Mobile Industry Review - Latest Comments in Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Alberto — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:30:49 -0000

Hi Ben, thank you for your review, just got the D100 and tested it with my 3g connection, same results as you. The scenery is this: I have a laptop with the three usb key plugged in it, a tp-link access point connected to the laptop with a lan cable (the laptop is old and don't have wireless) and my pc with a tp-link dongle connected to the wlan. Download speed is good... 130/150 kB/sec. If the D100 is connected with the lan cable to the TP-LINK and the wireless dongle is still connected with the TP-LINK the speed is the same, if the tp-link is replaced with the d100 or i just switch to the D100 WLAN the download speed drops to 70kB/sec about. Tried different channels but the results are the same... maybe this router has just some firmware problem or what? best regards

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

George — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:19:52 -0000

I purchased a D100 and within an hour it had locked me out(my fault, I do like to fiddle), took it back to PCWorld and they exchanged it without batting an eyelid. After getting this one home and firing it up I went onto the MCAfee website to check it's speed and it registered an impressive 500 KbPS, without the router it was 60 KbPS. I am not up to speed on how fast this is in real world terms, but the D100 operates faster than my hardwire broadband connection at work. In conclusion, like every bit of new kit that hits the market, there will be lovers, haters and people with vested interests!

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

MarkRoberts — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:44:59 -0000

You should try a Cradlepoint Router :-

http://www.portablepowersolutions.com/routers.htm

Mark

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Mark Roberts — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:32:38 -0000

You need a Cradlepoint Router see :- http://www.portablepowersolutions.com/routers.htm

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Mark Roberts — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:32:20 -0000

You need to try a Cradlepoint Mobile router. there is a battery version available for true 'Mobile Broadband'.

Regards
Mark

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Jonas — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:59:01 -0000

And the Dovado isn´t locked to 3 :)

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Sam — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:30:55 -0000

If you didn't like that one, you'll like this one for sure. It's made by a company which specializes in these kinds of products, and doesn't cost you much either. Plus, you get excellent support. Sure, it doesn't have a battery, but you can always use it in a vehicle with a 12V cable. It supports over 30 different USB modems from brands like Huawei, Option, Novatel Wireless, ZTE, BandLuxe, etc......And, it also has cool features like automatic fail-over (backup), SMS mailbox, Connection Tracker, DynDNS, and what-have-you....

Have a look: http://www.dovado.com

Price-tag is like €99

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

bensmith — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:22:25 -0000

Andreas, I'm afraid it went back. Can't recommend it - very poor.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

andreas — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:52:58 -0000

Hi Ben
I would be happy to buy it from you.
my Brazilian friends all just love it!
Greetings from Switzerland
andreas

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

TrevorBennett — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:57:55 -0000

Hi Jim,

I'm hopeful that your router will arrive for you on Thursday, however the comment "They haven't a system in place to notify them and are relying on customers to call them or else they are assuming that people have received them!" worries me greatly.

What sort of shit way to run a company is that?

Despite claiming my cancellation under the 14 day policy I'm sure that something else will go wrong for me, how about not refunding the £35 router cost without a fight???

Best of luck again Jim,

Trev.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Jim Gilroy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:39:24 -0000

Hi Trev.

I spoke with Mike today on the 0870 270 0060 web sales shop number. I spoke with him last Friday on that number. (The other number I called yesterday has too many options.... and the woman didn't call me back. No surprise there!)

He told me that the routers were now back in stock and they were emailing the 'department' dealing with it to despatch to customers who hadn't received theirs.

They haven't a system in place to notify them and are relying on customers to call them or else they are assuming that people have received them!

I don't know what to believe, but I am now expecting delivery of mine this Thursday.
None of the people at Three seem to have any knowledge on their products either which concerns me; especially as I have spent a small fortune on calling 0870 numbers the past week to find out.

But the reason I have switched to 3 (from Orange) is like you stated, that they are more competitive with their data plans and products. Time will tell if I make any savings!

Jim

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

bensmith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:56:40 -0000

I used http://www.speedtest.net/ but also found real-world usage to broadly reflect the speeds it was reporting.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

kcjh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:24:10 -0000

Ben - how did you test the speed? I'd like to see what mine is doing..

