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Which is better? Strong 3g, or weak wifi?

D

deenybird

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 21, 2008
220
0
I'm in an area that has great 3g coverage, but i can also jump onto a wifi network. The wifi connection is fairly distant, and drops from time to time.

My question is: Is the time spent dropping and reconnecting worth it? Do you get faster speeds from a poor wifi connection than a solid 3g?

thanks
 
Well I see it is like this,

If you are constantly dropping the wifi, then you have to go re-enable, for weak speeds anyway.. then just use 3G, especially if its strong. You are paying for it, you should probably go use it.

You can download an app in the app store to test network speeds, basically an internet speed test. If the wifi is that much faster, maybe it is worth it.
 
Best way is by your own experience.
Depends on the speed of the two connections, and if you need the faster speed.:D
 
well i don't have to 're-enable', it does that automatically.
I tried my speed test app and it looks like its showing:
3g: 567 kbps
wifi: 1679 kbps

...at least in the chair i'm sitting in (which seems to be in good room. Moving from one room to another causes the drops...

I'll try to sit still.
 
It would also depend on what is on the other side of the wi-fi connection. It could be a 14.4kb/s modem.
 
It also depends on what you're doing. Browsing the web? Not such a big deal.

Playing Galcon online? A wi-fi connection drop will switch over to 3G in about 3-4 seconds, which is more than enough time for yor online opponent to kill you.

So, you know, it depends, but generally I'd go with more stable signal. Switching between wi-fi and 3G constantly is probably killer on the battery.
 
deenybird said:
well i don't have to 're-enable', it does that automatically.
I tried my speed test app and it looks like its showing:
3g: 567 kbps
wifi: 1679 kbps

...at least in the chair i'm sitting in (which seems to be in good room. Moving from one room to another causes the drops...

I'll try to sit still.
Click to expand...

thats actually pretty weak 3g...
 
Strong 3G is generally better than weak WiFi.

Here in Central London, Vodafone run their HSDPA 3G at 7.2 megabits per second.

Sweet on an unlocked iPhone 3G!!
 
Anywhere around here full 3G is noticably worse than weak Wifi. I'm constantly having to turn 3G off and on to get it to connect again and get off that god damned little 'o' that's there 90% of the time. :mad:
 
Ninja Dom said:
Strong 3G is generally better than weak WiFi.

Here in Central London, Vodafone run their HSDPA 3G at 7.2 megabits per second.

Sweet on an unlocked iPhone 3G!!
Click to expand...

Holy crap!! O wish we got that from AT&T here in the states :mad:
That's as fast as my cable internet connection!
 
deenybird said:
well i don't have to 're-enable', it does that automatically.
I tried my speed test app and it looks like its showing:
3g: 567 kbps
wifi: 1679 kbps

...at least in the chair i'm sitting in (which seems to be in good room. Moving from one room to another causes the drops...

I'll try to sit still.
Click to expand...

You said setting in a chair. Are you in your house with a WiFi Router on the other side of the house? Could you move it more to the center of the house? Could you get a second WiFi Access Point? I would try to get a better WiFi Signal if posible.
 
nope, the open wifi network is somewhere outside the house.

i'm sure many people are in the same situation where there is a wifi network just barely within reach.

Also, if i'm showing full 3g bars, then why is the speed not quite up to par?
 
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