Ask Our Expert

Will a premium dongle boost my mobile broadband speed?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Mobile broadband has received some stick since its boom in popularity began in 2008.

Although speeds have improved massively since then, with prices dropping at the same time, mobile broadband hasn’t quite become the fixed-line alternative that many people hoped it would be.

But there are a number of steps you can take to improve your service.

Upgrade your dongle

Premium dongles, such as the Huawei E367 from Three (www.Three.co.uk), promise to deliver faster speeds along with a more reliable connection.

“The new dongle provides improved performance and offers up to 40% faster browsing,” said Three when it launched the dongle at the start of April.

This is compared to speeds currently delivered using HSDPA dongle technology. Many of these dongles currently used by consumers offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb - often the top, theoretical speed available on networks.

As well as using more advanced technology, known as HSPA+, the design of the Huawei E367 also helps to speed things up.

It offers a rotating head, allowing you to bend the dongle so that it stands vertically - like a mini aerial - so you can access the best speeds and fastest connections.

What broadband speed will I get?

Although many providers offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb, a number of different factors will slow you down - and you're unlikely to ever achieve this top speed - no matter which type of dongle you use.

These issues range from how far you are from your local mobile phone mast to how many other people are using the network in your area at the same time, or even how thick your walls are.

Research published in April showed that actual mobile broadband speeds can vary from 1.7Mb in Milton Keynes - the UK’s slowest - to Peterborough, which had an average speed of 3.8Mb.

This means that the speed you actually receive will depend very much on where you live in the country. Towns and cities often offer some of the best speeds, while rural communities can suffer mobile broadband “blackspots” with no connection at all.

Run a postcode search

Because location plays such an important role in the quality of your mobile broadband connection, it’s vital that you run a postcode search with each provider before you sign-up.

This will give you a better idea of the kind of coverage and speeds you can expect to get, and is often more important than the price you pay.

Don’t delay - talk to your provider today

If you’ve already signed a mobile broadband contract only to find that coverage in your area is so poor that it’s unusable, you need to get in touch with your provider as soon as possible.

All of the UK’s suppliers offer some form of money-back policy to protect consumers, so you may well be able to cancel your contract without penalty. But you have to act fast - you might only have seven days to cancel. Speak to your provider straight away to find out exactly where you stand.

Speeding up your mobile broadband

If you’re happy with your mobile broadband service but would like to try boosting your speeds, there are a number of tips and tricks you can try:

• Get an antenna extension - but make sure it is compatible with your dongle before you buy
• Use a USB extension lead - mobile broadband signals are usually stronger closer to a window. With an extension lead you can relax on the sofa without compromising your connection
• Shut down background programmes - any internet programmes running in the background, like Skype or MSN, will use your connection and slow you down
• Get OnSpeed - this software promises to compress every file before it’s downloaded to your computer, making your connection appear faster. It also comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee if you don’t notice any improvement
• Use your utensils - some YouTube users recommend putting your dongle inside a metal saucepan and using it as a makeshift antenna. It’s free, so why not give it a try?

Ask us a question

If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at OurExpert@broadbandchoices.co.uk

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