3G/GPRS coverage? Directional Antenna?

[Lope]

Are all base stations (cellphone towers) 3G?

I access internet on a laptop via a cellphone.
Sometimes there are 2 or 3 bars of signal, yet its running on GPRS. Other times, signal is also not very strong, but it runs on 3G.

I'm wondering if a directional antenna would help.

 

[NeonNinja]

It depends on various factors. If it's congested in your area, the signal will depriciated, etc. Remember, what ever profile acquired, it's from 0Kbps upwards. Not all are 3G obviously, that would explain why you wouldn't get a 3G signal at some rural area. But ones in towns and cities I believe meet atleast 384Kbps 3G.

 

[Lope]

Ok, so u reckon any suburb in Cape Town will have 3G towers?

 

[NeonNinja]

Yes, although coverage might come into question. For instance, on my modem, I'm always at around 3.5Mbps (no boosters or anything). But on my mobile, 3G signal is lost most of the time. Get different coverage when I move outside, etc, but generally the area would be 3G covered.