Backup 4G (or 3G?) USB Aircard for a rainy day (literally)

[impulse]

Whenever it rains, my home internet connection goes to crap. I suspect it's because of damp wires, but can't dismiss the possibility that all my neighbors download porn movies to pass the time when it's raining. I've run several speedtests and the results have been in the <1 Meg range (D- to F ranking)- and that's when it connects at all, which I can't take for granted. Frankly, the speeds still stink when it's sunny, but I'm not gaming or streaming so I don't care.

In any case, I'm not even considering the possibility of complaining and looking for help from TOT. My blood pressure is already high enough.

But I digress... I'm considering buying a USB Aircard for a backup when I can't get decent interweb speeds. I don't plan to do any streaming or heavy file transfers during the rain (I can do plenty of that on sunny days), just web browsing for news and emails.

Here are the questions- Which company puts out the best USB Aircard service around Asoke in BKK, is 4G really better than 3G, and are there any super secret deals out there that I should know about so I don't go in like a rube and hand over more scratch than I need to? (Though my company will pick up the expenses because they need me on email 24/7/365, I don't want to gouge them, either.)

Thanks in advance...

Edited August 22, 2015 by impulse

[chrisinth]

What sort of data package do you have on your mobile phone? If you have an unlimited/12GB/even 4.5GB, set your mobile up as a hotspot and use the 3G/4G package you are already paying for.

It just saves carrying another device around.

[impulse]

What sort of data package do you have on your mobile phone? If you have an unlimited/12GB/even 4.5GB, set your mobile up as a hotspot and use the 3G/4G package you are already paying for.

It just saves carrying another device around.

That's what I do now. And though the phone is mine (3G limited), the SIM belongs to the company and is under their data plan, which I have no control over. So it's great to get emails in an absolute emergency, but the speed is agonizingly slow for web browsing.

If I want to go the tethering way long term, I'm forced to carry around a 2nd phone- on a non-company SIM. I have a backup 3G phone- but I don't keep the SIM active- it's a 7" phone with dual SIM slots that I bought as a tablet/emergency phone. I use it as a wifi entertainment device when I'm traveling. It's too big to keep in a pocket for full time phone use. If my main Galaxy S2 phone (or its battery) dies, I can swap the SIM over in a pinch until I can get it sorted or get another pocket size phone.

Neither of my cell phones is 4G capable. If I want to use 4G, I have to buy yet another phone, which is a lot more hassle and expense than a 4G USB Aircard. (Or looking at True's 3,150 baht 4G aircard/wifi shared point). Which is part 2 of my question- is 4G really better than 3G in real life for basic web browsing and email?

Edited August 22, 2015 by impulse