Can I get some advice if it's feasible to use it as a mobile broadband SIM card for home-based internet (via mobile 4g router)?
Seems like the download speed is not so good...?
Am currently on 500mbps fibre with Singtel but going to cancel it soon as my new place has no landline or fibre point.
TLDR (too long, don't read)
Over the years, I've used mobile hotspot quite a lot.
From my own experience:
(1)
The single MOST important thing --
is that the mobile hotspot should operate/run at 5Ghz WiFi instead of 2.4Ghz WiFi.
This is because for WiFi -- 5Ghz WiFi can provide wireless clients with (much) higher bandwidth / speed than 2.4Ghz WiFi.
So you'll (usually) get higher bandwidth / speed if you connect to a 5Ghz WiFi hotspot -- when compared to connecting to a 2.4Ghz WiFi hotspot.
Nowadays we have 5G phones...
- if your phone connects to a 5G mobile network -- but your phone's mobile hotspot is operating at 2.4Ghz WiFi, then a lot of bandwidth is inaccessible or wasted because of the limitations of 2.4Ghz WiFi.
The higher bandwidth of 5Ghz WiFi hotspot is especially noticeable / useful --
when you share your mobile hotspot with many people and / or multiple devices.
ALL phones & mobile wireless routers can operate the mobile hotspot function at 2.4Ghz WiFi.
Unfortunately,
not all phones or mobile wireless routers can support the mobile hotspot running at 5Ghz WiFi.
The additional problem is that:
-- Whether any phone or mobile wireless router -- can support/operate the mobile hotspot at 5Ghz WiFi or not --
is usually not clearly stated.
(2)
The 2nd most important about using mobile WiFi hotspot is battery life.
Since phones or mobile wireless routers are portable -- you may want to use when you go out.
The battery life will determine how long you can use the mobile WiFi hotspot outside before -- you need to find somewhere to charge it.
Mobile hotspot function will use up more battery if there's a lot of mobile data usage through the mobile hotspot.
(Again)
The battery life of the mobile hotspot is especially noticeable / useful --
when you share your mobile hotspot with many people and / or multiple devices.
If you use your phone as the mobile hotspot -- and if battery becomes flat before you can re-charge, then noboby can call / contact you while your phone battery is flat.
Previously I used a
ZMI MF885 mobile router w/ 10,000mah battery -- because it is both a powerbank & also a 4G mobile wireless router.
Because of the 10,000mah battery, if I don't have too much mobile data usage -- the ZMI MF885 mobile hotspot can last more than 24hrs !!
Nowadays, I not longer use the ZMI MF885 mobile router -- because it cannot operate the mobile hotspot at 5Ghz WiFi (it only supports 2.4Ghz WiFi).
(3)
The 3rd important thing about using mobile WiFi hotspot is whether there is any special requirements that is specific to your needs.
(3a)
Some people use mobile wireless routers because some models have network / LAN port (e.g.
Prolink DL-7203E)
You will NEVER get any network / LAN port on phones !! Haha...
The network / LAN port can be useful in different scenarios, some examples:
(i) You can connect to a LAN port in hotel / school / library to get/share Internet access instead of always use your 4G mobile data for Internet access.
(ii) You need to provide Internet access (via hotspot) to a wired-only device i.e. which don't have wireless capability.
(iii) If you have a network switch -- you can even provide Internet to many wired-only devices -- by connecting the network switch to your mobile router via LAN port.
(3b) Many people have dual SIM phones.
Some people prefer to use dual SIM phones as mobile hotspot --
because you can easily switch the mobile hotspot to use SIM 1 or SIM 2 -- without having to take out & swap SIM cards.
(3c) Any other reason you can think of -- that determine whether you prefer to use phones or mobile wireless routers as mobile hotspot.
Hope the above helps.
