Forum Discussion
Three Network is "Throttling us all" [My Opinion]
As you only use the lodge for occasional weekends, it doesn’t make sense for you to sign a contract for a fixed line broadband account.
As for mobile broadband, you may experience problems with any network, due to the metal subframe of your lodge, unfortunately.
Check out network coverage of all networks. Then, buy a SIM card or two from the networks offering the best coverage, and then a cheap 30 day package from them, to see what kind of connectivity and speeds you get.
Another option would be to stay with Smarty, or another network network offering better coverage, spend £11 on this USB Wi-Fi dongle, available from Amazon, which has 12,000 positive reviews, which would plug straight into the USB port of your Microsoft Surface. As it plugs into the USB port, you would at least be able to use the Surface outside the lodge, in the garden, or cafe etc if there is one on the park where your lodge is. This means any mobile broadband signal would not be obstructed by the metal subframe of your lodge.
As it’s Amazon, if the dongle doesn’t work, you can of course get a full refund. (Other brands of dongle are of course available 😉)
Hi JJP2
You said "As for mobile broadband, you may experience problems with any network, due to the metal subframe of your lodge, unfortunately."
I don't understand how daytime hours The Lodge frame interferes with my signal but late night early hours of the morning it doesn't. The difference is enormous.
Daytime Speeds [07:30 (ish) and all day long I struggle with around 1 Mbps Overnight 00:10 to 07:30 hrs I can sometimes achieve anything up to 20 Mbps]
Three's coverage map show "very good 4G coverage for calls, text and data both indoors any outdoors". Coverage map attached ...
I have decided to try my mobile Wi-Fi tp-link 4G lte wich I have had for a year or so and have had decent results while on the move - I will connect using a giffgaff SIM [which uses the o2 network] to see if I can achieve better connectivity and service with them as there is an o2 network antenna within about 1 mile of our lodge.
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/mifi/m7350/
Thanks for your idea regarding a dongle, I am going to try my Mi-Fi first and will certainly try getting away from the lodge to see if it helps by not being near the metal frame. [Good suggestion].
I'll keep you informed of the outcome after trying it for a few weeks.
PS ... Thanks a lot for all your suggestions and ideas, you have been very helpful. 👍
I will post again in once I have set up and tested the Mi-Fi. I won't be back at the lodge for a couple of weeks so don't hold your breath.
Cheers ...
Loathe to say this, but you might have to switch to another network to get 4G speeds :
From signalchecker.co.uk :
At a guess, no more than that, the poor daytime speeds may be due to network congestion, with possibly a lot of times also trying to use Smarty or Three mobile broadband ?
Night time speeds better as people are asleep, watching TV etc
Just my thoughts, nothing scientific at all.
