Forum Discussion

Malcolm_1107053's avatar
Malcolm_1107053
SMARTY Pioneer
30-06-2025

60gig SIM card and TP link Mifi

I use a smarty SIM card and the TP link mifi whilst boating in the summer months. I purchase data just before a trip and usually buy 40gig which is upgraded free to 60gig. This is enough for both tv and internet use. 
what is causing concern is that recently whilst the TP link shows a 4g signal and 3 bars during the hours of say 10am and 7pm I don’t receive any internet connection. Later on I can use the TP link to watch Tv using up about 3-5 gig per day. I don’t know why this has started to occur. There is no change in the status on the TP link, sometimes restarting it works but after two or three times that fails too. Annoyingly there seems to be no explanation. Now and again I find the WiFi settings show no internet connection despite having a good signal on the mifi. 
Having no service during the day seems very odd when I have service early morning and during the evening. As a contrast I have a giff gaff sim in my phone with a lot less data but it works when the smarty sim does not.

Any thoughts welcome

Malcolm

 

 

3 Replies

  • DavidLe_3449918's avatar
    DavidLe_3449918
    SMARTY Maverick
    02-07-2025

    What you’re experiencing is an over subscriber number of users accessing the three network in the area.   It’s annoying but the network coverage checkers just reflect services available ie 4g/5g and ‘potential’ speeds.  However, all mobile operators have their masts, and these a subject to contention ie data rates and speed are shared between all active mobile users in the area the antenna covers.  So, in your case, during the day many more mobile users are active and the data rates squeezed even to the point where your devices are not connecting even with a strong signal.  Early mornings and evenings, that’s when users are often at home on their WiFi and not using their cellular date, hence less active users and those that are receive a greater proportion of data.   Ever wondered why at a concert e.g Hyde Park mobile connectivity freezes despite having full bars- it’s simply the volume of users.

    Unfortunately it’s impossible to check how many subscribers are accessing the masts in each area and for each network- if that data was available then it would indicate if you’re likely to experience degraded speeds- but of course mobile users are….erm…mobile so its rather tricky.

    i frequently see people blaming the suppliers or network providers as they’re not providing the speed expected by the coverage checks, but unfortunately its down to the volume of users.  Broadband providers can provide accurate speed expectations because their network is fixed, as are the number of connections available….its impossible to provide this by mobile operators.

  • AlanCha_3432519's avatar
    AlanCha_3432519
    SMARTY Maverick
    30-06-2025

    Different networks with giffgaff on O2 and Smarty on three.

    You could experiment with swapping the SIMs over

    • Malcolm_1107053's avatar
      Malcolm_1107053
      SMARTY Pioneer
      30-06-2025

      Thank you, I am aware of the differing networks. I have changed SIM cards but the smarty one works in the mornings and late evening in either the phone or Tp link. It is in the same location and the signal strength remains at 3 out of 4 bars, but nothing loads, switch the Tp link off and on again and for a while you receive data. Occasionally the message, not connected to the internet appears but at other times you are left frustrated whilst nothing loads. The mifi app shows some activity but not enough to load documents.

      regards

      Malcolm