Mobile Broadband Question

.Curjos.

.Curjos.

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Curjos
Basically, my situation is that I recently started university and the internet on campus is really bad, meaning I can't log into PlayOnline and therefore I can't play FFXI.

I thought about getting mobile broadband, but I don't want to make any major decisions before I definitely know I can play FFXI using it. I am thinking about getting a 3GB plan, but looking at the usage, the limit is 100 hours a month of surfing the web. This isn't really an issue because I can browse using the internet provided on campus, but is 3G enough to run FFXI for a decent amount of time?
 
One of my Dynamis members used a Verizon card last Sunday to play, and he had fairly spotty connection issues.

The WWAN cards are fairly reliable, but they're just slightly better than dialup, so expect lag, and lots of it.
 
My friend has the T Mobile one Ben. He said he can play WoW perfectly with no problems. The T-Mobile one is 1-2mb connection speeds. I presume 3 and the others all are the same speed as well. If you get into the long contracts you can usually get a free netbook as well. I paid for my netbook but I can't even begin to describe how useful it's been for me taking notes and stuff.

Also T-Mobile reckon they'll be able to provide 4.5mb connections in most built up areas by the end of the year. Being in Liverpool you shouldn't have a problem at all. They also are probably the most reliable and quickest service of them all.
 
I used a mobile broadband card at one point! It's very good, allowed me to play at least but not do serious activities (i.e. tank).

To give you a statistic, during ONE work evening I use about 6mb (this includes light browsing) coupled with FFXI play. On a weekend evening I use about 20mb (browsing and FFXI is running). I was on a 1gb limit. I regularly end up with 400mb free.

I didn't browse stuff like flash sites/youtube though as I was rather conservative. But 3gb a month for you IS enough for FFXI only.

Occasionally I had to play at GPRS speeds (slightly better than dial up). A bit laggy but it still worked. On full throttle there's noticable lag compared to a proper connection, but it works.

I get dropped often when the signal goes dead now and then and sometimes I can recover from a R0, other times I have to log back in. Kinda a pain, but not as bad.

EDIT: Remember, FFXI was designed for dial up (i forgot who said...), any extra speed it'll take for granted but it doesn't seem to exceed a specific speed, as there seems to be a cap. And my work evening = playing FFXI for 3~ hours when I get time. Weekend night = 8-9 hours sometimes. Just don't do anything stupid and bazaar overnight/afk in Whitegate or something (but even if you do it should be enough)
 
LadyKiKi said:
Occasionally I had to play at GPRS speeds (slightly better than dial up). A bit laggy but it still worked. On full throttle there's noticable lag compared to a proper connection, but it works.

I get dropped often when the signal goes dead now and then and sometimes I can recover from a R0, other times I have to log back in. Kinda a pain, but not as bad.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I hadn't taken into account that he's hoping to use a 3G card, which would be phenomenally better than a GPRS card.

While my LSmate was solid when his connection stayed, the connection's reliability was suspect at best.
 
I play FFXI on Cingular (AT&T) 3G. Connection is solid however, if I roam I usually receive the R-0 for a few seconds, rarely does it completely disconnect tho.

Lag has never been a problem really, throughput is as reliable as any low level broadband.

Problem is, some areas are not 3G, I've never fell into one of those zones yet, but I don't think it would effect game play that much.

OP: The only way to find out if an area is 3G is to try one out. AT&T is free for 30 days. My friend said every floor of his house gives him 3G (blue light) while in his basement it drops to a pink light.

Good Luck ^^
 
Thanks for the info everyone ^^

I think I'll definitely look into getting one then, now that I don't have to be worried about signing a 12 month contract and not being able to get the use I want out of it.

Now I all I need to do is to get a part-time job to pay for it <.<
 
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