Is EE 4G Smart Hub Any Good ?

I have never used mobile broadband but am seriously considering a 4G smart hub from EE at £50 a month. I am in an excellent coverage area according to the EE website. The price is not an issue and I want a call centre in the UK or Ireland.

I only use my existing fully copper broadband for light internet use and streaming TV at 1080P quality. My existing broadband is being switched off as I am unfortunately in a fully FTTP area.

As the EE 4G smart hub will be connected to the mains 24 hours a day like my old “normal” router is, would this be OK. And would the signal be reliable ? I am not too concerned about low speeds on occasions, but would not want the service to drop completely.

Can you advice if it is likely to be as reliable etc as my existing Broadband..
Thanks.

If your truly considering boycotting FTTP and going to Mobile broadband you really need to test what network provider gives you the strongest and stable signal in the location where you want to locate the router. The strongest may be EE or may be one of the other main networks, once you find the best network get your own mobile router and choose the best contract that suits you for that network.

No one can predict how good a signal you will get from one day to the next, I was on Mobile broadband for a couple of years and I couldn't wait to move to FTTP.

In reply to a post by sadguy:

I have never used mobile broadband but am seriously considering a 4G smart hub from EE at £50 a month. I am in an excellent coverage area according to the EE website. The price is not an issue and I want a call centre in the UK or Ireland.

I only use my existing fully copper broadband for light internet use and streaming TV at 1080P quality. My existing broadband is being switched off as I am unfortunately in a fully FTTP area.

why not go to fttp?

In reply to a post by sadguy:

As the EE 4G smart hub will be connected to the mains 24 hours a day like my old “normal” router is, would this be OK. And would the signal be reliable ? I am not too concerned about low speeds on occasions, but would not want the service to drop completely.

the speed will be variable, and your mobile router can swap between masts, which may mean lower or higher speeds. If you live in a hoilday destionation, peak hoilday season will mean changes to the speed.

In reply to a post by sadguy:

Can you advice if it is likely to be as reliable etc as my existing Broadband..
Thanks.

fttp is the most reliable service atm...... mobile can't touch it,

why not go to fttp?

……. you asked 🙄

https://forums.thinkbroadband.com/unhappiness/t/4789...

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

why not go to fttp?

……. you asked 🙄

https://forums.thinkbroadband.com/unhappiness/t/4789...

I completely forgot that i replied to the earlier thread. 😶

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

If your truly considering boycotting FTTP and going to Mobile broadband you really need to test what network provider gives you the strongest and stable signal in the location where you want to locate the router. The strongest may be EE or may be one of the other main networks, once you find the best network get your own mobile router and choose the best contract that suits you for that network.

No one can predict how good a signal you will get from one day to the next, I was on Mobile broadband for a couple of years and I couldn't wait to move to FTTP.

This is not a gotcha question but a genuine query to understand this.

To give background. I am on FTTC. No idea as to when FTTP will become available as it is yellow dot on the thinkbroadband map - so no current plans. All houses around us have access to FTTP.

Currently getting around 35Mbps download and 7 up. With four in the house, all connected to the internet that speed is just not cutting it at the mo.

Been looking at going down the 4g/5g route? We are on the smarty network for the phones. We did a speed test on her phone (5g - smarty) and got around 150 Mbps download. I understand the ping and jitter points of mobile.

Back to the question, how does one test all of the available mobile networks in the area at my location? I know I can look at the maps provided but that is not the same as live testing.

In reply to a post by Sussexhammer74:

Been looking at going down the 4g/5g route? We are on the smarty network for the phones. We did a speed test on her phone (5g - smarty) and got around 150 Mbps download. I understand the ping and jitter points of mobile.

Back to the question, how does one test all of the available mobile networks in the area at my location? I know I can look at the maps provided but that is not the same as live testing.

You can try a freebie sim - most of them have a few hundred freebie mbs on them. I would also look at cellmapper too - not that it doesn't show 5g stations.

Try with smarty as its over 3/voda. but try every room in the house and if you get a good download speed. note it down - also you may find at a good spot some rotation and height may or may not help ... Note those issues

If you are happy with the speeds from 3 then its a case getting a data only sim (scancom) a good lte/5g router. idealy with 2x2 or 4x4 aeirals. Save your self the heartache and avoid tp-link mobile routers - they are only cat4 - which can only go 150mbits and can't use carrier aggreation (otherwise known as mobile broadband 😅🙈 - yes the proper use of "broadband")

I live in the new forest, and as soon as it is hoilday season (caravan season) speeds could and would drop.

Literally by testing each of them (MNOs) at your location. There really is no other definitive / reliable way.

For best service, you may need an external antenna. This may need to be directional or an omni type antenna; depending on local mast location and your signal levels to said mast.

Thank you Taras.

This is very helpful.

I was looking at Three and their offers. Unlimited and router for around £29 per month on a one month rolling contract and to see how it goes with speed, drop outs, location of router etc

We have Smarty sims on our phones. The Mrs has 5G on her phone and the speeds were good when we tested. So if the one month trial works well, I may well look at the scancom and buying my own decent 5g router.

Any other tips would be welcome.

We have had Three 5G with the outdoor hub (mounted on an aerial pole) and have been very happy with the speed which averages over 500Mbps and is much cheaper than the 30Mbps which was the best I could get before.

I was worried whether I would get a good signal but Three offer a 30 day trial period, Going via a cashback site (Topcashback) brought the cost down to less than £20pm on a 2year contract

There were some problems with frequent disconnections but these have been resolved and I have had over 100 days without a loss of connection.