[Hands0n]

I was staggered to see this rather neat little offer on the 3 Store website, valid until 31st July 2009 only.

It is for a 5GB per month mobile broadband USB stick on a £15 "1 month" contract, with the USB stick costing £9.99 up front.

Thats right, one month. I had to look a few times, double check, click the link etc ...

This is an unbelievable offer, if you find that you don't want to spend £15 anymore, or 3 suddenly start to suck, or their CS is their usual self, you can jettison the contract with one contract month's notice!

I'm not sure that I am really ready to advocate anyone going anywhere near 3 for anything at all. But the short contract length and the record mobile data allowance for the £15 makes this an offer that warrants serious consideration!

See here --> http://threestore.three.co.uk/dealsummary.aspx?offercode=1MB5GD003

NB: Unusally for 3, you are also able to try for 14 days and then return if you don't like it. That is a departure from their usual requirement to return it unused, unopened etc..

Highlights:-


Get loads of data from just £15 per month

5GB for £15 a month available on Mobile Broadband 5GB


Contract Length

This tariff is an 1 month contract.


Get Broadband Anywhere

Get up to 3.6MB connection on 3


Use Skype on your PC anywhere

With 3 you can use Skype on your mobile, or on your PC, giving you free calls to Skype users anywhere in the world


14 day money back guarantee

As you're buying Mobile Broadband from 3Store online, should you change your mind you can return it, so long as you return it within 14 days from the date of delivery. You'll need to call first to get a returns authorisation number.
You can use USB Modem (and laptop if that was part of the offer) but we ask that you send everything back (including the modem, SIM, cables, any documents, packaging, laptop and free gifts if they were part of the offer). Everything needs to be returned in 'as new' or 'as sold' condition. Otherwise, we may not allow you to return the items and cancel your agreement with us, or we may charge you for any items or components that are missing or damaged.
If you bought a Pay Monthly contract we'll end your contract so long as these conditions are met although we may charge you for any services you used at our standard rates.


Offer valid until

This offer is available until 31st July 2009


Offer available to new approved customers registering on a SIM Only 5GB Mobile Broadband one month contract whilst customer remains on the promoted price plan. SIM must be used in a 3 modem. Charges of 10 p per mb apply if inclusive allowance is exceeded. 30 days notice required to cancel after the first month. Compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista operating systems and Mac OS (may require additional drivers). Service limitations and terms apply. See three.co.uk




Footnote: I know I'm going to regret this but ... I ordered one!! If it works out okay then I'll junk the Vodafone £15/3GB that is now out of contract. If it dont' then I'll phone 3's CS, tell them I want to cancel, then tell them again, say it slowly, say it loudly as if they're deaf, ask them to stop reading from their script, start to lose the plot, shout at them a bit, get acid indigestion, throw the phone down in frustration, write a stinky letter to Kevin Russell (3 UK MD), write to my MP, phone a complaint in to OFCOM, write to the Daily Mail (Mr Angry), go on a shooting spree and blame it all on 3. Cool :cool: Lots to be looking forward to then ;)

[Ben]

I'm really tempted to get one of these as well... I mean, H3G clearly have the most expansive 3G coverage in the UK... and I only have Vodafone data SIMs at my disposal... this could be a good way to play with H3G until I get bored :D

Edit: Ordered! Lol :D

[getti]

I have learnt my lesson twice so wont be ordering

[Ben]

Lol, Hands0n and I should know better, too.

Still, I think it'll be good to have our 3 Broadband experiences plastered over Talk3G. A welcome change from Planet iPhone and O2 ;) Plus we're both technical enough to really poke around and see what we can get out of it.

Oo I do love a bit of mobile broadband!

[Hands0n]

Ooh I was being much more mercenary than my altruistic brother here :D

I saw £15/3GB (Voda) vs £15/5GB (3) and went for it as there is the 14-day distance selling protection, 3 let you actually use it and as Ben says, we do have the savvy to fix problems. Oh, and 3 is a strong signal in North Kent and London.

I will be checking this dongle out on a PC, Mac and Linux (Ubuntu) box.

[miffed]

Oh dear oh dear !

Best of British Ben ! ;)

[Hands0n]

Oh dear oh dear ! )

To be fair to 3, and this really grates as they've never been fair to me, the 3 mobile broadband isn't too bad at all (DNS issues aside, but then all mobops seem to have these!!!).

