topic Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering? in Mobile Data

SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 07:56:15 GMT

I am in a process of buying a property in Sale - Manchester. Just checked something that I would never think could be a problem in that area, mobile signal / broadband speeds. Apparently in that block of appartments, only EE covers 5G signal...

Now their broadband unlimited plan is pretty expensive at £55 / month, when currently I pay £25 / month for Three unlimited (and it's 1 months rolling contract instead of 24 months with EE). I wonder if it's possible to use SIM Only when I buy my own router? Is something like that classed as tethering which from what I read some say has got a limit of 120gb? Is it 120gb per month? Is the speed of something like that good enough?

I work from home mostly, so need rock solid internet. If I can't work it out, I will have to pull out from that transaction...

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Chris_B — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:02:36 GMT

@Rumcajs997 Speed will be fine and what limit on tethering? You can use up to 12 devices at any one time ( I think that’s correct) is the only limit I know. Any sim router could be classed a tethering when connecting a device to that router so a limit on data usage on an unlimited sim would be counterintuitive.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:21:03 GMT

Thanks for the answer. The reason I am asking is because there is loads of posts here saying that Unlimited has got a clause saying something about a fair use. If I can use SIM Only as Unlimited internet in my own router, then who would pay £55/month for their unlimited 5G broadband? I could get SIM Only Unlimited for £20/month if I can use it in my own router?

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Data/UNLIMITED-data-and-tethering/td-p/1276817

That topic says something about 600GB, there are others saying 120GB of gift tethering or something. All I need is to have unlimited internet.

EDIT: You actually answered yourself in that topic that there is a 600GB limit! Is this a monthly limit, or a limit per contract?

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Chris_B — Sun, 12 May 2024 09:16:28 GMT

@Rumcajs997 The 600Gb is the limit of data the tariff allows per month after this there could be traffic management applied, i.e. your Internet speed could reduce. Gifting data is something else. Gifting data is the amount you can gift to a contract sim on your account per month.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 09:22:18 GMT

@Chris_B I assume that speed up to 600gb should be the same whether I am using SIM Only or EE Broadband? And the only difference would be that EE Broadband hasn't got that 600gb limit? I don't think I would use that much, unless 4k TV Streaming is using that much, but not sure about that.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Chris_B — Sun, 12 May 2024 09:35:45 GMT

@Rumcajs997 Do you mean EE cellular broadband or fixed line broadband? These are different services. A fixed line broadband has no limits on data usage, a cellular broadband has an amount of data that can be used but with a unlimited cellular broadband you actually get 600Gb per month and if you reach 600Gb per month there “could” be a speed reduction but you can still use data all be it at a slower connection speed.

Yes 4K streaming will consume quite a bit of data. 5-7Gb per hour

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 09:47:23 GMT

Just to be crystal clear. Currently I have got Three cellular broadband 5G (with their router, not SIM Only with my own router). It is truly unlimited from what they said. It costs me £25/month on 1month rolling contract, very good offer, has been working well over the last 18 months.

But since that new place I am planning to buy hasn't got Three 5G coverage (nor Vodaphone / O2 for some reason when it is Sale in Manchester for Christ Sake, not some "in the middle of nowhere place"), I need to find some other provider. From what I can see on the map, only EE covers that street in 5G. OpenReach apparently offers only 50mpbs internet with some pathertic 6-10mpbs upload in that area, not the end of the world but pathetic for XXI century in a big city.

But, EE cellular Unlimited broadband costs £55/month, which is quite a lot comparing to what I pay now for Three. I hope as well, that it is at least truly unlimited just like Three. However their Sim Only offers seem cheaper, hence I thought that it might be an option eventually if I buy my own router. But 600gb when I start using TV, might be a bit of a problem to be honest.

Is that £55/month EE unlimited broadband at least truly unlimited or does it come with some hidden limit too?

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Chris_B — Sun, 12 May 2024 10:53:49 GMT

@Rumcajs997 If it’s a fixed line broadband ( ie via a phone line ) then it’s unlimited data and no extra charges.

If it’s via a cellular connection then it’s 600Gb per month then you “might” get traffic management applied once you reach 600Gb. There is no additional costs on the £55

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 17:22:56 GMT

@Chris_B Cheers mate, if it's 600gb then it's not going to work. I need to check if there is any internet over the phone line available in that building.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:26:55 GMT

The FUP for an unlimited data mobile BB router is 1 TB pm.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 20:36:03 GMT

I'm not sure if I understand that post to be honest. Could you clarify please?

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:26:35 GMT

The thing you were looking at for £55 pm would have a FUP of 1 TB.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:03:25 GMT

That doesn't make sense. Unlimited broadband for £55/month has got 1GB FUP? What are you talking about?

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:19:12 GMT

Why doesn't make it sense? It's perfect sense! One would expect the FUP for a mobile BB router to be far higher then that for a mobile phone. I know what I'm talking about & so would you had you read on!

Let's assume the 5G WiFi Router. is the unlimited data mobile router for £55 pm you have been on about thro'out this thread. Had you read on to the Legal Bit you would find:

Unlimited Plans: Personal, non-commercial use only. We will consider usage above 1000GB/month to be non-personal use and have the right to apply traffic management controls to deprioritise your mobile traffic during busy periods or to move you to a business plan.

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

Rumcajs997 — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:21:00 GMT

But you wrote 1GB, 1000GB = 1Tb, that's why I didn't get it. So is it actually 1000gb or 600gb they are talking about in other topics from few months ago. Have they increased it lately?

Re: SIM Only to use in my router as broadband - is it classed as tethering?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 May 2024 21:31:53 GMT

Oh, sorry! I got my units & prefixes mixed up. A slip of the pen messed up the point I was trying to make.