming.
I’ve got fixed wireless access as my primary connection and 4G backup. The 4G latency is all over the place so I’ve never considered making it the primary, although an external antenna might help. Weather doesn’t seem to have impacted it much.
Have you considered Starlink? £199 for a refurbished kit (plus pole/mounting) and £75 a month for around 100-150 Mbps down and 5-10 Mbps up. We have been using one at work recently to cover a building after the fibre line got broken. Quite impressive and it stayed up through all the recent bad weather. More latency than fixed line but reasonably consistent and way better than 4G.
I’ve got fixed wireless access as my primary connection and 4G backup. The 4G latency is all over the place so I’ve never considered making it the primary, although an external antenna might help. Weather doesn’t seem to have impacted it much.
Have you considered Starlink? £199 for a refurbished kit (plus pole/mounting) and £75 a month for around 100-150 Mbps down and 5-10 Mbps up. We have been using one at work recently to cover a building after the fibre line got broken. Quite impressive and it stayed up through all the recent bad weather. More latency than fixed line but reasonably consistent and way better than 4G.
skeeterm5 said:
Hi all,
1) how resilient is the connection in bad weather like heavy rain and so on?
2) I do play the odd online game, Destiny 2, will it work for gaming or is there too much latency or drop out?
3) what are you using and would you recommend it, both hardware and software?
TIA
I moved into a house with a 3mbps 'broadband' connection - along with a whole host of gadgets that needed an internet connection. I bought a HUAWEI B525 4G router with a regular EE SIM (rather than the more expensive 'data contract').1) how resilient is the connection in bad weather like heavy rain and so on?
2) I do play the odd online game, Destiny 2, will it work for gaming or is there too much latency or drop out?
3) what are you using and would you recommend it, both hardware and software?
TIA
The reason for buying the Huawei was that it could take an external aerial as there is no mobile phone signal in the house - and I only managed 2 bars out of 5 with an external aerial. However, the 35mbps speeds from these 2 bars were good enough and the connection was around 95% reliable.
I am not a gamer, so can't comment - but I hear latency is an issue.
I would choose a router that can accept an external aerial for maximum signal/reliability/speed. I would also shop around for the provider who can give you unlimited data for a regular SIM (not a 'data' SIM).
As above, if you're not too bothered about cost, look at StarLink. I have a couple of friends with this who live in remote locations - very good service.
I have one of these Unlocked HUAWEI B535-232 CAT7 USB 300mbps 4G/LTE Home/Office Router (White) with 2 x External Antennas. Will work with any Sim Card Worldwide (Renewed), dual band https://amzn.eu/d/gms59GU with a Three unlimited SIM (£18 month plus cashback from Quidco).
I mainly chose that one as I put an external aerial to get the best signal. Without the arial I was still getting 40mbps, with the aerial up to 80 mbps. Certainly better than the 1mbps I was getting with FTTC.
The ping is too slow for games, but general browsing and video streaming is great.
I mainly chose that one as I put an external aerial to get the best signal. Without the arial I was still getting 40mbps, with the aerial up to 80 mbps. Certainly better than the 1mbps I was getting with FTTC.
The ping is too slow for games, but general browsing and video streaming is great.
I have a teltonika RUTX50 alongside a 3 5g sim.
My old copper was 20neg if I was lucky.
This allows 200+ - can be a bit up and down though.
Came with MIMO ports so I have stuck an omni directional aerial on the roof too.
Was recommended it by someone here on PH.
From solwise (also a PH recommendation)
https://www.solwise.co.uk/TL-RUTX50
My old copper was 20neg if I was lucky.
This allows 200+ - can be a bit up and down though.
Came with MIMO ports so I have stuck an omni directional aerial on the roof too.
Was recommended it by someone here on PH.
From solwise (also a PH recommendation)
https://www.solwise.co.uk/TL-RUTX50
Copper broadband here is about 1-2 Mb/s
Mobile signal is patchy and generally poor, but we used a TP-Link 4G router for about 18 months, getting between 10-20Mb/s.
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/3g-4g-r...
Note:
Mobile signal is patchy and generally poor, but we used a TP-Link 4G router for about 18 months, getting between 10-20Mb/s.
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/3g-4g-r...
Note:
- The TP-Link was pretty bomb-proof. I think it enjoyed a reboot every few months.
- Bandwidth varied throughout the day - worse in evenings when all our neighbours were also trying to use the local mast...
- Position of the router in the house made a difference. Amazingly, we got best results with the router upstairs, and powerline ethernet link to the main Unifi system downstairs.
- Find which network has best performance and shop around for deals. ASDA mobile ended up best for us.
pidsy said:
I have a teltonika RUTX50 alongside a 3 5g sim.
My old copper was 20neg if I was lucky.
This allows 200+ - can be a bit up and down though.
Came with MIMO ports so I have stuck an omni directional aerial on the roof too.
Was recommended it by someone here on PH.
From solwise (also a PH recommendation)
https://www.solwise.co.uk/TL-RUTX50
Wow that’s expensive. I wonder if it has better reception than mine. My old copper was 20neg if I was lucky.
This allows 200+ - can be a bit up and down though.
Came with MIMO ports so I have stuck an omni directional aerial on the roof too.
Was recommended it by someone here on PH.
From solwise (also a PH recommendation)
https://www.solwise.co.uk/TL-RUTX50
In our new house the wired broadband was abysmal.
I went for the Three 4g/5g router and it has been a revelation. Occasionally hitting 200Mb/s down and 100Mb/s up, typical would be 50Mb/s in both directions. Latency 30-40ms.
First three months were free, then £20.00/month for unlimited data.
Hooked it up to the old Plusnet Hub to provice a second hotspot on the same WiFi network as the Three device should be near a window.
Weather seems to meake no difference, the thing is brilliant.
I went for the Three 4g/5g router and it has been a revelation. Occasionally hitting 200Mb/s down and 100Mb/s up, typical would be 50Mb/s in both directions. Latency 30-40ms.
First three months were free, then £20.00/month for unlimited data.
Hooked it up to the old Plusnet Hub to provice a second hotspot on the same WiFi network as the Three device should be near a window.
Weather seems to meake no difference, the thing is brilliant.
Put your number (and your neighbours' numbers) into the BT Wholesale tool and have a read of what you get.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADS...
amongst other things like expected maximum speed, it should tell you something about FTTP availability. I realise that Scottish Highlands locations are in quite a different position to major UK cities, and maybe there is no rollout coming any time soon, but the ongoing modernisation work requires changes which might be to your advantage.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADS...
amongst other things like expected maximum speed, it should tell you something about FTTP availability. I realise that Scottish Highlands locations are in quite a different position to major UK cities, and maybe there is no rollout coming any time soon, but the ongoing modernisation work requires changes which might be to your advantage.
Edited by trashbat on Monday 1st January 09:42
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