That disconnection thing is the router/dongle/computer settings - and not the network.

I maintain connections for DAYS on my 3G/4G services with Three with nothing being done - a connection can (should) idle forever..

Does that include the ability to remote access it with nothing actively going out?

Whilst you can go out of the network at any time because it will re-establish the link as soon as a connection is requested from the inside if you are only accessing from a remote connection then if it drops the link it won't re-establish from a remote attempt.

I don't know that this is how it works but I wouldn't be surprised. They aren't sold as "always on" connections.

I don't understand the "problem".

In reply to a post by samthebam:

The house is not rented out, just there for family and friends .......

Presumably you are concerned about cold weather. If you are looking at controlling the temperature remotely then, by inference, the heating/boiler, is on continuously. Most modern, non internet connected, thermostats have a "freeze/ice" setting that will automatically turn on the heating when the temperature drops below a certain level.

What am I missing?.

PS If internet connectivity is that important get a cheap T-Mobile PAYG phone that allows tethering, and for £20 for 6 months, get "unlimited" internet, and a WIFI hot spot for friends and family.

Edited by deleted (Wed 20-Aug-14 17:40:36)

What device are you using to maintain the connection? Using two different phones with the setting changed to always remain connected the network dropped the connection on both a EE sim and a 3 sim.

Every device I've used.

My Mi-Fi used to be connected 24/7 to the mains and never disconnected (even when there was nothing happening - you can choose to disconnect in the options or keep on).

My current phones (Blackberry Z10, Lumia 1020, and Galaxy Note 2) all keep a connection running indefinitely. With zero other traffic.

Packet Data (eg GPRS, 3G etc) is designed to connect and wait and as far as I know, Three at least do not have a 2 hour time out (I've never seen that anyhow).

You could perhaps have a keep-alive ping sent periodically (barely any data) if you think it's a problem mind.

What equipment do you actually have - what is the heating system actually connected to?

Another thought:

Back along I had some Billon routers which had 3G support (actually, I still do), they've got options for making it bring a connection back up if it is down, so presumably that would be the way to go - if your disconnect issue exists.

I'd suggest you re-read my previous post, (it has been edited), and consider what would happen to your "system" should a power outage occur.

Edited by deleted (Wed 20-Aug-14 18:36:11)

The idea is quite simple. The heating boiler has a frost protection that means it starts if the temp falls below 5 degrees. The thermostat can be set to keep the temperature in the house a bit higher. (this was the main reason for installing it).

It also has the benefit if connected to the internet of allowing me to put the heating on a few hours before anyone arrives instead a few hours shivering waiting for it all to heat up once someone arrives.

I have tried using two blackberry phones a 9360 and a 9320. Both hotspot settings were changed to nnever shut off connection and left connected to a charger. Both had the hotspot disconnect after exaclty two hours of inacitivity. If the signal was lost they also shutdown the hotspot. I wanted to find out if this was a network issue that would also occur with a mifi if there was no data traffic using the connection.