I avoided broadband disaster thanks to a lesser-known Wi-Fi alternative

MOVING home is stressful enough without having to worry about your broadband service.

In a world where everything from bills to watching Netflix is done online, even a couple of days without access to the internet can cause chaos.

I was with Virgin Media and checked whether my (temporary) new home was covered by them.

It seemed all was fine after I checked their postcode coverage checker online and we informed them that we were changing address.

An engineer would need to come over, which takes time.

Then the date was pushed back – this wasn’t going to be some quick transfer, so what on Earth were we going to do for the time being?

We could use our phone’s data but they would quickly run out and cost a bomb.

So we decided to look into 5G and 4G home broadband.

Instead of relying on traditional cables, 5G and 4G broadband uses the wireless networks typically used by mobiles.

We tried Vodafone’s 5G GigaCube and this is how we found it.

5G GigaCube: Setup

The GigaCube is easy to set up.

You need to insert a SIM card into the hub and plug it into power – no need to insert any other cables like you do for traditional broadband.

This also means you have the advantage of putting the GigaCube wherever you want with ease, not near the entry point – which is important for getting the right Wi-Fi location for best coverage all over your home.

The 5G GigaCube service is a welcome alternative to the rigid world of home broadband we’re all too used to (and often, fed up with)

Within a few minutes green lights should start to flash next to 4G and/or 5G – depending on what’s available in your area – which signifies that you’re ready to go.

Enter the password on your devices like you would with any other router and you’ll be connected.

5G GigaCube: Speeds

The 5G GigaCube delivered pretty fast speeds – when it connected.

And for the most part, it did stay connected but there were moments were service would very briefly dropout.

This will obviously vary from area to area as Vodafone – and other networks – continue to build out their 5G network.

So always pop your postcode in the online coverage checker first.

Speeds varied quite widely, which is not unheard of for traditional broadband too.

Tests at 11.30pm one Thursday night came back with 10Mbps and 1Mbps uploads, while a Friday morning showed 66Mbps and a whooping 18Mbps upload speed.

In terms of latency (the amount of time it takes for the data you input to go from one place to another) on Thursday it came back with 37 ms and Friday just 11 ms.

5G GigaCube: Performance

I had no problem watching HD content on Netflix and was able to participate in video calls online without issues too.

However, my Sky Glass TV (which relies on internet streaming of live channels instead of satellite) would sometimes lag for some reason.

Connecting with an ethernet port helped, as it would on a traditional broadband router.

There are two ethernet ports available on the GigaCube.

I don’t game online so can’t provide any feedback on how well it performs here.

Vodafone says the GigaCube can support up to 64 devices simultaneously.

5G GigaCube: Pricing

The 5G GigaCube is available at various price points for different needs.

Both the 4G version and 5G one offer a 200GB data plan at £40 per month.

The 5G GigaCube has an unlimited option for £60 per month.

There are 24-month contracts and 30-day rolling plans, which only differ in terms of upfront cost (a long term unlimited contract has no upfront cost while the rolling plans incur a hefty £175 one-off fee).

5G GigaCube: Verdict

The 5G GigaCube service is a welcome alternative to the rigid world of home broadband we’re all too used to (and often, fed up with).

As the 5G network continues to develop, the speed and flexibility is sure to attract more people – provided you’re in an area well served with 5G.

It really depends on your needs – if you’re in a location that struggles to get a good fixed broadband service or you’re in need of something more portable that you can take anywhere in the UK, it’s worth considering.

In my case without broadband for several weeks it was a lifesaver, even if there were some short dropouts.

If you’re already using Vodafone on a smartphone and you get perfect 5G, you have an even stronger case.

But you really must check the coverage first.

Hopefully prices will also come down a bit too in the future – especially for the flexible 30 day plan which could be a real game-changer.

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.

Always do your own research before making any purchase.