My lad used a 3 mobile broadband stick on PAYG (that free one that someone on here neatly spotted) while BT and then Sky delivered his landline and ADSL2+ broadband. In the six weeks or so that this all took he managed on only two £10 top-ups and routinely got over 1Mbps download speed.

Meh, we'll find out on Saturday when the sticks are supposed to arrive :p

[Ben]

I wouldn't have even considered it given the out of bundle charges, but 5GB seems like plenty of headroom, certainly more than I've ever used on a mobile broadband service. It'd be very nice to have alternative connectivity on hand that uses completely separate networks to Vodafone (hoping I'm not jinxing that!), too.

I have no idea what to expect. The ordering process was very quick and easy, but I haven't used H3G's network since the Skypephone (which, lets be honest, it is hard to get a good idea of any network from) and before that the NEC e606.

[hecatae]

zte or huawei stick?

[Ben]

They're ZTE. Currently have Huawei and Option kit, so will be interesting to try this brand.

[Hands0n]

One has to hope that this isn't the start of the fourth disasterous relationship with Three UK.

I've always said it, you have got to love Three's automated systems. They look good, they are prompt and they impart a feeling of confidence that all is going well.

Yesterday, after placing the order I recieved the first of Three's automated messages via email



Hi xxxxxxx,
You’re officially part of our family. Make a cuppa, put your feet up and
relax – your delivery details are next to arrive.

Aaaah, now isn't that nice. That warm cuddly feeling just glows out of that email with its vivid colours and background.


Your delivery:
You've asked us to deliver your new toy on 11 Jul 2009

Wow! A sense of humour too. Thats nice, and with good information to tell me that Saturday is the day. I'm happy.

Today, another email to keep me smiling and happy, how nice.


Hi xxxxxx,

We’d love to tell you the exact time PACKETPOST will deliver your new toy (right up to the very second). But it depends on how fast they can beat the traffic. They’re dedicated folk so it’ll be in next to no time.

Cool, its on its way for sure. Best get the Netbook all charged up and ready to go then.



Your order reference number is: 12345678

Courier: PACKETPOST

Courier number: 1x8x5x8x (Ed. 8 digits, count 'em)

Delivery date: 11 Jul 2009

And then ....


Want to check where it is right now? Click here Click here to track your parcel

Bang! WTF?? Its all gone Pete Tong!!!

The "Click here to..." link doesn't work, the tracking number is invalid!. Bugger! What's that all about?

A quick trip to the Post Office website, some digging around and sure enough ... the parcel tracking number is invalid. It needs to start with "AA" and it needs to be nine (count them again) digits long!

Of course, Three's tracking number bears no relationship to anything that the Post Office want to see. I tried adding the "AA" and inserting "0" at the beginning and end of the number to no avail.

So is it coming or is it not?

Only tomorrow will tell ... but I'm most definitely not phoning the Mumbai monkeys about it, thats for sure!

[miffed]

Mate , I reckon thats the least of your worries - Last time I used my Three Dongle it simply wouldn't access a lot of sites (ebay , Autotrader) - and most forums simply wouldn't let me login - ... I am sure you are in for great fun !

[Hands0n]

Thats where the 14 days comes in. If its that poo then its going right back. I won't hesitate, I won't blink, mess me about and its gone! :D

That said, I'm hoping to repeat the [positive] experience of eldest lad who used the free Three USB stick on PAYG as a substitute broadband until his BT landline and Sky ADSL came into operation. He was able to get everywhere.

I think a lot of Three's problems with sites relate to their DNS. Whether they fixed it or not the answer appeared to be to use OpenDNS servers. I note that Vodafone punters on their forum quite often have a similar problem solved by OpenDNS!

Its ridiculous really, in this day and age, that network admins still cannot build a functioning DNS! Its not rocket science.

[Ben]

If I have any problems with the DNS then I'll resort to the VPN. Assuming that works :D It's going to be an interesting experience to be sure :p

Am on the new Voda stick at the moment :D It's brill!

[Hands0n]

I've not done the VPN thing to act as a "reflector". On ADSL that kind of stuff doesn't work very well, much more suited to being done across SDSL which is way too expensive for personal use.

