3G or 4G

Unknown
Unknown Forum Participant
edited January 2018 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1
The user and all related content has been Deleted User
«1

Comments

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #2

    Only you can tell because of your personal usage. Remember some places do not even have 3G, others no mobile at all.  And how long until 5G is being offered (at an even higher price)?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #3

    I've no idea what 'G' you get over there, David, but in this country I'd go for the 4G version although Nav makes some good points.

    Actually, I'd rather just stick with my 4G phone and tether where I can.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #4

    I was reading through a brochure yesterday evening that I picked up at the October NEC by http://www.motorhomewifi.com. They had a variety of WiFi and 3/4G connectivity options with aerials and all sorts. None of them particularly cheap though.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #5

    my old iphone 4S, inherited from the younger generation, only supports 3g, but when abroad and here, we tether two iPads to it and it's more than 'fast enough'....for emails, web browsing etc....we dont download movies or the like...smile

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2018 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #7

    The big question really is "what is it for"?

    Once streaming video even y-tube stuff and Skype then 3G is destined to disappoint, but sending off the odd text email or looking up TV programs from a website it would be adequate. Here buying judiciously simply to offset obsolesce might be prudent.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2018 #8
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #9

    4G is faster, though, BB. 

    You seem to have only experienced the slower 3G so I understand it’s difficult for you to compare. It’s truly amazing how many UK locations now have 4G and I wouldn’t settle for less if the option to have 4G is available for only another £30 or so on the cost of a mifi unit.

    Still, it’s what suits the individual.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #10

    ive never had an issue in watching a you tube clip over 3g, but i dont do much of it when away due to data limitations....5gb lasts us a month..

    IMHO, 3g phones will be around and working for a while yet....phone companies wont be pulling the plug on a lucrative 'dinosour/luddite' base just yet.....yes, we will all be tempted to move....and an ultimatum will come at some time...for a date in the future....

    my old Windows PC is 'obsolete'....i use it a couple of time a month, it does what is asked of it.

    Tomtom tell me my old One v3 is 'obsolete' yet i still load POI updates onto it and it is my cars sole navigation device...

    even my 'new' XXL Classic is unable to store the latest maps as a single entity, insufficient storage....Tomtom are 'tempting' me with juicy deals to replace that one....this also works fine, mirrors the POI file set up and is our primary MH navigation device (larger screen, more upto date maps)...

    despite a lifetime in the IT business, I'm happy to scrape along at the bottom of the technology food chain....having seen too many software and hardware disasters when on the 'bleeding edge', im happy to have something totally proven...

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #11

    ...but i dont have/need a mifi unit at all....so im saving all the cost of one..

    yes, obviously 4g is 'faster', an iphone X will be faster than my 4S but will cost many, many hundreds of pounds or a silly amount each month to get the phone and data i have...

    i have fibre at home so i know what a decent speed is, but IMHO 3g is 'fast enough' for sensible browsing....

    but, as you say, these things are down to the individual and AD will have a good idea of his requirements...

    amazingly, im sure they have 4g 'over there'wink

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #12

    Then the 3G will meet your present needs with reserves in hand.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #13

    Deleted User by user. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2018 #14

    David

    I have 4G on my Smart phone. It is fast but the downside is it seems to use a lot more data when tethered to my laptop. When I was using 3G in the same way the data use was a lot less. Given the fairly restrictive way you intend to  use your device I think I would favour the 3G route. Certainly in France I have always found the 3G signal very good.

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #15

    David, that seems a bit odd....one would think it would be the same.

    the data required to (say) load a webpage should be the same no matter how fast the page is delivered?

    i would be chatting to my provider....

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2018 #16
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #17

    David K, heres one thought from the EE help pages...


    You may find that any app using the network (or wifi) will get more data dependant upon what connection you are using... ie it may only load low res pics from the BBC website while on 2G, but full size images on 4g (and somehwere inbetween on 3G). Similar with 4g, it may stream at full HD on 4g but just SD on 3g.....

  • MikeBos
    MikeBos Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited January 2018 #18

     

    Salutations Bolero Boy, I smiled when I read this extract from your posting:

    "...despite a lifetime in the IT business, I'm happy to scrape along at the bottom of the technology food chain....having seen too many software and hardware disasters when on the 'bleeding edge', im happy to have something totally proven..."

    Beautifully expressed!  At last I have found the right words to explain to others why I still use a 2G Sony Ericsson K800i.  (Similar career to you.)  Still, I'm about to take the bold step of buying a Smartphone; can't help feeling a bit nervous though... smile

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #19

    Our 3 MiFi, we have had for years,  is only 3G and often returns as fast times as the OH's O2 phone on 4G.

    It really depends on how good a signal your phone / MiFi has and the particular network. My phone is on EE and the 3G is often as fast as the 4G on O2

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #20

    Definitely the case on face time. If you examine the data used on a call when the signal is poor, it is always much less than when the signal is very good.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #21

    That is possibly due to the automatic error correction. 3g is a dying service it will eventually go the same way as 2g. Does it really cost twice as much for 4g?

    peedee

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2018 #22

    Sorry miss read your post Steve. I would expect the exchange of data to be higher on a poor signal due to error correction.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2018 #23
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #24

    Cheers, Mike. lovely post...made me smile too.

    my old Nokkia was only replaced when son's partner was going to 'chuck her 4S in the bin..'

    what can you do with 'em?wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #25

    Quite happy with our Huawei  which we use sometimes. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #26

    In the UK we use the Huawei for our laptop (if we take it) and on our smart phones we use giffgaff for data. The Huwei can be used for five devices.

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited January 2018 #27

    Sadly, I only spent half of my life in IT & Telecoms!     Perhaps thats why I cannot afford a posh German van!     But back to the point:

    *.  4G is about 5 times faster than 3G.

    *.  LTE has started to roll out in big city areas and is 20 times faster than 3G.

    *.  4G is much more stable than 3G.

    My personal preference is to have a monthly account SIM only and buy and own the phone.   I have an iPhone 6+, had it 2 years and it has lots of life in it yet.   With Voda I pay £19 pm for SIM, with their Red extras, 4G, 20Gb data and unlimited txt and minutes per month.    I find that with this phone I use my old ipad less and less and when mobile it is always there.    I use the hotspot a lot for my wife's ipad and occasionally mine.     Most places have 4G now.

    it all works for me.    Not interested in mifi, too much hassle and expensive.

    BillC

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #28

    I should have added we have very cheap android  Ulefones and we're just pay as you go.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2018 #29
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited January 2018 #30

    Since moving to 4G I very rarely have to buy wi-fi at a camp site and it is faster and more reliable than wi-fi.

     

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited January 2018 #31

    My UK data bundle is now EU wide, incl txts and voice.    

    I have a MIL who we must keep in touch with regularly, so need good comms.    Otherwise, would have to stay home!   I love 4G!

    BillC

     

Categories