Are you tired of limited mobile data options when traveling around Germany? Most prepaid SIM cards only offer up to 5-7 GB of data per month, which is not enough if you don’t have regular access to unlimited Wi-Fi. That’s where Congstar Homespot comes in. It provides a feasible solution for individuals who need a good amount of home data without committing to a long-term contract.
The Congstar Homespot Packages
Congstar Homespot offers three packages to suit different data needs. In 2020, you can choose between 30GB for €20, 100GB for €30, or 200GB for €45 per month. With a monthly payment plan, you have the flexibility to cancel your subscription with just 14 days notice. It’s a great way to get a reasonable amount of home data without being tied down to a two-year contract.
Easy to Set Up and Connect
Purchasing a Congstar Homespot is a breeze. You can buy it online and have it delivered to your doorstep within a few days. Connecting the router is also a straightforward process. All you need is a German address and a German bank account for the monthly payments.
How Far Can You Go?
Congstar specifies that the Homespot is intended for home use only, but how far can you actually use it and stay connected? While Congstar doesn’t provide information about the range, we conducted our own tests to find out.
We bought and tested the Congstar router in a medium-sized town in Germany with a population of approximately 50,000. The connection was excellent anywhere within the town and within a 10-20 km radius. Surprisingly, even on a 100 km trip from our home base, the router worked flawlessly while driving. We experienced no issues with disconnecting, reconnecting, or even rebooting the router.
Additionally, the internet speeds provided by the Congstar router were far superior to a regular data connection on a smartphone. Even when our phones showed only E, 2G, or H connections, the Congstar router delivered 4G equivalent speeds. It’s worth noting that Congstar uses the Deutsche Telekom network, while our smartphones were on the E-Plus network.
As we drove further away, up to about 250 km from our home address, the connection remained strong. We performed various tests, including switching the router off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting, and the router continued to function without any issues.
The Limitations
Somewhere between 250 km and 300 km, however, the router connection failed. Despite several attempts to reconnect, using both the smartphone app and the laptop website, we were unsuccessful. It seemed that the connection was no longer available beyond this distance.
One theory we had was that the connection might only be valid within the same state as the registered home address. To test this theory, we traveled back towards our home state and successfully reconnected after crossing the border. However, when we switched off the router, turned around, and drove out of the state, we failed to reconnect. So, it appears that the range is somewhat random and may depend on various factors.
Conclusion: The Congstar Homespot Experience
Based on our tests, we can conclude that the Congstar Homespot router is likely to work within a 10-20 km radius of your registered home address. It may continue to work up to 100-250 km away, but this seems to be dependent on several factors and is not guaranteed. So, your mileage may vary.
Additionally, if you live in a border town, the Congstar Homespot might have limited use in neighboring countries. During our travels from Germany to France, we accidentally crossed the border with the Homespot still connected. However, the connection failed immediately after the border crossing, suggesting it is set up to only connect to the Deutsche Telekom network.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Congstar Homespot doesn’t meet your specific needs, there are a few alternatives worth exploring:
- O2 offers unlimited and 100 GB options for €40 and €30 monthly, respectively. However, these options can only be used at a given address and require a minimum two-year contract. They also offer a prepaid option of 10 GB for €10 per week.
- Telekom Homespot Speedbox provides 100 GB of data for €40 monthly and can be used anywhere in Germany. However, it also requires a minimum two-year contract.
- Vodafone Gigacube offers even more data (125 GB or 250 GB monthly) and has no location restrictions within Germany. However, it does require a two-year contract with no cancellation option.
It’s important to note that the alternative homespot providers all require a router that needs a 230V power socket and an upfront purchase cost of €100-€150. If you’re looking for a portable battery-powered router, similar to the one from Congstar, further investigation is necessary to determine if the SIM card can be removed and used with other devices.
In conclusion, if you’re in need of affordable and flexible home broadband internet in Germany, the Congstar Homespot could be an excellent option for you. While it does have its limitations, it offers a great balance of price and convenience. So, why limit yourself to limited mobile data when you can enjoy reliable home internet wherever you go?