3G reception anywhere?

[Vara]

Reading various posts about 3G reception, replies are often contradictory, and in some cases at variance with my personal experience.

Do different phones, tablets and devices have varying sensitivity to signal?

If this is the case how does a chap find out, what magic number am I looking for in the specs?

 

[sam_uk]

Yes different devices will perform in different ways. Not sure about a figure in spec's but as a rule of thumb I would say the newer the device the better it will perform.

If you really want to look at the detail this is a great free book: http://wndw.net/pdf/wndw3-en/wndw3-ebook.pdf Written for Wifi rather than 3g but the theory is the same

If 3G / internet access are important to you then I would suggest getting a high gain antenna, and pulling it up a halyard (away from the mast)

Internet communication is a two way process, it's not broadcast. So as well as your phone/device being able to 'hear' the tower, the tower needs to be able to 'hear' your phone/devices reply too.

This is the kit I use, picked up off Ebay for less than £80:

A decent high gain antenna on a halyard:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aerial-An..._Mobile_Broadband_Devices&hash=item3f1fcb5271

And a dedicated box to connect it too:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Huawei-E58...item20d17efb7c

And some info on network tower sharing agreements and tariffs:

If it was me i'd get a PAYG http://giffgaff.com/ as the primary card (cheap as chips 02 network, has tower sharing agreement with Vodaphone who reportedly have best coverage: http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2012/11/2...joint-venture/)

Coverage
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/our-networ...-map/index.htm

Then as a backup get a 3 Payg too. (Orange/ 3/ Tmobile share masts: http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/201...ork-share.html)

Coverage
http://studio.orange.co.uk/coveragechecker/