3G stability/performance

[quik]

Hi guys

I'm thinking of downgrading my ADSL to 384 and getting a fairly limited 3G package (say 500MB/R350) or even smaller to use for mobile computing and probably some real time applications such as Currency/Equity trading. I do not require very high speeds but stability and fairly decent international latency (consistant sub 500 pings at least).

What I would like to know therefore is how stable are 3G connections. Can you stay connected to the network for several hours at a time and does the service disconnect when switching between cells or between 3G/GPRS?

If someone has used a pingplotter or some kind of performance analyzer your comments and findings will also be helpfull.

PS: My apologies if this has been done already as i'm only starting to sift through all the 3G posts.

 

[Tazz_Tux]

Hi guys

I do not require very high speeds but stability and fairly decent international latency (consistant sub 500 pings at least).

Can you stay connected to the network for several hours at a time and does the service disconnect when switching between cells or between 3G/GPRS?

Hey Quik,

1) The curse of South Africa, international bandwidth. Vodacom, like every other user in SA are at the mercy of the IAP's and have to battle it out for international traffic.
2) You can stay connected to the network for as long as you need - the network will not change your IP, even if you switch between cells. I will test and confirm the 3G/2G hand over IP thinggy, but you should still keep the same IP. Unless someone else has tested this.

Cheers,

Tazz

 

[quik]

I guess i'm going to find out then...

How about the variations between latencies of 3G and GPRS (disregarding throughput)

I've read in some previous posts that if you require a routable IP you need to be on contract which I'm not really up for. Along those lines I'd also like to know what are the options available for dedicated data cards and peoples experiences with them. I read somewhere about some imported stuff that's alot more affordable than the vodacom card.

Posted by ic
as well as maybe mention where you need 3G coverage most & ask others to comment if they have experience of that area.

I think it will be mostly around the Jhb City/Midrand/East Rand Areas, although I can imagine myself lying on the beech in capetown while 'working' (If the damn wind relaxes that is)

 

[UnDeR±tAkEr]

>quik

I am currently also looking at two connections (have 3G 1 already) as well for currency trading. With me being out in the boendoes I only get a GPRS connection. Been using ISDN for years but costs were killing me.

My question to u: is ADSL ok, more in terms of reliability. For example does your feed slow down during news trading? ISDN seems to struggle with it... and forget about using a GPRS connection. Pings are all over the place...

I'm moving to Gauteng in April and hope that 3G will be better. Maybe I won't need ADSL as well, but then again depends on how you trade (long term or scalping).

Cheers

 

[quik]

I havn't been trading for very long, I'm still learning, but sofar ADSL has worked perfectly. I'm not yet really familiar with news trading (Is that Fundamental Analysis?) and there has been the odd disconnect but for the most part i run news feeds, graphing (some times up to 10+ charts at once) and the buy/sell interface without any noticable lag.

It barely makes a dent in traffic idling along at less than 1KB/s avg. Where ADSL really shines is in opening new java aplet charts etc. that requires some downloading.

I've had the charting etc run for days on end without any problems.

I think you'll see alot less slow down on ADSL than ISDN purely because of capacity.

I'd really appreciate any tips/advice you could give me on your experience with various trading companies/platforms, training resources/books etc. PM me if you are interrested.