December 2025
I’ve been using the 5G router since mid November and it is without any doubt the best Broadband connection I have ever had. It seems that ThreeUK provide a very good signal in the area I live. You might not be so lucky! I’m using the “Outdoor Hub and EERO router” and check connection speeds daily (using Ookla Speedtest). Download speeds are usually above 500Mbps and often go 650+ Mbps. The monthly fee is £21 +VAT so it is one of the lowest cost Broadband connections and in many places could outperform Fibre but that would depend on what is available in the area that you live / work.
If you have a good 5G signal and a (mobile / Cell) phone, it is very likely that it will out perform WiFi so wouldn’t need to use a WiFi hotspot.
NOTE. Three(3) will let you try the 5G router for 30 days and if you’re not satisfied with the performance, you can take it back and your contract will be cancelled.
Speedtest results – using iPad Air 3rd Gen connected via WiFi to EERO router. This is a direct Internet connection and is used by the Freesat box and Fire TV.
The EERO router only has 2 Ethernet ports, one uses the connection to the Outdoor hub. The other port I have a 4 port switch connected via Ethernet (cat 6) and this connects my Freesat box (cat 6) and “Home LAN” router. The Fire TV connects to the router via WiFi.
I haven’t yet got round to connecting my desktop to the EERO router using Ethernet and the 4 port switch but plan to do so, purely for interest.
My download speeds are considerably less when connected to my “Home LAN” and Ethernet. This is because my “Home LAN” is mostly cat 5 Ethernet cables. I’m not planning to replace the cat 5 cables so will accept a Internet conection speed of about 95Mbps because I mainly only use Email and a Web surfing. The Freesat box is conected to the EERO Router using Cat 6 Ethernet and the Smart TV is connected to the EERO router via WiFi for Internet access. Neither Freesat box or TV have have access to my “Home LAN”. Guests can use the EERO router for Internet conection but won’t have access to the “Home LAN” and that is how it should be!
My “Home LAN” has an additional router and Firewall along with 3 Win 11 desktops, a Samba Server (running on Rocky Linux 9.7), an Android Tablet, an iPad Air and 2 x Android phones so the Internet connecion is shared by a few devices.
5G vs Fibre (FTTP)
5G is a radio signal (like WiFi & Bluetooth) and is subject to “interference” (weather etc) but if you live in an area where 5G is good and in the case of ThreeUK, there is no current limit to the connection speed or to the data amount. So its currently “all you can eat” for a set monthly price. Currently this £25.50 PM and in theory you could get upto nearly a 1GB but they only advise that you should get a minimum of 150Mbps. My test readings since installing have never dropped below 500Mbps, it’s usually around the 600Mbps mark.
Full Fibre (FTTP) In theory this should offer a more robust and reliable connection – free from interference but you have to select the desired download speed, which will often be the Fibre 100Mbps or 150Mbps option but you can select upto 900Mbps – there are some offering this for about £25 pm but check the small print.
I currently have FTTP to my home and was using a Fibre 150 connection. It was rock solid and robust and the conection speed was usually 150Mbps but was around 90 / 95Mbps when going through my “Home LAN”. The fibre connection was arranged via Sky but they told lies. They told me I could have brand new 2 year contract which would include Fibre150 at £24 PM and the TV Essentials at £10 PM – Total £34 PM I.E. 24 x £34 but when the “paperwork” came through, it showed that the Fibre 150 would cost £43 Pm after 14 months so I cancelled the “unfair” contract and decided to try 5G rom Threeuk / Vodafone
NOTE. BT/Openreach are rolling out FTTP at a phenomenal(?) rate because they want to be a “Fibre Network Company”. They want to remove all copper cables to allow them to get rid of old inefficient kit. Currently to you can ask BT / Openreach to install FTTP and they will do this Free of Charge, you then need to find an ISP that will use this. The Fibre cable and ONT is owned by BT / Openreach. When you have sorted an ISP, its your responsibiity to keep the ONT powered 24/7.
With regards to 5G. ThreeUK / Vodafone offer 2 options.
1. A 5G router with Data SIM. This is positioned usually on a window cill in a place in your home where the best signal is obtained and then you would connect your devices the this “Internet gateway” via WiFi but you could use Ethernet by making use of the 4 LAN ports.
2. An “Outdoor Hub” with Data SIM and EERO router. Again the outdoor hub is positioned where it recieves the best signal and this is connected to the EERO Router. You would then connect your devices using WiFi. You can connect an “x port” switch to enable you to use Ethernet for your devices. I’m currently using a 4 port switch to connect to the EERO router to give Internet access to my Freesat box and “Home LAN” and don’t have any problems.
The Outdoor hub comes with several mounting options, including sticking it to a window!. I’ve tried mine outside at ground level but currently use it stood on the window cill inside, there isn’t much difference. I think if I was to install it at 1st floor level I might get a better signal but I have no complaints with the current set up.
IMO, 5G will continue to get better and will offer a very good alternaive to FTTP. Its advantage is that you can take your 5G router with you on your travels and get an awesome conecion to the Internet – if your place of destiniation has good 5G coverage with your existing Mobile (data) network provider. As Three and Vodafone are now the same, 5G coverage shouldn’t be a problem except in remote rural areas.
CONCLUSION.
If you want a very robust and reliable Internet connection, FTTP is the best choice – no interference problems from say weather conditions. The minor downside is that you will need to chose a “contractual” connection speed which will (usually) give a minimum connection speed. Currently speeds of upto and over 1Gbps are possible.
If you want a fairly rellable Internet connection that might not be as robust but currently offers upto 900Mbps with minimum of about 150Mbps, 5G (from Three / Vodafone) is well worh a good look at. Currently Three are offering “all you can eat” for £25 pm. We have had some unusual weather conditions the past month but I haven’t noticed any problems other than my WAN IP address changing more often than I would like. I’m consitently getting connection speed of about 600Mbps and have no complaints. Other (mobile) Networks are offering 5G connections and these are worth looking at but currently Three / Vodafone seem to have the best coverage and fastest connections.
Another option!
One of my sons lives out in the sticks – remote rural area and barely get a 4G phone signal. Broadband is at best ADSL but will soon have FTTC, FTTP is a long way off! He is currently using “Starlik” and seems to get around 200Mbps download. Starlink have managed to reduce latency to 20 to about 60 ms and that is awesome compared to earlier satelite systems.
Final Toughts – Internet Connection.
Whatever your Internet connection is, it is shared by the number of devices connected to your “Internet Gateway Device” (Router).
E.G. If you only have say a desktop PC connected to the Router, you will get the best connection option. If you have several devices connected / using the Interner gateway, the “connection Speed” is shared by the number of devices connected to the router eiher via Ethernet or WiFi.
Other stuff to consider is “Contention Ratio” and “traffic management”. These are controlled by your ISP and you have no control over these. Your ISP has to provide the best connection for ALL of its customers