Comparison of Bell and Rogers HSPA networks
I've just done an impromptu comparative test of Bell's and Rogers' HSPA services (e.g. Bell Turbo Hub vs. Rogers Rocket Stick -- both the 7Mbps peak HSPA service).
Although not exhaustive, I tried to keep things as similar as possible.
Key differences include:
Bell Turbo Hub test results: 3.3 Mbps down
Rogers Rocket Stick test results: 750Kbps down
Click on the 'results' links to see the test details.
I actually ran a numbers of tests; the above results are typical. I saw Rogers range from 63 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps, while Bell never dropped below 2.5 Mbps.
For this morning anyway, and in my immediate area, Bell was way faster than Rogers.
Although not exhaustive, I tried to keep things as similar as possible.
- The Bell Hub and Rogers Stick were located ~1m apart.
- The tests were performed ~30 seconds apart.
- All tests were performed using testmy.net's Download SmarTest.
Key differences include:
- The Bell Hub was connected through my WinXP PC while the Rogers Stihttp://www2.blogger.com/img/blank.gifck was connected to my Vista laptop.
- Rogers are towers are located to the ~2.5km north and ~5km south of my home, while Bell towers are located ~5km east and west of my home.
Bell Turbo Hub test results: 3.3 Mbps down
Rogers Rocket Stick test results: 750Kbps down
Click on the 'results' links to see the test details.
I actually ran a numbers of tests; the above results are typical. I saw Rogers range from 63 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps, while Bell never dropped below 2.5 Mbps.
For this morning anyway, and in my immediate area, Bell was way faster than Rogers.
posted by Chris Spencer at 10:06 am
12 comments
12 Comments:
Thanks and please keep us updated on this as I am deciding over the next month about which to use based on this kind of data. I would like to know what area you live in?
Thankyou and please keep us updated about QOS during peak hours. What area do you live in?
I live between Manotick and Kars.
Well, in my continuing search for reliable high speed, I got a Rogers Turbo Hub (fortunately they have a 14 day return policy). I connected it and found there was no internet connection here. The Hub showed low signal. A friend who lives on 6th Mile just east of Tommy Dolan has a Rogers cell phone and when he was here he got no signal.
Next on the list is Telus... last on the list is Xplornet. Still having serious problems with My Bell Turbo Hub (Netgear) Intermittent ability to connect - last speed test - 1.06MBS down; 346KBS up.
I live on Wagon Drive in Dunrobin. Dunrobin Rd to north on Vance; Vance to west on Greenland; Greenland to north on Mast Lane...then around the circle//
Hope this info helps some of you.
@Lois Anne:
If you're still considering one of the big wireless internet providers, you should know that they usually leverage their cell towers to handle their HSPA network as well (I mean, wouldn't you?). Here's a link to a mapping of supposedly all cell towers in Canada:
http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/cancellsites.html
The closer the cell tower is to your location, the more likely you are to get a strong signal and thus higher speeds (not that a strong signal is the only factor affecting speed).
Also, if you're currently getting 1 Mbps down on the Bell Turbo Hub, and you're not getting any signal from Rogers, then, sadly, that may be the best that you can get in your area. I abandoned Xplornet after they couldn't even reliably manage 500 Kbps down on my 3 Mbps service (I was expecting and used to get 1.0 - 1.5 Mbps reliably).
You could try Xplornet. I think they have a 30-day trial. But be warned they have a new fair-use policy which allows them to throttle download speeds. I read the policy, and it was another factor in my decision to abandon them.
-Chris
Lois Anne,
I understand Northwind Wireless is now providing wireless internet in the Dunrobin/Greenland area after the demise of SimplySurf. May be worth giving them a call.
I live just north of North Gower and used to have Storm service then XplorNet, then unfortunately tried Bell WiMax (which they abandoned without telling their victims... er customers) and am now on a Bell TurboHub. I can confirm that the Bell HSPA is considerably faster than Rogers, not just in rural Ottawa but almost everywhere in Ottawa and Toronto. For example, with the same smart phone, in downtown Ottawa, Bell downloads at 4 mbps and Rogers at .9 mbps. Where I live it is around 1.8 mbps down for Bell and .3 - .4 mbps down for Rogers. Unfortunately, in recent weeks Bell's service has been very unreliable -- for hours it has been as low as .1 mbps down. I'd love to hear what your QoS is/has been with the Bell turbohub.
I used to use Rogers High Spped and recently moved where there is no line service for high speed. On advice, I chose Bell Wireless Internet (not based on mobile service). The advertised speed is 3M. On average I would estimate it to be 1M and as I type, the speed is ...wait...a whopping 110K. With such slow speeds it's impossible to use the internet...2-3 min for a simple webpage to load.
I'm about to switch to the Bell mobile Turbo Hub and see how that goes.
Rogers has a retention plan for users of their portable internet service which is a pretty good deal. Now they need to make this available to all of their current Rocket Hub customers. We switched to the Rocket Hub a year ago and as a result it is not available for us or apparently other current Rocket Hub users.
PIS Migration Offer Ref: RETSRA057
Level 1 plan: $45/month 10GB
Level 2 plan: $60/month 30GB
Must sign up for the 2 year plan, free rocket hub.
($10/GB overage still applies with max $100 a month overage)
______________________________
You have reached our Online Management Support Team.
I understand how this can be frustrating to you. If you choose to switch to the Rocket Hub, I am willing to offer the following price plan:
Flex Rate Data Plan:
Level 1 – $45 (up to 10GB)
Level 2 – $60 (up to 30 GB)
(Overage: $10 per additional GB up to a cap of $100)
Government Regulatory Recovery Fee (GRRF) applies as well
The requirement for the price plan above for Rocket Hub is a 2 year term.
If you accept the above offer for the Rocket Hub, I suggest purchasing the Rocket Hub at a local Rogers’ store near you and once you activate the device, reply to this email and I will change your price plan to the above. I have provided you with a link to find a store near you: http://www.rogers.com/storelocator.
Thank you for sharing your concern with us.
Regards,
Nathalie G.
Online Management Support Team
http://www.rogers.com
What a load of garbage from Rogers... a 2 year contract and $10/GB when you go over your $60/30GB max! Only in Canada can people be so ripped off so badly by our Telco monopoly, especially rural dwellers.
Still better than Bell's TurboHub offering: $60/month for first 10GB, then $15/GB after that.
I'd stay away from Bell in the Corkery Woods area.
I got a MVBR1210C on May 20th and it worked great for a week -- around 2Mbps consistently. I quickly downloaded almost 2 GB of my monthly cap in that week.
Then it stopped working ... and I'm outside the "buyers remorse" period and I can't cancel it. Apparently there are too many users for the one tower that I reach and service "may not be possible during peak demand".
So I can continue to pay $45 a month for something that I can use after midnight or cancel it for $400 ... "it obviously works sir if you've downloaded almost 3GB. We can't accept the device back from you". Like I've soiled the poor hub or something.
Stay away from Bell if you use this tower!
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