Isolation Day 63: I’m really fed up with Mobile Internet
Seriously, @SMARTYMobileUK, What Gives?
If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you may know that we don’t have traditional broadband. We’ve been relying on a 4G mobile connection. Back when we lived in Beverley, this worked great—the occasional hiccup was easily fixed with a quick reboot.
That setup relied on a wireless router with a built-in 4G modem (the Huawei B593s-22). It was perfect for our needs in a small flat, even if the Wi-Fi was only 2.4 GHz. Plus, it had ports on the back for a landline phone, allowing us to make and receive calls alongside our internet browsing.
Since moving back to Bridlington, however, we’ve had nothing but trouble. We switched to SMARTY (a SIM-only provider running on the Three network), and the experience has been frustrating.
The Connectivity Struggles
I’ve tried everything over the last few months to keep the signal stable, but I’m still forced to reset the router 8 to 10 times a day. I even moved the SIM into our portable mobile hotspot to see if that helped, but the issues persisted. I’ve tried repositioning both the hotspot and the 4G modem all over the house, but nothing has made a difference.
I finally reached the end of my tether and left them a review. The response I got was just, "Sorry you have to keep resetting your router." That was it. No tips, no "we'll look into it"—just an acknowledgment of the frustration.
My Future Plans: Switching to Fiber
I’ve decided that as soon as I get my first wage, I’m moving to a proper fiber landline connection. Not only because I’ll be working for Vodafone by then, but because their broadband is fantastic value for the speeds they offer.
I’m looking at their plans that offer guaranteed speeds—some with top download speeds over 60Mbps and upload speeds around 20Mbps. They’re also fully unlimited, and depending on the package (like their "Xtra" bundles), they often include an Apple TV 4K and a subscription to Apple TV+. It’s like they made these deals just for me!
Why I’m Choosing Vodafone
The other big draw is their "Ultimate Speed Guarantee." It’s the kind of service that makes me want to join them: if your connection speed drops below the guaranteed level, you get a 15% discount on your monthly bill until the issue is resolved. The "if it’s broke, you don’t pay full price until we’ve fixed it" approach is exactly the kind of customer service we need.
It will be absolutely amazing to finally have internet speeds significantly higher than 7Mbps. I might actually be able to handle some real game streaming with that 20Mbps upload speed!
Who is your current broadband provider? Have you had any major trouble with mobile broadband, or do you have any tips for stabilizing a 4G connection? Let me know in the comments below!