Routers usually have at least one or, more commonly, four wired network ports for Ethernet cable connection. Cheaper options tend to have only a “Fast Ethernet” feature that allows for the transmission of no more than 100 megabits per second. The choice depends on the purpose of using a router. You won’t get any minutes or texts included on SMARTY’s Data Only plans. If you need them, you’ll be charged an extra 10p per minute, 10p per text and 40p per MMS. Alternatively, you can just change to one of SMARTY’s regular plans which come with unlimited minutes and unlimited texts included. Compatible Devices The use of tethering or personal hotspot can be a convenient way to get your other devices (including a laptop or tablet) connected to the internet. SMARTY Mobile Broadband

We loaded a Three SIM in one and a SMARTY SIM into two separate but identical test phones and went out to test coverage. On SMARTY’s unlimited data plan, you’ll get 4G & 5G coverage from Three’s mobile network in the UK. At the time of writing, this equates to 99.8% population coverage on 4G. There’s also 60% population coverage on 5G.Our SMARTY SIM connected right away to 4G while abroad, but you can’t connect to 5G abroad. We don’t see it as a huge loss, but you won’t be able to get the fastest speeds possible while roaming. A 4G router is a device that provides access to 4G broadband. This is different from fixed-line broadband common in most households, using 4G internet instead, meaning you can connect to the internet without needing a telephone line. It allows you to connect devices (e.g., laptop, tablet, smart TV) to the same internet that your smartphone uses. Why should you buy a good 4G router? However, at the time of writing you can only get up to 3GB of data on these plans, so they’re only good for light users. Network Which network does SMARTY Mobile use? Three’s coverage (and particularly its 5G coverage) is regularly improving, so SMARTY’s will improve with it.You can see an overview of how much coverage of each kind there is in the chart below. This high-performance router offers seven times faster speed than 4G devices and connects up to 32 devices simultaneously. The device provides up to 1.8Gbps WiFi speeds, allowing you to game, stream, and work better. With an awesome battery life of up to 13 hours, the NETGEAR 5G router will last the whole day on a charge. It supports mobile plans up to 1 Gbps. The device is made with one Gigabit Ethernet port, a USB Type-C port, and two TS-9 connectors. Additionally, the router is easy to manage as you can view your data usage and connection status in the NETGEAR mobile app.

If you’re travelling abroad, you’ll be able to use your Data Only plan in 34 European destinations at no extra cost. This is subject to a fair use limit of 12GB per month. SMARTY Mobile offers a range of competitively priced plans, topping out at unlimited data. But it also offers all sorts of other allowances, and its prices are lower than many rival networks. In the suburbs we got our lowest result of 7Mbps, while we got as high as 40Mbps over 4G in a rural area where there was no signal congestion. In the city centre we got speeds as high as 70Mbps.The 5G model is dual-band and features the X-Shape Wi-Fi antenna for the utmost gaming experience. Built with a 30dB cooling fan, the router is noiseless and more comfortable to use. The 5G router allows you to connect a total of 128 devices on one network, while the B818-263 will let you connect up to 64 users. That's like decent fibre-to-the-cabinet home broadband and easily lets you stream HD videos. The result puts SMARTY in second place (alongside Three) for data speeds in the UK. SMARTY allows unrestricted tethering, which means you can share your mobile connection with other devices such as laptops and tablets. The only limit is your overall monthly data allowance, and as there's an unlimited data option this is potentially a great network for tethering. Wi-Fi Calling If you’re travelling abroad to one of 35 European destinations, you can use up to 12GB of data abroad at no extra cost each month. You can also use the unlimited minutes and the unlimited texts from your SMARTY plan. The weird thing is I can connect to 4G/4G+ on a 200MB three data SIM just fine. Attached 2 screenshots of this, taken today, minutes apart. The first is SMARTY, where if I try to manually select the 4G signal it says 'Can't connect'. The 2nd with the three SIM which connects to 4G automatically.

It’s difficult to get a measure of how good SMARTY’s customer service is, especially as it’s not been included in any major customer service surveys or reports. That makes it more flexible than some networks, though the fact that it just offers SIM Only plans (along with some refurbished phones) makes it more limiting in some ways. We found no built-in speed differences in our tests. Speeds weren’t always exactly the same between them, but that’s to be expected when testing two SIMs of the same network against each other. Tablets. This includes 4G and 5G-capable tablets like the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. SMARTY’s Data Only SIM card will give you access to the internet, even when you’re using the tablet out and about (e.g. in the car).

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If you’re using your SMARTY SIM card in another European country, a fair usage limit of 12GB per month applies on the plan. Tethering & Personal Hotspot