That 14-day clock will be ticking very loudly indeed. I'm not binning my Vodafone £15/3GB contract until I satisfactorily go beyond the 14 days with Three. Although, being only a 1 Month contract it does have the added benefit of peace of mind.

In the end it really is only the 1 Month contract that has got me to even contemplate another run-in with Three. Wild horses wouldn't be able to drag me into any longer contractual arrangement with that shambles. Its the CS, of course. If they repatriated it to the UK I'd be more willing.

[Ben]

Oh totally, I wouldn't have gone in for one if it was on a longer contract either. 30 day is fine but I'd never commit to Three... well, not until I've tested the water, anyway, which is sort-of what this is all about.

[Hands0n]

Yea, I'm scaring myself silly reading up on the 2009 raft of end user problems with Three.

Most shocking seems to be the propensity for Three to charge the punter hundreds of pounds for going over their monthly allowance! The punter is adamant that they haven't been able to make sufficient use to go over. Predicatably Three's CS claim the punter is wrong and the charge sticks. They'd do that to me only once, I'd cancel immediately.

On a happier note ... I'm trying to remain optimistic, but do think it wise to be informed. These are the pinnacle of upset customers, in all liklihood there are very many, like my lad with his PAYG, who are getting on just fine!

Edit:
,

Miffed! You'd better be sitting down lad ... :D


Congratulations are in order for 3. Yesterday, the company was revealed to offer the best mobile broadband coverage of any of the UK’s providers.

Confirmation of 3’s status came in Ofcom’s Mostly Mobile report, which comprised a set of maps showing the level of coverage provided by suppliers right across the UK. By our estimation Orange ran them a close second.

It’s a great result for both parties and has provided them with the kind of PR that money can’t buy. As a result, you’d venture they’ll see an impressive sales bounce imminently.

If you’re interested in making the switch to mobile broadband with 3 or Orange, check out our dedicated provider pages for details of their best deals.

[Hands0n]

Well it arrived in the Saturday post much against all expectation!

Upto 24 hours for it to connect after delivery it says on the tin. But I plugged it up anyway and it's working fine.

I now have it working on Windows XP Netbook. Ubuntu Linux didn't want to know, so I'll have to do some investigating. There goes my Saturday :D

My only worry now is 3s accounting for my usage. Some scary tales out there. But for the price and the contractual obligation of one month I can sleep nights ;)

[miffed]

LOL , Coverage was never my problem ! ,that's the most frustrating part - to be sitting looking at a full 3G signal that can barely supply results comparable to dial up is most frustrating , especially when , after coming to terms with the poor speed, you realise that the "slow connection" isn't even working properly !

... No , seriously mate , Best of luck , my experiences were a good 10 months ago , we all know how obsessive 3 are when it comes to looking after their customers needs , I am sure they'll have it all sorted now ;)

[Hands0n]

Much has been said of Three's issues with connectivity which I have always felt were rooted in their implementation of DNS. I have had the opportunity to experience these first hand just now.

I left the connection up and running while I had some lunch. Upon returning to the netbook I found that I was unable to connect to anything at all. Firefox was reporting failure during lookup of the likes of google.co.uk. This is very wrong and shouldn't happen at all.

I started up a Command window in XP and ran the ipconfig /all command that revealed normal IP configuration parameters. The DNS server config was there. But still the browser would not work.

So I then ran the nslookup command (nslookup google.co.uk) which was all revealing. The nslookup utility is somewhat persistent and will retry several times, perhaps the browsers do not. The first two attempts resulted in "DNS request timeout", it is allowed two seconds. The third attempt resulted in a result being returned, following which normal browser function resumed.

So, if you are using Three's DNS servers you may need to use nslookup to re-awaken the connectivity between your computer and the DNS server.

I am going to run the same tests using OpenDNS to see if that really does permanently resolve this silly issue.

NB: It will be pointless reporting this to Three for two reasons, (1) the information will never make it to the team in Three that will be able to resolve it and (b) if they can't find this break by now then they'll not understand what I'm on about anyway, which is probably why the fault exists in the first place!

None of this puts me off - there are practical workarounds :)

[Hands0n]

I will take no credit for finding the solution to using the Three Mobile Broadband ZTE MF627 USB modem on Linux (Ubuntu in this case).

