# 4G Challenge

I've been with my current ISP, even though it has changed names
several times, for over 20 years. Unfortunately over recent years
they have continually increased the prices and more recently it is
even in the terms that they can increase the price during the
contract! We are now paying a discounted price of 32Gbp per month. 


## Playing the game

A little under 18 months ago, just as our contract was about to end,
we had done some looking around and there were cheaper alternatives.
None of them could match the outright speed of my current connection,
but I don't believe I needed that amount of speed in the first place.

We were all set to leave, but they offered to match the price of my
proposed replacement provider and let me keep my existing service. It
seemed like a win, no need to change anything and I get the price
match. Unfortunately I didn't consider the in-contract price rises
which means my cushy 25Gbp a month deal turned into the current 32Gbp
about half way through the contract.


## Falling cost of mobile broadband

I'm not falling for the same thing again this year so I am determined
to leave. Over recent years a lot of investment has been made into 4G
and 5G technology and I am always seeing adverts regarding its speed,
which now largely rivals some of the more basic fixed fibre
offerings. Pricing has also fallen dramatically and unlimited data
SIMs are available for around 20Gbp a month. I happened to spot a
good deal of 16Gbp a month for the first 12 months and so got myself
a SIM card, along with a 4G modem, to see if it could be a viable
replacement for my fixed broadband; before my current contract ends.


## 4G Setup

I'm using a Proroute H685[1] 4G industrial router, which I purchased
second hand off Ebay, and a SIM with unlimited data on the 3 network.

I've been using this setup for the last couple of days and apart from
the occasional bit of lag, it is performing very well. Even my
Eurosport streaming subscription seems to be working without any
problem at all.

Speed[2] of the connection seems to fluctuate but even with the
standard antennas I get around 20mbits down and 10mbits up. If things
work out then maybe I'll invest in an outdoor antenna to try to
improve the signal a little.


[1](https://proroute.co.uk/proroute-4g-routers/proroute-h685-4g-lte-router/)
[2](gopher://gopher.icu/I/images/4g-speedtest.png)