mobile internet and SL

Hi I am trying hard to find out info as to how well SL will run on a mobile 3G or edge service.. data usage, speed, anything ! If you have experience of this please share and maybe advise on which service you find works for you. I need it for travel abroad (UK to europe). Thanks and happy SL

I know it works. But its trickly to maintain a connection especially on trains and buses (in London).

ty Jip.. any idea on data use pls?

When I am in some hotels where they do not have a good internet connection, I use the tethering functionality of my iPhone, but the 3G of the iPhone is faster then the 3G on regular phones somehow. Works like a charm, between 1 and 2 megabit speed.

Cannot say too much about the data, apart from the fact that it uses much. If you cannot have a flat fee subscription, don't do it. At least a few hundred MB's will be used, though it will depend where you stay during the session. If you only are on your building floor with not much to rezz, it is much different from when you go to a new place of course.

ty Marcel, as a rough estimate , how much MB's in an hour of connection?

I've used SL with a 3 dongle, albeit with my crappy laptop which I suspect didn't add much to the experience. I found that if I kept the graphics settings low, didn't stream the audio, and didn't go anywhere where there were loads of people, it worked OK. If you just want to chat or check your store, then fine, but I soon got bored waiting for things to rez. It does work, but there are too many variables for a definitive answer - signal strength, PC, etc, etc.

As for the data usage, it soon mounts up! You can download a bandwidth monitor easily enough which will measure your how much. Use that for a week or so, and that will give you a fair idea of what you are using.

Other thing to bear in mind is the roaming charges. I know if I use my phone outside of the UK, the charges are sky high, so would assume it would be the same for someone coming to the UK.

Eiffel, no way to know - depends on where you are and what you are doing. If you are standing still on your own in an empty sim not doing anything, not very much. If you are dancing at a busy club, then shedloads! Get yourself a bandwidth monitor, and visit the places you normally go and see how it adds up.

I once had a connection with a 10GB monthly limit, and I'd nearly used that in the first week!

I can't imagine a connection to an EDGE network would be all that pleasurable compared to standard broadband Internet, though it is a far cry better than GPRS. 3G EV-DO networks, on the other hand, should be comparable to hooking up via DSL, though latency may be an issue.

Another thing that will be an issue regardless of the wireless protocol you use will be the amount of data involved. I would not attempt to play SL over a cellular network unless you have an unlimited data plan with no caps. In about 5-6 hours, you could easily download over 1GB of data. If you're not on an unlimited plan, this could bankrupt you.

What Joss and Katheryne said.

it is impossible to an estimate, best thing indeed is let a bandwidth monitor run. But it is sure that without an unlimited plan, it is going to be very very expensive. And even while I have an unlimited plan, I use it only occasionally.

thanks to all who have contributed.. will try the bandwidth monitor.. googling now

I tried my Voda 3G dongle yesterday. Better than I was expecting but this seems to be *very* location dependent. In Central London it might as well be a chunky kit-kat for all the good it does. In the burbs, it improves.

My experience with roaming data access is that it HURTS in the pocket, a LOT, no matter whether it is via a dongle or pay-per-hour wi-fi.

Are you folks on iPhones? ANd what program are you using to access Second Life on your mobile devices? Please do tell.

If you have a good EDGE connection you can work relatively comfortable as long as you don't move much. For EDGE latency is the killer which typically is 800+ ms, so walking is very jerky.

Even on a GPRS connection you can comfortably participate in conversations and IM, but don't expect to move much.

3G usually works fine, but latency can make it slightly bumpy there too.

Lias: I believe they are all using laptops with a mobile Internet appliance which utilizes their cell providers' networks. The only phone-based SL client I am aware of is Sparkle IM for the iPhone. It is not a graphical client, however.

I SO need to stay out of this thread but I keep coming back to it. SL on my phone is the last thing I need. I'll never get anything else done.

Oh, Sparkle is not graphical, you say? Good! I feel better now.

When the iPhone got tethering support, I tried it with an EDGE connection (no 3G here... Damn you, Rogers) just for a laugh. It was LAGGY and more or less unusable for anything other than IM.

You have to test it because EDGE can be anything for 96k to 280k depending on local conditions and your service provider.

If you have an unlimited data package, then give a go. One of my husband's coworkers used to run WoW on her tethered laptop, with very little problem.

Keep in mind your signal strength too. I wouldn't try it in my area, because our regular internet service would run rings around it. Yeah, I'm that boonies.

I dunno - I am ultimate consumer - never really ask how its done. I am just pleased that it IS done. Isnt it all this Wifi we have in London and Toronto and New York that does it?

I must say I like the word Wifi. Sounds like a neat pair of jeans.

Thanks for the info. I do use sparkle to chat in SL - and I use tapatalk to access the Second Citizen II forums on iPhone. I am now begging Apez.biz to make a iPhone app also so I can manage my rentals on the go.