inkle wrote:

Thanks for your sound advice above, but in this case I'd be attaching it to
a computer which is only a meter below the roof space/slates anyway so
probably not practical to have the modem a few meters higher.

From what you say about the coverage maps, not only would it be
practical, it would also be vital. You need a good clear signal for good
mobile broadband, and putting it up on a pole would help a LOT.

I guess I'll
have to try and borrow a 3G phone, take it up to the chimney and see if it
picks up anything.

Yes, well worth it.


I wonder if some of the USB modems have a socket for an external antenna.

All the ones I have seen do have. But the cable has to be a big, fat,
low-loss one. The suggestion of a usb cable with modem at the top of the
pole was a good one.

Having said that, from your previous posting, I strongly advise you to
persevere with ther ADSL. Switch to a good ADSL provider (this really
means switch to Zen) and they will hassle BT Wholesale and therefore BT
OpenReach to sort out line problemns and get your ADSL working properly.

BT Braodband are one of the worst providers when it comes to getting BT
Wholesale to sort out problems.