Steve Wood <[email protected]> wrote: >Nick wrote: >> AIUI, Steve's on a system which gives him 3G where it's available but >> falls back to GPRS where it isn't - like on the S&W. What does mobile >> broadband give you that's any different? > >I do indeed have a connection that switches between the various >technologies to give the fastest available wherever I am, be it GPRS or >3G (HSDPA or UTMS) Whether the phrase "Mobile Broadband" means anything >more than the above I can't say but it sounds like marketing speak to >me. The only allegedly "faster than the rest" mobile solution I'm aware >of is the Vodafone 7Mbps service available inside the M25 but I've not >got the hardware to support it so can't comment further.
When Steve said he used GPRS, I assumed he had a dail-up modem (i.e. without 3G capability). If he adopted the practice of accessing this forum via a newsreader, he could read the text of postings any time, while could put off downloading attachments until he had a 3G signal. >Brian added: > >> I don't think he can make Skype calls on that, he could on 3 and save >> mobile call rates And T-Mobile. >I can indeed make calls on Skype though the quality is variable (as >indeed it is from landlines) and as I have an unlimited use voice bundle >with Orange I don't need to anyway. I tend to do a network scan when I >move from one mooring to another and am still of the opinion that Orange >offer the best coverage on the cut. Maybe I'll start logging the >networks onto a spreadsheet if it is of interest to people. The situation is continually changing, as networks are upgraded. Previous opinions on this and other forums suggest that there isn't necessarily a "best" provider, especially not in the long-term. In my experience, Skype is effectively unusable due to poor sound quality unless you have a 3G signal. >I do have a friend who bought a 3 dongle who has nothing but problems >with their service so I can't imagine swapping my data contract to them >in the near future. That's a bit like saying "A friend of mine bought a Lada, and based on his experience with it I will never buy a car". Mobile broadband dongles and the associated services are also evolving fast (and getting ever less expensive). . Adrian . Adrian Stott 07956-299966