K

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

danlane — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:24:26 -0000

That's a shame :(

As I keep telling people, mobile operator staff should be forced to "buy" their company handsets and contracts via the normal channels so they can see first-hand how crap their customer service experience can be. I don't actually know of any UK operators that do this :(

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

TrevorBennett — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:33:16 -0000

Hi Jim,

Today I finally lost my temper with 3 sales. I too was told almost every day that it would be despacthed that day, only for it never to appear. Well today I spoke to someone who told me that she would call me back by 5pm with a straight answer. At 5.10pm I phoned back as no phone call was forthcoming, only to be told I was a liar! The lady changed her story to say she only said she would call back if there was any news to impart! What shit customer service.

Needless to say I have asked for a cancellation of this modem/router contract within my 14 days allowance. They will also refund the £35 for the router that never appeared.

This is a very sad day indeed as I have 4 current contracts with three, one laptop one, a mobile, a usb modem one and a skypephone S2 - all on contract. (Used for work)
So as a customer with 4 contracts trying to enter his 5th, what a shit way of treating me - I wont be leaving 3 as they are still the best for data based products, but what a sour ending to my router story.

By the way - they have no routers currently sat here in the UK, thats the reason none of us got ours. Why oh why did they keep telling me that they were sending me one out every day?
Answer - just bullshit the customer to get them off the phone.

If I want any extra contracts, in future I will use a three shop.

Trev.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Jim Gilroy — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:32:21 -0000

I ordered and paid for mine online nearly two weeks ago and I still haven't received it!
When I last spoke to them Saturday (25th Oct) they said I should get it Monday. ''It's been sent packet post.''
I haven't, so Ive just called their web sales shop on 0870 333 1829 (option 2) cos 333 couldn't connect me and they are chasing it up and will call me later or tomorrow, 'cos ''I have been waiting a long time.'' Too right!
And reading the above Im also a little dissapointed to read its not rechargeable battery powered.
Oh well. At least I only forked out £34.99 for mine. :(

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

TrevorBennett — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:58:58 -0000

Hi All,

Is anyone else still waiting for their router to arrive? I ordered mine online and the usb modem arrived on Friday 17th but still no Router. Every time I call them they say they have none in stock ready for distribution, only shop stock around the UK????

Has anyone got their router delivered that was ordered online?

VERY FRUSTRATING !!!!!!!!!!
PS - they were quick enough to take the money from my card.

Trevor.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

kcjh — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:29:04 -0000

Oh - I've put up an 'Unboxing' video on my blog for those who like that sorta thing..

http://kayceejayh.blogspot.com/2008/10/unboxing...

K

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

bensmith — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:53:57 -0000

Yes - it's wireless in the same way my car is fuel-less as long as I don't want to use it...

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

worldofnokia — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:38:44 -0000

interesting wording on the box... no landline.... no wires

What do they call the lead that connects from a power socket in the wall into the back to power it when there is no battery like they said it had?

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

swing — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:52:56 -0000

3UK have now confirmed that it was a straight error, and have apologised.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

swing — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:02:55 -0000

I'm awaiting a response to my clarification request, but that was not via PR, so I'd be interested to hear their view too

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

bensmith — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:58:35 -0000

Are you expecting a response from 3UK? or I can fire up the PR channels...

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

swing — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:25:25 -0000

I think I know what happened, but I'll defer to 3UK to provide a formal answer on that (I'm still awaiting any form of statement from them).

Although I can still see the device being useful with a mains power connection for many scenarios, I'm not sure I'm impressed with 3UK's handling of this.

Re: Three WiFi / 3G Router: Crap

Mike42 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:17:44 -0000

Yep - that's mostly the 3G radio there Ben. Use your handset as a Bluetooth or USB modem and you'll see the same temp issue. The WiFi adds surprisingly little.

A trick is to set your WiFi power to the minimum using the phone's WiFi settings - you can go down to 4mW instead of 100. Does make a bit of difference, but not much as again, it's the 3G radio that's the power hog.

/m