EDGE or 3G phones as modems on MTN

greg_SA

greg_SA

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Hi,

I would like to get a phone with EGDE and/or 3G support. I would like to know if it is possible to use the phone's EDGE/3G support as a modem for my PC - similar to what is possible with GPRS.

In other words, is the following possible...

[PC] <---Cable or Bluetooth---> [Phone (EDGE/3G)] <----EDGE/3G---> [MTN service provider]

Thanks,
Greg
 
greg_SA said:
Hi,

I would like to get a phone with EGDE and/or 3G support. I would like to know if it is possible to use the phone's EDGE/3G support as a modem for my PC - similar to what is possible with GPRS.

In other words, is the following possible...

[PC] <---Cable or Bluetooth---> [Phone (EDGE/3G)] <----EDGE/3G---> [MTN service provider]

Thanks,
Greg
Click to expand...

Yep. Should work no problem. Not as stable as a dedicated card, though.
 
greg_SA said:
Hi,

I would like to get a phone with EGDE and/or 3G support. I would like to know if it is possible to use the phone's EDGE/3G support as a modem for my PC - similar to what is possible with GPRS.

In other words, is the following possible...

[PC] <---Cable or Bluetooth---> [Phone (EDGE/3G)] <----EDGE/3G---> [MTN service provider]

Thanks,
Greg
Click to expand...

I'm using my 6630 as a modem. I used to use the USB cable, but once I managed to get the modem working on Bluetooth I use that all the time.

I'm not sure what the other poster meant by the fact that it is not as stable as a card though, especially if you use the cable...
 
sbloomer said:
other poster meant by the fact that it is not as stable as a card though, especially if you use the cable...
Click to expand...

Your connection could be disrupted by incoming calls, for example. Also there could be unpredictable interactions between the phone software and your operating system. Having said that, I used a phone as a modem for many years, ever since the Ericsson SH888 came out. That connected on infrared.

Also see 'Hardware incompatibilities" on the Vodacom forum. Some laptops have issues with the Bluetooth stack, for example.
 
i cant seem to connect my 6630 with the laptop via cable. doesnt see each other. maybe i am doing something wrong.
 
ash said:
i cant seem to connect my 6630 with the laptop via cable. doesnt see each other. maybe i am doing something wrong.
Click to expand...

Try installing the DKU-2 Driver.....
 
sbloomer said:
I'm using my 6630 as a modem. I used to use the USB cable, but once I managed to get the modem working on Bluetooth I use that all the time.

I'm not sure what the other poster meant by the fact that it is not as stable as a card though, especially if you use the cable...
Click to expand...


Cool... and is that with an EDGE connection to MTN? Or just GPRS?
 
greg_SA said:
Cool... and is that with an EDGE connection to MTN? Or just GPRS?
Click to expand...

Both, depending on whether there is an EDGE tower nearby.
 
6630 modem

When I took delivery of my 6630, I asked for a "dual sim" added to my contract. This is the same as having an extra sim in your car phone. I also added a data bundle to my existing line account.

The consultant said it wont be possible to use both sims at the same time, since its meant that once you start your vehicle, your normal handset should be switched off. Thus only one sim is active on the network at all times.

The idea was to get the 6630 as upgrade to my 7250, but only to use it for modem activities and most importantly, to have uninterupted modem connection while still being able to receive calls on the old 7250. No more hellkom lines you see! / Total freedom, total portabillity :p

I accepted the Nashua consultant's recommendation of keeping one of the two phones switched off, but secretly I was itching to test it myself before abandoning my plan...

Guess what! It works like a charm! :D

6630 modem live on uninterupted EDGE, while phone calls is received / dailed from 7250. Awesome.
 
Thanks for all the info so far...

One last thing, which isn't too clear on the MTN site...

Is the EDGE connection tariff the same as data over GPRS?

Is MTNdataFast (HSCSD) = EDGE ?
The site says these are charged as calls? Is this true?
 
greg_SA said:
Thanks for all the info so far...

One last thing, which isn't too clear on the MTN site...

Is the EDGE connection tariff the same as data over GPRS?

Is MTNdataFast (HSCSD) = EDGE ?
The site says these are charged as calls? Is this true?
Click to expand...

The same rate per MB is charged regardless of whether the bearer is EDGE or GPRS.

HSCSD is, quite frankly, obsolete (not to mention expensive). It is a dial-up connection, so yes, the connection is billed like a call.
 
I agree that HSCSD is not generally the preferred data bearer but for the sake of accuracy - there are still significant numbers of handsets out there which support it, the coverage is considerable and on Corporate Mobility the tariffs are lower. Therefore it is still being used and also provides a useful backup mechanism for dialling into a corporate RAS.
 
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