Smart Bro Speed

As promised earlier, I would capture Smart Bro speed test screenshots so you would have an idea how fast it really is.

I conducted speed tests on the following online web speedometers: McAffee, SpeedTest.Net, 2Wire.com, and CNET.com. I will also include a screenshot of the Smart Bro interface showing the transport rate, receive rate, and the wireless protocol available at the time of the test.

Here they are:

McAffee Internet Connection Speedometer

SpeedTest.Net

2Wire.com

CNET

Smart Bro

I'm not getting similar results but if we exclude the Smart Bro UI, the download speeds range from about 240 kbps to 500 kbps. Not bad, if you ask me. These speeds were brought to us by an HSDPA connection, so you can expect slower speeds if your location only has 3G, or even GPRS signals. 

The varying results could be mainly because the protocol signals change from time to time. In my current location (Baptist Mission Road, Banilad, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines), which is not within the city's main thoroughfares, the signals alternate between 3G and HSDPA. We may expect much faster speeds in the downtown area since the telcos will understandably provide access to faster speeds in densely populated areas.

If you're a web-based freelance writer in the Philippines like myself, these upload and download Smart Bro speed ratings can be sufficient for your needs; unless of course your writing job requires you to watch online streaming videos. Uploading large files during submissions might also be a pain in the ass. 

Smart Bro USB - First Impression

Smart Bro USB is fast. In fact, the fastest I've tried so far.

Here in the Philippines, the top three telcos (Smart, Globe, and Sun) offer USB modems to provide Internet access for people who want to connect to the Web practically anytime/anywhere. My first try on such a device was Globe's product - the Globe Tattoo.

My first impression on that one? - a total disappointment. Not only was the connection super slow in most places I went, it was also super slow most of the time. Since I reside in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, most of my observations have been confined to this area. However, I've also tried somewhere in Iligan City in Mindanao and still got the same poor speed.

When our broadband connection at home (I use Sky Cable's ZPDee) experienced some serious downtime earlier this week, Joy and I decided to try out the Smart Bro USB device a.k.a. Smart Bro Prepaid. So far, it has performed much better than Globe Tattoo. If the web speed meter was accurate, the device was able to breach 500 kbps mark.

I'll try to post a screenshot one of these days.

Of course, I believe the performance of these USB plug-in modems largely depend on the wireless signal in the area. For instance, if Smart has HSDPA or 3G in your area while Globe only has GPRS, naturally you'd experience much faster speeds with the Smart Bro USB device. However, if your location has HSDPA in the Globe network and not in the Smart network, then the performance would certainly be the other way around.

People who need to connect to the Web frequently will find these USB modems quite handy. However, I suggest you still get a regular broadband connection as the airtime rates of these devices are just way too expensive for regular use.

Smart and Globe, for example, charge about PhP20 per hour. By comparison, a Sky Cable ZPDee 1Mbps connection will cost you only around PhP1,800 per month. That's already 24/7 Internet access. Just imagine how much you'd have to pay for airtime if you had to connect via the Smart Bro USB even just for 8 hours per day over a one month period.

I'll have more posts like this in the future, so do keep coming back.