After a bit of searching the solution has been eloquently described here --> http://www.greenhughes.com/content/zte-mf627-easy-way

A bit of the usual Linux fiddling around is required to get things done - part of the reason that Linux is still struggling to gain general public acceptance. These things needs to be encapsulated into the sets of drivers and [complete] utilities that Windows users are well experienced in. I suspect none of what is in the linked document will mean much to anyone who has not got at least some rudimentary experience in Linux-based systems.

If you are in this particular hole :) just follow the instructions to install the e169g-switch package first, it contains the vital but omitted usb_modeswitch. Only then install the zte-mf627-switch_01_all.deb package linked from the article (usb_modeswitch is its dependency and it will not install without usb_modeswitch being in situ already). This is classic Linux, the devs and supporters like to keep it suitably complex and elite :D That I take the trouble to, and am capable, of locating this stuff is one thing - but if they want Linux to become more widespread and acceptable they've got to get out of this damned mindset of theirs!

[miffed]

You're all doomed ..... DOOMED !! ... *sadistic laugh*

[Hands0n]

Oh well, I tried. At least I tried.

After yesterday's success at getting the ZTE MF627 hooked up to Windows XP, Apple Mac OS X and Ubuntu Linux 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) things took a turn for the worse. I'll thank Miffed to stop sniggering at the back of the class, its not funny.

The problem appears to be that randomly, and often, routing with 3 network just stops dead. All IP packets simply go nowhere at all. The IP stack of the PC (with all of the above OS) appear absolutley normal. They work fine with 3G/HSPA USB modems from Vodafone and O2. But plug in the 3 modem and it all comes to a grinding halt.

Now this is really odd, as it suggests that either 3 have a fundamental networking problem within their Intranet or that the local transmitter is losing its routing or connectivity with the core IP network within 3. Either way, there is no reliable way to get communications back - it will either return as randomly as it disappeared, or not at all.

I have tried the 3 SIM in another [unlocked] USB modem of Huawei brand and exactly the same thing happens. Vodafone and O2 SIM work fine in that USB modem, but not the 3 SIM. The fault goes wherever does the 3 SIM [and by implication the 3 network].

I have spent a total of around five hours hacking away at this, using the tools that can be had on all three OS, but to no avail. As far as the PC is concerned the IP stack is up and running normally.

For this to be a consistent fault across all three, and very different, OS and hardware it has to be very firmly rooted in either the 3 USB stick itself or the network. Given that different USB modems with the 3 SIM give the same result places the root within the 3 network.

Tomorrow I shall be phoning 3 to get a RAN so that everything can be returned. Another case of "Nice try 3, but no beer, again".

NB: It is a real shame that it has to go back - when it works it works very well and fast. I managed a speedtest of 3.1Mbps downlink yesterday and today. No doubt occasioned by having two 3 transmitters within 200m of my house (no, I don't know why either!).

[miffed]

*snigger*

Really ? ,thats a shame , thought you had found a top notch deal there mate ( honest ! ;) )

Seriously though mate , how many dongles do you need ? :D

Goes some way to explaining how they can afford these prices , they might as well give you a TB for your £15 !! it's not like you could use it !!

BTW , Lets all say a big hello to Ben ! (I am guessing he is using his 3 dongle and is able to read the forum but not log in or post :D )

[Ben]

Well, mine is working ok, though the software hates Vodafone Mobile Connect. It still mounts the damn CD every time I plug it in, so I have to eject that before I connect, and I also had to delete the Vodafone Mobile Connect config software or that just launches every time I plug it in and tries to take over.

Oh and it makes its own location on the Mac, so all of your other connections (VPN, WiFi etc) can't be used while the dongle is plugged in.

That aside, it's a nice enough package.

The speeds, however. SLOW! I get ~1200ms pings and it crawls. Best signal I've managed to get so far is 2 bars but even then it stayed slow. Will need to test it in another location.

Don't know whether to keep it or not yet. Not impressed so far.

[Hands0n]

Ben - there is an AT command you can send to the USB modem to turn off the memory stick part of it so other software will see the modem. I am out right now (gawd bless the iPhone) and will post it up on here so you can have another try.

@miffed - if it wasn't for this stupid data isolation problem it would be a real bargain. I got near full speed 3.1Mbps downlink, never got even close to that with Vodafone. But I cannot live with having to try 10 times to get a data link ( it connects 100% of the time but passes no data). It may have something to do with the co-located masts. But I really don't care. I have zero trust in 3 being able to fix it. Talking with the Mumbai Monkeys is only going to pi55 me off for the week :D

So off it goes. Another failed 3 experience to reinforce the other three :(

[Ben]

That'd be cool, thanks Hands0n.

