Forum Discussion
Intermittent service in my area for data
I'm certainly not that critical when it comes to smartys mobile service infrastructure when it comes to cost and being able to manage expectations for them. But I live in Scotland and have just moved to them from BT mobile due to cost. So I was expecting some loss and drop of service due to not ever where gas 5g signal. So again I'm managing expectations on that point. But I feel the data only service plan I have seems really slow. I even have an external antenna picking up my nearest mast signal which translates to 56 meg into the router which even then with ethernet connection it's still slow. Around 46 meg. And the signal strength is never really more than 2 bars. I'm wondering if need to change the antenna I'm using to a better Omni direction as as I do not have line of sight so this would be the better option for this issue. As I feel way to many obstacles and obstructions are in the way. My question ❓ is anyone know of an amazing antenna to use other than the X-pole 5g V2 I'm currently using., I'm looking for recommendations please if any. The X-pole has a gain of 3db other I see have 11 dB gain ? Is this even possible to have this much of a gain to an already congested signal with at best 108 snr ?
16 Replies
This is the Smarty community forum, we are customers just like you, we don’t work for Smarty.
Irrespective of the technical questions, you may simply have fallen foul of section 5.15 of Smarty’s terms and conditions, which state that Smarty Mobile is not to be used as a long term replacement for fixed line broadband. If you have, your service may have been throttled, and could even be suspended at some point.
As you are having to even use an antenna in the first place, that says to me that you are in a rural location, which doesn’t offer good coverage. Then, on top of that, where you live and nearby buildings / structures may contain a lot of metal, which would be effectively a Faraday Cage, reducing signal strength.Seems the signal issue has been fixed after all. My previous thread wasn't in vain,
4G Coverage
Yes – Excellent service
Great news - 4G is in your area. If your device is 4G calling compatible, you'll have excellent 4G coverage for calls, texts, and mobile internetDTyllye_2225432 Do you regularly get 46Megabit speed and yet find that slow? Many people seem to do OK on 38Megabit as a standard broadband.
I understand it may present problems if there are a number of you on at once or gaming etc.
Irrespective of smarty being a no frills mobile broadband suppliers. The fact it's offered for said service is paramount to it's success I would of though. And saying the service is not to be used for permanent broadband is big statement really. Even if I use my antenna for picking up a better signal from the mast and should be irrelevant to needs as such, I use this service because I'm rural and weather or not I'm using it for internet on the move in my opinion is mitigated by the fact i pay for the service unlimited so it should be throttled right. My set up is mobile so being throttle seems like a bit of a mockery though. My question in earlier thread was does anyone know of a better antenna to use.And could this help with dB loss so when mobile I've a better service? That's all. How ever i already feel that smarty is trying to be something it's not when advertising a product that potentially is great but falling short of being delivered..
Smarty MOBILE is not a broadband service, the clue is in the name !
As this is the Smarty community forum, we are just customers, we don’t work for Smarty. I am sure if you contact Smarty directly , through webchat, which is available from 08.00 - 20.00 seven days a week, they can explain this to you.
Given your rural location, Smarty mobile may not be your best option. It’s a value for money mobile phone service, it dies not pretend to be anything else, it’s not a replacement for fixed line broadband, nor is satellite broadband or Musk’s Starlink.
