Australian ISP Internode are offering 3G range boosters, supplied by UK manufacturer Panorama antennas, which promise a considerable signal boost for the average broadband user.
The 3G TCLIP is the kind of range booster you might have seen offered for your mobile phone years ago, when it was popular to use big clunky aerials. The universal clip attaches to laptops, and improves the signal by scanning for better frequencies.
In addition to a range of broadband price cuts announced by Internode in the last few days, the company is eagerly backing the new hardware edition as a way of comforting the legions of 3G users who often fail to achieve optimum 3G performance - handy, if you don't happen to be using the rather expensive Telstra Bigpond service.
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| The 3G antenna is available from Internode |
At $29.95, it might be worth taking a punt on if your 3G signal needs a helping hand. The antennae work on the 824-960 and 1710-2170 MHz range and can be docked or attached to the computer.
The antenna is intended to enhance signal reception for customers who reguarly use Internode's main NodeMobile 3G data plans in areas where low signal strength is a common problem.
It would be nice to imagine that these kind of hardware additions are the magic bullet to countering lousy 3G reception, but until we see some hard data on the benefits these boosters can provide, we're going to withhold judgement for now.
The products are on sale now through Internode's website.