2 comments

• Adam, 28th April 2009.

  Am I the only person who is irate about when ISP's quote figures in their marketing waffle.
  
  Their figures of "five four minute videos or 32 four-minute music tracks" is neither here nor there.
  
  These videos and music tracks can be any quality / bit rate / size, and so you cannot accurately use those figures when marketing limits.
  
  So, if I wanted to download 4 HD trailers, or 32 high quality sound tracks, that this wouldn't go over the 1 GB limit they've set ???
  
  It's about time the ISP's were told that they cannot use such figures, as they can be interpreted in so many ways.
  
  Before anyone mentions average size of files etc.... average for one set of users is not the same for others !

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• Fred, 8th May 2009.

  I have been using a 3 mobile dongle for about 8 months now, and find the service is normally reliable, although as you would expect very poor weather does have an impact on performance. whilst we are on the subject of performance, their figure of 3.6 Mbps is wholly unrealistic. In the literature that came with the dongle, they say that the dongle is 'capable' of 3.6 Mbps, but will only guarantee 2.8 Mbps. Further, I live on the outskirts of Gloucester City, and was told when buying the dongle that I would be able to get the best signal, suitable for video streaming no less!
  
  Ok, reality check, I use my dongle at home plugged into a desktop PC, I have my computer downstairs, as I sometimes work late, and dont like to disturb anyone. I actually get 400 Kbps down (PEAK) and 266 Kbps up (PEAK). Now I know if It was on a laptop I could move to find a better signal, but surely the point of 'MOBILE' broadband is that I am not forced to work in a particular place! To be fair, most of the time the dongle is used to surf the net, and yes 1GB is enough for normal surfing and email. I did once spend the £25 to put 7Gb on it, and even updating all my software and Operating System didn't use it all. For most people I would suggest that the £15 top up (3Gb) is the most useful, enough that you dont 'run out' and not so much that you lose the money on it. (3 only credit the dongle for 30 days).
  
  For most older surfers who tend to only check email etc, I would say that Vodaphone have a better deal, £40 for a dongle with £15 top up already loaded, no contracts, no expiry on your top up. (it lasts till it is used) You do pay £15 for 1Gb though, but as already stated, for genral surfing and email this will last 4 or 5 months.

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