I'll make sure I try some different locations this week. If I do see decent performance then I may well keep it around, I do like the idea of having a second network at my disposal that supposedly has such widespread 3G coverage.

[Hands0n]

@Ben - the AT command to send to the USB modem is AT+ZCDRUN=8 which will disable the ZeroCD device in the stick. Then when you plug the USB modem it will be seen as a modem first and not a memory device.

What the 3Connect software does is to flip the ZeroCD off to allow the modem to come through. The command above will do it permanently.

If you later want to switch the ZeroCD back on just use the command AT+ZCDRUN=9

In Linux (Ubuntu) you can use the command echo AT+ZCDRUN=8 > /dev/ttyUSBn where n is the number of the USB port that the 3 modem is using. You can discover that by plugging the device in and in Terminal using the dmesg command, the output of which will show you what you need to know.

Alternatively, you can telnet to the same /dev/ttyUSBn and enter the comand by hand.

[miffed]

@Ben - the AT command to send to the USB modem is AT+ZCDRUN=8 which will disable the ZeroCD device in the stick. Then when you plug the USB modem it will be seen as a modem first and not a memory device.

What the 3Connect software does is to flip the ZeroCD off to allow the modem to come through. The command above will do it permanently.

If you later want to switch the ZeroCD back on just use the command AT+ZCDRUN=9

In Linux (Ubuntu) you can use the command echo AT+ZCDRUN=8 > /dev/ttyUSBn where n is the number of the USB port that the 3 modem is using. You can discover that by plugging the device in and in Terminal using the dmesg command, the output of which will show you what you need to know.

Alternatively, you can telnet to the same /dev/ttyUSBn and enter the comand by hand.


And then , if you could just jump through these .....

[Hands0n]

RAN ordered. Just awaiting the returns Jiffy bag and we're all done!

If it were any other mobile operator I would have called Customer Service to work through the local issues (twin masts, one probably not handling the data channel correctly), but with the Mumbai Muppets I would rather gouge my eyes out with rusty spoons.

Had the service worked better than one connection in ten I might have given it a while longer, especially with the 30-day contract (still amazing I think). But this is Three we're talking about. There is something about utter futility that, to me, is a right turn off.

I've got an out of contract Vodafone £15/3GB that works 100% so my options remain open until someone else comes out with a 30-day deal similar to Three's

[Ben]

Doesn't look like this is going to work on Mac, don't think it hosts devices in quite the same way :(


@Ben - the AT command to send to the USB modem is AT+ZCDRUN=8 which will disable the ZeroCD device in the stick. Then when you plug the USB modem it will be seen as a modem first and not a memory device.

What the 3Connect software does is to flip the ZeroCD off to allow the modem to come through. The command above will do it permanently.

If you later want to switch the ZeroCD back on just use the command AT+ZCDRUN=9

In Linux (Ubuntu) you can use the command echo AT+ZCDRUN=8 > /dev/ttyUSBn where n is the number of the USB port that the 3 modem is using. You can discover that by plugging the device in and in Terminal using the dmesg command, the output of which will show you what you need to know.

Alternatively, you can telnet to the same /dev/ttyUSBn and enter the comand by hand.
Getting bugger all signal at the office, too, and more rubbish speeds!
Speed Down 181.67 Kbps ( 0.2 Mbps )
Speed Up 51.18 Kbps ( 0 Mbps )

Hard to see how I wont end up returning mine, too, at this rate. *sigh*

[Hands0n]

Hmmm, I've packed mine up ready to go back so cannot check it out against the Macbook.

It really is a crying shame really - the phone network here is fine - but if Mobile Broadband cannot be made to work in this area then this will be one of their blackspots.

I am only glad that (a) I had the 14 days to try it, not that I needed it, the obvious hit very quickly and (b) even if I had overstayed that I was on a one-month contract which is the worst it could have been.

When I called to ask for the RAN this morning the UK call centre lady asked my reason for cancelling. When I replied that one in ten connects only would work and then drop out within minutes she just sighed and coughed up the RAN without any further ado. I suspect that I was not the first call of the day, week, month. It must be very demoralising working for Three.

