Universal Ramblings

We all know what a great thing home broadband can be, and thanks to a very competitive marketplace these days, it has also become hugely affordable compared to just a few short years ago. However, while accessing the internet at home is handy, the world of mobile broadband makes for an even more appealing alternative.

What’s the difference?

The main bonus with mobile broadband is that it affords you much more convenience. Where a home broadband setup means that you are largely confined to your quarters, mobile broadband enables the user to tap into internet connectivity pretty much wherever they go. All you need is a laptop or netbook computer, along with a small plastic USB stick called a dongle.

You can pick up one of these in both pay-as-you-go or contract variations from a wide variety of mobile broadband providers. PAYG is a great idea if funds are tight or you only need to dip into mobile broadband less frequently. You only pay for the time you’re connected, whereas a contract deal means that you sign on the dotted line but there are many benefits, including added airtime and more freedom to download content.

Any downsides?

Of course, while mobile broadband is a great thing, it can be susceptible to coverage issues in much the same way as the signal for a mobile phone can come and go. Speed is also another problem area from time to time, as the mobile broadband signal can be affected by a host of factors, including the volume of network traffic.

So, if a ton of users are all trying to tap into the mobile network then you could see it slow down substantially. Similarly, the world of mobile broadband is, as yet, not designed to replace standard home broadband accounts. The infrastructure does not really make it a viable proposition and large downloads are certainly a no-no from a variety of standpoints.

So which one?

It’s probably best to think of mobile broadband as the perfect supplement to regular broadband, rather than a replacement. If you like to watch a lot of downloaded content, and also stream video or game online, then home broadband is still best for this. There are also terms and conditions safeguarding the world of mobile broadband for users with the imposition of data limits.

This might seem drastic, but mobile providers have to try and distribute their network to as many users as possible, so they have various ways of preventing you from overstepping the mark if you plan on overdoing the downloads. The other sticking point with mobile broadband can be using it overseas. Known as ‘data roaming’ this can incur high charges if you’re not sure what you’re doing.

However, the perfect workaround for this is to tap into a Wi-Fi supply, which can be used on most mobile devices these days. It can often be found in places like cafés, fast food outlets, bars and restaurants in all sorts of foreign destinations. You often don’t have to pay for it, although buying a coffee or two might be a good idea. Nevertheless, this is often way cheaper and also faster for enjoying the internet on the move.