Cable Forum - View Single Post - Using a SIM instead of standard broadband

**Chris** · 18-08-2023, 08:30

4G speeds are definitely more than adequate especially if your modem can bond multiple channels. In theory my Huawei can achieve better than gigabit downloads. However, the real constraint with 4G isn’t speed, its capacity. For starters the service provider gets to decide whether each cell will permit channel bonding; most in urban areas do but by no means all. Then you will find in busy areas speed will drop at certain times of day. 4G can become totally unusable when the local cell is exceptionally busy, even if you can get 150/50 off it at midnight on a Tuesday.

Various things could be impacting your speeds from that cell even though you can see it. There could be cables in the walls causing interference or as its a prefab there could be a lot of metal in the frame creating a faraday cage effect. It’s also possible that the cell is highly directional, intended for fill-in service to a specific blackspot, and you’re on the fringe of the area it’s aimed at. An external aerial makes all the difference in marginal situations.

18-08-2023, 08:30	#24
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 36,991	Re: Using a SIM instead of standard broadband 4G speeds are definitely more than adequate especially if your modem can bond multiple channels. In theory my Huawei can achieve better than gigabit downloads. However, the real constraint with 4G isn’t speed, its capacity. For starters the service provider gets to decide whether each cell will permit channel bonding; most in urban areas do but by no means all. Then you will find in busy areas speed will drop at certain times of day. 4G can become totally unusable when the local cell is exceptionally busy, even if you can get 150/50 off it at midnight on a Tuesday. Various things could be impacting your speeds from that cell even though you can see it. There could be cables in the walls causing interference or as its a prefab there could be a lot of metal in the frame creating a faraday cage effect. It’s also possible that the cell is highly directional, intended for fill-in service to a specific blackspot, and you’re on the fringe of the area it’s aimed at. An external aerial makes all the difference in marginal situations.