Edit:
Thinking about this carefully - I am out of contract with my Vodafone £15/3GB Mobile Broadband which means I can jump ship any time I like. For now the 3GB suits me, I rarely even get close - although the thought of 5GB for the same amount of cash is what drew me to 3's offer.

Until either Vodfaone [or one of the others] go for £15/5GB or better I am better off staying with them. At least their Mobile Broadband works 100% reliably. I have not once experienced the nonsense that Three's MBB was chucking my way.

[solo12002]

I reported issues with three mobile Bb on this forun on the advent thread. I myself found I was not able to get on line, or I was advised that I had no sim in the modem.

I myself have three PAYG ones now:

Three for use in the south of Ireland as they have a 10p a MB rate there, and I may end up buying a metor one for use in the south
O2 that Ive only used once
Vodafone, which I will be using, only wish they drop the 1gb price to £10 and not the current rip of £15

[paulbds]

Solo

I am going to get a couple of PAYG Mobile BB Sims from the 3 shop in Kilkenny when I am over next month all being well
I am not prepared to pay excessive roaming charges.I feel 10p/MB will soon rack up the bills!!!
I was also thinking about Meteor but doesn't have great coverage in the South just yet.
Incidentally, My Advent 4213 works ok with 3, O2 and T mobile Sim. Haven't tried with BTMobile just yet as I understand the Sim is locked to the modem

cheers
paul

[solo12002]

Paul

I note vodafone Ireland do PAYG BB its €79 for the dongle and then €5 a day which is dear as they dont apper to offer a weekly/monthly rate: https://www.vodafone.ie/df/mobilebroadband/gallery_details.jsp?tab=supplementary

O2 Ireland dont appear to do PAYG BB at all: http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Shop/Broadband/Buy+Broadband+now/

Metor as you said has poor coverage for your neck of the wood but appear to beat most on price: http://www.meteor.ie/bbtg/payg/pricing/

Three Ireland charges €119 for the dongle and then offere daily,weekly and monthly PAYG rates: http://www.three.ie/handsets_new/3-e180-black-prepaid-3pay-broadband.htm Cant see if they do PAUG BB Sims only or if it would work with a Three UK Dongle

[Ben]

I went to RAN mine this morning... and then didn't, lol. I might as well keep the modem (it was pretty cheap) and stump up the £15 for a few months until I've had the chance to really put it through its paces. Might even hook it up to something and leave it connected for as long as possible chunking through some data to try and encourage H3G to upgrade their network!

[Hands0n]

See? That's the crying shame for me. I got 3.1Mbps downlink WHEN it worked which 9 times in 10 it didn't. And then when it did the routing stopped and started randomly.

I, too, would have kept mine had they a half decent CS to discuss the problem with. I'm absolutely certain it is one of the two transmitter masts that are co-located less than 200m from my house. It is not going to be anything much more than that. But I simply cannot deal with the Mumbai Muppets ever again. Not ever.

And so regretably the USB modem is going back to Three as soon as I receive the returns bag that they are supposed to be sending. The bank DD is cancelled.

[miffed]

Wonder how that works though - Won't you be liable for the usage you have used at the maximal (out of bundle) rates ?

Hey , thats a point ! .... you guys DID try wiping your sims with a soft dry cloth , right ? ;)

[Hands0n]

They can try and charge me. I'll see them in court before I'd part with a penny. No doubt I'll have to sue them to get my £9.99 back!

To right I wiped the SIM. We all know how well that always works ;)

[Ben]

The returns form is hilarious. Supposedly the item has to be unused, too, which doesn't make for much of a peace of mind guarantee. Oh well. Hope your return goes ok, am sure it will!

Wouldn't have cancelled the DD though, that's like tempting fate :p

[Hands0n]

Wouldn't have cancelled the DD though, that's like tempting fate :p

Three actually told me to do that! How mad is that!!

The returns is very contradictory. Parts say you can try it, others say you cannot. Then they say you may be charged for use of ... I'll save the web pages just in case the court needs them :D

Not that they've much of a leg to stand on ... This culled from their web page for the offer ...


14 day money back guarantee


As you're buying Mobile Broadband from 3Store online, should you change your mind you can return it, so long as you return it within 14 days from the date of delivery. You'll need to call first to get a returns authorisation number.
You can use USB Modem (and laptop if that was part of the offer) but we ask that you send everything back (including the modem, SIM, cables, any documents, packaging, laptop and free gifts if they were part of the offer). Everything needs to be returned in 'as new' or 'as sold' condition. Otherwise, we may not allow you to return the items and cancel your agreement with us, or we may charge you for any items or components that are missing or damaged.
If you bought a Pay Monthly contract we'll end your contract so long as these conditions are met although we may charge you for any services you used at our standard rates.


Note the final sting in the tail :)

[solo12002]

ben and co.

Another reason why to hand it back:3 UK OPENS UP ADVERTISING INVENTORY ON MOBILE BROADBAND DASHBOARD TO MAJOR BRANDS

http://www.threemediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=417&NewsAreaID=2

It pixxes me off the thing takes you to their page in the first place with out adds.

[Ben]

Hilarious! :D

I don't need to worry too much about seeing any ads, mine is completely unusable at home. Tried to set it up last night doing some downloading on a Windows XP machine. Sure it installed OK, and I even managed to get it downloading at 2KB/sec (!), but the download had failed and connection been lost when I got up this morning.

[3GScottishUser]

When my 3 mobile BB contract expires in Novenber I will be dumping it.

Its supposed to be a fiver a month if you subscribe to a contract and £10 if you dont but I dumped 3 in April and they are still only charging the fiver. It pretty useless though and I think when its time is up I will cancel and throw the dongle in the Clyde and get a Vodafone one for £20 on e-bay with 1GB of data which is not time restricted. That should last me a good few months and will work out cheaper than 3.

The sad thing about 3 is no matter what they have tried to pioneer they have either made a total mess of it or have been gazumped by others. HWL have nowhere to go now.

[miffed]

Although surely this advertising thing won't be on the current deals though ? I suspect there might be something "better" on offer - Like perhaps a free service ? Sign up to a mobile phone contract and get a free (subject to advertising) BB service ? - this would be pretty good IMO , or at least it would be if it worked.
Of course 3 have done a lot of damage to themselves over the years , but as Ben and Handson demonstrate here , the right deal will always have some previously burned customers coming back for more abuse ... just to see !

As suggested , 3 will probably screw this up , but it just could be the thing that saves them - I suppose the customers that end up on T-mobiles gear will get a service that works ? ...... Meaning they'll get a few satisfied customers at least !! , OK , so just a few - but thats a few more than they have ever had .

[Hands0n]

The 3 Connect software keeps an eye out for updates and prompts the user to do so. That makes it easy for 3 to retrospectively roll out their new SPAMming campaign of paying Mobile Broadband users.

I tend to agree with 3GSU on this one - 3 really have nowhere to go.

[Ben]

This "Dashboard" opens in a new browser window now, since updating the software.

Might roll back to the software on the USB stick on the windows machine I'm playing with it on. What a bloomin' cheek!

[Hands0n]

Might roll back to the software on the USB stick on the windows machine I'm playing with it on. What a bloomin' cheek!

My money says it won't let you :D :D :D :eek:

[Ben]

My money says it won't let you :D :D :D :eek:
If it has updated the software contained on the stick then that's just mean!

[Hands0n]

Well finally, with one day to go before my holidays, the returns bag arrived from Three. It uses the Royal Mail Special Delivery so at least the return is insured and tagged.

That should be the conclusion of my fourth outing with Three that has ended in tears.

Will there be a fifth? Going by other recent stories on Talk3G (and elsewhere) of aggressive CS staff in Mumbai, continued inefficiences and incompetencies and demoralised UK staff at the hand of aggressive management - anyone spot a theme here? - I rather think that it is going to be one of those "... when hell freezes over...." things.

With a shambles like Three, uncompetitive competition like Orange, weak 3G networker like O2 and one up for sale like T-Mobile it all rather gives Vodafone a completely clear field to do what the hell they like, and not bother competing with itself!

Not at all good for the customer.

[Ben]

With a shambles like Three, uncompetitive competition like Orange, weak 3G networker like O2 and one up for sale like T-Mobile it all rather gives Vodafone a completely clear field to do what the hell they like, and not bother competing with itself!

Not at all good for the customer.
That's quite an interesting observation actually, lol. No, I suppose competition isn't exactly 'thriving'. The other mobops have ignored 3 pretty much from the start, though there has been downward pressure on prices (thank goodness).